The Daily Northwestern — October 23, 2023 by The Daily Northwestern

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The Daily Northwestern Monday, October 23, 2023

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Scholars from around the world present research at Northwestern Afrobeats symposium

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Office vacancies on the rise downtown City officials warn vacancy rates could continue upwards By SHUN GRAVES

the daily northwestern @realshungraves

The office vacancy rate in downtown Evanston has seen an uptick — and city officials warn the trend could continue unabated going into 2024. Evanston Economic Development Manager Paul Zalmezak said the downtown vacancy rate stood at 12.6% as of last week, compared to a rate around 11.3% earlier this year. Concerns have grown, Zalmezak said, as an internal city database projects the rate to rise by several digits next year. “The trend upward is highly likely,” he said. “Evanston’s always performed better than other suburban submarkets, so sometimes these algorithms apply a straight model to the entire suburbs.” While Zalmezak said the model could be overestimating the rate, the trend spells trouble for the health of downtown offices, which drive retail spending and foot traffic. Across the country, downtowns continue to feel the effects of pandemic-era remote work. Chicago hit a record

downtown office vacancy rate of 23.7% last quarter, higher than Evanston’s peak of 15.4% recorded in December 2021. Zalmezak said he wouldn’t call the recent uptick in vacancies a “crisis,” but it could escalate if the city sees a drop in lease renewals. Even so, the rate has held roughly steady over the past year — and downtown boosters still expect the district to attract companies from around the Chicago area. “There is certainly opportunity to fill some vacant space,” said Andy Vick, executive director of nonprofit group Downtown Evanston. “But I would also say that there are exciting things that are happening.” Two parts of the UL product testing enterprise — UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement — will open new headquarters downtown next month. The safety science and research organizations will move from their office park in Northbrook. “Having more of that proximity to transportation, to restaurants — a lot of our talent coming into the workforce now has different kinds of demands,” said Kristen Delphos, vice president of communications and public

» See VACANCY, page 6

Photo courtesy of Tom Agudo/Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern celebrates its first Big Ten regular season title since 2013, following the Wildcats’ 2-1 win over No. 4 Rutgers Sunday.

‘Cats capture conference crown Weekend sweep clinches first Big Ten regular season title since 2013 By ALEX CERVANTES

daily senior staffer @cervantespalex

With her back to the goal and a Big Ten championship hanging in the balance,

graduate student midfielder Peyton Halsey was shielding the ball from the prodding jabs of Rutgers goalkeeper Sophia Howard. Ten shots earlier, Halsey evaded Howard to score the opening goal of No. 1

Northwestern’s penalty shootout with the No. 4 Scarlet Knights (15-1, 6-1 Big Ten). This time, instead of dribbling to her right as she had just minutes prior, Halsey turned left and ripped a tomahawk shot into the back of the cage,

clinching a 2-1 (4-3) win for the Wildcats (15-1, 7-0 Big Ten) and a share of the Big Ten regular season title. NU’s victory Sunday marks the program’s first regular season

» See FIELD HOCKEY, page 6

Maddow talks history, anti-fascism YAMO show sees MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow spoke Thursday in Harris Hall By ISAIAH TATUM

the daily northwestern

Political commentator and author Rachel Maddow discussed historical fascism at Northwestern and the Chicago Humanities Festival Thursday. The talks centered around historic examples of figures protecting democracy from fascist ideologies portrayed in her new book, “Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism.” Maddow currently hosts “The Rachel Maddow Show,” which airs on MSNBC. She has also authored four books. The most recent, “Prequel,” was released Tuesday. Maddow headlined a small, closed event in Harris Hall in front of history faculty and graduate students. Alongside a panel of select NU history professors, the television host led a dialogue about the stories presented in “Prequel” and the intersections between history and public dialogue. History Prof. Kathleen Belew joined Maddow as a panelist at the University event. “‘Prequel’ shows us that antifascist — that is to say, anti-Nazi — organizing has been part of

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mainstream American politics for a long, long time, and has fundamentally worked to support institutions, free elections and democracy,” Belew said. Maddow discussed her position as a non-historian author and the importance of engaging in conversations about history regardless of profession. She said history plays an integral role in her work. “I often turn to history just to make sense of things myself,” Maddow said. Maddow said her inspiration for the book was wanting to expand on discussions of insurrectionist attempts that were featured in her 2022 podcast series, “Ultra.” She described a desire to tell a story that exhibits the “ordinariness of heroes.” Later in the day, Maddow and Belew engaged in a one-onone conversation at the Chicago Humanities Festival. Over 1,000 people attended the sold out event at the University of Illinois Chicago. Maddow spoke of the importance of telling stories that otherwise wouldn’t be told. She said that characters of “Prequel” could serve as an example of modern-day

66th production ‘Stage Fright’ theme of ETHS student-run show By ANAVI PRAKASH

the daily northwestern

Emma Richman/The Daily Northwestern

Rachel Maddow spoke with history Prof. Kathleen Belew at the Chicago Humanities Festival.

anti-fascist action. “In the future, somebody will do a book or whatever future version is of a podcast, about our time,” Maddow said. “About our sort of turn on the chore wheel when this came around for us as Americans who are called upon to save democracy.” Attendee Lee Ann Searight said

she went to the talk because she thought both the book and the Maddow-Belew discussion were very necessary. “My husband and I usually watch Rachel Maddow,” Searight said. ”We thought it is probably relevant to the time we’re in.” isaiahtatum2027@u.northwestern.edu

Evanston Township High School’s theater department is putting on its 66th production of YAMO, an entirely studentcreated sketch comedy show. This year’s theme for the show is “Stage Fright.” Timothy Herbert, ETHS theater teacher and YAMO director, sees YAMO as a key part of Evanston’s fall traditions. Herbert says when he talks to ETHS alumni, all they want to talk about is YAMO. And the show is popular beyond the alumni community — tickets for the show sold out a week before performances began. “It’s kind of been a legacy for us,” he said. Communication freshman Casey Bond, a former ETHS student who served as

a writer and director for his senior YAMO show, said that students spend the first two weeks of the summer creating the show’s plot and brainstorming with all the writers and directors of the show. Writing materials for auditions, however, starts much earlier. Bond said this process begins in May of the school year before the show. The cast is divided into four companies — Acting, Impulse, Dance and Unexpected — each of which has its own director. Bond, who acted in YAMO during his sophomore and junior years, wanted to make sure his company felt like they were included in the theater community that could sometimes be “cliquey.” Gracie Puricelli, a junior at ETHS, is part of this year’s Dance company and is doing one skit with Unexpected. Puricelli decided to audition again for YAMO after participating last year because she enjoyed being part of its

