The Daily Northwestern — October 29, 2020 by The Daily Northwestern

The Daily Northwestern Thursday, October 29, 2020

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Admin announce Winter returns University plans to bring back underclassmen By ISABELLE SARRAF daily senior staffer @isabellesarraf In a Wednesday email, University President Morton Schapiro announced plans to allow all undergraduates on campus this winter after most underclassmen were barred this fall. Northwestern’s campuswide positivity rate and overall experience this fall bolstered the decision to bring back all undergraduate students to campus in the winter, he said. For most of the fall, the positivity rate has been below .6 percent, but this week the University has seen an uptick to .92 percent. Schapiro added that the positive cases have mainly been among small clusters of students resulting from offcampus gatherings. Across Illinois, case numbers are continuing to rise — including the city of Evanston, which recorded its highest single-day case increase on Saturday. But

Schapiro said as long as the positivity rate “stabilizes” and doesn’t continue to increase, the University will “continue to support the COVIDrelated needs” of the NU community. All students who choose to come back to campus will be required to adhere to daily symptom checks and ongoing testing. The University also plans to repeat its modified quarantine, Wildcat Wellness, at the start of Winter Quarter from Jan. 3 to 17. After the quarantine period, the University will open limited in-person activities, including a small number of classes and student activities such as club and intramural sports. Though most academic and student services will be conducted remotely, Schapiro wrote that study spaces and the Norris University Center will be open. The University is working to “modestly” increase the number of inperson classes, he wrote. The University plans to increase the number and frequency of testing during the winter, including weekly testing for undergraduates » See WINTER, page 6

Illustration by Emma Ruck

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has resumed expunging low-level cannabis records after the pandemic delayed court operations.

Cannabis records cleaning continues

Cook County State’s Attorney office expunges up to 300 cases a week By DELANEY NELSON

daily senior staffer @delaneygnelson

After the pandemic delayed court operations, the Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s Office is now resuming the process of expunging low-level cannabis

convictions. Since the beginning of October, the office has expunged 300 cannabis convictions a week, according to a news release. The 2019 Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act legalized recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 years and over, created a social equity fund financed by cannabis

Hagerty decides to not run for re-election

Campus enters ‘yellow’ level as cases hit high

Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty will not be running for a second term in the city’s 2021 election, he announced in a Wednesday news release. Hagerty was elected in 2017 in an election filled with procedural concerns, mainly surrounding the city’s primary process. He succeeded former Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, who spent eight years in the role. Hagerty said his decision was made easier, in part, by the selection of a new city manager. Erika Storlie, who was formerly the interim city manager, was sworn into the role on Wednesday, and Hagerty said her appointment leaves the city in “good hands.”

» See HAGERTY, page 6

taxes and established a process of expungement for minor cannabis violations. Expungement is the physical destruction of a record, and means that one’s criminal record is purged from public record and all places to where a criminal record would be reported, including the Illinois State Police and the Federal

Daily file photo by Alison Albeda

Mayor Steve Hagerty. Hagerty announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election.

Northwestern’s COVID-19 dashboard has been updated with a new framework that monitors the level of campus activity based on factors like positivity rates, growth in cases and testing availability. The current campus activity level is “yellow,” which means the University is seeing an increase in positive cases, small clusters of positive cases or unfavorable local trends. In response to a “yellow,” the University will see no increases in in-person activity and increased testing or reduced activity for targeted populations. The University reported 49 new positive cases from Oct. 19 to 25 — the highest ever weekly case count — and a positivity rate of .92 percent. At the bottom of the dashboard, the University

Bureau of Investigation. Automatic expungement applies to individuals with a Class 4 felony or misdemeanor involving 30 grams or less of cannabis. While automatic relief is only eligible for non-violent offenses, individuals with violent offenses can file a » See EXPUNGEMENT, page 6 notes that confirmed case counts may include the same individuals under more than one category if they have multiple university roles. Starting Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has implemented stronger COVID-19 restrictions on Suburban Cook County in the wake of increased positive cases. Evanston saw its highest singleday case increase on Saturday. In a news release, Mayor Steve Hagerty said the rise in Evanston’s cases was not the result of a disproportionate spread among the NU community. In a Wednesday email, University President Morton Schapiro announced plans to allow all undergraduate students to campus this winter despite the current rise in cases. He said the positive cases have mainly been among small clusters of students, many resulting from off-campus social gatherings. There have been few documented cases of on-campus spread among » See DASHBOARD, page 6

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020

AROUND TOWN Committee unanimously rejects luxury building plan By JASON BEEFERMAN

daily senior staffer @jasonbeeferman

The Planning & Development Committee unanimously rejected plans for a 17-story luxury building on Chicago Avenue on Monday. The development proposal, submitted by Horizon Realty Group, was once again shot down by the city of Evanston. The group has submitted four proposals for the same downtown property, with the first proposal in 2017. “I want to thank the community, because once again they’ve done their homework,” Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) said, citing community opposition to the high-rise development. “We’ve had three years of looking at the various iterations of this development, and there’s just nothing here that to my mind beats the standards in our zoning ordinance.” The proposed 215-unit complex was to be built on the east side of Chicago Avenue, between Church and Davis Street. Danny Michael, founder of Horizon Realty Group, said the structure was aimed for “residents seeking a higher end living experience that is not offered right now in Evanston.” The building faced strong opposition from Evanston residents, who saw the proposal as incompatible with the surrounding architecture. Residents said there were limited changes from the last time council shut down the proposal, and the developers did not address the problems the council had previously brought up. “The changes that followed the May 2018

POLICE BLOTTER Motor vehicle theft

A 41-year-old woman reported her vehicle stolen on Tuesday morning at 10:03 a.m. The woman, a Chicago resident, said she left her gray 2010 Toyota Camry running in the 1400 block of Chicago Avenue to make a delivery. When she returned, she saw the car

Daily File Photo by Noah Frick-Alofs

Ald. Judy Fiske (1st). Fiske spoke in opposition of a proposed development on Monday.

proposal are insufficiently responsive to the site plan’s concerns and grossly insensitive and very aggressive in relation to the established planning and zoning framers of the site,” said Dennis Harder, who is president of the condominium association 522 Church St., which is less than a block away from the proposed development. Harder also called the development’s proposed

public benefits “insufficient.” But Michael, Horizon’s founder, said the building would have had “overwhelming” financial benefits to the community. He estimated that the proposal would bring in $9 million to Evanston through future tax and revenues. “The alternative to the proposed project is to attempt to lease the existing, outdated, highly

being driven away, followed by a Lincoln SUV, she told Evanston Police Department. Police Cmdr. Brian Henry said an off-duty police officer witnessed the two cars speeding down Greenwood Street around the time the woman called EPD. In addition to the car, the woman lost her cell phone, driver’s license, multiple debit cards and some groceries, Henry said.

