The Daily Northwestern — October 22, 2020

The Daily Northwestern Thursday, October 22, 2020

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NOT BACKING DOWN Week of protests boils over as administrators, community members clash over abolition

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

JUNE 3

SEPT. 10

Students release a petition calling on Northwestern to defund, disarm and disband NUPD and redirect funds to institutions that serve Black students’ wellbeing

Administrators announce they’ve engaged outside consultants to review NUPD’s budget

JULY 24 Provost Hagerty says there would be “no problem” releasing the NUPD budget; no commitment to divest from NUPD

OCT. 17

OCT. 19 NU Community Not Cops calls on President Schapiro to resign following condemnation of student demonstrations

OCT. 12 NU Community Not Cops start daily marches calling on the University to abolish NUPD

OCT. 19 President Schapiro says he has “absolutely no intention” to abolish NUPD

OCT. 20 Schapiro stands by his controversial email during a Community Dialogue between central administration and students

President sends scathing email condemning protests After students march for more than a week, Schapiro denounces property damage, refuses to abolish UP

By ISABELLE SARRAF and MARISSA MARTINEZ

daily senior staffers @isabellesarraf, @mar1ssamart1nez

In a Monday afternoon email, University President

Morton Schapiro wrote that while Northwestern has intentions to improve University Police, it has “absolutely no intention” to abolish it.

Schapiro’s statement comes after a week of ongoing protests led by abolitionist student group

NU Community Not Cops, which held a large-scale protest Saturday that ended in front of Schapiro’s house. The group has demanded the University disarm, defund and disband UP and redirect the funds to institutions that serve Black students’

wellbeing.

The president strongly condemned the protests of students and community members, saying what began as peaceful demonstrations had turned disruptive. Schapiro cited property defacement, city disruptions,

road blockages and other violations of “laws and University standards.” He added that some instigators appeared to not be Northwestern students, but rather outside activists.

“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the overstepping

of the protesters,” Schapiro wrote. “They have no right to menace members of our academic and surrounding communities.”

Schapiro also referenced » See MORTY, page 6

NU Community Not Cops Admin make new deadline demand Schapiro resign promises during town hall Group blasts president’s silence, refutes email’s claims

Students demand UP budget release, more meetings

By ISABELLE SARRAF and JAMES POLLARD

By EMILY SAKAI and BINAH SCHATSKY

daily senior staffers @isabellesarraf, @pamesjollard

Standing outside University President Morton Schapiro’s house, students led by Northwestern Community Not Cops, a campaign demanding the abolition of University Police, called for Schapiro’s resignation Monday night.

Several hours earlier, Schapiro sent an email saying NU has no intentions to abolish UP after a week of ongoing protests led by

the group.

“Your students see through you, Morton,” NU Community Not Cops said in a statement.

“Black people are not safe anywhere in a world with police, including in their homes, a reality that Black students at Northwestern also contend with.”

Over 200 students participated in the eighth straight day of action to abolish UP and invest in Black students. The group, flanked by students walking with bicycles, was trailed by 12 officers on bikes. The officers were part of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System

Mobile Field Force, a group created in 1994 to maximize “the effectiveness of initial response efforts by police when a major civil disturbance occurs.”

The protest began at Floyd Long Field, where cop cars from surrounding departments like Berwyn, Melrose Park, Northfield and River Grove could be seen around nearby blocks.

There, organizers reminded protestors of their rights.

“Northwestern is still bringing harm to Black, Indigenous and marginalized identities, as » See RESIGN, page 6

daily senior staffers @em_sakai, @binahschatsky

After a week of abolitionist organizing on campus, University President Morton Schapiro’s email condemning student protests and the hashtag #ResignMorty trending on social media, Schapiro declared in a virtual dialogue Tuesday he “(doesn’t) walk back a single word.”

“It’s disgusting, it’s disgraceful,” Schapiro said about student demonstrations outside his house.

“I absolutely stand by exactly what

I said.”

Associated Student Government leadership discussed recent actions led by Northwestern Community Not Cops with central administration Tuesday in a Community Dialogue. The moderators, ASG President Juan Zuniga and ASG Executive Officer of Justice and Inclusion Daniel Rodriguez, asked the administration for specific answers on the University Police budgetary release and Schapiro’s recent email.

Initially intended to be a Zoom discussion with limited spots, ASG worked to change

the format to a virtual Q&A-style webinar, where students could submit questions to the moderators in real time.

Community Dialogues started in the 2015-16 academic year in response to student activist demands for more open communication with the administration.

While dialogues were initially held monthly, the administration later moved them to a quarterly basis. In his introduction, Rodriguez acknowledged the work of what he said were primarily Black students responsible for » See DIALOGUE, page 6

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2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

AROUND TOWN

Initiative aims to help homeless people register to vote

By DELANEY NELSON

daily senior staffer @delaneygnelson

In an effort to increase voter registration among people experiencing homelessness, the Democratic Party of Evanston’s Kemone Hendricks collaborated with Connections for the Homeless to create voter registration pop-ups across the community.

With the help of some volunteers, Hendricks began voter registration booths over the summer, starting in front of Black-owned businesses like C&W Market and Ice Cream Parlor, Jennifer’s Edibles and YoFresh Yogurt Cafe, all located in the 5th Ward. Recently, she said she was contacted by Connections for the Homeless to set up at some of their sites and help people experiencing homelessness register to vote.

Some residents may not have proper identification required for electronic registration, which is why Hendricks said she also provided paper forms. Sue Loellbach, manager of advocacy at Connections for the Homeless, said Hendricks’ booths at their sites ended up registering around 40 people.

Loellbach said the greatest challenge is making sure individuals know that they can register. According to the City of Evanston’s website, voters must provide two forms of identification to register to vote, one of which must include a current address.

People can use the address of service providers in the community to register. In Evanston, individuals experiencing housing insecurity can use the address of a Connections shelter to register, and they don’t have to be staying at the shelter to do so.

“It was great to be able to use the shelter’s address cause that’s a method of voter suppression right there, and just having the resources there for them to to

Podcast: “Defining Safe: Living In Limbo”

The wealth gap at Northwestern is hard to miss. After the University cancelled Fall Quarter on-campus housing for most freshmen and

Illustration by Meher Yeda

With the collaboration of Connections for the Homeless and the Democratic Party of Evanston, Kemone Hendricks is helping people experiencing homelessness register to vote.

register themselves to vote meant a lot to the residents there,” Hendricks said.

