The Daily Northwestern — November 13th, 2023

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The Daily Northwestern Monday, November 13, 2023

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 4 A&E/Musecology

8 SPORTS/Field Hockey

Student band dedicates summer to creating EP

No. 2 Northwestern rallies in fourth quarter to knock off Louisville 3-2, advances to seminfinals

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Students demand NU cut ties from Israel Protesters lie on ground in front of Tech Thursday

By SAMANTHA POWERS

daily senior staffer @sqpowers04

Content warning: This article contains mentions of violence and photographs of fake blood.

About 25 students gathered in front of the Technological Institute Thursday morning demanding Northwestern divest from organizations supporting the Israeli military in its ongoing war with Hamas.

Students lay across the walkway into the building wearing blood-red paint on their clothing, holding signs and participating in call-and-response chants.

For about two hours, chants like “our tuition is funding genocide” and “our board of trustees should not profit on war” filled the air at the protest hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine.

Several members of NU’s Board of Trustees have served as executives at companies that supply arms to Israel, including Boeing and General Dynamics.

“We should not work with companies that sell arms to places like Israel and other aggressors,” one masked chant leader, who did not

identify themself, said to the crowd.

In the month since the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel Oct. 7, the Israeli military has responded with a continuous bombardment, blockade and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, while more than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the initial attack with at least 240 taken hostage, according to Israeli and Palestinian authorities Bienen sophomore Alex Neuser participated in the protest to show solidarity for the cause of Palestinian freedom, he said.

Neuser, a member of Fossil Free NU, said they see a connection between the club and SJP, citing settler colonialism as one of the main drivers of climate change. Neuser said he has learned through Fossil Free NU about the University’s financial interests.

“This is a university where we all come here to learn, and it’s kind of clear to me that the University is operated as an investment firm first and an educational place of learning second,” Neuser said.

Representatives from the University’s event support team were also present. The representatives said they attended the protest to make sure the protesters were safe

» See WALKOUT, page 6

Angeli Mittal/Daily Senior Staffer

Interim head coach David Braun turns Big Ten Network reporter during post-game interview after Northwestern’s win over Minnesota last Saturday.

Bryant leads ‘Cats past Badgers

Recovered quarterback brings NU one win away from bowl eligibility

By LAWRENCE PRICE

daily senior staffer @lpiii_tres

MADISON, Wis. — Northwestern’s slugfest against Iowa on

Nov. 4 meant many tuned into the Wildcats’ battle against Wisconsin this Saturday from the get-go. It was a chance to see how the ’Cats (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) defensive group would hold up against a more dynamic Badgers (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) offense.

For others, though, the focus went elsewhere.

Eyes jetted toward Wisconsin’s 25-yard marker on NU’s sideline — where the ’Cats starting offensive unit awaited its first drive. There, for the first time in four games, stood

graduate student quarterback Ben Bryant near the front of the pack.

The early-season starter had finally returned from his upper-body injury sustained against then-No.6

» See BRYANT, page 6

‘Better than Biss’ seeks to oust mayor NU student orgs Committee looks for Biss challenger after tiebreaking Ryan Field vote

By OLIVIA MOFUS

daily senior staffer

A bright red “X” drawn onto a portrait of Mayor Daniel Biss welcomes viewers to the “Better than Biss” website, the online home of the brand new political committee that is seeking an alternative to Evanston’s first-term mayor.

According to its website, the Better than Biss committee, formed this week by Evanston residents, is compiling a list of qualities and skills Evanston residents want to see in their mayor, with the ultimate goal of ousting Biss if he runs for reelection in 2025.

Currently, the committee would like to see candidates who will support Evanston teachers, demonstrate transparency and be a “strong” negotiator. Mayoral candidates who the committee believes meet these criteria will receive campaign donations collected through the group’s website.

The committee comes on the heels of Biss’ actions regarding Northwestern’s plan to rebuild Ryan Field and host concerts at the new venue. At City Council’s Oct. 30 meeting, Biss broke a 4-4 tie between councilmembers

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to introduce an ordinance that rezones the area around Ryan Field to allow public-facing concerts.

On Monday, City Council will have a final vote for action on the controversial project.

Parielle Davis, the chair of the committee, said she believes Biss mishandled discussions with NU about the new stadium by conceding to many of the University’s requests. She said she suspects Biss might be in league with the Ryan family to support him in a future bid for governor or another higherlevel political position.

“I felt like Mayor Biss just was not listening to the residents or acting in the best interests of the residents,” Davis said. “I just was shocked at his poor leadership and poor representation and just general poor executive skills as a negotiator.”

Biss has served as mayor of Evanston since 2021, when he won the mayoral election with about 73% of the vote. He previously served as an Illinois state senator.

In 2018, he staged a run for governor, ultimately coming in second place in the Democratic primary to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

During his mayoral tenure, Biss has helped the city make economic

talk stadium CBA Student activist groups against new Ryan Field plans

By SELENA KUZNIKOV

daily senior staffer @selenakuznikov

Daily file photo by Kimberly Espinosa

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. Parielle Davis, chair of the committee, said she believes Biss mishandled discussions with NU about the new stadium.

and health-based headway on pandemic recovery, overseen turnover in city staff and navigated a tense town-gown relationship. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As a mother and a neighbor of

Ryan Field, Davis said she would personally be affected by the rebuild of the stadium. She moved to Evanston in 2020, hoping to raise her children in a quiet area.

» See BISS, page 6

After months of contentious talks, protests and votes, City Council is finally set to vote on two ordinances Monday: one that rezones Ryan Field to allow for public-facing concerts and another for the proposed rebuild of the stadium itself.

While many of the project’s most vocal opponents have been Evanston residents, several student activist groups at Northwestern have also spoken out against the controversial rebuild.

Northwestern announced a proposed community benefits agreement — a legally enforceable contract between a party that wants to develop property and those parties that would be impacted by the development — just hours before the Oct. 30 City Council meeting.

While Evanston residents had been calling for the CBA for

months, residents of the city and students alike have criticized the agreement for its lack of community input and what they sey are unclear enforcement measures.

Northwestern University Graduate Workers member Adam Goldsmith said the agreement feels “really rushed.” He said City Council should either table or reject the ordinance in order to allow community groups and stakeholders to review the CBA and continue negotiations.

“This is a very one-sided deal where, in essence, everything from Northwestern is voluntary and contingent upon what they want to do, but everything for the residents and for the city of Evanston is mandatory,” Goldsmith said. “That’s not a good faith fair deal.”

NUGW is one of several NU and Evanston-based organizations part of the Northwestern Accountability Alliance. The Community Alliance for Better Government, the Most Livable City Association, Reclaim Evanston, Fossil Free Northwestern and Students Organizing for Labor Rights are all a part of NAA.

» See RYAN FIELD, page 6

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | A&E 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8

2 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023

AROUND TOWN

Evanston celebrates Veterans Day in ceremony Friday

By YANYAN LI

the daily northwestern @yyanyanli1

On Saturday morning, veterans and civilians gathered in front of the Fountain Square Veterans Memorial Wall for a ceremony commemorating those who served in the United States military.