» See YAMO, page 6

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023

AROUND TOWN

One in a million: NU alum makes marathon history By ANNA BOCK

daily senior staffer @anna__bock

When Allison Naval’s (Weinberg ‘16) phone buzzed with repeated calls after she crossed the Chicago Marathon finish line, she said she worried it was spam — or that she had been disqualified. Instead, she found out, she had just become a unique figure in the marathon’s history. Crossing the finish line with a time of 4:23:13, Naval became the Chicago Marathon’s one millionth finisher on Oct. 8. One of the six World Marathon Majors, the Chicago Marathon’s 45th running welcomed an estimated 48,500 participants that day. “I had never expected [the millionth finisher] would be me,” Naval said. During her time at NU, Naval ran on the women’s cross country team but quit in her junior year due to injuries. She met her now husband David Russell in a freshman year Spanish class. But, after taking some time away from running, Naval said she was inspired to return to the sport while watching her husband’s first marathon last year. “I just felt this pull start taking me back into running, which I didn’t expect initially,” Naval said. Continuing her battle with off and on injuries this summer, Naval said she was only really able to train for two “quality” months, starting in August. However, Naval said, she used the mental fortitude she learned during her time on NU cross country to persevere in a shortened training timeframe and on race day. “You’re not going to feel your best every single mile of that 26.2, and there’s some digging deep and some pushing through that you need to do in order to get to that finish line,” Naval said. Beyond checking off a long-standing bucket list item, Naval said giving back to the community motivated her while running the marathon.

Naval, who works as a manager of global communications at Kraft Heinz, ran on the company’s team fundraising on behalf of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The GCFD combats food insecurity, providing food to more than 800 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs throughout Chicago and Cook County, according to the organization’s manager of communication, Camerin Mattson. So far this year, the Kraft Heinz GCFD marathon team has raised over $100,000 to support its cause, Mattson said. “We were just really grateful it was one of (our runners) because it helps raise awareness of the high incidence of food insecurity throughout Chicago, and how important it is for everyone to help,” Mattson said. Russell, who also ran the Chicago Marathon this year, said the pair doubled as training buddies, jogging along the lakefront and local Evanston trails this summer. He said these long runs were a wonderful way to spend time as a couple. “You’re out there in the woods running for like three hours, so it’s nice to have your best friend next to you, doing it together,” Russell said. Naval said the “village” of family members cheering for her and Russell kept her morale high on race day. Acting as a cheerleader herself, she tracked Russell’s race progress on the marathon app while she ran. When Russell finished with a time of 3:48:04, he said the first thing he wanted to do was call Naval. “I just told her that ‘I did it, and you can do it, too — finish the way you want to,’” Russell said. Naval said this mid-run phone call was the “most memorable” part of her race and gave her the boost she needed to join him under the celebratory red arch. After her one-in-a-million finish, she said the most rewarding part of her marathon journey was the progress she’s felt in herself as a runner. “When you first start training, maybe that first three to five miles can be really challenging and then when you finish, you ran 26.2,” Naval said. “I

Photo Courtesy of Allison Naval

Allison Naval (left) stands with husband David Russell (right) after finishing the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8. She is the one millionth runner in the marathon’s history to finish the race.

mean, that’s a huge achievement in and of itself.” As the millionth finisher, Naval said she got to meet the race’s winners, including Kelvin Kiptum, who broke the marathon world record that day with a time of 2:00:35. Coming off of the high of the big day, Naval said she “definitely caught the running bug.”

Russell and Naval said they both hope to run more marathons in the coming years. “I mean, she has free entry to the next (Chicago Marathon), so I think we have to,” Russell said. annabock2024@u.northwestern.edu

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Scholars present at Afrobeats symposium By YANYAN LI

www.dailynorthwestern.com Editor in Chief Avani Kalra

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the daily northwestern @yyanyanli1

Presenters from around the world gathered at Louis Hall Friday and Saturday for a symposium on contemporary African music. Titled “Afrobeats: Lower Frequencies of Contemporary African Sounds,” the symposium included a series of presentations on Afrobeats, a pop and dance music style largely credited to West African artists primarily in Nigeria and Ghana. Afrobeats music draws from a variety of genres throughout Africa and the African diaspora. Popular Afrobeats artists today include Burna Boy, Wizkid and Fireboy DML. In addition to 13 presentations, both in-person and virtual, the symposium included a tour of Northwestern’s Melville J. Herskovits Library for African Studies and a panel with Afrobeats artists Mike Abrantie and Alexandria Eregbu. The symposium was convened by performance studies and Black studies Prof. Dotun Ayobade and Ph.D. students Olabanke Oyinkansola Goriola and Nnaemeka Ekwelum. Goriola also presented a paper she co-authored with Ayobade about Burna Boy’s single “Monsters You Made” and its relation to the Nigerian #EndSARS movement. Ayobade said he believes discussing Afrobeats in an academic setting shows the genre is more than just musical entertainment. He hopes to show the intellectual side of contemporary African thought through the ways it’s expressed in pop culture, Ayobade added. “It’s not just the entertainment and the vibe and the bounce of (Afrobeats),” Ayobade said. “There are histories that one can and should account for … In many cases, artists are standing on histories and issues of cultural practice, histories and issues of musicmaking, and histories and issues of resistance and political organizing.” One of the symposium’s goals was to give space to the complexity and nuance of thought behind African popular culture, which often gets “flattened” when it makes its way to the West, according to Ayobade. University of Cape Town graduate student Amogelang Maledu presented on the saying “monate

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Ph.D. student Olabanke Goriola (top right) presented a paper co-authored by herself and performance studies and Black studies Prof. Dotun Ayobade. The paper analyzed Burna Boy’s single “Monsters You Made” and its relation to the Nigerian #EndSARS movement.