Niya Kelly, director of state legislative policy, equity and transformation at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, said it’s also important to spread election information. Her organization is distributing palm cards people can take into the voting booth that contain information regarding what is on the ballot.

While those experiencing homelessness have the right to vote, turnout among this demographic is often low, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Further, homelessness and housing

insecurity disproportionately affects people of color.

While Black people only make up 14 percent of the Illinois population, Kelly said they represent around 30 to 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness. She said homelessness stems from racism and intersects with essentially every policy-making area, including education and criminal justice reform. As a result, voting can help people experiencing homelessness protect their interests and hold legislators accountable, she said.

“It’s important for people to note that just because you are experiencing homelessness or housing

sophomores, that gap was only made more clear.

The last-minute decision left many FGLI students scrambling to secure Fall Quarter housing.

Following the university announcement, some FGLI sophomores have become reliant on their financial aid refunds to pay for their current living accommodations. Without the guarantee of a

work-study job, a meal plan, or on-campus housing, these sophomores feel the university needs to do more to care for its FGLI students. Listen to Defining Safe: Living In Limbo on SoundCloud, Spotify or Apple Music.

— Madison Smith

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(insecurity) does not mean that your vote has been taken away from you, or that your voice doesn’t matter,” Kelly said.

If policymakers cut services to programs that help people experiencing homelessness, Kelly’s organization can identify those legislators and help individuals hold their legislators accountable.

Loellbach said representation matters, so it’s important to get as many people out to vote as possible. Her organization, she said, will continue to spread election information to the population they serve and help people make their way to the polls.

“The people who don’t participate are not represented,” Loellbach said. She later added, “It’s very important that we get as many people, particularly of lower incomes and who are struggling, to vote so that their voices actually get counted.”

Back at the booths, Hendricks said residents at the Connections for the Homeless sites were more inclined to register themselves to vote than people she’d interacted with outside of Black-owned businesses. She said she was shocked at how many people weren’t sure if they were going to vote, especially from Black and brown communities.

Hendricks said she stopped the voter registration booths about a week ago, and is now focusing on getting people to the polls and supporting Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.

“It’s important to meet every community member where they are and discuss these topics because I think that a lot of things can be cleared up through conversations,” Hendricks said. “One of the overall messages that I took from this was that a lot of people felt like their voice didn’t matter, they felt like nobody cared about them.” delaneynelson2023@u.northwestern.edu Scan this QR code to listen to first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) sophomores speak on their experiences with housing this fall.

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

ON CAMPUS

More than 200 students to work polls

By ELLEN O’BRIEN

the daily northwestern @ellenobrien0

Before this year, Communication junior Sammi Tapper never gave much thought to poll working. But in the months leading up to the election, Tapper has organized a group of over 200 Northwestern student volunteers to staff the polls.

Tapper said her grandmother had previously served as poll worker, but was unable to volunteer this year due to COVID-19. Most poll workers in the 2018 general election, like Tapper’s grandmother, were over the age of 60, according to the Pew Research Center.

Given the vulnerability the novel coronavirus poses to older adults, Cook County and the rest of the country is facing a poll worker shortage.

In addition to mobilizing students, Tapper started a Facebook group for students interested in serving as poll workers in Cook County. The group provides updated information about poll training and carpooling, Tapper said.

“I think poll working isn’t something that we college students typically focus on in a normal election,” Tapper said. “But because of COVID-19 and the state of the election, everyone’s looking for every single way they can help make an impact.”

Many of the students volunteering on Election Day are first-time poll workers, including Communication sophomore Jo Scaletty.

By working the polls, Scaletty hopes to gain more knowledge about the voting system and help give everyone an opportunity to vote.

“Voter suppression is a big deal to me,” Scaletty said. “The fewer people that are available to help, the more likely it is that… people won’t be able to stay at the polls for as long as they need to” The Center for Civic Engagement is also

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Courtesy of Rob Donahue

Anna Sheehan, a Weinberg senior and NU Votes ambassador works at the Voter Services Station outside of the Donald P. Jacobs Center.

working to make sure that students have the resources they need to be civically engaged this Day. Many students are embarrassed that they don’t know how to navigate the voting process in their home state, said Rob Donahue, interim director at the center.

“A lot of (students) are hesitant to raise their hand and be like, ‘Am I the only one in my friend group who doesn’t know if they’re registered?’” Donahue said.

But students shouldn’t be shy about being confused by the process, as it’s a particularly confusing time to navigate voting, Donahue said.

Tapper said student poll workers have expressed a need for a centralized online group to answer questions and address concerns. She said she is in regular communication with the Cook County Clerk’s Office to answer students’ questions.

“My main goal is just to make sure we can get as many student volunteers as possible and make it a very easy, efficient and safe experience,” Tapper said. “I hope everything works out and that people are able to get to the training and their workplaces safely and efficiently.”

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4 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

A&E arts &

entertainmen Courtesy of Morning Dew

Bienen junior and Morning Dew member Joe Nedder said he wrote “Coffee” about feeling intimidated to talk to someone you’re interested in and building up the courage to talk to them.

Student band Morning Dew releases single, ‘Coffee’

By YIMING FU

the daily northwestern @yimingfuu

Morning Dew, a band of seven Northwestern students that blends jazz, pop, R&B and rap, released their original single “Coffee” October 2 on Spotify.

The group formed in spring 2019 to compete in Mayfest’s Battle of the Bands for a spot in the Dillo Day lineup. Since then, the band has played several gigs in Chicago performing both covers and original songs.

Bienen and Weinberg junior Joe Nedder said he wrote “Coffee” about feeling intimidated to talk to someone you’re interested in romantically and building up the courage to talk to them.

“I’m the kind of person where I will just spiral in my brain about everything that’s happening,” Nedder said. “So the gist of the song (is) that idealism. A lot of thoughts going on about everything

that could be or won’t be … But then it all just comes down to like, let’s just get coffee. And let’s see what happens.”

Nedder, who plays trombone and sings for the band, originally wrote the song for his jazz ensemble, he said, but then brought it to the band.

Together, they “Morning-Dew-ified” the song to play to their strengths.

The group added a part to “Coffee” which incorporates a long chain of “sing-speaky lyrics” that describe nervous thoughts. Part of the way through, horns suddenly kick in, driving the song into a big, flush instrumental section.