Former American Legion Evanston Post 42 commander Gregory Lisinski was the first person to stand atop the podium and address the crowd.

Lisinski began by introducing Bienen professor W. Stephen Smith, who sang the national anthem. Henry Revis Jr., who passed away Oct. 20, sang at the last 20 Veterans Day ceremonies.

“I wanted to support the whole cause of supporting veterans,” Smith, who has several relatives and friends who served in the military, told The Daily. “(The ceremony) really reminded me of just how much our freedoms that we enjoy are at the hands of all these veterans.”

Smith and Lisinski were two of around 100 attendees at the ceremony, and events included speeches from several public officials and veterans, wreath-layings from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7186, Evanston American Legion Post 42 and Fort Dearborn Daughters of the American Revolution. Evanston Township High School student Joshua Hoather also performed “Taps.”

Evanston resident and ceremony attendee Nancy Braun said she felt the ceremony was extremely impactful. Braun lost her fiance to the Vietnam War, and has a great nephew who was formerly in the Marine Corps.

“I thought the speeches were excellent, some of the best we’ve heard,” Braun said. “It’s not the words that they say, it’s the emotions they evoke in me.”

Braun lives right across from Post 42, a community center for Evanston veterans, and frequently stops by to chat with its members. She said she was “amazed” by their efforts to help

Yanyan Li/The Daily Northwestern

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss addresses the crowd. From left to right: Josina Morita, Biss, Gregory Lisinski, Brian Beatty, Will Candelario, Christine Candelario.

the community.

Following the national anthem were speeches from Cook County Board Commissioner Josina Morita, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, VFW Post 7186 Commander Brian Beatty, and Post 42 Commander Will Candelario.

Morita, whose maternal and paternal grandfathers were both posthumous military gold medal recipients, credited the military for giving her Chinese and Japanese-American relatives a place of belonging in the United States. “(The military) helped give them opportunities when they came back to build the families that is my family,” Morita said of her grandfathers. “I know that it was hard for my

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grandmothers who didn’t have their husbands when they were raising their children at home.

It’s a significant sacrifice that not just veterans, but veteran families have to make.”

Biss mentioned it was especially important to honor veterans this year given recent global conflicts.

He reminded the audience that military service is voluntary in the United States, and that people in other nations don’t have the same privilege.

“I hope that we continue to not take our freedoms for granted or assume that they simply are bestowed upon us by magic,” Biss said. “Know that there are millions of people right now and millions who came before them who have put

themselves at severe risk and exposed themselves to significant sacrifice to make it so.”

To end the ceremony, veterans who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines were asked to stand up, and the crowd came together to sing “God Bless America.”

“When you think about your freedom, when you sit down at your Thanksgiving table, please just take a moment and thank all the veterans,” Candelario, who served in the U.S. military during the Cold War, said to close off his speech. “Thank you for being here and God bless America.” yanli2027@u.northwestern.edu

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3

ON CAMPUS

Medill faculty balance teaching, reporting

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By ISABEL SU

eic@dailynorthwestern.com

the daily northwestern @isabelsu_

Medill Prof. Peter Slevin’s most recent story for The New Yorker was almost a year in the making.

His idea for a profile on Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker, titled “The Billionaire Hotel Heir — and Progressive Hero?” came to Slevin during Pritzker’s reelection campaign last year.

“I was able to spend some time with him during the campaign but then let it percolate for a while while his second term got underway, and then I spent more time talking with him and watching him in action on the substance of his policies,” Slevin said.

Part of Slevin’s work on the Pritzker profile, published in October, was completed during the academic year while he teaches classes like “Dilemmas of American Power” and “Politics, Media and the Republic.”

Slevin is one of many Medill professors who report and write outside of the classroom. While teaching, Medill faculty publish books, edit academic journals and appear on TV shows — like ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” where Medill Prof. J.A. Adande is a panelist.

This year is Slevin’s 14th teaching at Medill, and he began writing politics stories for The New Yorker in 2019. For him, balancing reporting and teaching is a matter of finding enough time so that he doesn’t cut corners in either endeavor. “(Continuing to write) has been so valuable to my teaching because it keeps my hand in reporting,” Slevin said. “The challenges of reporting and writing and structuring a story and building sources remain fresh because I’m always on any given story.”

Another Medill professor who continues to report on the side is Prof. Arionne Nettles, an audio journalist who regularly produces episodes for WBEZ’s “Curious City” podcast while teaching classes like “Audio Storytelling” and “Intro to Podcasting.”

Nettles said reporting while teaching is a balancing act and requires time management skills.

“I try to prioritize big reporting projects,” Nettles said. “So if, let’s say, I have a big story that requires a lot of work, I’ll try not to take on as many smaller reporting stories … That’s how I try my best to balance it out so that the big stuff can keep my focus.”

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Medill Profs. Arionne Nettles, Peter Slevin and Karen Springen are three of many that have reported and written while teaching at Northwestern.

Nettles’ recent work for WBEZ includes “Love, peace and Soul Train,” a story about iconic TV show “Soul Train” and its Chicago origins, and another about Florence Price, the first Black woman composer to have a piece performed by a major American orchestra.

During her five years at Medill, Nettles has also written for publications like The New York Times, The Emancipator, Chicago Reader and more.

“I might intentionally take on stories because I’ll say, ‘Hey, I haven’t done this type of story in a while.

Let me make sure that I stay fresh,’” Nettles said. “I want to stay current on my skill set.”

Students said they benefit from the up-to-date perspectives that professors who report bring to the classroom.

Medill freshman Lavanya Subramanian, one of Nettles’ students, said she appreciates how Nettles is able to remain engaged in class while actively reporting. “(Nettles) brings really insightful thoughts and ideas from work into class,” Subramanian said. “(For example), when we were talking about objectivity and things like that that are big issues in journalism, she has really unique takes because I think she’s still

so involved in reporting and journalism on the side.”

Sometimes, the classroom is also a place where professors can build current and future partnerships with their students. When Medill Prof. Karen Springen was writing “Undefeated,” a long form feature for Stanford University’s alumni magazine, she recommended one of her students, Colin Boyle (Medill ’20), to take photos for the story.

“That was the perfect kind of story for when you’re teaching (at Medill) because it wasn’t something that I had to turn around in one day,” Springen said. “I had months that I worked on it … It was also a fun one because I could give a boost to a wonderful student.”

Slevin sometimes hires students as research assistants. Beyond that, though, he said he is always learning from his students. “(While reporting), I am having to solve some of the same problems that students are,” Slevin said.

“I learn from the students and how they solve their problems. So really there’s a give and take that’s both fun and useful.” isabelsu2027.1@u.northwestern.edu

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023

A&E A&E arts & entertainment

Elena Scott/The Daily Northwestern

Musecology plans to drop its first EP, “A Study in Musecology,” this Friday. Pictured from left to right: Guitarist Jeremy Berkun, drummer Eric Chen, trumpeter Jun Byun, bassist Timofei Asinski and keyboardist Alex Neuser.

