The Daily Northwestern Friday, November 15, 2019
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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
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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
2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019
AROUND TOWN
Evanston bookstore will soon close after 10 years By ZACH BLANK
the daily northwestern @zachblank22
One week after celebrating their store’s 10-year anniversary, Paul and Susan Frischer, owners of Market Fresh Books, announced that they will be closing their doors by Jan. 1. “It was a really difficult decision,” Susan Frischer said. “We have truly enjoyed doing this, but we’ve got got a large family with two kids in college and two kids on their way to college, and we’re both just ready for a change. So we’re ready to go back to our old professions and have a different life.” Paul Frischer said the shop has been doing well financially, but the couple has long discussed resuming the jobs they left behind when they opened the store in 2009. When Market Fresh closes, Paul Frischer will return to his job in real estate, and Susan Frischer will return to practicing law. While there are three other bookstores in downtown Evanston — including big-box chain Barnes & Noble — Market Fresh Books operated within a specific niche. Unlike used bookstores in the area that sell specifically rare titles, the Frischers sought to sell popular books. And unlike Barnes & Noble, the couple wanted to sell books at a fraction of the retail cost.
State Rep. GongGershowitz supports bill to ease tax burden
State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) supports a bill that would consolidate pension funds to provide middle-class families property tax relief, according to a press release. Local governments pay fees for the management of police and fire departments, which inflates property taxes for families and seniors, GongGershowitz said. Senate Bill 1300, which cleared
Daily file photo by Jeffrey Wang
Market Fresh Books, 700 Church St. The popular book store is closing.
“We never saw ourselves as a competitor to those bookstores,” Susan Frischer said. “We saw ourselves as a compliment. We were trying to make our shop something accessible to the entire community.” The shop’s unconventional pricing — weighing books “deli-style” and charging customers by
the pound — was designed to charge people less money. The system aimed to output costs at about 75 to 80 percent off an item’s original retail price, Paul Frischer said. The couple said their method made operations quick and efficient. The popular store that sells not only books, but
the Illinois House on Wednesday and was sent to the Senate, would reduce 650 local police and fire pension funds into two systems, one for police and one for fire. “By consolidating hundreds of funds, Illinois can reduce the costs of government operations, increase buying power, and ultimately use tax dollars more judiciously,” Gong-Gershowitz said. Currently, local governments must pay consultants and financial advisors to manage each of the 650 pension funds. Homeowners are burdened with covering these costs through their property taxes. Combining the assets and management of these funds could reduce the costs of their administration
and management, leading to property tax relief as well as greater returns on investment, according to the press release. Over the next 20 years, consolidation is estimated to generate between $3.6 billion and $12.7 billion in investment returns. “Stabilizing our state’s financial footing is critical to empowering taxpayers and strengthening the economy,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “Our families expect their dollars to be used in the wisest, most efficient manner and this bill is a step towards doing so while putting downward pressure on property taxes over the long-term.”
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records, DVDs, video games and gifts has left an impact on the community, some residents said. Evanston resident Patty Coghlan said she’ll miss having a place to buy and sell books. “I’ve been able to walk in here and find things that I need for my book group that are on the shelves, which means I don’t have to wait at the library and deal with the hassle of other stores,” Coghlan said. “I’m really sorry to see it go.” Even customers from other areas who had only visited the store a few times recognize what Market Fresh brought to Evanston. Chicago resident Micah Rogers said she doesn’t come to Market Fresh often, but she and her friends enjoy visiting for the variety of items. The Frischers said they have received numerous emails and Facebook comments from loyal shoppers expressing their sadness about the news. In the months before they announced the closing, the Frischers attempted to convert the store into a community-owned co-op. While the idea for a co-op never took off, the Frischers are still looking for ways to keep Market Fresh alive. “If anyone has ever dreamt about owning a used bookstore, get in touch with us,” Paul Frischer said. “We would do everything in our power for this place to remain a part of the community.”
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Setting the record straight
An article in Wednesday’s paper titled “ACIR publishes petition calling on University to divest from fossil fuels” incorrectly stated that ACIR had published the petition. Fossil Free Northwestern published the petition, but had received review and approval from ACIR. The Daily regrets the error.