“It’s my favorite moment of the song, and we all really love that part,” Nedder said. “Especially when we all come in at the end. It’s just always, always a good time.”

Bienen and Medill junior Siobhan Esposito said the group went to Handwritten Recording, a studio in Chicago, to record their originals “Coffee” and “Champagne” this March.

Esposito, who plays keyboard and is on vocals

for the group, said recording “Champagne” and “Coffee” was the first time she had been in a studio.

“I look back on that day, and I was like, it was just so much fun,” Esposito said. “We were all vibing. I’m excited to get into a studio again soon.”

She said the rhythm section was recorded first with the horns then played over the rhythm section and the vocals finally layered on top.

Communication sophomore and bassist Eddy Maday said recording was a long process. Each section recorded for two to three hours and then had to wait while the other sections worked.

Nedder said Morning Dew planned to mix the songs with a recording engineer after their session in March. However, the band was unable to return to the studio because of COVID-19 safety restrictions, and members had to mix the songs themselves.

In the following months, members sent different versions of songs and provided feedback in a group thread.

Nedder said releasing “Champagne” on Spotify

this May was the culmination of a lot of hard work.

It was the first time that Morning Dew’s music became available to listen to online.

“It’s crazy to think about some random person in another state just chilling in their bedroom and listening to our song,” Nedder said.

“Like, that still kind of blows my mind a little bit.”

Maday said mixing and promoting their songs helped keep Morning Dew working together during the pandemic, and that they still stay in touch.

However, Maday said the members have “taken a bit of a sabbatical” to develop themselves as individual musicians because they can’t physically meet together.

“I think we’re all just really looking forward to when we can get back in a room together and work on some new originals,” Maday said. “And maybe even one day who knows, play a live gig. Because I know that will be incredible.” yimingfu2024@u.northwestern.edu

Spectrum Ensemble gives space for LGBTQ+ musicians

By RAYNA SONG

daily senior staffer @raynayu_song

Northwestern alumni Jaime Esposito (Bienen ‘14) and Stephen Hall (Bienen ‘13) created Spectrum Ensemble, a performance group giving musicians who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community a stage, after a phone call in 2018.

The two have been friends ever since they went to NU together where they both studied percussion performance.

“We are increasing the visibility of talented queer musicians and composers,” Esposito said.

“We have been commissioning new works by queer composers and performing them along with works of famous queer composers throughout history.”

Spectrum Ensemble has had a few live performances in the past. The two friends performed in a percussion duo, and the profits were donated to LGBTQ+ charitable organizations.

Esposito said they noticed the absence of LGBTQ+ representation in the classical music community even though queerness is embedded in the industry. When Esposito toured with fellow alum Matthew Coley (Bienen M.M. ‘03), they realized sometimes queer people felt they could not really be themselves in front of other people. Then, they came up with the idea to create

Spectrum Ensemble.

“I’m just trying to bring more awareness that people should feel like themselves in any situation, and just bring the awareness of the queer community to mainstream,” Esposito said.

During the pandemic, Esposito said the recent

performances have been virtual, and the process of making music has not felt the same. However, there have been more opportunities to discuss representation in the music community. Esposito and Hall have been participating in these conversations over several Zoom interviews, they added.

Courtesy of Spectrum Ensemble

Jaime Esposito (left) and Stephen Hall (right) founded Spectrum Ensemble together.

Hall said when COVID-19 hit, they were relatively fortunate. The scheduled in-person events were moved online, and the Ensemble has had a steady stream of little projects since then.

When they started Spectrum Ensemble, Hall was surprised to find out that there was barely any groups advocating for queer visibility at the time, he said.

“A lot of people have reached out to us, either in person… or over social media. They’ll send us a message just about how meaningful it is to them that this group exists,” Hall said. “So I think we’re filling a hole that is really meaningful to a lot of people.”

Hall said they had worked with multiple charitable organizations in the past, including Coalition for Aging LGBT, which supports the older LGBT community. Many do not have family to fall back on and support them as they get older, he added.

He also said a lot of good musicians feel they have to hide their queerness because they do not want to be judged by their identity. This observation inspired Spectrum Ensemble to encourage people to embrace their full selves.

“We want people to like our music because it is phenomenal, not because we are queer. But at the same time we want to be positive role models, helping to normalize queerness and move toward social equity,” Spectrum Ensemble said. raynasong2023@u.northwestern.edu

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

Black artists find community in ‘BLACK JOY’ showcase

By JANEA WILSON

daily senior staffer @janeaawilson

This piece is a part of A&E’s “Taking Back The Stage” series focusing on artists in underrepresented communities. The series will hone in on BIPOC artists in performing and visual arts groups as well as individuals in those spaces.

In times of crisis and despair, art is a respite and form of activism. It certainly has been for Black artists while creating “BLACK JOY” at Clock Productions, a Chicago production company that creates and adapts original works.

“BLACK JOY” is a showcase written and performed all by Black artists that includes spoken word pieces, songs and original scenes. The show originally premiered on Oct.16, but the video of the production will be available until Oct. 31 to those who make donations to Clock Productions through their website.

Director Kayla V. White was working on a show with Clock as the coronavirus pandemic started to unfold. They started having conversations about doing the show virtually, but decided there was a need for something else due to increasing attention to police

violence against Black people across the country.

White wanted to give writers and actors a safe space to create art that means something to them and has purpose. While it has been difficult to process aggressive anti-Blackness, White said that having the rehearsal space to be with other Black people who understand her emotions has been very meaningful.

“It provides that moment where you just breath out because you feel safe, because you feel seen and because you feel like you’re important and you’re valid,” White said. “That’s been part of the reason that it’s been so incredible to work on this show.”

For some involved in this show, it has been the first time they’ve worked with an all-Black cast.

Performer Aria Caldwell said she has often been the only Black person, and sometimes person of color, in performance spaces and that working on this show has been empowering for her. It has been very special to be able to work with people “who just get it,” Caldwell said.

Working on “BLACK JOY” has also given Caldwell the space to be a “more open performer” and not have to censor parts of herself to fit into her environment.

“I didn’t realize how much I was holding back in spaces where I was the only Black person, but it turns out that I’ve been holding back a lot,” Caldwell said.

“It’s really great to just be genuine with everything that I’m doing.”