mpolaye,” which means “good times, kill me.” and how it connects to Amapiano, a type of dance-music originating in her home city of Pretoria, South Africa. She also discussed how South African youth embrace “excess” to comment on their continued marginality after the formal end of Apartheid. Like Aboyade, Maledu said she feels Afrobeats goes beyond entertainment. “It becomes important that even in academia, (Afrobeats) is taken seriously because often music is considered entertainment and it ends at that,” Maledu said. “But there’s so much that music signals outside of consumption and disposability in the way that popular culture is always considered.” Several presenters engaged with other presentations through Q&A sessions after their talks. Marquette University graduate student Ayodele Ibiyemi was both a presenter and an audience member. Ibiyemi, who presented on the impact of the African diaspora on Afrobeats, said it was especially

illuminating for him to hear University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. student Kingsley Okyere’s virtual presentation on “Ghanianess, Nigernianess, and Afrobeats’ Sonic Aesthetics.” “(Okyere) is a musicologist — it’s really good to see someone actually do the technical analysis of Afrobeats,” Ibiyemi said. “I’m a literary critic. I’m in the Department of English, so I’ve seen perspectives from musicologists, anthropologists and people all over media studies. But his panel was really illuminating for me.” Okyere’s Friday afternoon presentation concluded the day. Ibiyemi, like Ayobade and Maledu, echoed that Afrobeats is more than entertainment. “(Afrobeats) is a billion-dollar industry,” Ibiyemi said. “So, if something is that huge, then we should start talking about it as academics.”

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Frida (Weinberg junior Isadora Coco Gonzalez) and Alex (Communication senior Matheus Barbee) share a moment in the recently opened “Frida Libre” production.

‘Frida Libre’ celebrates youth ambition, Latine culture By JERRY WU

the daily northwestern @jerrwu

The Josephine Louis Theater resembled a children’s storybook coming to life when Northwestern theater group Imagine U opened “Frida Libre” on Friday. The show, which draws inspiration from the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, aims to bring Mexican and Latine culture to life through the Spanish language, according to show director Ismael Lara Jr. The cast includes six NU undergraduate students, who all identify as Latine. The music instrumentation is woven with trumpets and marimbas to celebrate Mexican heritage and traditions. The script and songs feature Spanish phrases and

dialogue. “What I love about the show … is that we will say things in Spanish, and there’s no translation,” said Weinberg junior Isadora Coco Gonzalez, one of two actors playing Frida in the show. “But by context, you understand what we’re saying. It doesn’t diminish the important cultural value of language and speaking Spanish onstage.” The show runs over three weekends between Oct. 20 to Nov. 5. During that run, a partnership between NU and Evanston/Skokie School District 65 guarantees every third grader in the district — more than 800 total — will watch the play. Communication senior Matheus Barbee, who portrays a young Frida’s childhood friend Alex, said he’s excited that “Frida Libre” might be some third graders’ first introduction to theater. “Getting to do it for kids is just a reminder of

how special and exciting it is to share music and storytelling with children who are so open to learning about the world,” he said. “Theater is such a powerful form for them to take in new information about what the world can be, what they can strive to be in their own lives.” The show caters to a young audience centering themes of imagination, bravery and transformation, as told through an emerging friendship between two young characters: Frida and Alex. Unlike Alex’s reserved persona, Frida embodies fearlessness and ambition, and dreams of one day becoming a doctor. They both attend a STEM school in Mexico City, where they are assigned as partners on a science project about metamorphosis. But in the process, Frida and Alex explore new sides to each other. “As they begin working together, they begin

sharing their largest imaginations with one another,” Lara said. “That allows for this beautiful collision and transformation where they see themselves in one another.” By the end of the show, their friendship inspires the pair to achieve their dreams. After daydreaming of becoming a luchador wrestler, Alex decides to become a doctor to save lives. Imitating Kahlo’s actual life, Frida dedicates herself to painting and sharing her art with the world. “I really hope that people gather from this play that no matter what hardships you’re experiencing or what barriers might be in your way, if you are fearless, you will find the inner strength and bravery and you can move through that situation,” Lara said. jerrywu2027@u.northwestern.edu

Alex Cooper’s ‘The Unwell Network’ is anything but By EMILY LICHTY

daily senior staffer @emilymlichty

Any member of Generation Z right now knows what it feels like to be unwell. It’s fitting that Alex Cooper gave this name to her new venture, The Unwell Network, a media outlet aimed at providing Generation Z with pop culture and lifestyle content. Cooper is currently the highest paid female podcaster in the industry, bagging at least $60 million for a three-year deal with Spotify. She’s clearly doing something right. Cooper launched The Unwell Network in August with the help of TikTok “It” girls Alix Earle and Madeline Argy. The two influencers, with a combined total of over ten million TikTok followers, are bringing their own podcasts to the network. However, it’s unlikely these women’s perspectives bring something new to Generation Z content. Cooper’s selection of two other white women as the face of the network makes it unrepresentative of its audience. The lack of diversity in Unwell makes it impossible for Cooper to accomplish Unwell’s goal to highlight “unique voices.” Cooper, a millennial who is commonly referred to as “Father Cooper” by her loyal “Daddy Gang” (I can’t believe I’m typing this right now) got her start with viral podcast “Call Her Daddy.” Cooper describes the show as “female locker room talk,” and it is chock full of advice and hilarious stories. Now, Earle is trying to do something similar with her show, “Hot Mess,” which she calls the podcast equivalent of a friend group debrief after a night out.

And, Earle’s podcast achieves this goal. It does sound like a casual conversation with a friend … if that friend had over three million followers on Instagram, a situationship with an NFL player and an estimated net worth of an estimated six million dollars. She opens the podcast describing herself as “a normal girl,” then launches a story of her meetcute with an anonymous NFL player that turned into a date on a helicopter. Last time I checked, most college students I know aren’t frequently taking spontaneous helicopter rides with famous athletes. So, it’s hard to believe that The Unwell Network truly is that “unwell.” Despite her horrifyingly messy college apartment, Earle doesn’t seem to be much of a “hot mess” at all. Argy’s podcast takes a similar tone to Earle’s. The show’s name, “Pretty Lonesome,” matches Earle’s in an attempt to show the audience that she is just a normal girl. However, “normal” is a stretch for Argy, too. Also known for her relationship with British rapper Central Cee, it’s unlikely Generation Z audiences will relate to these women. Watch them with a curiosity similar to the way people watch the Kardashians? Possibly. But that doesn’t seem to be what Cooper, Earle and Argy are going for. Both podcasts touch on Generation Z struggles: from ADHD diagnoses and eating disorders to Greek life struggles and friendship difficulties. However, these topics, untethered from expert opinions, are simply extensions of unfiltered, and occasionally harmful, content already on TikTok. I’m hesitant to underestimate Cooper. She has turned her raw conversations on sex into a media empire worth millions. “Call Her Daddy” has also

