The Daily Northwestern Friday, November 15, 2019
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
Find us online @thedailynu Scan this QR code with Snapchat or your smartphone camera to listen to a new podcast episode on our website!
PAGES 5-8
Three sets of brothers shine for NU
High 32 Low 21
Alumni pen letter on NUPD at Sessions NU admin say protesters will “be held accountable” By AMY LI
daily senior staffer
On Tuesday, 47 recent Northwestern graduates signed an open letter to President Morton Schapiro and University Police Department Chief of Police Bruce Lewis to express “extreme shock and dismay at the University’s violent and repressive response” to student protesters during former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ visit on campus. “We are appalled at the ways in which NUPD officers brutalized multiple student protestors in defense of Sessions and the fascist ideologies for which he stands,” the letter wrote. “We write as alumni, as former student activists and as those in community with the students brave enough to directly challenge the vitriolic hatred of the right wing… “ The letter said UP physically assaulted student protestors — that students were “forcefully grabbed,” “shoved” and “pushed to the ground.” The letter also wrote that in
2018, students urged administrators to disarm and remove police presence, but University officials neglected to act on student demands and “instead gave armed police officers the purview to exercise force as they see fit against students.” Jessica Wang (Weinberg ‘19) sent the letter on behalf of the dozens of alumni who signed it. Schapiro responded with one brief sentence. “Thanks Jessica, but your statement that “NUPD officers brutalized multiple student protestors in defense of Sessions and the fascist ideologies for which he stands” isn’t what in fact happened here,” his email wrote. A screenshot of Schapiro’s response has circulated on student Twitter pages, and many expressed dismay at Schapiro’s dismissal of the letter. Joy Sales (Graduate School ‘19) said she signed the letter because it was unjust for the administration to be “demonize” student protestors because they have a right to critical of certain campus events. However, she said she wasn’t surprised at Schapiro’s terse response because of the president’s history of political engagement on campus » See LETTER, page 10
Caroline Megerian/The Daily Northwestern
Boonaa Mohammed speaks to an audience at the McCormick Foundation Center on Thursday. He performs a spoken word poem titled “Signs” and sings along to a background vocal track of his song “99 Beautiful Names.”
McSA speaker discusses identity Spoken word poet Boonaa Mohammed spoke at the MFC Thursday By ISABELLE SARRAF
the daily northwestern
Spoken word poet and performer Boonaa Mohammed told the story of how he navigates his life as a black Muslim man in a world where racism in
a Muslim context is traditionally ignored during the Northwestern Muslim-cultural Students Association’s fall entertainment event Thursday at the McCormick Foundation Center. Mohammed said he wishes non-Muslims knew about the racism that exists in the North
American Muslim community because as a black Muslim, he is assumed by many to be a convert. Throughout the night, Mohammed wove together spoken word poetry and innovate rap songs — even performing some unreleased material. Mohammed’s latest song
“Black Hearts” discusses how racism is embedded in our society. “Racism is a disease, and it flows like the sea,” Mohammed sang during the event. “Some of you is in denial trying to paddle up this creek. Why looking down » See MOHAMMED, page 10
Grad workers march in city Residents oppose resolution Northwestern students advocate for right to unionize
Welsh-Ryan, NU partnership sparks pushback
By CAMERON COOK
By JACOB FULTON
Graduate students from Chicago area schools rallied Thursday at the Federal Building to protest the National Labor Relations Board‘s proposed rule that would strip them of their right to unionize. Northwestern Graduate Workers joined members of the University of Chicago’s Graduate Students United and Loyola University Chicago’s Worker Coalition to picket, chant and give speeches in front of the NLRB’s Chicago headquarters. The proposed rule, which the NLRB unveiled in September, would classify graduate students at private universities as having a primarily educational relationship with their institutions. Because collective bargaining constitutes an economic relationship, the rule would stop the NLRB from recognizing graduate student unions. In the proposal, the NLRB argues that recognizing students as employees would create a hostile dynamic between the student and faculty bodies and interrupt an otherwise peaceful academic environment. The
During a town hall event Thursday, Evanston residents voiced opposition to a resolution City Council passed Monday that would allow Northwestern to host professional sporting events and for-profit concerts at WelshRyan Arena. Mayor Steve Hagerty hosted his third town hall of the year
daily senior staffer @cameron_e_cook
the daily northwestern @jacobnfulton1
Schapiro writes column about Sessions visit
Cameron Cook/Daily Senior Staffer
Graduate students from Chicagoland schools march around the Federal Building Thursday morning. The grads were protesting a rule the National Labor Relations Board proposed that would strip them of their right to unionize.
proposal also states that students spend “a limited amount of time” doing things like teaching and working as assistants, and use
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
most of their time focusing on coursework and studies. » See PROTEST, page 10
In a Chicago Tribune column, University President Morton Schapiro described former Attorney General Jeff Session’s invitation to speak on campus by Northwestern University College Republicans as “a missed opportunity” for students because a number of other conservative speakers could have “engaged the community more effectively than Sessions.” The editorial serves to clarify several points from a Tribune
at Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster St. During the discussion, residents raised a wide range of concerns from clear sidewalks in the winter to the lack of affordable housing in Evanston. Residents were especially concerned about the controversial text amendment to WelshRyan Arena’s U2 zoning district that aldermen recently approved. Introduced at the Oct. 29 City Council meeting, the ordinance will allow Northwestern to host six for-profit single-day events, as
well as one extended event, which can last for up to seven days. No event can exceed a maximum capacity of 7,000 people. The amendment passed 5-4 at the Nov. 11 City Council meeting and will be in place for 2020 and 2021 as a trial period. Before the ordinance passed, the University could only hold seven multi-day non-profit events at the arena. However, residents including Ray Friedman voiced concerns
editorial on The Daily Northwestern’s coverage of Jeff Sessions. Schapiro emphasized that the University champions free speech and respects the right student groups have to invite any speaker to campus. While Schapiro said the University will protect the right for peaceful demonstrations, any student who is found to have violated Northwestern policy will go through disciplinary procedures and will be “sanctioned appropriately.” His comments echoed the views he expressed at a Parent and Family Weekend Nov. 8, where he emphasized NU’s lack of amnesty policy. In the editorial, Schapiro
recalled when he attended a lecture on campus by William F. Buckley Jr., an American conservative author. He said while the Buckley’s visit did not change his views about the Vietnam War and former U.S. President Richard Nixon, it proved to him that those who differed from him in political views are “intelligent, sincere, and deserved to be heard.” Schapiro said he questions how many students shared a similar experience during Session’s visit. “What our campuses need today is education, not provocation,” Schapiro wrote.
» See MAYOR, page 10
— Amy Li
INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 10 | Sports 12