Ariel Etana Triunfo, one of the writers for “BLACK JOY,” said this has been a refreshing and inspiring experience for her too, despite much of it being virtual.

She also said there have been times where she has felt that there’s a part of herself that she hasn’t been able to share while working on other shows, but that has been different with “BLACK JOY.” Triunfo wrote a collection of poems for the show that encompass different aspects of her experience as a Black person. Through this, she said she was able to write about things that she has never been able to express before. Her poems all focus on different topics which is representative of the Black experience since no experience is the same, Triunfo said.

Although Triunfo says the Black experience can be filled with pain and anger, it is important to not let the joy slip by.

“Black joy means being able to fully be myself without inhibition from outside or from within,” Triunfo said. “There’s joy in knowing how connected (Black people) are and how beautiful the Black experience is no matter what. ” janeawilson2022@u.northwestern.edu

Courtesy of Clock Productions

“BLACK JOY” virtually premiered on Oct. 16 and is available to those who make a donation through the end of the month.

‘Welcome to the Blumhouse’ on Prime provides the horror one sister finds the notebook of a recently deceased classmate, she begins to outshine her sister and the competition between the sisters grows violent.

“There’s a sense of double injustice when you can see your fantasies, your dreams being played out by someone who has seemingly the exact same upbringing and chances and even blood as yourself,” director and writer Zu Quirke said.

Throughout the film, the sisters, who once mirrored each other, drift more and more apart eventually leading to a bloody standoff.

By JANEA WILSON

daily senior staffer @janeaawilson

For those looking for a thrill during this spooky season, Amazon Prime has released a horror film anthology, “Welcome to the Blumhouse,” less than two weeks away from Halloween. “Welcome to the Blumhouse” is presented by Blumhouse Productions, which is famous for horror films like “The Invisible Man,” “Split” and “Us.” This anthology consists of four films that all invoke different feelings in viewers. Here is an overview of each film.

Evil Eye

The Lie

In “The Lie,” written and directed by Veena Sud, the friend of teenager Kayla goes missing and her parents suspect that their daughter is involved in that disappearance. They go to their wits’ end trying to protect her and paint her as the victim.

Sud said this connection was really important for her to explore, since she found it reflective of contemporary parenting.

“I was really interested in morality, the morality play of how far any of us would go for people we love, especially our child,” Sud said. “We think we are these moral creatures who would do the right thing in any situation and the question is, ‘Would we really?’”

Through this film, Sud said she wanted to create a story that was simultaneously horrifying and relatable.

Black Box

After a single father loses his wife and memory

Courtesy of Amazon Prime

“Welcome to the Blumhouse” films are now available on Amazon Prime.

in a car accident, he begins an experimental neurological treatment that causes him to question his reality. “Black Box,” co-written and directed

by Emmanuel Osei-Koffour Jr., is a psychological thriller that follows a man who is flawed and tries his best to rebuild his relationship with his daughter. Osei-Koffour said he can only write stories that are personal to him, so he was drawn to the main character.

“I love the genre because it allows me to start conversations about issues that are important to me and the people I love,” Osei-Koffour said.

“Being able to use those tropes as metaphors to make statements on those issues has been really freeing.”

While Osei-Koffour wanted to make a message, he also said he worked to make use of these tropes to make sure that audience members stayed on the edge of their seat from the beginning to the end of the film.

Nocturne

“Nocturne” follows twin sisters who are dancers and music students at an elite arts school. When

‘Orfeo Remote’ brings Greek myth to stage

By HALEY FULLER

daily senior staffer @haley_fuller_

As theaters around the world went dark in March, Bienen’s spring production of Claudio Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo” was just ramping up.

Performing the opera in Cahn Auditorium was no longer an option, so Director of Opera Joachim Schamberger and conductor Stephen Alltop reimagined the performance to create “Orfeo Remote,” a virtual opera film.

Over 30 singers and 20 instrumentalists had to learn new skill sets, including audio and video recording, to turn the opera into a virtual production. In order to ensure that the performers had backing tracks to learn from and practice with, Alltop played and

Photo courtesy of Joachim Schamberger

Lucy Evans and Nicholas Lin in “Orfeo Remote.” Despite looking like they’re together, the two performers shot the scene separately.

recorded every note of the opera on his harpsichord, then sent them to the performers.

After they recorded themselves singing or playing their instruments, Alltop rerecorded the accompaniment to match the differences in their tempo and pitch. Over 1,400 audio files went into the creation of “Orfeo Remote.” The project is not done, however, as Schamberger is still editing the videos. Alltop said he hopes to finish the opera by the end of 2020.

“Both the director and I, and the students, just made the commitment and there was no turning back.

So it meant a whole lot of acquiring new knowledge and skills,” Alltop said. “I ended up feeling by the time it was done like, ‘OK, this was the biggest single project I’ve ever done.’ It felt endless. I literally worked from morning until usually after midnight for weeks and weeks in a row.”

Although “L’Orfeo” tells the Greek myth of Orpheus and his quest to the underworld to bring back his love Eurydice, Schamberger reimagined the story to fit the pandemic. The character La Musica (music) introduces the story and acts as a narrator.

However, instead of depicting La Musica as a goddess, “Orfeo Remote” portrays her as a Bienen student who is dismayed by the shuttering of theaters and end of live performances, and calls and texts her friends to ask if they want to put together a virtual opera during the pandemic.

La Musica essentially tells the story of the students and faculty putting together the opera, Schamberger said. The character creates a YouTube channel where she posts segments of the opera as a miniseries — exactly the way the project itself will be released when it’s finished.

In this production, the myth of Orpheus that La

Musica introduces takes place in the 1960s, juxtaposing the limitations of the pandemic with the physical closeness and togetherness of the hippie movement.

In addition to learning how to engineer audio and film, the cast Zoomed to discuss angles and scenery to ensure cohesion in the story. Because they were spread out across the country, it was difficult to find locations that looked the same and make the screen directions look seamless.

Despite the difficulties of creating a remote opera, “Orfeo Remote” gave the students a project to focus on, Bienen senior Nicholas Lin, who played Orfeo, said. In addition to the hours he spent rehearsing and filming, Lin also created his own props and costumes.

He said that filming the scenes properly and getting all the angles right was difficult. Lin had to redo a scene when he stretched out his arm at the wrong angle while passing a wad of cash to a castmate who wasn’t there.