Illustration by Shveta Shah

Alix Earle and Madeline Argy have both released their podcasts for Alex Cooper’s new Unwell Network on Spotify.

found magic in Cooper’s ability to snag coveted interviews with some of pop culture’s most highly debated celebrities, including Hailey Bieber, John Mayer, Ariana Madix and Gwyneth Paltrow. There is no doubt that, regardless of the seemingly trivial nature of her conversations, Cooper knows what she is doing. Despite the network’s initial success, it seems

unlikely that, with their lack of relatability, Earle and Argy’s podcasts will have longevity. By setting the tone with these two works, I am curious to see if Cooper really can push “Call Her Daddy” into greater heights or if she should just focus on growing her own Daddy Gang, for now. emilylichty2026@u.northwestern.edu

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023

‘Gruesome Playground Injuries’ raw portrayal of life By LYDIA PLAHN

the daily northwestern @lydiaplahn13

“Gruesome Playground Injuries,” produced by The Jewish Theatre Ensemble, follows a 30-year friendship wrought with grief, arguments, mental illness, physical injuries and growing pains. Friends Kayleen and Doug, played by Communication junior Lola Bodé and Communication senior Carter Popkin, are opposites brought together by their injuries — both emotional and physical. Despite their ups and downs, the two characters in the 90-minute play keep coming back to each other. The show, written by Rajiv Joseph, is a timeless relationship story held together by strong central performances that will make the audience cry, laugh and reflect on their own experiences. These characters first appear as eight-year-olds in the school nurse’s office, discussing their ailments as they climb on set pieces like they’re on a jungle gym. This provides a first glimpse at the clear roles that Doug and Kayleen play. The latter is a quiet but grounding presence as opposed to Doug’s deliriously passionate persona that Popkin flaunts around the stage. Over time, Doug and Kayleen inevitably grow up, and their injuries become less “playground” and more gruesome. The duo drifts apart after Doug goes to

college, Kayleen’s father dies and a near-fatal injury lands Doug in the hospital. This in-depth look of change and growing up resonates especially deep with an audience of primarily college students. It reminded me that all of us are fragile and, in times of uncertainty, it is important to find something (or someone) to cling to. The play doesn’t run in chronological order, with the characters jumping from ages 8 to 23 and back to 13, creating a dizzying perspective for the viewer. These jumps are sometimes jarring, as the viewer goes from playful scenes about school dances to darker adult discussions. Still, Bodé and Popkin always bring the crowd back with clear portrayals of Doug and Kayleen. Even as years pass and the actors put on change after change of clothes, the audience is always reminded of who these characters are. They seldom steer away from the trope that Doug is the loud, always injured, physical comic, while Kayleen is the quieter, sarcastic friend, always ready to listen and chime in. It is a feat for Popkin and Bodé to command the stage for 90 minutes, but they do not stop at keeping the crowd’s attention. The actors give emotional, relatable performances that do not leave viewers yearning. In a play with just two characters, other elements of the show play their own vital roles, something the set and music choices do well. Flowers taped to the Shanley walls with bandaids

Zhizhong Xu / The Daily Northwestern

The Jewish Theatre Ensemble’s “Gruesome Playground Injuries” shows us a beautiful, intense relationship that can withstand all the messy, hard parts of life.

adorn the set, where every piece has more than one function as the play goes on. For example, early on in the show, one piece functions as a swing for the characters. Later, it becomes a hospital bed. Every piece of the set captures the contradiction between the whimsy and playfulness of childhood with the rawness and pain of growing up. The bare bones set does a great job of not detracting from the performances while giving the actors something to build off of. Doug and Kayleen’s relationship tows the line

between rom-com-esque scenes to gut wrenching arguments that bring you back to reality. At moments, you could be watching a romantic comedy in a theater — but just when viewers begin to think that things might just work out for the two, gory injuries and the realities of life always get in the way. “Gruesome Playground Injuries” reminds us that life is gross, messy, complex, and hard, but it gets a little easier when you find someone to go through it with. lydiaplahn2027@u.northwestern.edu

Riley Green highlights country fun in new album By SHUN GRAVES

the daily northwestern @realshungraves

Riley Green takes his swagger living like a downhome country boy seriously, so much so that he seldom enjoys it. But when he does, you’re in for a darned good time. The country artist’s second full length album, “Ain’t My Last Rodeo,” was released Friday and packs a plethora of slow burning songs nodding to well worn boots, old Chevrolets and Hank Williams. The real magic, though, happens when Green picks up the pace and brings some “uptown stuff ” to the record. Take “Copenhagen In A Cadillac,” a self-written honky-tonk tune reminiscent of George Jones. Green joins country and hip-hop artist Jelly Roll, the genrebending performer who has recently collaborated with several country artists, on this refreshingly traditional track with a twist. In the song, Jelly Roll recalls listening to both Lynyrd Skynyrd and rapper The Notorious B.I.G.: “I’m a little hillbilly and a little O.G.” Green chimes in with more ironic rejoinders, and before you know it, you’re bouncing to a honky-tonk piano and steel guitars that sound so classic you can only laugh at the ridiculous lyrics. His duet with Luke Combs, “Different ’Round Here,” served as the album’s primary single. It’s a

rehash of the same song from Green’s debut, also titled “Different ’Round Here,” released in 2019. Combs adds some star power to his ode to hard work and small-town life, but it doesn’t compare to standards like “A Country Boy Can Survive” by Hank Williams Jr. But maybe that’s what draws fans to Green in the first place. Much of his small discography celebrates quaint but powerful themes like small-town patriotism and a well-mannered upbringing. Early hits like Green’s breakout single “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” attest to that appeal. Green still lives in his hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama — a small town with a population of 14,385 in 2020 — a far cry from the commercial pressures of Nashville’s Music Row. Even so, he seems to struggle with some of those big city, big money pressures. He opens “Ain’t My Last Rodeo” with “Damn Country Music,” a poignant slow-burner about the never-ending pull of making music: “It’s a neon fever for a small-town dreamer / Tells you everything you have is worth losin’.” Here, Green appears at his most relatable and honest. Further into the album, Green repeats these themes — plus the obligatory nods to grandpas and dirt roads — to varying success. Sometimes, despite traditional instruments, the production can sound commercial. Other times, Green will make you nostalgic for the beat-up trucks and childhood guitars you never had.