Student band Musecology to drop new EP Friday

By MARY RANDOLPH

daily senior staffer

For some, receiving Northwestern’s Summer Undergraduate Research Grant means heading to a lab or an archival library. But for student band Musecology, (formerly Muse Etc.) it meant heading to the recording studio.

Musecology, formed in Fall 2023, received a $16,000 SURG following a year of gigs in backyards, basements and on Dillo Day’s mainstage. With the grant, the fiveperson band rented an apartment together and wrote and produced a six-track EP titled “A Study in Musecology.” The EP will drop this Friday.

Bienen sophomore and lead vocalist and instrumentalist Jeremy Berkun said Musecology applied for SURG in hopes of combining their music education with their aspirations as a band.

“The goal of our project was to bridge the foundational training we were receiving as Bienen students with today’s popular music industry and world of

music and the way in which you market and create new music,” Berkun said.

Berkun, along with Bienen sophomore and producer and instrumentalist Alex Neuser and Bienen sophomore and trumpetist Jun Byun, used some of the funding to sublet an apartment in Chicago during their research period. For eight weeks, Musecology “lived and breathed” music, Neuser said.

McCormick sophomore and bassist Timofei Asinski lived nearby. The group rented a recording studio at Gravity Studios in Chicago with the rest of the funding, where McCormick sophomore and drummer Eric Chen joined them in early September to record the final mixes.

Featured artists on the EP, Bienen senior Sean Deegan and Bienen junior Nick Landon, play saxophone and flute and auxiliary percussion, respectively.

These features, the band’s members said, made for some of the best moments on the project. Asinski said Deegan’s solo at the end of “Shellshocked,” the EP’s second track, was his favorite part.

“He plays really tastefully,” Asinski said.

Berkun, Neuser, Byun and Asinski wrote five of

the six tracks this summer: “Me Or You” (which they said they wrote in one day), “Shellshocked,” “Believe In Me,” “Altitude” and “Idc.” The band wrote the EP’s final track, “Closure,” last spring and released a demo version of it in May. Neuser said the collective songwriting process, a new experience for the band, proved challenging at first.

“Our music that we make is a reflection of ourselves, so we all had our egos attached to the stuff that we were bringing to the group,” he said. “And then about halfway through the research period, it just clicked — we wrote a song in a day, and everybody just dropped their egos.”

As Musecology evolved as songwriters and musicians, they also underwent a branding change. After being mistaken for a cover band of English metal band Muse during their time as “Muse, Etc.,” they debated a new name for much of the summer, Neuser said. The name Musecology came from a phone call from Byun to Asinski at 1 a.m., Asinski said.

“I said to him, ‘Jun, Clifford Brown’s ‘Study in Brown’ is a classic album name. What if we did ‘Study in Musecology’?” Asinski recalled. “At that point, I hear him over

the phone screaming, ‘Oh my god!’”

The band agreed that the new name, a play on the term for the study of music, fit them well as their music explores many genres, Neuser said. He added the band’s “best ideas came at about 1 a.m.”

Armed with these new experiences, skills and music, Musecology members said they are excited to perform their new songs and continue to write. They practice every weekend and have performed at several tailgates this fall.

Though the group varies in their goals — from professional music aspirations to enjoying playing as a hobby — members said they look forward to seeing where Musecology goes and appreciate the purpose it fills in their lives.

“It’s such a good place to just come and do what we love to do and be with kids who are similarly passionate about creating and playing music,” Berkun said.

“A Study in Musecology” will be available on all streaming platforms Nov. 17. maryrandolph2026@u.northwestern.edu

‘Sunday in the Park with George’ runs over weekend

By JAHARIA KNOWLES

the daily northwestern @jahariia

As a venue, Shanley Pavilion is far from perfect: it doesn’t fit many people, large wooden poles obstruct the view at some angles and there aren’t many places for actors to enter and exit the stage without being seen.

In spite of these limitations –– or, perhaps, because of them –– no two seats in the black box theater are the same. Almost every week, a new student production team transforms the barren and dusty interior to fit the needs of their show. WAVE Productions’ “Sunday in the Park with George,” which ran Nov. 10 and 11, was no exception. The production was a masterpiece, every design and performance element mixed in harmony.

Scenic designer and Communication junior Sam Webster crafted a literal canvas on Shanley’s blank canvas for the show’s set. Intersecting angular white frames and a multi-level platform became a blank page for not only George Seurat’s (Communication junior Eli Blanks) artistry, but also the goings-on of the characters who visit the park on Sundays. The set’s jutting forms evoke movement – even when empty, the stage feels action-packed. Large paper trees and bushes are attached and removed from the white frames throughout the show, adding to that sense of movement.

Communication junior Hayley Chisholm’s colorful lighting wonderfully complements the set,

especially when representing Seurat’s palette. In one number, as Seurat perfects his pointillist technique, circles of light shine on the stage floor and he chooses colors from his palette.

The first act of the show follows Seurat as he compiles sketches for his painting, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.” We meet the various park goers and their daily grievances. Right away the audience is given a look into the artist’s pursuit of permanence and their unrelenting work ethic, which pushes him away from his loved ones.

Seurat is portrayed as a man obsessed with permanence and revolted by stagnance. While sketching his mistress, Dot (played by Communication senior Anna Rosenthal with an ebullient charm), he is unconcerned with her physical discomfort as she sweats in the sun. And yet, his peers criticize him for a change in technique and a focus on common people in his paintings.

With another actor, it may have been easy to despise the painter. Blanks, however, approaches the role with an incredible sincerity, allowing us to sympathize with the painter’s ambitions. His dexterity as an actor is especially prominent in “The Dog Song,” he shifts between gravelly and shrill affects as Seurat imagines the thoughts of the two dogs he is sketching.

Every member of the cast showed incredible dedication to their roles, bringing color and energy to the blank canvas of the set. Many, including Blanks, also acted in “John Proctor is the Villain,” which ran earlier this fall.

The most stunning visual of the production was

Sarah Serota / The Daily Northwestern

A tableau vivant of “A Sunday at La Grande Jatte” concludes the first act of “A Sunday in the Park with George.”

the creation of tableau vivant at the end of the first act, in which the parkgoers moved to their places in Seurat’s famous painting. Blanks stands on a seat in the audience, raising his arms out with his fingers in the shape of a frame, observing his final product.

In the second half of the show, the chatty Sundays of 1884 are long gone, and we are transported to an art museum in the 1980s. The white set, once a space of opportunity, now has a cold quality. Blanks plays 39-year-old George, a sculptor encumbered by the empty pleasantries of the modern art world and the monotony of his work. His grandmother Marie, played by Rosenthal, is the daughter of Dot and George Seurat and joins him at the opening of

his latest piece, “Chromalume #7.”

Rosenthal transforms herself completely in this half, putting on a soft and frail voice even as she sings.

Twentieth century George ventures to the island of La Grande Jatte to present his light sculpture. In the process, he connects with his long-dead family members, and finds the courage to experiment in art again.