EPD does not have any suspects in the case.

Attempted motor vehicle theft

A 52-year-old Evanston man reported an attempted motor vehicle theft at some point between Saturday night and Monday night. The man said he parked his 2006 Jeep in the 700 block of South Boulevard at around 7 p.m. on Saturday. When he returned at around 11 p.m.

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unremarkable retail center to the next smoke shop, dry cleaners, cell company or nail salon that’s willing to take a chance on that location,” Michaels said. Horizon Realty already owns The Merion, a senior living community located just north of the proposed development. The company planned to name the high-rise “The Merion Legacy,” which would also be a complex targeted toward senior residents. Horizon Realty also committed $100,000 in cash to Evanston’s reparations fund as part of the proposal, which some residents raised concerns about. A direct commitment to the fund from a developer would have been a first, but residents questioned if the financial commitment functioned like a payto-play scheme. “We all need to understand the optics of that look very bad,” Fiske said. “Outside of this development. I think anyone would welcome donations to the reparations committee. But paired with this development… it just looks bad.” But Ald. Rainey (8th) and Ald. Rue Simmons (5th) pushed back, and said that any contribution to the reparations fund should be welcomed. “I think the reparations committee was thrilled to hear that somebody wanted to make a financial commitment to the reparations project,” Rainey said. “We are way beyond being paid to play, and it really was quite insulting and I don’t believe, having known Jonathan Perman (the spokesman for Horizon) for way over 20 years, that he was bribing us in any way shape or form.” jasonbeeferman@u.northwestern.edu on Monday, he said the vehicle was unlocked and appeared to be ransacked. The man told EPD a key was jammed into the ignition, Henry said, which indicated that someone may have tried to unsuccessfully strip the ignition. EPD does not have any suspects in the case. — Jacob Fulton

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020

ON CAMPUS Students protest outside EPD precinct By BINAH SCHATSKY

daily senior staffer @binahschatsky

Students led by NU Community Not Cops marched to the Evanston Police Department precinct Wednesday in honor of Walter Wallace Jr. — a 27-year-old Black man who Philadelphia police fatally shot Monday while he was experiencing a mental health crisis — and in solidarity with protests that have erupted in Philadelphia as a response. Wednesday marked the 17th consecutive day of action led by NUCNC demanding the abolition of University Police. After gathering at Arne and Mary Oldberg Park at the corner of Clark Street and Sherman Avenue, the group marched toward the EPD precinct. Students chanted and played the drums as music played on speakers. Because the action landed in the middle of a school day, Wednesday’s march attracted a smaller crowd — about 50 people — than in previous days. “There’s less of us, so that means we have to be very loud to make up for it,” one organizer said at the start of the march. The group was accompanied by at least 10 EPD

Schapiro announces advisory board, November police budget review

University President Morton Schapiro gave updates on Northwestern’s commitments to efforts in support of Black lives after a week of backlash to his condemnation of student protests. In a Tuesday email, Schapiro announced a new community safety oversight advisory board composed of faculty, staff and students. The board will aim to strengthen relationships with the University’s public safety team and campus

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and unmarked cars who followed the march and blocked traffic as marchers passed. When the group paused outside the EPD precinct, one car issued a warning over the intercom saying “local law will be enforced by citation or arrest.” When the group passed the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Davis Street on their way to the dispersal location, one Evanston resident leaned out his window brandishing a Trump 2020 flag. The group responded by playing “FDT (F--k Donald Trump)” by YG and Nipsey Hussle on the speaker. Sociology and African American Studies Prof. Mary Pattillo joined students at the beginning of the march and brought snacks before leaving to teach a class. She said she marched in support of the cause as well as the students. “I support divesting from Northwestern Police,” she said. “Northwestern doesn’t need a police department.” Pattillo added that as multiple departments have released statements in response to University President Morton Schapiro’s recent email condemning protests, it is hard to differentiate between these statements and actual support for the abolitionist cause. Outside the EPD precinct, group leaders thanked the crowd for showing up and expressed their solidarity with protests in Philadelphia, which have been

community, create transparency and trust, and give recommendations to administrators. University Police has had an advisory board in the past, which has convened to address racial profiling on campus and assess campus police efficiency. University Police Chief Bruce Lewis said the board meets twice a year and seats were extended to multiple campus organizations. Several representatives from those groups have told The Daily they didn’t know they were on the committee — those who did know said meetings did not occur on a regular basis. The University’s review of the UP budget by external consultants will continue through the fall, Schapiro wrote, but there was no estimate as to when the full public report would be shared.

escalating since Monday night leading to a citywide 9 p.m. curfew. As of Wednesday afternoon, a total of 172 arrests have been made and 53 police officers have been injured, CNN reported. “It is hard to be out here every single day,” one leader said. “It’s not fun to beg for your life, it’s not fun to beg for your humanity… I thank you all for being out here.” binahschatsky2022@u.northwestern.edu

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Wednesday marks the 17th consecutive day of action led by NUCNC demanding the abolition of University Police. When the group paused outside the EPD precinct, one car issued a warning over the intercom saying “local law will be enforced by citation or arrest.”