Green remains a relatively new artist. A few EPs preceded his debut album, which helped win him New Male Artist of the Year from the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2020. But since “Different ’Round Here,” he has only released an occasional single or EP. Compared to bigger artists like Combs and

Morgan Wallen who have released multiple albums during that span, Green has released music at a slower pace. But for someone who appreciates the smaller things in life, a sparse release schedule might suit a down-home country boy just right. shungraves2027@u.northwestern.edu

Shveta Shah/The Daily Northwestern

Country artist Riley Green shines best when he has fun with his down-home swagger on his new album, “Ain’t My Last Rodeo,” released Oct. 15.

Troye Sivan’s new album bursts with queer joy and desire By SOPHIA ZHANG

the daily northwestern

Troye Sivan’s third studio album “Something To Give Each Other” pulses with the electricity of pleasure, queerness and of course, sex. One of few to successfully make the crossover from teen YouTuber to chart-topping artist, Sivan gained popularity with his iconic “Coming Out” video in

2013. His first two albums, “Blue Neighbourhood” and “Bloom,” came out in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Five years and one long-term relationship later, “Something to Give Each Other” carves Sivan into his own niche of pop that is mature, confident and charismatically hedonistic. The release of the “One Of Your Girls” music video accompanied the album on Friday. In the video, Sivan performed in full drag while draped over heartthrob Ross Lynch, a casting choice

Illustration by Yash Markendey

Singer-songwriter Troye Sivan jolts back into the music scene with an album that is dazzling in its exuberance.

that sparked controversy for its lack of body diversity. Rather than a display representative of the general population, Sivan opted for someone who is representative of the ideal. This is not Sivan’s only controversial artistic work, as he was recently featured in HBO’s “The Idol,” which received backlash for violent, misogynistic and sexualized depiction of characters. The video and the album both barely feel tethered to reality. The track itself, however, is grounded as it takes on the gay trope of pining over a straight man, which it captures in a Y2K vocoder and beats typical of Charli XCX. Understated yet punchy, “One Of Your Girls” captures Sivan at his finest. Sivan’s two singles on the album are sharp and carnal in their production. “Rush” and “Got Me Started” amassed virality on social media, with the former inducing a rush through high tempos and metallic vocals and the latter sampling “Shooting Stars” by the Bag Raiders. Both evoke an image of a sweaty, claustrophobic rave and deliver sexual and emotional liberation above dancey house beats. The album’s second track, “What’s The Time Where You Are?” is not dissimilar in sound with its confident take on long-distance relationships. In that same vein, the penultimate track, “Honey,” is electrified with Sivan’s indulgence in a rave, demurred by feather-light vocals. Sivan hasn’t totally relinquished the soft simplicity of his past discography; other tracks of the album give the listener some room to breathe. The boozy “Still Got It” is a bruised ballad about the one that got away. The song is backed by guitars and a Frank Ocean-esque church organ. “Can’t Go Back, Baby” is a nostalgic break-up song that is as nightmarish as it is dreamy. A folksy vocal sample of Jessica Pratt’s “Back, Baby” creates a contrast of visceral one-liners to gauzy vocals, giving the track a haunting quality.

“Silly” takes desire and distorts it by reveling in a The Weeknd-esque haze. A blend of delicate and seductive vocals accompanies a mix of Spanish and English with Guitarricadelafuente on “In My Room.” The last track, “How To Stay With You,” feels retro in its grittier vocal delivery, spunky saxophone, keyboard line and lyrics reminiscent of The Beach Boys. In “Something To Give Each Other,” Sivan dances the line of tension between what we desire and what we feel with a nuanced, delicate exploration of lust and male hypersexuality. The album is a kaleidoscopic look at sweetness and hunger, an intoxicating snapshot of a queer artist rejoicing in sexuality in all its forms. sophiazhang2027@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment Editor Elena Hubert Assistant Editors Emily Lichty Mary Randolph Design Editors Danny O’Grady Paloma Leone-Getten

6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023

VACANCY

FIELD HOCKEY

affairs at UL Research Institutes. “That sort of live, work, play concept that you have in a city like Evanston is actually really attractive to us as an employer.” Delphos said UL will bring 150 to 200 people to the top four floors of the Orrington Plaza office tower. Though UL will continue its hybrid work schedule of two to three days a week of in-person work, she added, the office will feature wellness rooms and an open cafe. “It’ll be interesting for us to see the appetite for people to do more than what the requirement is,” Delphos said. As business districts across the region work toward economic recovery, initiatives like experiential retail — where customers pay for an experience rather than go shopping — have proved promising for the Loop and beyond, where the Museum of Ice Cream and other attractions have boosted foot traffic. In downtown Evanston, retail vacancies have also remained higher than they were before the pandemic.

conference championship since 2013. The ‘Cats have a chance to secure their first outright Big Ten title since 1994 against No. 9 Maryland on Thursday. “It’s unbelievable,” coach Tracey Fuchs said. “It’s the one thing the seniors haven’t done — win a Big Ten (regular season) championship or tournament — so I’m so proud of them.” Two days before NU’s double overtime clash with Rutgers, the ‘Cats traveled to University Park, Pennsylvania, to face No. 16 Penn State. Behind a pair of goals from senior midfielder Lauren Wadas, NU left Happy Valley with a 14th consecutive victory. Fuchs said the ‘Cats, who were outshot 11-8, didn’t play their best game. But plays from Wadas and senior goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz, who registered a season-high eight saves, ultimately persevered. “We didn’t have our best performance Friday,” Fuchs said. “But we were still able to generate corners and shots and find ways to win, even when we’re not performing great. That’s a sign of an amazing team.” Fresh off Friday’s victory, NU traveled to Piscataway, New Jersey, for the second game of the weekend. Fuchs said the team’s play Sunday against Rutgers was “resilient” — an apt characterization given its comebacks in both regulation and the shootout. The Scarlet Knights nabbed an early 1-0 advantage following a goal from midfielder Paulina Niklaus. The ‘Cats were held without a score for three quarters before freshman back Ilse Tromp brought NU level in the final frame. With 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, graduate student midfielder Alia Marshall and junior midfielder Lauren Hunter teed up Tromp on a penalty corner. The Dutch international’s ensuing shot was emphatic: a low, screaming strike into the backboard, tying the game 1-1. “When she puts it on goal, it’s really hard to block because it comes up in the air … so we know (the shot is) either going to go in or we’ll get a rebound,” Fuchs said of Tromp’s penalty corner shots.

