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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, November 9, 2023
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NU cancels full-day bargaining session Change likely to delay NUGW negotiations By JACOB WENDLER
daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler
Illustration by Beatrice Villaflor
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched nationally in July 2022 as an alternative to 911 in times of mental health crises.
Crisis lifeline implementation lags
Advocates push for sustainable funding and greater awareness By BEATRICE VILLAFLOR
daily senior staffer @beatricedvilla
Content warning: This article has mentions of suicidal ideation.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, launched nationally in July 2022 as an alternative to 911 for those experiencing mental health crises. Advocates have pushed for
more widespread education on mental health services and an additional operator serving the city of Chicago. There are six dedicated 988 lifeline crisis centers in Illinois, mostly clustered in the northern part of the state. A seventh line, operated by NAMI
Chicago, will start serving several Chicago zip codes next month –– according to Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). But full implementation of the hotline lags behind, as it faces a
» See 988, page 7
Northwestern canceled its full-day bargaining session with Northwestern University Graduate Workers — previously scheduled for Nov. 14. The change is likely to delay the union’s monthslong negotiations with the University at a critical point in the process. University spokesperson Jon Yates told The Daily Tuesday evening that “The University canceled next week’s session because it needs more time to review the Union’s economic proposals and prepare counters.” According to NUGW bargaining committee member Lawrence Chillrud, NUGW provided the University with economic proposals for the meeting Oct. 19 — three weeks prior to the planned bargaining session. “We’re going to be pushing back and asking for more full day sessions and more half-day sessions to make up for this, because they’ve been dragging their feet for the last few months,” said Chillrud, an organizer for the
electrical and computer engineering department. “We’ve repeatedly told them that the number of sessions they’re giving us is not enough, and — depending on your perspective — you could also argue it’s not exactly a bargain in good faith.” With tentative agreements on all language proposals, the union planned to negotiate with the University on economic proposals like compensation, medical benefits and retirement plans at its Nov. 14 session. After all sections of the contract have reached a tentative agreement status, NUGW members will vote on whether to approve or reject the entire contract. Chillrud said the cancellation makes it even more vital for community members to join NUGW at its “Pay, Power, Protections NOW!” rally on Nov. 13 at Silverman Courtyard. He also said NUGW intends to present its economic proposals at its next full-day bargaining session with the University on Nov. 30. “Assuming the university gets their act together and comes to the table, then that will be a key day because it’ll be a full day of bargaining where we’re going to hopefully see the first responses to economic proposals, which are going to be critical,” he said. jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu
NU proposes NU honors first-generation students Ryan Field CBA Student Enrichment Servuces hosts ‘I’m First’ week celebrations University says $100 million will go towards city By SAUL PINK
daily senior staffer @saullpink
In the waning hours before City Council’s Oct. 30 vote to introduce Northwestern’s Rebuild Ryan Field proposals, the University announced they’d executed a document many local activist groups had spent months calling for: a community benefits agreement. NU announced the CBA — a legally enforceable contract between a party that wants to develop property and those impacted by the development — in a news release the afternoon of Oct. 30. The release touted the CBA’s $100 million price tag, which NU promises to allocate toward city initiatives to advance issues such as affordable housing, education and economic development over 10 years. Mayor Daniel Biss broke a tie
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to advance a rezoning amendment that would allow the University to host six concerts each year at the new stadium during the Oct. 30 meeting. A few councilmembers and residents addressed the CBA at the meeting, but the agreement is expected to be a subject of discussion leading up to a likely-contentious final vote on Nov. 13. The 12-page agreement, which the Evanston RoundTable obtained, offers details on who controls where the $100 million goes, whether it comes directly from NU and how legally enforceable the contract actually is. What did NU agree to pay for? The public benefits package is divided into two sections: one group of benefits that lasts for 10 years starting in 2024, and another that starts in 2027. Starting in 2024, NU agreed to pay $3 million annually to the Good Neighbor Fund, an
» See CBA, page 7
By LEAH SCHROEDER
daily senior staffer @lmschroeder_
First-generation students were greeted by cheers of “happy First Gen Week!” as they entered the “I’m First” celebration under a purple and white balloon arch Wednesday night at the Segal Visitors Center. “I’m First” week, hosted by Student Enrichment Services, encouraged Northwestern students, faculty and staff to celebrate the experiences and achievements of first-generation college students. This goal was also the theme of the “I’m First” celebration, which featured mingling and a photobooth. “You might come into a space like this and think that you are super underprivileged and people are going to try to put you down for it, but in spaces like this, you’re being uplifted for the things that you’ve accomplished,” Weinberg freshman and event attendee Kunmi Faseru said. “It’s good to honor those accomplishments and also honor your family because (being a first-generation
Jacob Wendler/Daily Senior Staffer
The “I’m First” week was expanded from an “I’m First” day in 2022, which occurred on national First-Generation day, Nov. 8.
student) is not just an individual thing, it’s a collective accomplishment.” Formal programming rounded out the night after initial festivities, including a spoken word performance from the Black Poet Society and the
announcing of the winners of the I’m First: Trailblazer Award and the I’m First: Faculty Advocate Award. The event also included a speech from keynote speaker SESP and Psychology Prof. Mesmin Destin, who spoke about the role of community in the success
of BIPOC and first-generation college students. Aside from the “I’m First” celebration, the week was filled with programming supporting first-generation college students,
» See I’M FIRST, page 7
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