“Sunday in the Park with George” is a beautiful ode to art and everyday life. Songwriter Stephen Sondheim presents many vocal challenges in the music, which the cast handled with ease. It’s a show I would watch a thousand times again if I could. jahariaknowles2025@u.northwestern.edu

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

5

PinkPantheress album meets mellow vibe, hype

By FRANCESCO THORIK-SABOIA

the daily northwestern @FrancescoThorik

On the release for English singer and producer PinkPantheress’ 2022 single “Where you are” featuring WILLOW, a YouTube comment read, “she’s like a gumdrop bubble aesthetic cyber princess.” I don’t know if there’s a more accurate way to describe PinkPantheress.

In her debut studio album, “Heaven knows,” she displays this aesthetic with soft vocals and lyrics about love that remind me of early 2000’s R&B. PinkPantheress even ventures outside bedroom pop through unique production choices like electric guitar, floaty samples and fast-paced drums.

While “Heaven knows,” released Friday, sports better production than debut mixtape, “to hell with it,” PinkPantheress fails to deviate from her musical formula and does not show significant growth in terms of vocal performance.

The monotonous, auto-tuned vocals weigh the album down at times, especially on songs like “Nice to meet you” and “Bury me,” where she relies on features from British rapper Central Cee and American singer Kelela to hold the listener’s attention.

Despite some lackluster moments later on, the LP starts off strong with “Another life,” featuring Nigerian vocalist Rema. It immediately draws the listener in with its smooth 808s and lively percussion.

The melodic rap feature from Rema is reminiscent of Tommy Richman’sequally strong feature on “Upset,” the best track on R&B artist Brent Faiyaz’s most recent album, “Larger Than Life.”

The next song, “True romance,” is just as impressive as the record’s opener, resembling a fast-paced version of the old-school R&B track “Kissin’ You” by Total. In both, soft, layered vocals overlay a dreamy guitar melody with smooth percussion rounding out the piece.

“Mosquito,” which follows “True romance” is the worst track on the album. Although the intro is enjoyable, the

melody and vocals are as annoying as the title suggests.

Also, some lyrics are corny, like “You’re the only thing that I own / I hear my bell ring, I’d only answer for you.”

The following track, “The aisle,” picked my hopes up, displaying the variety that “Mosquito” was lacking. The punchy kick, soft snare, bouncy 808s and entertaining vocals make the song stand out.

“Internet baby” was the next highlight, with an engaging electric guitar loop, hazy synths and excellent mixing and panning. PinkPantheress also explores the lower side of her vocal range, which gives the song a unique layer of depth.

The next couple of tracks, “Ophelia” and “Feel complete,” sound like a modern combination of early 2000’s R&B — like Jazmine Sullivan or Alicia Keys — and gothic rock band Evanescence. PinkPantheress’s execution was lackluster, and she could have done more with this creative combination.

The 11th track, “Feelings,” may be the best piece PinkPantheress has ever released. It features

the best vocals I’ve heard, and is reminiscent of “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado and Timbaland with heavy percussion and distorted synth hits.

The album ends with the hit single “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” featuring rapper Ice Spice, and this song was clearly thrown onto the end of the tracklist to capitalize on its success. It’s a great track with a chirping synth, an enjoyable verse from Ice Spice and a catchy chorus from PinkPantheress –– but it does not fit the album’s moody aesthetic.

“Heaven knows” was not the strongest debut studio album, but it was certainly better than her first mixtape, and it seems as though PinkPantheress is on a path toward improvement. I’m excited to see if she’ll get out of her comfort zone on her next record, and she may be on her way to becoming the next massive pop star.

I give “Heaven knows” a solid five out of 10. francescothorik-saboia2027@u.northwestern.edu

Hell to the chief: ‘POTUS’ crafts chaotic comedy

By JAHARIA KNOWLES

the daily northwestern @jahariia

The first word we hear in “POTUS” is so vulgar, I cannot repeat it. Yet, the unnamed fictional president uses a variation of it to describe his wife.

That’s just the first mishap in this brash, farcical comedy of errors, whose full title is “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.” Now playing at the Steppenwolf Theatre, the play premiered in April 2022 as the Broadway debut of playwright Selina Fillinger (Communication ’16) The subtitle is fitting. Like the show “Veep,” “POTUS” pushes the scandal-ridden president offstage to spotlight the antics of those around him. Each of the performers give their characters clear personalities within the unfolding mayhem, with some trying to

keep their cool and others becoming more and more unhinged.

“POTUS” is at its best at the end of the first act, when the entire ensemble comes together to handle the scandals that have come their way, including an unexpected pregnancy and the arrival of the president’s drug-dealing sister. A beaming Chloe Baldwin emerges as a particularly formidable presence portraying Dusty, the president’s mistress; Baldwin reveals Dusty to be both a clever thinker and an enthusiastic singer-dancer.

Director Audrey Francis keeps “POTUS” moving at a brisk pace, sending cast members rushing on and offstage in a seemingly never-ending frenzy. The play’s minimal but versatile set pieces move around to signal setting changes, while Press Secretary Jean (an explosive Karen Rodriguez) and Chief of Staff Harriet (an eternally frazzled Sandra Marquez) sometimes use a rotating platform onstage to simulate walk-and-talk conversations.

Fillinger’s script tries to barrel forward with this dynamism, but it loses steam after the first act’s shocking ending. I found myself questioning what kind of story she was trying to tell.

There are plenty of jabs at the hypocritical, self-serving nature of America’s political system, and “POTUS” lays bare the disastrous consequences of marginalizing capable female politicians. The first lady and chief of staff are both repeatedly asked, “Why aren’t you president?” Their response: “That’s the eternal question.”

But sometimes it feels more like Fillinger is leaning into chaos for its own sake. The sexual vulgarisms, gross-out gags and physical stunts are funny in bursts, but several become too repetitive for their own good.

Many of the more entertaining moments eventually come from nervous secretary Stephanie, Caroline Neff, who runs around in an inflatable tube and drapes herself in an American flag, among other things, during an inadvertent hallucinatory trip.

In one particularly searing moment, reporter-slashmother Chris (Celeste M. Cooper) almost makes the president’s cronies answer for their complicity, blaming them for the “whole f--king world” being “on fire.”

But, the play does not linger on the harshness of this scene, deflating its potential impact. After a play filled with both snappy arguments and comical moments of connection, “POTUS” settles for an abrupt turn into sincerity complete with a reappropriation of its first word. While the moment purports to be crowdpleasing and empowering, the drastic tonal shift makes it feel somewhat hollow.

“POTUS” isn’t sharp or cohesive enough to suggest an effective way to extinguish the fire. But it’s still fun to watch the world burn.

“POTUS” runs through Dec. 10 at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. jahariaknowles2025@u.northwestern.edu

Slaughter Beach, Dog performs concert at Thalia Hall

By MARY RANDOLPH

daily senior staffer

Slaughter Beach, Dog frontman Jake Ewald exclaimed the group “sure as hell felt like a band” at its concert in Thalia Hall Sunday night.