“It’s just like a testament to the things that COVID makes us do. It’s very personal, and it made it really fun, too,” Lin said. “For a lot of us, it was definitely a way to just do something, especially when singing in general is just not a good idea. It just gave us something to do that involved other people.”

Bienen sophomore Eugene Hwang, who played Pastore #4, echoed Lin’s thoughts, saying that “Orfeo Remote” gave him a purpose.

“It was a great experience, even though it was like, ‘Oh, there’s so much work, so much music we have to learn,’” Hwang said. “It was great to feel like I was still making music with everyone else, and I think that’s what kept me going.” haleyfuller2022@u.northwestern.edu

In “Evil Eye,” a mother is very cautious of her daughter’s new boyfriend after she suspects he has a dark connection to her past. She becomes consumed with trying to save her daughter, but her daughter only falls deeper in love with this mysterious man.

The film relies heavily on symbolism of “the evil eye” that is used in Indian culture, which the film centers around. Directors Rajeev and Elan Dassani are Indian, and find the eye has been used as a warning sign. Rajeev explained that he has often been told by his parents to “watch out for the evil eye” when he is given a great opportunity.

“Psychologically it represents these things that you have to fight against… jealousy, anger,” Rajeev said. “It’s telling you to be a better person to ward against it.”

The evil eye and themes of reincarnation are meshed with supernatural tropes to create a psychological thriller. janeawilson2022@u.northwestern.edu

A&E arts & entertainment

Editor Rebecca Azin Assistant Editors Yonjoo Seo Jack Austin Designers Emma Ruck Carly Schulman Staff Haley Fuller Janea Wilson Rayna Song Yiming Fu

6 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

DIALOGUE From page 1

this tradition.

Zuniga emphasized the goal of the dialogue in holding the administration accountable for caring for its most vulnerable students.

“We’ve put in a lot of time and effort to make sure that we are lifting up the voices of marginalized students, particularly Black and Brown students, on this campus,” Zuniga said. “And today, hopefully, will be an opportunity to do so.”

Schapiro stans by contested email, does not comment on faculty response

When asked about his heavily-criticized Oct. 19 email condemning student protesters, Schapiro stood by his response.

In the email, Schapiro wrote he was “disgusted” by those who chose to “disgrace” the University, saying the protesters had lost their “sense of humanity.” NU Community Not Cops condemned Schapiro in a news release, which was read at a protest that night, for his use of “racist, coded language” and called for his resignation. The hashtag #ResignMorty trended on Twitter in Illinois by late that evening.

In response to the email, the African American

MORTY

From page 1 protesters who showed up outside of his house at least twice in the past week. On Saturday, demonstrators burned the “We’re N This Together” banner that previously hung on The Arch and left it in front of the president’s house near the officers who guarded it.

Schapiro said the explicit chants calling him a “pig” had come close to anti-Semitism. The term is a slang word generally used in reference to police officers.

The email also denied that protesters were

RESIGN

From page 1 we saw today,” one organizer said, drawing many “boos” from the group of protestors.

Chants of “Abolition is the solution, you can’t stop the revolution” and “Don’t want no cops, just give me that peace” reverberated throughout the group as students marched for over an hour until they settled outside Schapiro’s house.

The 12 NIPAS Field Force officers stood outside his front yard, where five other officers were already stationed. At the intersection of Central Street and Orrington Avenue, seven cop cars were parked, some belonging to Evanston Police Department and others unmarked. Two of the cars were K-9 units. A “Quit your job!” chant broke out among the protestors.

Several organizers then read aloud the campaign’s news release in response to Schapiro’s earlier email, in

Studies department sent Schapiro a reply, condemning his “inability to imagine that injustice is something that is bigger than (his) own injured pride and hurt feelings.”

“I was sorry to read it,” Schapiro said. “I actually think it mischaracterizes what I’ve done as a president and who I am as a person.”

Schapiro says Northwestern won’t disband University Police

media commenters called reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s “law and order” tactics, which disproportionately impacted Black and Brown people.

“If we abolish the police, then someone is going to have to maintain the law and order aspects,” Johnson said.

Budgetary release estimated for “mid to late November”

Administration commits to weekly dialogues, meeting with NU Community Not Cops

In the months since NU students published demands for the University to abolish UP, the administration has been criticized for their limited response and lack of communication with student organizers.

When asked if the administration would meet with NU Community Not Cops, Johnson said he would be “happy to engage with them.” PayneKirchmeier said she would facilitate that.

Zuniga said ASG is prepared to start working on additional sessions for next week, and he hopes administrators can answer more student questions. It was “a little disappointing,” Zuniga said, that Schapiro and Johnson lacked answers to questions when they have so many resources available to them.

Rodriguez said future discussions could also cover different topics with administrators from specific departments, including financial aid.

“We want to be speaking with students and ensuring that Northwestern is held accountable for the systems that they are creating,” Zuniga said. “That means listening to (students) and campus leaders.

In response to summer abolitionist momentum within the Black Lives Matter movement, students released a list of demands to the University on June 3, calling for the administration to “disarm, defund and disband” UP and allocate funds to resources that support Black students. The petition has since garnered over 8,000 signatures.

Students led by NU Community Not Cops have organized daily since Oct. 12, demanding the University answer their demands. Since then, Schapiro has emphasized that UP will not be abolished, a commitment he repeated at Tuesday’s dialogue.

When Rodriguez followed up, asking why the administration was against police abolition, Schapiro cited community demands for policing.

Craig Johnson, senior vice president for business and finance, chimed in using language that social

Students have waited 140 days for Northwestern to release the budget for UP. Though administration said they would be open to releasing it months ago, they have yet to follow through.

In a July 24 meeting with student activists, Provost Kathleen Hagerty said the University would have “no problem” disclosing the UP budget.

When Rodriguez asked administrators during Tuesday’s dialogue why they have yet to release it, Johnson said the administration is “not hiding the budget.” He added the University hired outside consultants to conduct a budgetary review. But after a summer of empty promises, Rodriguez, Zuniga and students in the chat were clear — they wanted a date for when the budget would be available. In response, Johnson committed to sharing the information during the “middle or end of November.”

only trying to get administrators’ attention, citing numerous community discussions held virtually over the past few months with senior officials like the Provost and Deans. Schapiro also mentioned the previously scheduled dialogue to be held Tuesday evening.

