The Daily Northwestern – November 14, 2017

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The Daily Northwestern Tuesday, November 14, 2017

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Men’s Basketball

3 CAMPUS/Politics

Wildcats hold off St. Peter’s 75-66 at home

Biss discusses gubernatorial campaign at Political Union, College Democrats event

Find us online @thedailynu 4 OPINION/Closson

Police issues can’t be sole focus of activism

‘Offensive’ messages observed in Crowe

Officials choose to settle lawsuit Aldermen vote 6-3 for $500,000 settlement in case

UP look into ‘IT ’S OKAY TO BE WHITE’ posters

By KRISTINA KARISCH

daily senior staffer @kristinakarisch

Aldermen approved a $500,000 settlement Monday in a lawsuit against city manager Wally Bobkiewicz that accuses him of discriminating against a former Evanston employee. The federal lawsuit, filed in 2016 by Suzette Robinson — who identifies as black — alleges that she experienced “discrimination on the basis of race, harassment and (a) racially hostile work environment” as a city employee. According to court documents, Robinson began working for Evanston in 2006 and became its public works director in 2010. In the lawsuit, Robinson asked for $75,000 in compensation, plus attorney’s fees and punitive damages. The new settlement would give Robinson $500,000, which will be paid out of Evanston’s insurance fund. Bobkiewicz declined The Daily’s request for comment. Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) expressed her support for Bobkiewicz at Monday’s City Council meeting and voted against the decision to settle. It ultimately passed 6-3 with Ald. Tom Suffredin (6th) and Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th) also dissenting. “I know for a fact, and I’m being as factual as I can be, that our city manager in no way discriminated against this woman because of race or gender,” Rainey said. “She did not function in an unhealthy work environment.” Ald. Donald Wilson (4th) said because the payment would draw on taxpayer dollars and because of Evanston’s current financial situation — the city is trying to fill a $6 million deficit in its proposed 2018 budget — the decision was not made lightly. Ultimately, Wilson said, aldermen treated the lawsuit like a business decision so they could avoid spending even more money to “prove a point.” In addition to Bobkiewicz, the lawsuit names the City of Evanston, city attorney Grant Farrar and human resources manager Jennifer Lin as defendants. Robinson alleges in the lawsuit that Bobkiewicz had “a history of mistreatment of the City’s African-American community and the City’s African-American employees.” She cites instances in which Bobkiewicz allegedly made derogatory comments to employees and told Robinson » See LAWSUIT, page 7

High 47 Low 44

By MADDIE BURAKOFF

daily senior staffer @madsburk

collaborates with the city to get the project off the ground. He said as the development moves forward, the group needs to listen to the “tons of people” in the community who care. “There is no perfect development,” Koehn said. “You’re not going to be able to please

University Police are investigating flyers found in Crowe Hall reading “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE,” deputy chief of police Gloria Graham told The Daily. Graham said in an email that an individual reported the posters after finding them on a bulletin board and deeming them “offensive.” UP currently has an “open case,”Graham added. Religious studies Prof. Cristina Traina, chair of the department, said two religious studies graduate students contacted her Saturday after finding the posters and taking them down. The students removed about 15 posters, Traina said. Though the posters were spread out across different floors

» See ALBION, page 7

» See FLYERS, page 6

Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer

Ald. Donald Wilson (4th) at Monday’s City Council meeting. Wilson said he supported Albion Residential’s proposed development because it would increase the supply of rental units in Evanston.

City greenlights Albion project Council approves development 5-4 after a contentious debate By RYAN WANGMAN

daily senior staffer @ryanwangman

The approval of the newest 15-story addition to downtown Evanston was met with a chorus of boos and jeers from citizens as a months-long debate over Albion Residential’s proposal

Nevin’s set to shut its doors Nov. 22 after Albion passes

Tommy Nevin’s Pub will close its doors Nov. 22, owner Rohit Sahajpal told The Daily in a Monday email. The closure of Nevin’s — a popular bar located at 1454 Sherman Ave. — was confirmed after City Council approved 5-4 a new apartment building on the lot currently occupied by Nevin’s and Prairie Moon restaurant, 1502 Sherman Ave. Although developers said the new building will accommodate Prairie Moon on its ground floor, a Nevin’s location was never part of the development plan. Sahajpal said at Monday’s

reached its conclusion. Aldermen voted 5-4 to approve the Sherman Avenue apartment tower Monday at a City Council meeting, in a contentious decision that some say could set a new precedent for development in downtown Evanston. The decision marks a major defeat for community members who believe the

City Council meeting that he had thought about closing Nevin’s for months. He said business has declined in recent years, and that Nevin’s was put up for sale in early 2016. “At this point, due to a low volume of customers on this particular stretch of Sherman (Avenue), we’re going to close our restaurant,” Sahajpal said. Sahajpal added that the land Nevin’s currently sits on has some environmental contamination. An August city memo identifies the contamination and states that development would help remediate it. Before the development came to a vote, Sahajpal said he supported the project, which would eliminate the possibility of a vacancy on the property once Nevin’s closes. — Kristina Karisch

project does not meet affordable housing needs and will increase gentrification. Alds. Judy Fiske (1st), Melissa Wynne (3rd), Eleanor Revelle (7th) and Cicely Fleming (9th) voted against the proposal. Jason Koehn (Kellogg ’03), president of Albion Residential, told The Daily the “hard work” for the group starts now, as it

Daily file photo by Jeffrey Wang

The outside of Tommy Nevin’s Pub, 1454 Sherman Ave. Nevin’s is set to close Nov. 22, owner Rohit Sahajpal confirmed on Monday.

Educator talks rape culture, alternative justice By ALEXIS WHITE

the daily northwestern @alexisw_98

Community organizer and educator Mariame Kaba spoke about societal systems that enable rape culture and alternative ways for sexual assault

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

survivors to get justice at a Monday event co-sponsored by the Center for Awareness, Response and Education. Kaba, who has taught at Northwestern, founded several organizations aimed at reducing violence against women, especially those who are minorities. About 100 people attended

the lecture, titled “Transforming Rape Culture: A Discussion on Community Accountability to Address Sexual Violence,” in Annenberg Hall. Sekile Nzinga-Johnson, director of the Women’s Center — which also co-sponsored the event — said Kaba was invited to share her perspective on rape

culture and how to address it. Kaba criticized the U.S. criminal justice system, citing examples of sexual assault survivors who have been penalized for reporting perpetrators or defending themselves. She suggested that community accountability be used as an alternative to the current

system. Social worker and Chicago resident Kelin Hall told The Daily she agreed with Kaba that survivors want to be heard. Hall, who leads sexual assault counseling with young survivors at the YWCA Metropolitan » See JUSTICE, page 6

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


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