The audience could obviously confirm Ewald’s feeling, which he expressed in a monologue about not always feeling like a legitimate musician and songwriter.

On the Chicago stop of its “Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling” tour, Slaughter Beach, Dog sure as hell sounded like a band.

Before the five-member Philadelphia-based rock band took the stage, Thalia Hall welcomed two members of alternative trio Bonny Doon, Bill Lennox and Bobby Colombo. Their music was beautiful, filled with guitar riffs and intimate lyrics that prepped the crowd

for Slaughter Beach, Dog — but their stage presence left something to be desired. Their low energy and limited crowd interaction did not get the audience excited, and I began to worry Slaughter Beach, Dog would be similarly lacking.

Thankfully, Ewald and his crew quelled my fears with their first song. They opened with “My Sister in Jesus Christ,” an upbeat tune from their newest album “Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling.” The whole crowd sang as Ewald and bassist Ian Farmer danced along and made faces at one another.

They followed with a rendition of “Strange Weather,” which highlighted pianist Logan Roth’s skills in a jazzy solo. The next songs, all fan favorites off their 2017 album “Birdie,” continued to feature long instrumental interludes — all of which showcased guitarist Adam Meisterhans as the instrumental star.

Though Meisterhans shone the most in technical

talent, each band member played a part in crafting this masterful performance. Farmer, Roth and drummer Zack Robbins all played off each other’s energy during the instrumentals, making it feel as though the audience was lucky enough to get a glimpse into a breakthrough brainstorming session.

Ewald, musically and personality-wise, served as the perfect frontman. He switched between electric and acoustic guitars, with a brief stint on a harmonica and several intimate moments with just a microphone.

In between songs, he joked with the audience and his bandmates, telling stories behind songs or expressing gratitude to be on the stage. In response to a fan’s call of, “I love you,” Ewald responded simply, “We love you, too. It’s a two-way street, man.” He then began to strum the first notes of fan favorite love song, “Acolyte.”

Songs like “Acolyte” and “Bad Beer” had the whole

crowd shouting the lyrics. Slower, lesser known tunes like “I’m in Love” and “Do You Understand (What Has Happened to You)” felt more like the audience was hanging onto every word of Ewald’s lyrical sermons as he stood at an altar of beaming colored lights and improvised guitar riffs. The mix of these two vibes made for the perfect concert experience.

During “Are You There,” Ewald sang, “Is there anyone in the audience currently living in vain?” as he and the band slowly raised their hands, followed by many members of the crowd. It was a unifying and wonderful moment in the show.

But with their camaraderie, endearing humility and musical intuition, Slaughter Beach, Dog ensured that for at least an hour on Sunday night, no one at Thalia Hall was “living in vain.”. maryrandolph2026@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment Editor Elena Hubert Assistant Editors Emily Lichty Mary Randolph

Lily Shen/The Daily Northwestern

Slaughter Beach, Dog frontman Jake Ewald alternated between playful energy and endearing humility during his performances at Thalia Hall this Sunday.

Design Editors Danny O’Grady Paloma Leone-Getten

6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023

WALKOUT From page 1

and other students were able to go to classes in Tech without disruption.

Most students walked around the protesters, but some stepped over them and others stopped to observe or film them.

Chiao-Wei Hsu, a graduate student in computer science, stopped to film the protest. He said he plans to post the video to his Facebook.

He said he empathizes with Palestinians because he’s from Taiwan, a small island that has been governed independently of China since 1949. With tensions on the rise, Taiwan is currently edging toward territorial conflict with China, which views the country as part of its territory.

“I don’t have a specific position on this issue because it’s really, really complicated,” he said. “I just

BRYANT

From page 1

Penn State on Sept. 30.

“What I saw was a young man that didn’t miss a beat,” interim head coach David Braun said. “Even when he was injured and coming back from injury, staying locked in, staying focused and knew that his opportunity was going to come at some point and he was going to be great.”

Before Saturday, questioning Bryant’s availability each week was a murky subject — a broken record, even.

Every Monday since the quarterback’s injury, Braun received questions about Bryant’s status and relayed similar answers of progress and an uncertain timetable.

Yet, Braun’s response was slightly different this past Monday. Besides the typical “day-to-day” and “incredible progress” memos, Braun hinted at the quarterback’s potential return.

“I’m not willing to sit up here and say that (Bryant)’s not going to be available,” Braun said. “With the progression that he’s shown over the course of the last couple of weeks, I think there’s a possibility that he’s ready to go.”

Braun said that “ready to go” moment came at Tuesday’s practice, when the sixth-year was dialed in from the jump. From his on-timeliness to poise, Bryant’s gradual confidence on the field resulted in the coaching staff ’s belief in his readiness for Saturday.

RYAN FIELD From page 1

NAA organized a rally in September calling for the city to require a CBA as part of the rebuild project.

“The first thing we need to recognize is that we are Evanstonians — Northwestern is part of Evanston,” Communication senior and Fossil Free Northwestern member Jordan Muhammad said at the rally.

“This can’t just be a top down benefits situation.

We as Northwestern students need to find more opportunities to be in partnership with the Evanston community.”

At the Oct. 30 City Council meeting,

BISS

hope everything is going to settle down quickly and without more bloodshed. I really hope for more peace for the world.”

SJP held a walkout calling for similar divestment goals on Oct. 26, two weeks after both SJP and a group of Jewish students organized separate vigils to mourn lives lost in the war. Hundreds of NU students and Evanston residents also held one of many rallies around the world calling for a ceasefire in Gaza Saturday, and a rally in downtown Evanston the following day organized by local Jewish and Israeli communities called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

Protesters on Thursday called out University President Michael Schill by name in their chants. Schill and other University administrators released a statement to the NU community on Saturday saying it would not tolerate “violence, intimidation, threats, Islamophobia or antisemitism.”

“We can be passionate about our beliefs while also being compassionate to those with whom we disagree,” the statement read.

SJP has also criticized two statements released by Schill last month stating that the University would not take an official stance on the war.

Jillian Dudley, a Communication freshman who stopped to watch the protest, said she supports the idea of a ceasefire and hopes to join SJP. Dudley said amid stress and fear about the conflict, she feels hopeful that protests happening across the country will have an impact.

“I think what they’re doing here, especially at this huge institution, is really going to be very impactful,” she said. “It shows that students do have a voice and they should be heard.”

And it wasn’t just the midweek practice that checked all the boxes. Besides consistent work with the training and strength staffs, Bryant returned to the practice field last week — throwing progressions of 20 passes here and there.

He knew he was ready to suit back up physically a week ago.

“Last weekend was kind of when I was like, ‘alright, I’m back,” Bryant said. “Not being able to be out there with my teammates, injuries suck … but it was so nice to get back out there.”

Bryant’s aura of excitement and confidence emanated throughout Camp Randall Stadium on the first drive, overriding the red and white’s increasing noise following Wisconsin’s field goal to start the game. The La Grange, Illinois native completed 7-of-8 passes during the possession, hitting multiple wide receivers on the money inside and outside the numbers.