He added that an overview of the UP budget will be released by Nov. 16. Last week, Schapiro and other administrators committed to holding regular dialogues with student groups, including NU Community Not Cops. He added in the email that administrators plan to schedule a series of conversations on issues surrounding public safety, well-being and equity. “It is crucial that our eff orts to rectify instances of anti-Blackness and other discrimination be informed by the perspectives of our students and the world-class expertise of our faculty and staff,” Schapiro wrote.

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4 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020

A&E arts &

entertainment nt Courtesy of Amira K Photography

The cast and crew of How to Love during their first week of filming.

Communication alum wins grant for tennis web series By REBECCA AIZIN

daily senior staffer @rebecca_aizin

After watching Wimbledon and noticing how the ball runners were constantly hit by tennis balls, Northwestern alumnus Robert Cunningham (Communication ‘18) decided to start a comedic web series “How to L0ve” centering around the experiences of these behind-thescenes tennis workers as they run onto the court and pick up the balls. Cunningham grew up in the Atlanta suburbs as a queer kid who loved watching and playing sports. He loved playing tennis with his dad growing up, and the idea of making a series about the trials and tribulations of being a ball kid felt funny and right to him, he said. One of Cunningham’s goals after graduating from NU was to create his own project that would involve acting and writing. “As a Black, queer actor sometimes you don’t see the opportunities there, so it lit a fire under my ass,” Cunningham said. “I wanted to make an opportunity for myself and for my community of

peers and artists.” “How to L0ve” centers around three teenagers who reunite every summer to work as ball kids, and at the end of the summer, one kid is chosen to work at the US Open. Cunningham said since tennis is a very White elitist sport, the subtext of the show is showcasing Black athletes in places that weren’t made for them. Cunningham had one goal this year: to make and produce the series. But once the pandemic hit, the goal got a little harder to achieve. Funds were low and finding an affordable place to film, especially tennis courts, was proving difficult. Then, the singer Halsey chose Cunningham as a first-round recipient of her Black Creators Funding Initiative, an initiative to support Black artists, and his luck changed. With her help, Cunningham was able to expand the budget for the series and bring it to life, he said. “To get to speak with her, I felt almost guilty for how good of a mood I was in on a personal level,” Cunningham said. “She told me she chose my project for a reason — she is biracial and she said the story really resonated with her and taking up space as a Black person is important.” With Halsey’s support and her connections,

Cunningham and his crew got an opportunity to shoot at one of Chicago’s tennis clubs. As the weather grew colder, however, the club could not afford to let the team shoot during the day. As a result, “How to L0ve” will be filmed entirely at night. Devyn Johnson (Communication ‘18), director of the series, said the dedication of the team made the show an easy decision to ultimately make. “It’s just part of the job, you’re either going all hours of the night or all hours of the day,” Johnson said. “I’ve done stuff where we’re just putting in 12-hour days and that’s just normal.” Another concern the crew experienced was ensuring the safety of everyone on set and not worsening the spread of COVID-19. To combat this, they hired a COVID-19 supervisor that tests often between filming and checks that necessary documentation has been fulfilled. “We all miss doing what we love and are willing to have a swab stuck up or nose once or twice during the set to make it all happen,” Johnson said. Communication senior Rishi Mahesh joined the project as one of the youngest members of the cast. He said it was exciting to do stuff in a

new environment with new people since, during the pandemic, acting has been on hold and social interactions have been limited. While being one of the younger cast members was exciting, Mahesh said he felt more pressure to show up every day and not let the rest of the crew down. Despite his excitement, Mahesh still had his COVID-19 concerns. “I’m a little tiny Northwestern senior with very little professional experience here,” Mahesh said. “Am I going to forget something stupid? Am I going to show up and accidentally have COVID?” One of Cunningham’s goals with the project was to make it as diverse as possible, with a majority Black and brown cast and crew. He said he felt the space he created was an important and necessary one. “A huge thing people are realizing now is that we need to lift up Black art and Black voices, and even though it’s a comedy first and foremost, it has a deeper context that hopefully resonates with the right people,” Cunningham said. “We’re in such a dark, confusing time so I hope it can bring a little glimmer of joy and happiness.” rebeccaaizin2023@u.northwestern.edu

Arts organizations receive funding through EAC program By LAYA NEELAKANDAN

the daily northwestern

Musicians, museums, theatres and visual arts organizations make up some of the recipients of the 2020 Cultural Fund Grant Program awarded by the Evanston Arts Council. As arts-focused organizations pivoted their plans in response to the pandemic, the Cultural Fund Grant stepped up to support local organizations in creating a more vibrant and inclusive arts environment in Evanston. For recipient Evanston Young Artists, the grant means they can provide more opportunities for their students during the pandemic. Founded by David Cao (Bienen ’20), EYA strives to make music accessible to children in Evanston, especially those from low-income, underserved communities and communities of color. “We don’t want our students to ever think that they can’t succeed in classical music just because it’s a White-dominated industry,” said Patricia Tang (Weinberg ’20), the director of development at EYA. The group plans to use the grant money to invite artists from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to speak with the students, and provide opportunities for the students to perform in their own communities and be “cultural ambassadors,” Tang said. Since the onset of the pandemic, EYA has not been able to have in-person classes with their

students. “It’s a special thing to learn music one-onone, and that’s difficult on Zoom,” Cao said. “But because of Zoom, we’ve been able to make it more accessible to anyone who wants to join.” Cao and Tang said EYA finds the grant especially helpful because the organization is a “grassroots, student-run nonprofit,” and this is the first grant they have applied for and received. Another grant recipient, Evanston Made, a nonprofit group aimed at uniting Evanston artists,

had to find creative ways to give their members a platform for their artwork. “It was a lengthy process in March to figure out which events we could make virtual,” Co-Director Liz Cramer said. “We had to be really creative in how to bring in Evanston artists and give them a voice virtually.” To continue bringing art to the Evanston community during the lockdown, Evanston Made started a YouTube channel where they featured Evanston artists, professional development and