However, many students have said their reason for protesting stems from a lack of communication on specific issues, such as addressing anti-Blackness on campus with action items or releasing UP’s budget.

Schapiro added that the weekend’s actions indicated an intent by organizers to escalate matters and provoke UP into retaliation. When demonstrators arrived at his home Saturday night, they

were met by at least three UP officers guarding the front entrance and others stationed around the block. Several Evanston Police Department officers also stood at the nearby intersection in riot gear, some equipped with batons and shields.

Any members of the NU community found to violate rules and laws, Schapiro said, will be held accountable for their actions. While the University supports “firmly supports vigorous debate and the free expression of ideas” and protects the right to protest, “we do not condone breaking the law.”

Some students were issued citations by UP and EPD for protesting last November after former Attorney General Jeff Sessions came to campus,

as NU does not have a student protest amnesty policy in place.

“If you haven’t yet gotten my point, I am disgusted by those who chose to disgrace this University in such a fashion,” Schapiro wrote. “To those protesters and their supporters who justify such actions, I ask you to take a long hard look in the mirror and realize that this isn’t actually ‘speaking truth to power’ or furthering your cause,” Schapiro wrote. “It is an abomination and you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

which Schapiro said chants like “piggy Morty” came “dangerously close to a longstanding trope against observant Jews” like himself.

“Whether it was done out of ignorance or out of anti-Semitism, it is completely unacceptable,” Schapiro said in the email.

Schapiro’s suggestion that “pig” is an anti-Semitic term stems from a medieval trope wherein Jewish people were depicted by European countries as engaging in lewd relations with pigs. NU Community Not Cops said they find it “absurd” for Schapiro to suggest that protesters were invoking this trope and not the word “pig” as it refers to the modern slang term about police.

NU Community Not Cops leaders condemned anti-Semitism in their statement, saying that their use of the term “pig” relates to the generations-long practice of Black radical movements invoking the structural violence presented by the police. Members of

the campaign called Schapiro a pig, they said, because he has prioritized police and private property “over the lives of Black students.”

“We called Morty a pig because he’s a f–king cop,” one organizer said Monday night. “Can we get some oinks?”

NU Community Not Cops wrote that the language in Schapiro’s email mirrors the University’s response to the May 1968 Bursar’s Office Takeover — using law and order tactics to “justify a brutal response” to Black student activists.

NU Community Not Cops wrote they condemn Schapiro’s ignorance of student demands for months until just now. In July, Schapiro “refused” to attend town halls led by Black student activists. Other administrators were present at those meetings, but NU Community Not Cops said they came to meetings “unprepared” to respond to student concerns.

They added that it’s an insult for Schapiro to draw on “racist, coded language” like “abomination” and

vile.” Questioning whether Black protestors had “lost their sense of humanity” is inherently anti-Black, the group wrote.

The organizers pushed back against Schapiro’s contention that their campaign purposely provokes police officers and that they are “outside agitators.” The group connected that language to President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Black Lives Matter protesters were paid actors and southern politicians deriding Civil Rights organizers as communist agitators.

“He cannot say ‘Black Lives Matter’ if he is questioning our humanity,” the statement read. “He cannot be committed to racial justice if he is questioning our humanity. Our actions have been necessary escalations given the lack of urgency; we are not ashamed of ourselves.”

emilysakai2023@u.northwestern.edu binahschatsky2022@u.northwestern.edu

isabellesarraf2022@u.northwestern.edu mmartinez@u.northwestern.edu

isabellesarraf2022@u.northwestern.edu jamespollard2022@u.northwestern.edu

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GAMEDAY

The Daily Northwestern

81

NORTHWESTERN

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

MARYLAND TERRAPINS (0-0) vs.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (0-0) 33

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12 QB Peyton Ramsey 25 RB Isaiah Bowser 81 WR R. Chiaokhiao-Bowman 19 WR Riley Lees 8 WR Kyric McGowan 0 TE John Raine 77 LT Peter Skoronski 66 LG Nik Urban 52 C Sam Gerak 76 RG Ethan Wiederkehr 73 RT Gunnar Vogel

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NORTHWESTERN VS. MARYLAND

THURSDAY, October 22, 2020

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Maryland Defense 9 DE Joseph Boletepeli 55 DT Ami Finau 34 DE Mosiah Nasili-Kite 39 OLB Deshawn Holt 44 MLB Chance Campbell 16 MLB Ayinde Eley 19 OLB Ahmad McCullough 33 CB Deonte Banks 3 S Nick Cross 18 S Jordan Mosley 2 CB Jakorian Bennett

6

Northwestern Defense

Maryland Offense

49 DE Adetomiwa Adebawore 96 DT Trevor Kent 94 DT Jason Gold 99 DE Earnest Brown 51 OLB Blake Gallagher 42 MLB Paddy Fisher 28 OLB Chris Bergin 2 CB Greg Newsome II 16 S Brandon Joseph 5 S JR Pace 18 CB Cam Ruiz

5 QB Taulia Tagovailoa 34 RB Jake Funk 6 WR Jeshaun Jones 7 WR Dontay Demus Jr. 15 WR Brian Cobbs 10 TE Tyler Baylor 71 LT Jaelyn Duncan 70 LG Johari Branch 73 C Johnny Jordan 72 RG Marcus Minor 54 RT Spencer Anderson

GAMEDAY Gameday Editors Andrew Golden Ella Brockway Peter Warren

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GAMEDAY

The Daily Northwestern

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Breaking down the Cats by position NU looks QB

Northwestern’s inconsistent quarterback play was a major reason why the Wildcats’ offense failed last season. As a position group, the four quarterbacks who played important minutes in 2019 combined for just 6 passing TDs, but 15 INTs. So in a 2020 season that has already seen so much fluctuation and uncertainty, finding stability at quarterback this year will be vital to NU’s success.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff believe they have found that consistency with the addition of graduate transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey to their roster. Ramsey completed 68 percent of his passes last season at Indiana and tallied 13 touchdowns while throwing just 5 interceptions.

His experience starting 23 games over the past three seasons, coupled with 147.7 passing efficiency rating that ranked 31st in the country last season, is probably one of the many reasons Ramsey won the job. But, if last year proved anything, the Cats also need to have backup options ready.