Coupled with strong rushes by senior running back Cam Porter, Bryant and the offense capped off the 12-play, 79-yard drive with a 23-yard reception to senior A.J. Henning alone in the end zone. Not to mention, the ’Cats converted all three of its third down attempts.

Bryant knew he was locked in after that.

“We had a lot of success throwing the ball and running the ball,” Bryant said. “Even that first drive and those first couple completions really gives you the

confidence to go out there and keep doing it for the rest of the game.”

And neither the veteran nor the offense skipped a beat for the rest of the first half. On the following drive, Bryant continued his streak of completions and scrambled into the end zone.

While Bryant knew he was back to top speed following the offense’s first possession, Braun recognized how locked in his quarterback was during the team’s third drive. After threading the needle to senior wide receiver Raymond Niro III for 17 yards, Bryant perfectly placed a pass over graduate wideout Cam Johnson’s right shoulder for a touchdown two plays later.

By the end of the first half, Bryant was 14-of-20 for 169 yards and three total touchdowns. Additionally, the ’Cats continued their third down masterclass, converting 10 of their 11 attempts.

Bryant’s halftime passer rating was at 174.

“That was a moment that was pretty neat just to see (Bryant) operate and execute,” Braun said regarding Bryant’s second passing touchdown. “His mechanics at the line of scrimmage, recognizing the coverage, lifts a fade ball up to the end zone, just really locked in.”

Injuries aren’t foreign to Bryant. The quarterback suffered a season-ending fractured foot last year at Cincinnati. And with this season being his last year of eligibility and third time in the transfer portal, a successful

campaign was of the essence.

For many, defeat and fear would’ve set in. Bryant’s mindset, though, in Braun’s eyes, never wavered from his goal of returning to gameplay. Although he couldn’t be the vocal leader on the field, he became one off the field.

But now that he’s back under center, Bryant’s mission is clear: help NU finish the season on a high note and make a bowl game. Saturday proved that, as the starter ended with 195 passing yards and three touchdowns. It was unquestionably his second-best performance in the purple-and-white and against his former head coach at Cincinnati, Luke Fickell.

The ’Cats are now one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2020 — a chance most NU players haven’t had the chance to experience yet.

And, behind Bryant’s top-notch performance at Wisconsin, that dream came one step closer to becoming true.

“I never expected to go through all that I’ve gone through when I came into college football,” Bryant said.

“I’ve learned so much, like I’ve grown into a man, I’ve matured a lot. But I think it’s all just a great story to my career and I’m just really excited to finish it off strong with this team.”

councilmembers were split 4-4 on whether or not to introduce the rezoning ordinance, which would permit NU to host concerts at the stadium. Mayor Daniel Biss broke a tie to introduce the ordinance.

Weinberg sophomore Anusha Kumar — a member of Fossil Free NU and SOLR — said the University should have released the proposal earlier to allow councilmembers, Evanston residents and NU students more time reviewing the package.

“I think that was obviously done for a reason: to make this decision-making process a lot more inaccessible to all of the stakeholders, including the over 100 community members who made public comment at the last City Council meeting,” she said.

In the CBA, NU promises $100 million toward

different city initiatives like affordable housing, education and economic development over 10 years.

Goldsmith said the document specifies NU will either partially or entirely control how money is distributed, which decenters community voices and does not allow equal input between NU and stakeholders.

“There’s so many long-term ramifications,” Goldsmith said. “We can’t rush this, and community groups need to be at very least involved, if not at the center of this process.”

Kumar said in order for the CBA to be effective, the University needs to have conversations with different community stakeholders and make sure that Black, brown and other marginalized voices are being heard

and represented throughout the process.

While NU engages in some outreach to the Evanston community, most students “don’t really understand the place that they live in,” she said. A CBA would incentivize students and the University to build better relationships and partnerships with Evanston residents, according to Kumar.

“The point of a community benefits agreement is for it to be a conversation between people in the community and the University,” she said. “And that really has not happened. They need to make sure that they’re actually listening to the community as opposed to just kind of making those decisions on their own.”

From page 1

Though the committee currently does not have a challenger for Biss in mind for the April 2025 mayoral election, Davis said she is confident that they can find someone. She added that she has heard from many residents who are “very passionate” and “very upset” about Biss’ initial vote to advance the Ryan Field plan.

If they cannot find anyone, then Davis will throw her name in the hat.

“In the worst case scenario, if push came to shove, I would just run,” Davis said. “It’s not my goal. I’m very busy being a mom, but if we can’t find anyone that fits the bill, I’ll be up for it.” oliviamofus2026@u.northwestern.edu

samanthapowers2026@u.northwestern.edu

lawrenceprice2024@u.northwestern.edu

selenakuznikov2025@u.northwestern.edu

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ACROSS 1 Balance __: gymnastics event 5 Theme park transport 9 Rave’s opposite 12 Opposite of calor 13 Crustaceans eaten by whales 14 Japanese wrestling form 15 *Seasonal New England attraction 17 Warmup exam for college-bound sophs 18 Jousting spear 19 Entourage 20 *Show of affection made with fluttering eyelashes 23 Hashtag on a social media post about gratitude, perhaps 25 Actress Sophia 26 Lollipop taste 27 Olympics sled 28 Feathery neckwear 31 2028 Olympics host country: Abbr.

32 *Big name in cloud storage 35 The NBA’s Thunder, on scoreboards 36 __ Claire, Wisconsin 37 Experiment sites 38 Beneficiary of an exfoliation routine 39 Polish, as shoes 41 Pumpkin seeds 44 *Improvises over a beat 47 Polo, for one 48 Causing the heebie-jeebies 49 Tickle Me Elmo toy company 50 Success-versusfailure metaphor, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues 55 Country across the Arabian Sea from Mumbai 56 Opposite of chaos 57 “Hmm ... bad idea” 58 Writing implement

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9 “Shrek 2” character who occasionally succumbs to hairballs 10 Accumulate 11 Written reminders 13 __ cloth: Ghanaian textile 14 Bike wheel part 16 Back muscles, briefly 19 Oven-safe glassware 20 “Nothing’s stopping me” 21 Goof 22 Corporate symbol 23 Color of UNICEF’s 22-Down

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7

City, NU consider draft Ryan Field rebuild contract

By LILY CAREY

daily senior staffer @lilylcarey

With City Council set for a Monday vote on the Rebuild Ryan Field project, the city government released an updated draft of the proposed memorandum of understanding between Evanston and Northwestern officials regarding the project Saturday night.

The memorandum of understanding, a contract that would be legally binding if signed, establishes plans that NU and the city would collaborate on throughout the stadium rebuild and outlines a public benefits package that the University would provide to the city.

Throughout discussions on NU’s contentious plan to rebuild Ryan Field and host public-facing concerts at the new stadium, residents have called on city government to work toward a more beneficial deal for the city with NU. The University released the earlier proposed memorandum of understanding on Oct. 30, but residents were still unsatisfied, urging city officials to push for more public benefits at several recent meetings.

The updated draft, released Saturday, contains several key changes to both the memorandum itself and the University’s public benefits package.