Courtesy of David Cao

Students perform for each other at an Evanston Young Artists performance before the pandemic. EYA is one of the 2020 recipients of the Cultural Fund Grant, which aims to create a more inclusive and vibrant arts community in Evanston through supporting local organizations.

guest speakers, Cramer said. The organization also launched creative ventures like “Art Under Glass” and a Google map for residents to make stops throughout the city to see art. They have also had pop-ups and other outdoor events like the Maker’s Market for the community. “It really was a nice relief for people who’d been unable to see art for a very long time other than through a glass window or on the computer screen,” she said. Evanston Made Board Member Evan Finamore explained that they will use the grant to create a robust professional development series specifically for artists of color. Currently, of the 310 members of Evanston Made, only 5% are Black, Indigenous, or people of color, according to the website. Finamore said that the grant will help the organization to engage not only the arts community, but also the broader community as a whole. “The professional development workshops will focus on ways to market their work, ways to monetize their artwork to make a living, how to photograph artwork and more,” Finamore said. She also added that this grant is not a “one-off grant” and that it is part of a larger ongoing effort to increase diversity and inclusion. “This is part of a broader initiative that we are embarking on in earnest to make our organization more inclusive,” Finamore said. “This grant is just one part of the journey.” laya@u.northwestern.edu

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020

Broadway actress presented with 2020 Alumnae Award By REBECCA AIZIN

daily senior staffer @rebecca_aizin

Heather Headley left her junior year at Northwestern fully expecting to return the following September. That year, she made her Broadway debut instead. Headley’s credits include “Ragtime,” “The Lion King” and “Aida,” for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in 2000. Most recently, Headley starred in television shows “Chicago Med” and Netflix’s “Sweet Magnolias.” Last week, Headley was presented with the 2020 Alumnae Award, an accolade that was a long time coming, Carolyn Krulee, president of the Alumnae of NU, said. When she moved to the United States at age 15 from Trinidad, Headley never would have expected the future that lay ahead of her. At NU, which she attended from 1993 to 1996, Headley began following her passion in the performing arts, starting with the Waa-Mu show. Professor emeritus Dominic Missimi, who directed the show, knew immediately that Heather was a talent like no other. “From the minute she walked in (to the audition), she was beautiful and elegant and then she opened her mouth and I thought it was perfection,” Missimi said. “In terms of talent, there is a great abundance of it, but what she has in equal abundance is a beautiful humanity.” It was the musical theater world that pursued Headley, rather than the other way around. The young actress got her first offer after her junior year of college to work in Ragtime, a new Broadway show at the time. The role would require her to drop out of college — a decision her mother was not too keen on — but one Headley ultimately decided would be best after speaking to Missimi and her other professors. “(At what point) does musical theater stop pursuing you, and you start running after it?” Headley said. “Something you love reckons you and you realize it’s calling my name and now

you’re chasing it.” Though her time at NU was cut short, Headley said it was integral in aiding her with the rest of her acting and professional career. She said even today, people are in awe and give her a certain level of added respect when they learn she attended NU. “Every part of your journey is a step and preparation for the other part,” Headley said. After her work on “Ragtime” and “The Lion King,” Headley took on the role of Aida, one she claims was her most challenging and rewarding to date. Her character went through every emotion during the three hour span of the show, from joy and anger to love and sadness, requiring Headley to experience a full arc of feelings throughout the performance. She said she felt a responsibility to give every audience the best show she could give them, which was challenging when she had to balance her physical health and personal life. “If I had to write a book about myself, she would get three chapters,” Headley said. “I had to grow to play Aida, and she grew me even more.” When preparing for a role, Headley said she always wants to make the characters as believable as possible and to hone in on what makes the characters human and why they act the way they do, even when playing a “bad guy.” While playing Aida, she focused on Aida’s character arc, to ensure she was able to bring her truly to life. Headley said her best advice for college students pursuing a career in theater is to always be prepared for the “no’s.” While “no” is heard in the theater industry disproportionately more often, it is important not to get discouraged, she said. “Every no leads to a yes and the ultimate yes is always coming,” she said. “You want to love what you do so much that you could perform for 10 people or 100,000 and it will be the same performance.” Though Headley’s career has proven to be extraordinarily successful, she still faced an incredible amount of negative feedback over the years and made difficult decisions to reject certain opportunities that came her way. Had

she said yes to everything, especially if she had not said no to NU, she would not be where she was today, Headley said. In 2018, Headley performed a benefit concert for Over The Rainbow Association, an organization that builds housing where people with severe physical disabilities can live independently. It was organized by Bienen professor and artistic director Nancy Gustafson. The concert was met with such an overwhelmingly positive response, Gustafson asked

her to do it again the following year and said she developed an admiration and respect for Headley along the way. “Headley is not only a world class singer and actress, she is also one of my heroes,” Gustafson said during Headley’s award reception. “When someone uses their gifts to inspire our youth, inspire our faith and lift our communities, these are the greatest heroes of all.” rebeccaaizin2023@u.northwestern.edu

Courtesy of the Alumnae Association

Heather Headley is the 2020 Alumnae Award recipient. The Tony award winning actress has credits in Broadway’s “The Lion King” and “Aida” as well as Netflix’s “Sweet Magnolias.”

