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The Daily Northwestern Monday, November 6, 2023
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Chicago gathers for release of hostages a Wilmette resident and Evanston rally Hilel, NU Professor of Jewish and Israel draws crowd of studies who helped organize Sunevent. “As we know, now, nearly 300 people day’s they’re still alive, but we don’t By LILY CAREY
daily senior staffer @lilylcarey
Over 200 red balloons sat in the center of Fountain Square in downtown Evanston Sunday. The balloons, waving in the wind, were anchored to the ground next to a pair of shoes and a poster reading “kidnapped.” Each balloon symbolized one person taken hostage by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The artistic installation was the centerpiece of a demonstration that took place Sunday, which drew a crowd of nearly 300. Organized by local Jewish and Israeli communities, event attendees said they aimed to show solidarity with the hostages and to call on politicians around the world to “bring them home.” “We want to pressure on governments around the world, in the West and in the Arab world, to do everything to ignite any sort of negotiation to release the hostages, whether as part of prisoner exchange, a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, anything that would lead eventually to the release of all of the 240 hostages,” said Maayan
know for how much longer.” When Hamas — a militant group the U.S. government labels a terrorist organization — launched a surprise attack on Israel Oct. 7, they kidnapped over 230 Israelis, who are now being held hostage in Gaza, according to the Israeli government. The Israeli military has since launched a continuous bombardment, blockade and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. More than 1,400 Israelis have died since the initial attack, according to PBS. About 9,000 Palestinians have died, according to the Hamas-operated Gaza health ministry. Despite international calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not stop the attacks until the hostages are released. Protests in Israeli cities over the weekend, which also called for the release of hostages, criticized Netanyahu for his response to Hamas’ initial attack. Hilel said she hoped to call for the safety of all those impacted by the conflict. “We’re (showing) solidarity
» See HOSTAGE RALLY, page 9
Beatrice Villaflor/The Daily Northwestern
Hundreds of protesters marched to Northwestern President Michael Schill’s residence Saturday afternoon, demanding the University divest from arms producers. Demonstrators rallied in Fountain square before marching, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hundreds call for Gaza ceasefi re
Protestors demand divestment from Israeli military, government By WILLIAM TONG
daily senior staffer @william2tong
As a line of protesters spanning a quarter mile marched
along Sheridan Road toward Wieboldt House — Northwestern President Michael Schill’s residence — Saturday afternoon, they chanted “Free, free, Palestine.” The march was part of a
pro-Palestine rally held Saturday. Over 500 NU students, Evanston residents and protesters from around the Chicago area gathered at Fountain Square to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Waving Palestinian flags and
holding signs reading “end Israel apartheid” and “resistance is justified,” protesters listened to 10 speakers who provided context for the Israel-Hamas conflict,
» See SJP, page 9
ASG summit promotes bonding NPEP hosts panel Gathering brings together a dozen affinity groups, hosts performances By DELILAH BRUMER
the daily northwestern @brumerdelilah
Students who came to Norris University Center on Sunday were met with the melodies of the Northwestern Community Ensemble, the warmth of Hillel’s chocolate Babka bread and the sight of a blue, red and white Taiwanese flag hanging from the ceiling. Bringing together a dozen affinity groups, the Associated Student Government Cultural Summit created a space where students could eat sushi a few feet away from learning to write their names in Armenian. “There are so many identitybased groups at NU that provide resources individually,” said Weinberg sophomore Malik Rice, ASG’s co-executive officer of justice and inclusion. “We wanted to put together a stage to showcase all of them, together. There’s so much culture being shared and so much learning happening.” The summit was held on the second floor of Norris University Center Sunday afternoon. In addition to featuring various cultural
Recycle Me
groups’ booths, the event also included live performances from NCE, the Philippine American student association Kaibigan and Soul 4 Real, NU’s Black student a cappella group. Planning for the summit — held for the first time this year — took nearly six months, according to Rice. “A lot of times, when culture comes up on campus, it’s often like something bad is happening in the world or some group did something that offended another group,” said Weinberg sophomore Ty’Shea Woods, who leads ASG’s justice and inclusion committee alongside Rice. “We wanted to create a platform where people can come together and just celebrate culture.” The Korean American Student Association offered students attending the summit the opportunity to play traditional games such as Ddakji, which is played with paper squares. For Weinberg freshman Anthony Chung, the cultural summit was as much about educating himself on other cultures as it was about sharing his Korean American heritage. “Learning about other people’s
on rehabilitation Speakers discuss consequences of incarceration, reentry By JOHN SISCO
the daily northwestern @johnsisco37180
Delilah Brumer/The Daily Northwestern
Members of the Northwestern Community Ensemble perform for students at Associated Student Government’s inaugural Cultural Summit.
cultures is definitely super interesting,” said Chung, a member of KASA. “It’s an opportunity to reflect on what we do and what other people do, and their lifestyles.” SESP sophomore Timothy
Huff came to the summit as part of Strive, an affinity group at NU for Black men. Huff serves as the group’s event coordinator. At their booth, Huff and other
» See SUMMIT, page 9
The Northwestern Prison Education Program hosted a panel called “Community Response to Reentry and Recidivism” in Swift Hall Wednesday night. The five panelists — some of whom were previously incarcerated — discussed the mental consequences of incarceration and spoke to the difficulties adjusting to societal changes upon reentry. They also reflected on the significance of nonprofit work in aiding the reentry transition, with multiple panelists calling upon their experience in organizations like the Legacy Reentry Foundation. From the beginning, the panelists made the message of this event clear: reentry is difficult. “Men and women in prison simply are not taught any form
of education skills for reentry, no real-world skills. You’re just left behind,” Fabian Santiago, a panelist who was recently exonerated from a 90-year first-degree murder sentence, said. Santiago said he had no sense of direction and was “completely lost” when he re-entered society, which he described as “a world that was just so different from what (he) had learned.” Although the panelists shared their struggles, they offered several ideas on how to aid former prisoners reentering public life. Panelist Rev. George Moore Jr. spoke about the importance of community assistance and mutual aid organizations in helping formerly incarcerated people reintegrate. “If the individual succeeds, that affects the collective… it’s important for all of us to get the individual rights so the collective can benefit,” Moore said. Moore also touched on the importance of establishing local initiatives like community closets, where people can access the clothes they need.
» See NPEP, page 9
INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Tip-Off 5 | Classifieds & Puzzles 9 | A&E 10 | Sports 12