With NU hoping to gain final approval on the stadium rebuild and rezoning at Monday’s City Council meeting, here’s what’s on the table for councilmembers to deliberate.

Extending the public benefits package In the updated draft, Northwestern extended many of its key financial benefits for Evanston to apply for 15 years, as opposed to the 10 years indicated in the original proposal.

The memorandum says the University will donate $10 million annually to several city initiatives, including one providing financial aid for Evanston residents to attend NU and another to help revitalize the city’s business districts.

The public benefits package aims to help offset any potential negative impacts of the stadium rebuild. The University will begin making 11 of these annual donations starting in 2024 if the

Daily file photo by Seeger Gray

The updated draft, released Saturday, contains several key changes to both the memorandum itself and the University’s public benefits package.

ordinances are approved Monday.

Seven more benefits originally slated to begin in 2027 will begin upon completion of the stadium under the new proposal. NU will guarantee $2.5 million in tax revenue for the city — an uptick from an initial guarantee of $2 million in the Oct. 30 memorandum.

Donations will also be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index, ensuring NU’s contribution value keeps pace with inflation.

‘Without unreasonable restraints’: Changes to language outlining public benefits package The language that establishes NU’s public benefits package was also changed in the updated memorandum draft.

The new version notes that “public benefits are reliant on a newly rebuilt Ryan Field and the ability of Northwestern to host Concerts at Ryan Field as provided for in the Approval Ordinances

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without unreasonable restraints imposed by the City beyond those contained in the Approval Ordinances.”

Additionally, the original Oct. 30 memorandum required NU and the city to acknowledge that “Northwestern is tax-exempt and any such voluntary payments shall not impact Northwestern’s tax-exempt status or be considered a tax, tariff or duty or a payment in lieu thereof.”

The new draft does not include this reference to “voluntary payments,” which drew criticism from residents.

“In the event that Northwestern demonstrates that such unreasonable restraints being imposed by the City adversely effect Concerts beyond general market risk factors, then such public benefits will be reduced and/or eliminated accordingly at Northwestern’s discretion,” the updated memorandum draft reads.

Traffic, security plans exempt from public records requests

Both the original and updated proposals call for the city and the University to collaborate on four plans for key areas of the new stadium operations: sustainability, concert operations, traffic management and security.

However, the updated memorandum says security and traffic management plans will not be made available for public records requests made under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act. The new draft cites an Illinois state law that allows certain items to be protected from public records requests if “disclosure could reasonably be expected to jeopardize the effectiveness of the measures or the safety of the personnel who implement them or the public.”

The full proposed draft of the memorandum of understanding is available on the city’s website, and will be taken into consideration at Monday night’s City Council meeting. lilycarey2025@u.northwestern.edu

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SPORTS

Monday, November 13, 2023

@DailyNU_Sports

FIELD HOCKEY

Fourth-quarter rally takes NU to NCAA semifinals

By ALEX CERVANTES

daily senior staffer @cervantespalex

Entering the fourth quarter of its NCAA Tournament quarterfinal clash with Louisville, No. 2 Northwestern trailed 2-1.

For the Wildcats (20-1, 8-0 Big Ten), the situation was a bit foreign. Coach Tracey Fuchs’ squad had trailed on only four prior occasions this season, a grand total of 113 minutes ahead of Sunday’s contest. NU had only entered the fourth and final frame at a deficit once — a season-opening 1-0 defeat to the Cardinals (15-7, 3-3 ACC).

But when the ‘Cats convened for a huddle upon conclusion of the third frame, Fuchs said her team was undaunted by the magnitude of the situation.

“They all came in, they were calm (and) they were ready to go,” Fuchs said. “We didn’t have to

make too many adjustments. We were playing well, we just needed to find the back of the net.”

As Sunday’s game progressed, NU was able to maintain the bulk of offensive pressure, registering nine shots and drawing six penalty corners in the second half while keeping Louisville’s attack at relative bay. In a simple assessment of the second half, Cardinals coach Justine Sowry said the ‘Cats “put their foot down on the gas pedal.”

With its season on the line, NU’s “resiliency” and “relentlessness,” as Fuchs dubbed it, shone through in the form of two fourth quarter goals from its pair of penalty corner stalwarts — freshman back Ilse Tromp and senior midfielder Lauren Wadas.

Three minutes had passed since Louisville’s penalty corner score near the end of the third frame that sent the Cardinals faithful into a frenzy. As pressure mounted in the final frame, Fuchs called Tromp’s number and the Dutch

international provided an emphatic answer.

On the team’s fourth penalty corner of the game, graduate student midfielder Alia Marshall and junior midfielder Lauren Hunter teed up Tromp, who rifled a low screaming missile past the outstretched legs of the Cardinals’ goaltender and leveled the score 2-2.

For Tromp, the goal marked her 10th tally of the season and second of the game — she had equalized earlier in the first quarter with a lofted finish into the top right corner of the goal. She attributed her penalty corner scoring success to both her teammates and consistent practice.

“We have a good insert with Alia (Marshall), and Peyton (Halsey) and (Lauren) Hunter are both good stick stoppers, which makes it way easier for me,” Tromp said. “And at practice (Annabel Skubisz) makes it hard for me (to score).”

With the minutes ticking away, it appeared NU was destined for

a second overtime battle in three games. However, junior midfielder Greta Hinke had other plans.

The Mequon, Wisconsin, native collected a Cardinals miscue and charged toward the circle. Hinke took several dribbles for being knocked onto the turf, drawing a third penalty corner of the quarter for the ‘Cats.

Right before the late Louisville blunder, Fuchs said she was preparing for the possibility of pulling senior goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz to find another goal. Fuchs added that the coaching staff had been working with Hinke about progressing with the ball and Sunday’s display was a culmination of that preparation. “(I’m) really proud of her,” Fuchs said of Hinke. “We’ve been working all year long with her being able to take the ball forward on the move.

She’s just been so consistent for us.”

NU’s ensuing penalty corner was blocked by the foot of a Louisville defender, providing the hosts

MEN’S BASKETBALL

with another prime opportunity.

Instead of sending the ball to Tromp at the top of the circle as she had seconds earlier, Marshall, Hunter and Wadas combined for the game-winning effort. Wadas, Fuchs’ infallible senior midfielder took one dribble before whipping a thunderous strike into the backboard, securing a 3-2 victory for the ‘Cats.

Throughout the season, Fuchs has said that when the game is on the line she wants Wadas with the ball on her stick. Sunday’s game-winning effort provided further evidence to back the veteran coach’s claim.

For Wadas, her score marked her third goal in NU’s last four contests. Despite the late-game pressure, she said “a lot of great plays led up to that moment.” “(It starts) with great inserts and great stops, and that puts you in a really good position to get a really good shot off,” Wadas

said. “(I was) just saying in my head, ‘I’ve done this a million times in practice and this is no different.’”

With Sunday’s win, the ‘Cats claimed their 20th consecutive victory and a third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament semifinals.

Now, NU will face another early season foe in No. 3 Duke in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Friday, to vie for a national championship appearance.