Student documentaries premiere at September festival By MAIA PANDEY

the daily northwestern @maiapandey

Six NU student-produced documentaries premiered this September at the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival. Five were by Medill students and one was by a Northwestern University in Qatar student. Medill Prof. Brent Huffman worked with the creators of all six films to submit to the festival, which was delayed from March to September and ultimately held virtually due to the pandemic. Melissa Hovanes (Medill MSJ ’19), who worked on “Prime Time: A Rapper Battles the Machine” with two other students in Prof. Huffman’s graduate documentary class, said

her group took advantage of the postponement to reconnect with their subject, Chicago Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), who unseated a 36-year incumbent in 2019. Hovanes and her co-directors updated the film to include Vasquez’s work around the pandemic and racial justice in the past few months, she said. “From the beginning, I knew that Andre’s story was this really great way to tell a story about more systemic issues,” Hovanes said. “One of his major platforms throughout the campaign was this Civilian Police Accountability Council in Chicago, and that’s definitely a big part of what he’s doing now, especially in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.” Jessica Martinaitis (Medill MSJ ’19) also worked in Prof. Huffman’s class to film her documentary, “Recovering Motherhood,”

Courtesy of Jessica Martinaitis

A woman recovering from addiction holds her baby. Jessica Martinaitis (Medill MSJ ’19) followed the young mother for her film documenting the repercussions of a Wisconsin law that punishes mothers and pregnant women with substance abuse issues.

which follows three women in Madison, Wisc. recovering from addiction and living in fear of a Wisconsin law that punishes pregnant women suspected of using drugs. Martinaitis said she and her co-director traveled to Wisconsin several days a week for an entire quarter to forge relationships with the women and gain their trust. Unexpectedly, one of their subjects had disappeared for ten weeks right before they began filming. “Even though she had been clean, she had a lot of residual issues that come along with recovery — a lack of trust, a fear of judgment, going out of communication and pulling away,” she said. “We ended up filming her, but it took persistence and patience and just going out there and getting to know her, camera turned off.” Two of the five films were by Medill undergraduates, including “Reaching for Solid Ground,” which chronicles director Slade Warnken’s (Medill ’20) first trip home after beginning gender-affirming hormone therapy. Warnken and her group drove down to Kansas for a weekend in April 2019, filming over three days and then editing in the final two weeks of the quarter for Prof. Huffman’s class, she said. “My parents and I don’t talk about these things very much,” she said. “This documentary was an effort to create a space where all three of us were people that experienced gender in our own ways, and we all knew what it meant to have to define ourselves as man or woman, and to feel uncomfortable with that. It just created this common sense of understanding.” While she was the only NU-Q student featured this year, Mariam Al-Dhubhani (NU-Q ’18) also focused on issues closer to home with her film “In the Middle,” which follows a young Yemeni man forced to join the army after the collapse of the country’s economy left few other options. The documentary is Al-Dhubhani’s second to feature in the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival, and she said it’s important to her that American audiences see her work. “Yemen is known for famine or death or just another war in the Middle East,” Al-Dhubhani said. “And so it’s beautiful to see another human who is just like you, who is in love, who is educated, and he’s just facing different

circumstances. This is extremely important to break the stereotype of what Yemen is.” Because the United States has suspended granting visas to Yemeni citizens, Al-Dhubhani, who has won multiple awards at American film festivals since graduating, has not been able to meet any of her American audiences. “I wish there was a possibility to have a Q&A or reach more of the audience,” she said, “but despite the travel ban, despite everything that’s happening, it’s still an incredible win.” maiapandey@u.northwestern.edu

A&E arts & entertainment

Editor Rebecca Azin Assistant Editors Yonjoo Seo Jack Austin Designers Emma Ruck Carly Schulman Staff Laya Neelakandan Maia Pandey

6 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020

EXPUNGEMENT From page 1

petition to expunge. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office projects all cases between January 2013 and January 2020 to be expunged by 2021, and to complete expungement of all qualifying cannabis cases by 2025. The Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition has been fighting for racial equity in cannabis legalization. Alexandria Boutros, a leader in the coalition, said that while automatic expungement is a component of repairing harms done to Black and brown communities disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of marijuana, the group is pushing to expand the scope of expungement. She expressed concern about backlogs that would make individuals wait for possibly several years until their record is cleared. “We are fighting for expanding the automatic expungement to all criminal convictions,” Boutros said. “If there are White men that are making millions of dollars off of moving pounds of cannabis and growing pounds of cannabis, then there should not be

one person that’s criminalized for that still.” In Evanston, a 2019 report released by the city showed Black individuals made up 71 percent of cannabis arrests in the city and 57 percent of compliance tickets for possession of cannabis under 10 grams. White individuals made up 15 percent of arrests and 21 percent of compliance tickets.The Black population in Evanston is around 17 percent, whereas the White population is over 67 percent. Ina Silvergleid, a criminal remediation attorney at the Moran Center in Evanston said having a criminal record closes a lot of doors, especially in the fields of employment, housing and education. While Illinois employers aren’t supposed to take into account an individual’s criminal record when making a hiring or firing decision, Silvergleid said many employers do, and are unwilling to employ people with records. She said landlords often check records, which influences their decisions on whether or not to rent to someone. Silvergleid said this cannabis law is a way to start righting the wrongs of disproportionate criminalization of marginalized communities.

“Before they get out of their 20s, a third of our population has an arrest record,” Silvergleid said. “But then if you look at African-American men, 50 percent have an arrest record. Yet, when it comes time for somebody to apply for a job, we’re going to reject them because they have one little blimp on their background… Does it make sense to tarnish somebody’s reputation over cannabis?” The automatic expungement process can cause trouble for non-citizens, who are encouraged to seek advice about cannabis convictions from an immigration attorney. Brandon Williams, supervising attorney for the criminal records program at Cabrini Green Legal Aid, said if a person without citizenship admits to using cannabis, an illegal substance at the federal level, they can be denied entry into the United States. Further, according to Organized Communities Against Deportations, Illinois’ expungement does not affect federal immigration law, so if an individual seeking citizenship shows immigration officials a record with missing information regarding a cannabis conviction,

that could hurt their chances of obtaining citizenship. OCAD recommends these individuals acquire certified dispositions before their records are expunged. Williams said this cannabis law fosters restorative justice by providing a process for clearing a cannabis record more easily and providing individuals with greater access to free legal aid and advice. “Depending on what type of conviction they have, they may be able to get these convictions expunged quicker than going through a normal expungementsealing process, which then enables them to have the ability to have their record cleared, and then relieve them of any issue they may have in getting employment or housing, or with their education,” Williams said. Overall, though, Sarah Sinovic, spokeswoman for State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, said in an email they have seen a lot of support because “people understand that her leadership is helping bring opportunity to Black communities who have been disproportionately targeted by drug policies of the past.” delaneynelson2023@u.northwestern.edu