From page 1

Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern

Two UL organizations will move their headquarters to Evanston, marking a bright spot as the city sees an uptick in downtown office vacancies.

Zalmezak said experiential retail and converting office space to other uses could prove seminal for the future of downtown. “Downtowns are a place where people gather, and where people see each other and people share with each other,” Vick said. “I don’t think

downtowns are going away. I think there is a constant ebb and flow of downtown vitality. Different things impact it. But at the end of the day, I think downtowns are part of our human experience.” shungraves2027@u.northwestern.edu

YAMO

From page 1

encouraging community. “We have our little miniature families,” she said. The impact the show has on student actors and directors goes beyond just being a fun experience: it also influences their future endeavors. Being a director and writer for the show gave Bond the confidence to try out aspects of theater besides acting. During his first year at Northwestern, he hopes to join a comedy group. “I never considered myself somebody who could write or direct, and now that’s something that I would totally want to try again,” Bond said. Some students, however, have criticized the show for lacking diversity in the cast. “For two years in a row, I’ve been the only Black person on YAMO Dance,” Purcelli said. She added that no other Black people auditioned for the Dance company this year. Puricelli views this as an opportunity to do more outreach, and she hopes to encourage more students from all backgrounds to audition for

Illustration by Lily Ogburn

“Stage Fright” is the theme of Evanston Township High School’s 66th production of YAMO.

the show. Herbert echoed this sentiment, saying the ETHS theater department’s goal is to find and feature new voices. As the show works toward this goal, Puricelli emphasized the influence being part of the 66th production of YAMO

has on her. “It’s an honor because any form of art that’s digital or there’s copies of, it’s special, but it’s not one of a kind,” Puricelli said. “YAMO is special.” anaviprakash2027@u.northwestern.edu

The two squads played 31 more minutes of scoreless hockey before a penalty shootout commenced. Despite Halsey’s opening tally, Rutgers converted its first three looks, opening up a 3-1 advantage following misses from Wadas and graduate student midfielder Lindsey Frank. Freshman forward Olivia BentCole maneuvered around Howard to shrink the deficit to one. A save from Skubisz and a conversion from junior midfielder Lane Herbert, NU’s fifth and final shooter, knotted the shootout score at 3-3. With all five ‘Cats penalty shots accounted for and the scoreline level, the Scarlet Knights had a chance to bag the game winner. Midfielder Ava Cickavage dribbled at Skubisz, with the NU goaltender making a sliding save to stop the first shot before Cickavage scooped the rebound into the back of the net. Rutgers celebrated an apparent victory as the ‘Cats trotted off the field — their quest for a Big Ten title seemingly stymied. But upon review, the officials ruled that the ball did not cross the line before eight seconds — the time allotted for an offensive player to score in a penalty shootout — negating the Scarlet Knights score and sending the shootout into sudden death. Skubisz made a pair of saves on the ensuing Rutgers attempt before Halsey’s tally secured the win and a conference title. “We knew that Rutgers has an amazing shootout team,” Fuchs said. “They’ve been in a few this year and we haven’t been in any. But everyone stepped up. (Bent-Cole) needed to score and then (Skubisz) needed to make a few saves. So that (win) felt really, really good.” After facing a pair of top-20 opponents in a span of 48 hours, Fuchs said the team was rightfully exhausted. But, eight quarters, two overtime periods and one shootout later, the ‘Cats were flying back to Chicago with one additional passenger: a Big Ten trophy. “It’s been an amazing run so far, but as (the team) said: We’re not done yet,” Fuchs said. alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

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

ACROSS 1 Circle dance at a Jewish wedding 5 Asparagus units 11 Over-the-top actor 14 Not worth debating 15 “That may be true. However ... ” 16 CNN’s “__ Longoria: Searching for Mexico” 17 *Holders of small liquor servings 19 Put on TV 20 Protective feature of a work boot 21 Tosses in 22 Large body of water 23 Filly sound 26 Sit a spell 29 *Facial feature of Frosty the Snowman 34 Suffix with prop35 “Barefoot Contessa” host Garten 36 Play divisions 37 Ill-suited 40 Charity URL ending 42 Natty necktie 43 Private pupils 45 Singer Yoko 47 Tint 48 *Theater buff’s memento 50 Shoe bottom 51 Vim and vigor 52 “To Kill a Mockingbird” novelist Harper 54 Gaga review 56 Pop star Christina known as the “Voice of a Generation” 61 Valuable rock 62 Arriving with great speed, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues are doing? 65 Respectful title 66 Street crosser 67 Tot 68 Billboards, e.g. 69 Polite titles 70 Mount of Greek myth DOWN 1 Letters on a British ship

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

10/23/23

By Steve Faiella

2 __ and aahs 3 Tooth anchor 4 Bear witness (to) 5 College course outlines 6 __ moss: gardening material 7 Canadian fuel giant 8 Not in class 9 Deeply regret 10 MN and NM 11 *Top dog 12 Enthusiastic 13 “The War of the Worlds” planet 18 “Gosh!” 21 Choreographer de Mille 24 Dawn goddess 25 Native of ancient Peru 26 “Something To Talk About” singer Bonnie 27 Listless feeling 28 *Upholstery protectors 30 Card game with an edition for colorblind players 31 Fortuneteller’s card 32 South Korean capital

Saturday’s Last Issue Puzzle Puzzle Solved Solved

33 Lauder of makeup 38 Grade of black 64-Down 39 Overflow (with) 41 Stocky antelope 44 Fuel additive brand 46 Does a favor for 49 Disgraced 50 Taken care of 53 Yalie

10/23/23

54 “Alita: Battle Angel” star Salazar 55 Extremely dry 57 Actress Gershon 58 E pluribus __ 59 “The Americans” actor Matthew 60 NASA go-aheads 62 Pic taker 63 Reproductive cells 64 Steeped beverage