Senior quarterback Aidan Smith opted out on Friday, leaving the Cats with four quarterbacks from last year’s quarterback room returning — sixth-year T.J. Green, juniors Hunter Johnson and Andrew Marty and redshirt freshman Zac Krause. They also added freshman quarterback Carl Richardson in last year’s recruiting class. ­— Andrew Golden

RB

Last season, then-sophomore Isiah Bowser was expected to be the lead back after being a key cog in Northwestern’s Big Ten title run two years ago.

But injuries sidelined him for most of the 2019 season, allowing other running backs behind him to get touches and prove themselves.

Sophomore Drake Anderson led the way in the backfield with 634 yards rushing last season, but, other than him, the running backs struggled to produce. The Wildcats’ second-leading rusher last season was redshirt first-year Evan Hull, who gained 220 of his 286 yards in one game last season against D-III UMass.

So the 2020 season should be a balance between Anderson and Bowser, who both brings different styles— Anderson provides the speed, while Bowser plays as more of a one-cut back. But the Cats’ tend to use more than just two backs during the course of the season.

Hull or senior Jesse Brown could see action early in the season at running back as a backup like he did last season. Brown, who was honored with the No. 1 jersey before the season, had 108 all-purpose yards in the team’s first two games last year and showed flashes. Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian has emphasized getting the ball to playmakers in space, so look for Kyric McGowan to also get touches from the running back from position like he did at times last season.

Aside from the more experienced running backs, NU has three freshman running backs — redshirts Marcus Cisco and Connor Newhouse and true freshman Cam Porter. Porter came from the same high school as standout Jeremy Larkin and has the potential to see playing time, coming in as the second-best recruit in the 2020 recruiting class.

NU has a lot of options at running back, but will be anchored by Anderson and Bowser as they look to bounce back from a dismal season as a group. ­— Andrew Golden

WR

With inconsistent quarterback play and conservative play calling, the Wildcats’ receivers struggled as only one player caught more than 50 passes and gained more than 200 yards.

But this year looks to be different. With former Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey under center and a new up-tempo offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian, NU’s skilled receivers have a chance to shine in 2020.

Despite Bennett Skowronek joining Notre Dame as a graduate transfer, the Cats are well-suited at receiver with numerous veterans, including senior Riley Lees. After reeling in a team-high 430 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, Lees — who also returns punts and kicks — hopes to use his speed and shiftiness in the slot to become a top target of Ramsey.

Hagerty, Big Ten mayors call on conference to consider COVID rates

Mayor Steve Hagerty joined 11 other mayors of cities in which Big Ten teams play to call on the conference to consider community positivity rates when deciding whether games should be held in a Tuesday news release.

The release said the communities holding football games should have just as much of an impact on a game’s status as teams’ testing regimens. Though

NU’s other starting receivers are seniors Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman and Kyric McGowan.

In 2020, Chiaokhiao-Bowman will be utilized as a tall target on the outside and gain yards after the catch, while McGowan will use his speed and skills to be a big-play maker. The Georgia native ran for a 79-yard touchdown against Purdue last season and hauled in a 77-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State in 2018.

Additionally, some of NU’s younger receivers are primed for a larger role in the offense. According to Bajakian, sophomore Malik Washington — who caught six passes for 25 yards in 2019 — impressed coaches during fall camp with his performance. Redshirt freshmen Genson Hooper-Price and Bryce Kirtz could see plenty of action for the Cats after not playing in 2019. NU also returns juniors Berkeley Holman and JJ Jefferson, who combined for 279 yards and two touchdowns last season. ­— Drew Schott

TE

Mike Bajakian is instituting a bunch of changes to Northwestern’s offense, but none more niche than eliminating the superbacks position and returning tight ends to Evanston.

The switch is pretty much in name only. For the past few years, superbacks were serving in almost the exact same role as a tight end. There will be a few differences — mostly in where tight ends will line up on the line compared to superbacks — but they will not be extremely noticeable.

Last fall, the superbacks had almost no impact whatsoever on offense. Of the Wildcats’ 156 receptions and 1404 receiving yards, superbacks accounted for just seven catches and 30 yards. Those 30 yards account for less than one percent of Northwestern’s total offense output of 3565 yards. Suffice to say, that is unacceptable.

But a potential breakout star of the entire offensive is graduate transfer and Week 1 starter John Raine. Raine comes to NU after spending four years at Florida Atlantic. He had a great season in 2019, catching 38 passes for 343 yards and six touchdowns.

With more two tight end sets expected in Northwestern’s offense, it will be crucial for Charlie Mangieri, Trey Pugh and Raine to rise up after last season’s nothingburger from the position group. Last year, their struggles were overshadowed by other positions on offense — most notably, quarterback.

But that likely won’t be the case this fall. There will be added eyes and added pressure for this group to perform and contribute. Who steps up and becomes a key piece will become a major reason for the success, or lack thereof, of the offense. ­— Peter Warren

OL

Heading into the offseason, pundits were high on a Northwestern offensive line that held a struggling offense afloat for much of last year’s slog of a season.

Anchored by potential first-round pick Rashawn Slater and seniors Gunnar Vogel and Nik Urban, the line held opposing defenses to under two sacks in 4 of the season’s last five games — accommodating a carousel of quarterbacks who struggled under the bright lights at Ryan Field.

Things are different now. Rashawn Slater is headlining a list of COVID-related opt-outs. Sophomore Sam Stovall medically retired. Last year’s stalwart at center, Jared Thomas, graduated. So did solid backup Cam Kolwich.

Which begs the question: who are the players set to protect Peyton Ramsey?

Vogel and Urban are the veterans. They’ll provide leadership to a top-line recruiting class which includes freshman Josh Priebe and Peter Skoronski, the newly installed starter at left tackle.They’re two of the best offensive line talents to ever take their talents to Northwestern. Sam Gerak, a center in high school, will slide there having spent last year on the interior.

It’s a year of uncertainty — and no one really knows what to expect from an offensive line that’s full of moving pieces and parts. ­— Greg Svirnovskiy

DL

fickle and often frustrating. Players spend years developing into talented stars and leaders -- only to graduate. And then they’re gone. Joe Gaziano, the defensive corps’ longtime leader in production and identity is gone, fighting to start his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Miller brothers, Alex and Samdup, won’t be suiting up at Ryan Field either. The former graduated last year and the latter opted out for the season due to COVID-19 concerns.

Those three players together accounted for 13.5 total sacks last year, garnering a combined 71 solo tackles and 48 assists — leaving behind a big hole for the defense to fill.