WINTER

DASHBOARD

and weekly or biweekly testing for graduate students. On-campus move-in for undergraduates will be Jan. 4 to 9, but Schapiro wrote students should limit the number of personal items they bring in case of any closures. Fraternity and sorority houses will have the option to open this winter, he added, with safety measures in place. “The evolving nature of the pandemic means we must remain flexible,” Schapiro said. “Whatever our path, it has never been more important that each of us adhere to health and safety protocols, so we can build on the successes we have had so far. Thank you for your partnership as we navigate an academic year unlike any before.” Nine days before students were set to move back to campus in the fall, senior administrators reversed their decision to let underclassmen live in dorms, saying they wanted to reduce density for on-campus housing and allow for more quarantine areas, among other reasons.

students, he added, and “none among students and faculty or staff.” If the positivity rate stabilizes and doesn’t continue to increase, Schapiro said the University will be able to continue to support the COVID-related needs of the community.

From page 1

isabellesarraf2022@u.northwestern.edu

Podcast: TikTok Back to Childhood Fandoms

They say absence that makes the heart grow fonder. But can that really explain an explosion of excitement for a 15-year-old show? On this episode of “PodCulture,” we’re talking to students about the most popular fandoms from their childhood that have made a comeback since

— Isabelle Sarraf

HAGERTY From page 1

Daily file photo by Katie Pach

Northwestern announced plans to allow all undergraduates to campus this winter.

the start of the global pandemic. Stuck at home this spring and summer, some students found themselves turning to the shows and music of their childhoods. From Harry Potter to One Direction to Avatar: The Last Airbender, their fandoms are as strong as they are varied. For more stories like these, check out “PodCulture” on SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Music.

“PodCulture” talked to three students about their childhood fandom’s second life on TikTok. Scan this QR code to listen.

After Hagerty’s announcement, the city currently only has two confirmed candidates running in its mayoral election: former State Sen. Daniel Biss and recent Evanston Township High School graduate Sebastian Nalls. The filing deadline for campaigns is Nov. 23, and before filing, all candidates must collect at least 921 signatures of support. Hagerty said in the release that the challenges the city faces, brought on by COVID-19, are significant, and that he hopes the city’s next mayor will be able to rise to the occasion and steer the city in the right direction. “While holding elected office is always demanding, and even exasperating at times, the opportunity to serve others is deeply rewarding,” Hagerty said in the release. “I have been honored to serve as your Mayor and look forward to doing everything I can to see us through the pandemic and support the efforts of our new Mayor and Council starting in May 2021. Until then, I will continue to do my best to lead us with grace, courage, and integrity through these uncertain times.”

— Madison Smith and Jordan Mangi

— Jacob Fulton

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

What I would have told my younger self about mental health ABBIE WOLF

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Content warning: This article mentions suicide. This past May, I should have been in a great mindset: Northwestern finished the season ranked 11th in the AP poll, I earned All-Big 10 Honorable Mention and I just signed with an agent overseas. It looked like my dream of playing professional basketball was coming true. But May was the first full month of quarantine, and it also happened to be Mental Health Awareness month. I realized that throughout my college experience, I’d hid many sleepless nights and therapy sessions from my loved ones. My mental health felt like something I should keep to myself — I didn’t need to talk about it. But, I’m hopeful that in the coming years, student-athletes can freely talk about mental wellness in the training room and locker room — kind of like how we check on teammates when they are rehabbing from injuries. However, as I mentioned, I didn’t do that either. So I’m going to open up a little bit now. I want to point out that I love NU and the mental health resources were always abundant. Whenever I did ask for help, my coaches, administrators, teammates and family were there for me. But most of the time, I didn’t ask for any help. Here’s some of what I wish I could have told myself through the years.

Dear Freshman Wolf: Think less and sleep more. You do not have to be perfect.

Sept. 20, 2016 — At a preseason conditioning workout freshman year I had a morning workout full of sprints to conquer before the first day of classes. I tried not to be scared, even though I knew it would be exhausting. But I was running on less than four hours of sleep per night for the past five days. NU’s freshmen orientation, with endless introductions and emotionally draining presentations, was just too much stimulus for my new-tocollege brain. At some point during the sprints, one of the seniors tried to stop me from running. It turns out I started for an extra sprint when I was supposed to be resting. She could see something was wrong. I pushed her out of the way and kept going. Surprised at myself for this moment of aggression, I decided I needed some space. I finally got to the locker room and didn’t know what to do. Run away to my dorm? Just sit in front of my locker and cry? No, better to keep moving. Just like normal, I hopped in the shower and relaxed a bit as hot water soothed my tense muscles. Eventually, my athletic trainer and assistant coach came to find me. It took some convincing for me to get out of the shower. They dressed me as I spoke gibberish. “You can come out now,” I remember screaming with conviction. I thought my team had finished the conditioning session and was hiding behind the locker room door. It turned out I was hallucinating due to sleep deprivation. The rest of the day was a blur. I remember being escorted out of the arena with my concerned coach and trainer holding me. Next thing I knew, I woke up in NorthShore Hospital with a nurse asking if I knew my name and the date. I regularly saw a therapist over the next few months. Life resumed as normal. The event was just a little hiccup, I thought. I now know it was much more than a hiccup. If I didn’t have unrealistic expectations to be a freshman standout player and student, maybe I could have relaxed a bit. My perfectionist mentality would continue to paralyze me in the years to come. Jan. 9, 2017 — The day Jordan Hankins died by suicide My teammate Jordan Hankins didn’t show up to our Sociology 110 class in the beginning of winter quarter. I assumed she was skipping. We had just hung out on Saturday night in the residence hall after we got back from our Maryland road trip, so I had no doubt she’d be at practice later that day. But then at the end of practice, we gathered in

Illustration by Carly Schulman

our film room and found out she had died by suicide. Our team met in an upperclassmen’s apartment that night and we all tried to comfort each other. I was in shock. To me, she was the life of the party, always cracking jokes and shining that bright smile of hers out to the world. Eventually we all returned to classes and started practice again. For our first game back against Indiana, the NU community showed their support for us by filling both student sections. Most of the students and coaches in the stands wore a white shirt that said Fly High J on the back above her number, 5. We played raw and emotionally, beating the Hoosiers 80-67. We knew J would be proud.