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

or allow aid through its crossing with Residents held hostage blockade Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. According to a spokesperson for Hamas’ by Hamas released on armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam BriJudith and Natalie were released for humanitarian grounds gades, “humanitarian reasons,” as Judith is reportedly Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Evanston who were taken hostage by Hamas Oct. 7, have been released, the Israeli government confirmed Friday. The two were visiting family members in Nahal Oz, Israel when Hamas attacked, and have not been heard from since Oct 7. Officials later confirmed that Judith and Natalie were among the nearly 200 hostages Hamas had taken to Gaza. In response to the Oct. 7 attack, Israel declared war on Hamas, and conflict in the region has since escalated, with thousands of Palestinians and Israelis killed or wounded in the ongoing violence. Israel has blockaded and launched air strikes in Gaza, and has said it will not end the

in poor health. A spokesperson for Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) told the Chicago Tribune Friday that Judith and Natalie are with Israeli Red Cross representatives. The two have reportedly crossed over from Gaza to Egypt and are receiving medical attention. The capture of Judith and Natalie Raanan prompted an outpouring of support from the Evanston community in the days following their disappearance from Israel. The mother and daughter are congregants at Evanston Chabad, and Natalie, 17, is a recent graduate of nearby Deerfield High School. — Lily Carey

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Meir Hecht

Judith (left) and Natalie (right) Raanan. The mother and daughter have been released for “humanitarian reasons,” officials confirmed Friday.

NU Graduate Workers reach three tentative agreements on Thursday Northwestern University Graduate Workers reached three tentative agreements with the University at their tenth bargaining session Thursday. The first agreement — a discipline and discharge article — establishes a right to union representation in investigatory interviews, a grace period before dismissal and protection from undue degree withholding. NUGW also secured a workload, which provides guardrails for regular work hours, mandatory meetings and required office hours. The newly introduced labor management committee article establishes a joint committee between NUGW and NU’s administration, dedicated to discussing issues of concern. “This gives us an important recourse for resolving current and future issues that may arise, including our ongoing concern around the University’s unwillingness to provide us with an upto-date and accurate list of members of the bargaining unit,” NUGW’s bargaining update reads. NUGW also released new economic proposals at the bargaining table Thursday, bargaining committee member Elisabeth Latawiec said in a video uploaded to the NUGW Instagram page. “It’s so exciting to have these economic

Illustration by June Woo

NUGW advocates for an inclusive, democratic working environment, according to its mission statement webpage.

proposals on the table, but we don’t want to forget about the issues we’re still fighting for,” bargaining committee member Esther Kamm said in the video. Including the agreements reached Thursday, the labor union has reached 19 of its 32 article negotiation agreements since bargaining began 139 days ago. Once all sections of the contract

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have reached a tentative agreement status, NUGW members will vote on whether to approve or reject the entire contract. Kamm said the group is prepared to fight for several critical outstanding issues including strong non-discrimination language, the ability to file a grievance after or in addition to the University process and a union shop where universal membership ensures universal

participation and protection. NUGW advocates for an inclusive, democratic working environment, according to its mission statement. NUGW’s next bargaining session will take place Nov. 1 and address two language proposals on union security and nondiscrimination. — Nora Collins

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SPORTS

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Monday, October 23, 2023

VOLLEYBALL

NU beats Michigan 3-2, ends first half of conference By POOJA KANTEMNENI

the daily northwestern

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and it got chilly in Evanston just in time for a Saturday rematch with Northwestern’s maize and blue foe — a Michigan squad that prevailed 3-1 the last time the two teams faced. The Wildcats (10-10, 4-6 Big Ten) took the first set but surrendered the next two to the Wolverines (3-16, 1-9 Big Ten). NU then snagged the final two tightly contested sets, avenging its loss from

two weeks prior. Graduate student outside hitter Maddy Chinn and sophomore outside hitter Averie Hernandez led the way with 11 kills each, with Hernandez contributing a career-high four aces. “(Hernandez) did an awesome job with her serving,” coach Shane Davis said. “She kept the pressure on and allowed us to point score.” Hernandez wasn’t the sole underclassman with a statistically significant showing. Sophomore middle blocker Kennedy Hill contributed eight blocks and five kills,

while freshman defensive specialist Gigi Navarrete tallied three aces. Hill said the team’s underclassmen intended to make an instant impact early in the season. “ We made a pact at the beginning of the season here,” Hill said. “We wanted to learn how to finish the game and make Northwestern a better team.” The ‘Cats showed that improved ability to close games on Saturday, despite some mid-matchup missteps. After winning their first set 25-13 on a Hernandez kill, NU proceeded to drop the next

two by a combined 15-point margin. Defensive lapses plagued NU, and it began to look like Michigan would record its second conference victory of the season. Although the Wolverines outscored the ‘Cats 13-8 to begin the fourth set, NU eventually climbed back and tied the game with a Hernandez ace, forcing a Michigan timeout. Despite the pause, the ‘Cats maintained their momentum and clinched a 28-26 victory, courtesy of a Hill and Chinn joint block. “Set four got really, really tight,” Davis said. “We battled

MEN’S SOCCER

back and got ourselves in a position to swing that one.” The Wolverines went ahead 5-3 at the start of the fifth set, prompting Davis to call a timeout. The pause proved effective, the ‘Cats outscored their opponents by six and secured a 3-2 match victory. Senior middle blocker Leilani Dodson attributed the win to NU’s “scrappy” playstyle. “That’s something we really pride ourselves on,” Dodson said. “Our three littles, Gigi, Ellee and Drew, worked really hard all week during practice to be scrappy for us and put us in good situations.”

Dodson tallied 10 kills and four blocks, adding to her sizable team-lead in blocks. This match marked the end of NU’s first half of conference play. The ‘Cats will head to Columbus to take on Ohio State (7-12, 4-6 Big Ten) on Wednesday. “Coming back like this and having both the bench and the people on the court coming back and having the fortitude to win is something huge for us,” Hill said. “I think we are going to carry this into the next game for sure.” poojakantemneni2026@u.northwestern.edu

FOOTBALL

Northwestern loses to Penalties lead to loss in Nebraska Michigan state Friday By AAYUSHYA AGARWAL