But there are players in the room who can step up. Senior Earnest Brown IV has been a dynamic pass rusher the past three seasons and junior Trevor Kent returns to the starting lineup after a solid first season on the interior.

Brown will be the focal point. The defensive end has played in 31 games over his three-year career at NU, registering six sacks and 21 solo tackles in that span. He was outstanding in the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State two years ago, sacking Dwayne Haskins. If he stays healthy this season, it won’t be the last time you see Brown sacking an NFL quarterback. ­— Greg Svirnovskiy

LB

This season, Northwestern’s top defensive unit will be its stellar linebacking corps of seniors Blake Gallagher, Paddy Fisher and Chris Bergin.

After leading the Big Ten with 127 tackles in 2018, Gallagher looks to build on his junior season of 91 tackles and three interceptions.

The Massachusetts native made 60 tackles in the midst of a seven-game losing streak last fall, including three consecutive contests with doubledigit tackles. A preseason All-Big Ten honoree, Fisher made 89 tackles and caught one interception during his junior season. After being named to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2018, Fisher started 2019 off strong, forcing three turnovers in two games. Despite only reaching double-digit tackles once — he made 10 stops in NU’s 13-10 loss to Nebraska — Fisher had six tackles for loss across 12 games, tied for third-most on the team.

Lining up with Gallagher and Fisher will be Bergin, who made 86 tackles in 12 games last season. Bergin had back-to-back double-digit games against Stanford and UNLV, as well as an 85-yard touchdown return of a blocked field goal against UMass. ­— Drew Schott

DB

Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz has echoed the same message throughout this prolonged preseason: Northwestern needs more takeaways in 2020.

The Wildcats averaged 1.2 caused turnovers — forced fumbles and interceptions — per game in 2019. That was an uncharacteristic statistic for a program that prides itself so much on its defense.

Hankwitz will turn to his secondary for a turnaround in 2020. Junior cornerback Cam Ruiz and senior safety JR Pace are two of the unit’s returnees, having combined for 86 tackles and two interceptions in 2019.

Greg Newsome — who broke into a starting role in the secondary corps as a freshman out of IMG Academy in 2018 — is back after a 2019 campaign where he led the team with 11 pass breakups. But Newsome has battled injuries throughout his past two seasons, and he’ll already reportedly be missing this year’s opener against Maryland with another one.

The Cats’ corners and safeties have traditionally struggled to stay healthy as a unit. The depth is there — backups Bryce Jackson and AJ Hampton all saw game time in 2019, while secondstring safety Coco Azema impressed filling in at running back in the season finale at Illinois.

With no bye week in the schedule and an already-shortened season, a backfield that stays not only productive, but healthy, is more important than ever for the Cats.

The life cycles of college football players are

­— Ella Brockway

games will have significantly limited spectator counts, which will be comprised of families of players, fans and college students will likely still participate in gameday activities, which could increase the spread of COVID-19, according to the release.

“Please include the communities where you will be holding games in your conversations and assign a metric to this that is similar to what has already been laid out for your teams,” the release said. “We do not expect this metric to be in line with the current standard for the team; however, similar standards being applied to the communities this will affect is necessary to keep people safe.”

In August, the conference canceled all sports

for fall 2020, but the decision was reversed on Sept. 16. All football teams are slated to play a nine game schedule, and players are tested daily for COVID-19.

Additionally, the mayors asked the conference to release schedules as soon as possible, and to attempt to schedule games during the morning and early afternoon, as later games are associated with “increased activity,” according to the release.

The conference released matchups and game dates on Sept. 19, but game times have not yet been announced.

— Jacob Fulton

for strong start versus Maryland

By DREW SCHOTT

daily senior staffer @dschott328

Northwestern was originally scheduled to play at Michigan State to open its 2020 season. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.

Now on the Big Ten’s third schedule iteration — an eight-game, conference-only slate with a championship weekend — NU will open its 2020 season Saturday against Maryland at Ryan Field, which will be closed to the public.

“It’s been a long road to get to this point,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We’re so fortunate to have the opportunity to play and just excited to go out there and do it.”

The game will mark the Cats’ debut of quarterback Peyton Ramsey. A graduate transfer from Indiana, Ramsey threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 13 touchdowns last season for the Hoosiers. After having the nation’s fifth-worst passing offense in 2019, expectations are high for Ramsey to be a reliable and consistent threat through the air.

Ramsey’s responsibilities will also include conducting offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian’s uptempo offense. Fitzgerald said he is proud of how well NU’s offensive players are grasping and understanding the scheme, adding that his squad is ready to unleash it this weekend against the Terrapins.

The Cincinnati native says NU’s new scheme is exciting because of an experienced offensive line and explosive playmakers.

“I think we look good,” Ramsey said. “We have a lot of talented guys, a lot of guys who are experienced and have played a lot of football. We’re excited to show everybody what we’ve been working toward this Saturday.”

Like Fitzgerald did last autumn, Maryland coach Mike Locksley will not reveal the Terrapins’ starting quarterback until gameday. NU’s defense will either face redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre or Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa — the brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback and former Crimson Tide star Tua Tagovailoa.

No matter who is starting under center for Maryland, defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz said the Cats are expecting the Terrapins to run a similar offense to last season.

“The key is we have to be fundamentally sound and we have to be able to execute our defense, not shoot ourselves in the foot (and) make mistakes and make them beat us,” Hankwitz said.

The Cats and Maryland are kicking off at 6:30 p.m., NU’s first nighttime season opener since 2000.

With only about 1,000 family members of players and coaches expected in the stands, senior linebacker Blake Gallagher has coined the phrase “Bring Your Own Juice” to encourage players to bring their energy during games and pump up the team.

With a win, Fitzgerald will notch his 100th career victory as the Cats’ head coach. Despite saying that the road to 100 wins has taken too long because “there’s probably about 50 games we should have won that we didn’t,” Fitzgerald is proud to be on the cusp of NU history.

Senior linebacker Paddy Fisher said the Cats hope to get their leader to a career milestone on Saturday.

“To get him to 100, that’s an awesome goal,” Fisher said. “We’re going to surpass that goal throughout the season and in the years to come, but it would be awesome to send him with a 100th win on the first game.” drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu

Source: Northwestern Athletics

Peyton Ramsey practices on Lakeside Field. The graduate transfer will start under center versus Maryland.