Dear Sophomore Wolf: Don’t force it. Your self worth is more than your playing time.

Dec. 10, 2017 — A missed lay-up and airballed free throw in a blowout game against Stony Brook. I sat on left bench tapping my foot nervously in the second half of the Stony Brook game. We were up by 21 points entering the 4th quarter, so I was pretty sure my coach planned on throwing me in. I felt so ready to prove everyone wrong through a breakout performance. But my confidence was at an all-time low since the last game versus midmajor Milwaukee, where I didn’t get any time on the floor and we lost by 9 points. I had felt like a cheerleader faking a smile on the sidelines. During the Stony Brook game, I was stuck in my own head — so inwardly focused I couldn’t understand that there were two more experienced players playing in front of me. So hungry for success, I couldn’t relax and stop counting the minutes on the bench. With about eight minutes left, my coach finally called my name and I jumped out of my seat. Then I blew it. A minute or two on the court, I missed a wide-open lay-up on a fastbreak. I told myself I was still cold — onto the next play. A couple minutes went by, and I took a contested lay-up. I missed again, but I got fouled. I kind of winced when the whistle blew. I just missed two lay-ups and now I needed the mental capacity to make free throws? The first one, jaw clenched and heart still racing from when my coach called my name, I completely missed the rim. When the referee passed me the ball for the second try, I just prayed to the basketball gods not to be embarrassed again. I didn’t make it but just nicked the rim. Anxiety is like making a free throw. When I don’t overthink my form or remember that the whole arena is watching me, it’s automatic. But as soon as doubt starts creeping

into my mind, it’s tough to ignore. Punishing or overtraining myself doesn’t usually work. It takes a strong sense of in-game confidence for it to go away. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take a deep breath and mentally transport myself to the line at my hometown YMCA — no punishment, no disappointed coach on the sideline, no eyeballs watching me in the stands — just a kid who loves the game. All that external validation never should have contributed to my self worth.

Dear Junior Wolf: Be a little vulnerable, you don’t need to hide.

Oct.16, 2018 — A yoga session in the middle of preseason. October is the toughest stretch for college basketball players because there are no game days in sight, but many lifts and conditioning sessions. Of course, that’s on top of two-hour practices and class. But we generally Wednesdays had off — just an optional yoga session for recovery. I would come straight from class into the studio ready to destress, but more importantly to loosen my tight hamstrings and glutes. All was going well. We neared the end of the session and went into some kind of back twist. Something popped and then a pain shot up my left back. I finished the last few minutes of poses silently crying, trying not to disturb the peace or draw attention to myself. I just felt so helpless. Something that was supposed to help me just hurt me more. We all said namaste and I limped out of the room with my head down. Not quite ready to face homework, I decided to go for a walk on the Lakefill. A few minutes in and I saw a big rock next to the lake painted all black with white letters. “Fly High J. 1997-2017.” I don’t remember the exact wording, but I knew it was Jordan Hankins’ rock. I have no idea who painted it, but I completely broke down at the sight of it. I sat on the black paint and cried for around 10 minutes. I wondered how many times J felt isolated and stressed to her bones. I kept feeling sorry for myself for another few minutes before realizing I needed to do something. I texted one of my teammates and said, “I’m not okay, can you meet me at the Lakefill?” I don’t actually remember what we talked about, but texting this teammate was a big deal to me. I usually don’t want people to feel sorry for me, so up until then, I had only talked about my negative emotions to my therapist or close friends when it fit into conversation. Just a few minutes after talking to my

friend on the lake, I settled down and was able to carry on with my day. My back was fine — I played in practice the next day. I realized a little vulnerability could soothe my mind and body.

Dear Senior Wolf: Focus on the present moment. The greatest master the mind.

Jan. 12, 2020 — A pregame nap in Welsh-Ryan Arena. For home games, we have about two hours between our pregame meal and on court warm-ups. I felt especially sleepy, so I went into the recovery room to rest. As soon as I settled, I opened up the meditation and sleep app Calm — but I didn’t want to hear the usual sleep story I had started listening to the previous summer. I went to the meditation tab and saw a thing called a “body scan.” I only had about 30 minutes before I had to suit up, so that’s what I selected. A combination of muscle relaxation and short spurts of sleep followed. The birds started chirping in the app and I got up feeling refreshed. Feeling good, I had someone braid my hair instead of the usual ponytail. That game, I had a career high with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. I went 6 of 8 from the free throw line, a long way from that airball sophomore year. The whole day felt magical. From then on, I added the body scan to my pregame routine. I ditched the braid, but this practice of mindfulness will stay with me the rest of my life. Centering myself through meditation gives me a sense of control in my attitude and reaction to all that comes my way. The Big Ten now sponsors the Calm app for all student-athletes. When I got that push notification from ESPN with the news, I felt so validated in what I learned throughout my journey, maybe even a little ahead of the game. The Calm App and Northwestern’s #BandTogetherNU campaign are small steps toward destigmatizing mental health. It took me four years and a journalism major to tell my story. When I think about the stigma of mental health in college athletics, one encounter comes to mind. After one of my CAPS sessions, I remember running into a football player outside of the health services building. We made friendly conversation and he asked me what I was doing at Searle. I told him I just had an X-ray for my knee. “Typical basketball thing,” I thought. He’d never suspect I just walked down the stairs from CAPS. I didn’t even realize this white lie of mine represented the mental health stigma in college athletics. If I could go back in time, I would say, “I just got out of therapy, how about you?”