“We have so much experience and we have such great people on this team, that it’s honestly been my most rewarding year since I’ve been at Northwestern,” Fuchs said reflecting on her team’s journey this year. “It makes me so proud to have all these seniors going back to the Final Four. It’s so hard to do in any sport, and to do it three years in a row is pretty rewarding for (us).” alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Martinelli helps push McKeown breaks wins record Wildcats past Dayton

By ISAIAH TATUM

By JAKE EPSTEIN

daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

When coach Chris Collins engineered his program’s first March Madness appearance in six years last spring, he counted on just one freshman to log minutes off the bench.

A player who didn’t see the court for a 56-day stretch — but stepped into the fold in the heat of a mid-January conference competition — now-sophomore forward Nick Martinelli earned his respect by doing the dirty work, which often didn’t dent the stat sheet. Through his team’s final 17 games, Collins made Martinelli a mainstay in his rotation.

Now, headed into his second season in Welsh-Ryan Arena, the 6-foot-7 forward seems to have fine-tuned his craft throughout the summer, looking to carve out more consistent minutes. According to junior guard Brooks Barnhizer, Martinelli’s love for the game kept him constantly on the hardwood.

“He loves ball — Nick’s problem this summer was that our coaches had to tell him to chill out and stop working out so much,” Barnhizer said. “You just want guys on the team like that.”

Due for an elevated role this season, Martinelli suffered a preseason lowerbody injury that left him on a minutes restriction in the season opener versus Binghamton on Monday. In eight minutes of play, the sophomore grabbed one rebound and notched a block.

With Northwestern locked in an early November nonconference battle against perennial A-10 powerhouse Dayton on Friday, Collins planned to loosen Martinelli’s leash. He’d still monitor the sophomore’s minutes, but Martinelli would have the chance to make a more sustained impact on the game.

“Martinelli being able to be back in more of a normal role … it’s a 6-(foot)-7 guy who can just do a little bit of everything,” Collins said. “He can score, he can handle the ball, he’s really good around the basket and he’s got size and strength.”

Just over five minutes into the game, Collins called Martinelli’s number, spelling graduate student guard Boo Buie. It took Martinelli 33 seconds to unleash his patented picture perfect left-handed floater deep in his arsenal.

Capitalizing off a turnover on his first

offensive possession, the local product who made his mark about 10 miles from NU’s Evanston campus at Glenbrook South High School was right back where he belonged. Active on both ends of the court throughout his first Friday stint, Martinelli provided yet another spark when he checked in for his second shift of the half.

While the Wildcats trailed the Flyers 25-24 in the first frame’s closing minutes, Martinelli converted two of NU’s three consecutive baskets, finishing a layup through contact to draw an and-one opportunity and pumping up the packed student section.

Martinelli poured in seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 clip from the field, leading the ’Cats to an 11-0 run which sent them to the locker room up 35-25.

Posing a two-headed monster of a post presence alongside Barnhizer, Martinelli handed Collins a new dynamic to his attack.

“Brooks and Nick playing together allows me to get creative,” Collins said.

“Our two best post players are Brooks and Nick … when they play together, we try to see what the other team is doing and try to take advantage of that mismatch.”

With Buie deep in foul trouble midway through the second half, Collins once again looked to his sophomore guard to log a crucial five minute stretch in crunch time sans the squad’s primary ball handler and scoring threat.

Although his shot didn’t fall like his first-half clip, Martinelli’s effort off the bench helped shore up NU’s push for a statement victory. The lineup played off each other’s strengths, and Martinelli gave way to Buie with the ’Cats still in control of the clash.

On a Friday night when he tied his career high of nine-points and secured four steals in 19 impactful minutes, Martinelli proved his potential to be a crucial piece in Collins’ plans down the stretch.

To Barnhizer, who broke out in a sixthman role and served as NU’s Swiss Army knife last season, Martinelli may just be the team’s next rising star.

“I told him that what he really has to try to do and even surpass is the role I had last year, being a sixth man — coming off the bench and being aggressive,” Barnhizer said. “He’s gonna do that to the bar that I did, or even better this year because he just loves the game so much.” jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

daily senior staffer @isaiahltatum

After a comeback overtime victory over UIC on Thursday, Northwestern triumphed over Omaha in a showdown Sunday in Welsh-Ryan Arena, earning coach Joe McKeown his program-record 252nd win.

The Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) raced off to a 17-0 start and comfortably defeated the Mavericks (1-2, 0-0 Summit League) 87-69 to extend their winning streak to two games.

Although McKeown achieved a career-defining milestone, junior guard Melannie Daley once again stole the show with stellar shooting from the field. Following a careerhigh 25-point showing against UIC, Daley poured in 21 points on a highly efficient 10-of-11 clip.

“This girl just has a knack for scoring the ball,” McKeown said.

“She now has the ability to bounce back. When she misses a shot, she’s right back into play.”

Daley’s presence from the opening tip proved integral to the team’s initial lopsided run. But stellar shooting was far from a solo effort.

The team’s starting frontcourt,

senior Paige Mott and junior Caileigh Walsh, also drained three shots in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Omaha attempted to make a push at the mounting deficit, but NU appeared to have an answer for each Maverick advance. Once halftime struck, the ‘Cats carried a 46-24 lead.

Even with the cushion, Mott said she felt an Omaha comeback effort couldn’t be taken lightly.

“I think for us, it was just a pride sort of thing,” Mott said. “Let’s not let them go on a run. Let’s get our lead back. Try to hold it off as long as we could.”

Entering the third quarter, NU demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a lead, fighting through an aggressive full-court press and shooting efficiently from the field.

Mott dominated the paint, collecting rebounds and getting to the rim seemingly at will. Daley finally came back down to earth from her infallible form, showing a touch of humanity on a missed attempt after her mid-range masterclass.

After the ‘Cats reached the final frame with a sizeable advantage in their back pocket, McKeown began to clear his bench, trying out new rotations in an early season test.

With about five minutes left in the game, Walsh fouled out for the second consecutive game.

“There is no reason that I should be fouling out of the Nebraska Omaha game,” Walsh said. “There’s no excuse. And I think that I’m just going to take this dial-in that I had today and use it as motivation for Wednesday’s game.”

NU will have plenty to build off from its Sunday success — namely its efficient shooting touch.

The ‘Cats converted 53% of their field goals and drained 42% of their outside shots. McKeown noted his team’s arsenal as “deeper,” especially considering its 3-point woes last season.

“You see today that we were (8-of-19) from 3,” McKeown said.

“If we can do that, if we can hit six, seven threes a game, just open the floor up – yeah I feel like we’ll be hard to guard.”

NU will head east to face Notre Dame on Wednesday, a game that expeditiously turned sideways at a similar juncture last November.

Now the winningest coach in program history, the moment only just began to hit McKeown postgame. isaiahtatum2027@u.northwestern.edu

Rachel Spears/The Daily Northwestern

Sophomore guard Caroline Lau looks to pass the ball. Lau totaled 11 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in Northwestern’s 87-69 win over Omaha on Sunday.