By COLIN CAPECE

the daily northwestern @colincapece

A poor first half on both sides of the ball ultimately sunk No. 21 Northwestern in a 2-1 loss against No. 20 Michigan State Friday. The Wildcats suffered their second consecutive defeat and fell to fourth in the Big Ten table with two regular-season conference games remaining. “A tie probably would have been fair in both of these two games, but we made two defensive mistakes and gave up goals on both mistakes,” coach Russell Payne said. “So it’s us versus us.” The first goal NU (9-2-3, 3-2-1 Big Ten) surrendered was a product of some misfortune, as a shot inside the penalty area by Michigan State (7-0-6, 3-0-4 Big Ten) forward Richie Ludwig found the hand of freshman defender Fritz Volmar. Spartans midfielder Sean Kerrigan sent graduate student goalkeeper Jackson Weyman to the left while burying his penalty kick in the bottom right corner. The second goal the ‘Cats conceded was the result of an errant back pass attempt by freshman defender Owen Noverr. The center back tried to volley a bouncing ball to Weyman, but left his pass short and too far to Weyman’s right. The goalkeeper sprinted out of the net to try and clear the ball away, but found himself too far out of position when the ball was picked up by Michigan State forward Jake Spadafora. The sophomore played a square pass across the 18-yard line to a charging Ludwig, who guided the ball into the top corner as Weyman tried to sprint back into position. However, NU rallied from an ugly first 45 minutes to quickly cut into the

Spartans’ lead during the early stages of the second half. In the 51st minute, junior midfielder Collin McCamy sent a cross into the penalty area that bounced to graduate student forward Ugo Achara Jr. His first shot was blocked, but his second attempt snuck under the outstretched right hand of Michigan State goalkeeper Zac Kelly. The ‘Cats nearly came away from the game with a tie and a crucial point. Volmar sprinted toward the goal with five seconds remaining, but his last-second shot was pushed away by Kelly. Michigan State was able to neutralize NU’s midfield in the first half with some relentless on-ball pressure, taking away the team’s ability to find its forwards in dangerous positions further up the field. Payne gave credit to how hard the Spartans worked to close down any available space to turn in the first half. “They’re a very good transitional team, and against most of the teams we’ve played this year, we’ve been able to turn with the ball and keep going up the field, but they weren’t allowing us to do that.” Payne said. Payne said he made a tactical adjustment in the second half, subbing in junior midfielder Paul Son and playing him as a striker to put more pressure on Michigan State’s back line. The move worked immediately, as the ‘Cats put two quality shots on the frame before Achara’s goal. But, ultimately, NU could not come up with an equalizer. “The way we played in the second 45 minutes, it was Northwestern soccer,” Payne said. “It was all the things we wanted to do in the first half, so if we play that way against Indiana Tuesday, we’ll have a good night. But we can’t afford to have two different halves.”

daily senior staffer @aayushyagarwal7

LINCOLN, Neb. — For Northwestern to win an away game at Nebraska, its offense needed to have a low margin of error. When graduate student quarterback Ben Bryant was ruled out early Saturday morning, junior quarterback Brendan Sullivan needed to ensure his offense didn’t surrender the same amount of miscues as it did versus Howard. Yet, against the Cornhuskers (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten), the Wildcats (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) failed to reach the end zone and were forced to settle for three field goals. And, in a 17-9 loss, a touchdown would’ve been a game changer. Self-inflicted wounds specifically plagued NU’s offense all-afternoon long. One of the main issues Saturday was the offensive line’s inability to provide Sullivan adequate time in the pocket. “We’ve got to continue to find ways to stay efficient, whether it is through the pass game or the run game and stay ahead of the sticks,” Braun said. “The reason we stalled in some of those redzone drives was because we were going backwards.” Sullivan never looked comfortable while dropping back to pass. With the ‘Cats trailing from the second quarter onwards, the offense needed to rely on the passing game far more than normal. The ‘Cats offense was set up perfectly to start the game. The defense forced two interceptions in the first

five minutes, giving NU the ball in Nebraska territory on two of its first three offensive drives. Yet, both drives ultimately stalled in the same manner: costly sacks and tackles for loss. These plays forced interim head coach David Braun to elect to attempt a field goal or a punt. NU left with only three points from the two possessions. “It’s something we’re going to continue to harp on,” Braun said regarding his offense’s inability to finish off drives that started with excellent field position. “We’ve got to find ways to turn (those drives) into seven points.” The ‘Cats offensive line couldn’t take advantage of the defense’s opportunities and did not feed on the pressure. While Sullivan kept the game within striking distance after large yardage gains, his attempts to lead a comeback late in the fourth quarter were unsuccessful. Redshirt senior wide receiver Bryce Kirtz, who hauled in a 66-yard reception and set up the ‘Cats inside Nebraska’s 10-yard line only to settle for a field goal, spoke on the offense’s self-inflicted wounds. “It’s frustrating because you want to capitalize after big plays like that,” Kirtz said. “It takes the momentum away, and it’s hard to bounce back from that. We’ve got to make sure we’re focused in practice and do not make those mistakes and shoot ourselves in the foot.” The offensive line continuously felt the pressure from Nebraska’s pass rush as the game continued, allowing five sacks in the fourth

quarter and eight total. Braun acknowledged that it will take a collective effort by the offense to limit the sacks going forward. “The offensive line plays a critical role in (preventing sacks) but so do the running backs, the wide receivers and the quarterback,” Braun said. “We have to take full ownership as an offense to get ahead in games and run the ball so we can melt the clock.” W hile sacks hindered the ‘Cats ability to generate offensive momentum, the offensive line inflicted penalties throughout the second half that were equally instrumental in their struggles. Overall, NU committed 8 penalties for 75 yards, which directly resulted in a mere 3-for-15 third-down conversion rate. These penalties led to Sullivan having to deal with third-andlong situations, with low chances of continuing drives. And, in a game where each team punted seven times, the field position was of the utmost importance. Yet, through these self-inflicted wounds, NU’s offense saw itself moving back consistently. Despite an excellent field position in Nebraska’s territory multiple times in the second half, NU left points off of the board. “We’re going to put this group back up and get to work on Monday,” Braun said. “This group is up to the challenge. I am excited to see some of the things we haven’t seen yet from this team and continue to push this group to be at their best.” aayushyaagarwal2024@u.northwestern.edu

colincapece2024@u.northwestern.edu

Jorge Melendez/The Daily Northwestern

Angeli Mittal/The Daily Northwestern

Graduate student forward Ugo Achara Jr. leaps for an aerial duel against a Spartan. Northwestern fell to Michigan State 2-1 on Friday.

Junior offensive lineman Jackson Carsello gets set prior to a snap. The ‘Cats offensive line struggled in its 17-9 loss to Nebraska, allowing eight sacks and committing costly penalties.