GAMEDAY

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (1-0) vs. IOWA HAWKEYES (0-1) 81

NORTHWESTERN

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

Thursday, October 29, 2020

19 28

66 12

76 73

96 54 57

51 4

0 8

84 51

93 99

65 7

38 15

IOWA

NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern Offense

Iowa Defense

Northwestern Defense

Iowa Offense

12 QB Peyton Ramsey 25 RB Isaiah Bowser 81 WR R. Chiaokhiao-Bowman 8 WR Kyric McGowan 19 WR Riley Lees 80 TE John Raine 77 LT Peter Skoronski 66 LG Nik Urban 52 C Sam Gerak 76 RG Ethan Wiederkehr 73 RT Gunnar Vogel

57 DE Chauncey Golston 54 DT Daviyon Nixon 96 DT Jack Heflin 97 DE Zach VanValkenburg 35 CASH Barrington Wade 49 MLB Nick Niemann 5 WLB Jestin Jacobs 8 CB Matt Hankins 4 SS Dane Belton 28 FS Jack Koerner 33 CB Riley Moss

49 DE Adetomiwa Adebawore 90 DT Jake Saunders 93 DT Joe Spivak 99 DE Earnest Brown IV 51 WILL Blake Gallagher 42 MIKE Paddy Fisher 28 WILL Chris Bergin 2 CB Greg Newsome II 5 S JR Pace 16 S Brandon Joseph 18 CB Cam Ruiz

7 QB Spencer Petras 15 RB Tyler Goodson 38 FB Monte Pottebaum 12 WR Brandon Smith 6 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette 84 TE Sam LaPorta 77 LT Alaric Jackson 61 LG Cole Banwart 65 C Tyler Linderbaum 64 RG Kyler Schott 51 RT Coy Cronk

Wildcats look to tighten small details By ANDREW GOLDEN

daily senior staffer @andrewcgolden

The last time Northwestern traveled to Kinnick Stadium to face Iowa in 2018, it left with a new piece of hardware. This year’s trip won’t have as high stakes, but it will give the Wildcats a chance to carry their momentum from last week’s 43-3 blowout into the rest of the season, as they pursue another Big Ten West title. Coach Pat Fitzgerald said the team was explosive on both sides of the ball on Saturday, but hopes to see a lot of improvements on the fundamentals when the team travels to Iowa City. “We’ve got to play a lot better,” Fitzgerald said. “As a squad, you make your largest improvement typically weeks 1 to 2 if you put the work in during the week… we’ve got to have great urgency in our preparation and get ready to go.” Fitzgerald stressed the little things the team didn’t do well against Maryland. Despite how well it played, the offensive line abandoned some of the techniques it had done well in practice. Even though NU (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) held the Terrapins to just 207 yards of total offense, he felt the front seven didn’t start fast enough early on. The Cats’ and the Hawkeyes’ team identities mirror each other — both have strong 4-3 defenses anchored by their front sevens, and they typically don’t make mistakes to beat themselves. Since 2016, the two teams have both

ranked in the top eight in the conference in scoring defense, thanks in part to physical, veteran defensive lines. The Wildcats have six seniors in their starting front seven this week, with sophomore defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore being the lone underclassman. Iowa’s starting front seven, a group Fitzgerald called “outstanding,” boasts six upperclassmen in 2020, including five seniors and one redshirt freshman linebacker Jestin Jacobs. Even true freshman tackle Peter Skoronski, who played his first college game last week, knows the reputation of the Hawkeye defense well. “Up front, they’re a big, physical, fundamentally-sound group,” Skoronksi said. “They play really hard and they have a ton of experience coming back, which is going to be a challenge for

us. They’re going to be a typical Iowa defense.” So it’s clear both teams will have to bring their A-games. The Hawkeyes didn’t last week in a 24-20 loss to Purdue, uncharacteristically committing 10 penalties for 100 yards. Both NU and Iowa have been two of the most disciplined teams in the conference, finishing in the top half of the league in fewest penalties committed each of the last four seasons. The two division foes are still looking to develop an identity on the offensive side of the ball with new quarterbacks. Graduate transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey looked great as the Cats’ new quarterback in his first outing, completing 76.7 percent of his passes and finishing with a quarterback rating of 147.03. Ramsey looked comfortable

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

Peyton Ramsey sits under center preparing to take a snap. The graduate transfer quarterback completed 76.7 percent of his passes on Saturday.

throwing to all the weapons in offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian’s new offense, and the running backs combining for 252 yards on the ground didn’t hurt. “We can throw the ball to the receivers, we have (graduate transfer) John Raine at tight end,” sophomore Drake Anderson said. “Everybody’s a threat at all times.” The Hawkeyes don’t have the same level of experience at quarterback that Ramsey brought from Indiana. Iowa benefited from having a steady veteran in Nate Stanley for the past three seasons. Now, the team has put its trust in sophomore quarterback Spencer Petras, who had his first college start last week. But Petras will benefit from having senior wideouts Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette on his side. The Hawkeyes and Cats have had some great battles over the years at Kinnick Stadium, but they’ll be missing a crucial aspect of the game on Saturday — the fans. Fitzgerald said the hostile environment in Iowa is one of the best in college sports and that he’ll miss the hecklers. Or, as he sees it, his fans. “It’s always seemed to me, every year I’ve been to Iowa City, that people really like me,” Fitzgerald said jokingly. “It’ll be disappointing just because I think the Hawkeye fanbase is one of the most high-level football IQ fan bases that there is in the country. They’re passionate about their team, they’re passionate about their school and they’re passionate about the game.” andrewgolden2021@u.northwestern.edu

GAMEDAY Gameday Editors Andrew Golden Ella Brockway Peter Warren

Design Editors Carly Schulman Emma Ruck

Gameday is a publication of Students Publishing Co. All material is © 2019 Students Publishing Co. Questions or comments should be sent c/o Gameday Editors Andrew Golden, Ella Brockway, and Peter Warren, 1999 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208.

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