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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 3
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019
ON CAMPUS
Melodi House hosts social experiences By YUNKYO KIM
the daily northwestern @yunkyomoonk
The Melodi House, a social experience startup founded by three Northwestern students, sends no Facebook invites for its events. It also doesn’t have an Instagram account. Yet, at every banquet it hosts at different venues around Evanston, over 100 students show up through word-of-mouth invitations to enjoy art, music and shared social interactions. When co-founders Selin Yazici, Alexandre Halimi and Arno Murcia met in an entrepreneurship class their sophomore year, they discovered a shared passion for art, music, meaningful connections and a craving for more immersive social interactions. They subsequently launched the Melodi House in the fall of 2018, hosting events that bring students, live music and creative activities together off-campus. “We realized that we were all really, really excited about the idea of creating an alternative social event and social life on campus,” Yazici, a Communication junior said. “We were like, ‘Why don’t we just create these events that we’re all really excited to attend, and with the whole mindset (that) it’s all about conversations rather than anything else?’” To start their first search for a client base, Yazici, Halimi and Murcia did something daring: They connected with old and distant friends on social media. The Melodi House team members video chatted, grabbed coffees and met up with casual acquaintances. These friends became a part of their focus group and were among 90 participants at their first event, held at Halimi’s apartment. The Melodi House is now a resident at The Garage and has hosted four more major banquets in locations like Ice House Gallery, Creative Spaces and Margarita European Inn. Their current client base includes up to 150 people, all willing to pay under $15 per unique event that may include painting canvases and jean jackets, a 1920s-themed rooftop soiree, film showings and more. Still, all of these attendances are achieved by word-of-mouth — and most guests tend to bring a
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Live music at a Melodi House event at the Margarita European Inn’s rooftop patio. The startup hosts creative social experiences around Evanston for Northwestern students.
plus-one, Cristina Barclay, a Melodi House experience team member and a Weinberg sophomore said. “Through Melodi, I’ve met so many people in the international community and people from totally different backgrounds and the conversations I get to be in are so organic,” Barclay said. Barclay started attending Melodi events spring of her freshman year. She said she enjoyed the Melodi House experience so much that she applied to join the company through The Garage’s startup matchmaking event. Now, she helps with event planning and management. Karam Hansen, a Medill senior, said he found out about the Melodi House through his friend and co-founder Murcia. Among the first to attend the startup’s events, he has attended up to three events and said that he would plan his weekend around attending a Melodi House event. He preferred it to attending other on-campus weekend activities, he said. “I know what kind of crowd (the Melodi House) brings and the whole thing is set up for me to have an experience,” Hansen said. “You know it’s going
to be different than something you’ve done before.” In its second year, most of the Melodi House’s members and original audience are on their way to graduating, Murcia said. The startup will be looking for participation among younger Northwestern students, and if their recruitment gains more traction, they will work toward expanding the event service to other campuses. But for now, the Melodi House is for Northwestern students only, Murcia said. The startup team will be focusing exclusively on Northwestern and helping students broaden their cultural and social scope. Even the startup’s name is a tribute to social exposure it wants to bring to its students through its events. Yazici, who is half Turkish, said the word “melody” is spelled with an “i” in Turkish, and the Melodi House is a nod to an “unspoken language” of social unity through art and culture. “Having all the different people’s wavelength, in a way, come together into one big melody is really what we’re trying to do in the end,” Murcia said. yunkyokim2022@u.northwestern.edu
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OPINION
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Friday, November 15, 2019
Self-care is not the sole solution for mental illness KATHRYN AUGUSTINE
ASST. OPINION EDITOR
Go on a walk and listen to a soothing playlist. Take a nap without setting an alarm. Give yourself a proper manicure and pedicure with a sugar scrub. Indulge in a lavender-scented bath. Self-care has inarguably permeated the culture on college campuses across the nation. As a means of coping with a sudden influx of negative emotions, self-care is an adequate solution. Allocating time to partake in an activity that improves your mood and state of mind is an essential practice. However, self-care culture is toxic when the benefits are exaggerated. Self-care can provide momentary relief. Self-care can increase personal productivity. Self-care can be a preventative measure for reducing negative emotionality. But self-care cannot be the sole solution to a mental illness. My concern with the recent trend of practicing self-care is that self-care is misinterpreted as a substitute for clinical care. Self-care can be incorporated into the daily routines of an individual with no mental illness to maintain personal wellness. And when in
distress, an individual with no mental illness can turn to self-care to cope with difficult emotions that arise. However, when the individual in question suffers from a mental illness, self-care alone is not enough. Self-care is not equivalent to psychotherapy or psychiatric medication. Self-care is not a long-term solution. Someone who is suffering from anxiety will not be relieved of persistent symptoms after lathering on a charcoal face mask. There’s a skewed perception that self-care is a cure-all, when in reality, self-care is a singular component of managing one’s mental health. Additionally, suggesting self-care to a mentally ill person can edge into the territory of coming across as offensive. I seriously doubt that anyone in the midst of a panic attack wants to be advised to slap on a fresh coat of nail polish. What that person needs is to receive support, from people close to them and possibly a trained professional — like being taught specific breathing and grounding techniques. The reliance on self-care without accompanying professional assistance is understandable, though, because external care is not cheap. Without insurance, payment for each psychotherapy session is out of pocket. Even with insurance, psychotherapy sessions are not without a copay. The same is true of psychiatric
medication. But this is precisely why our University’s spending on “stress relief ” — from miniature horses to popcorn in the library — is particularly frustrating. I appreciate the University’s effort, but these funds need to be diverted to increasing the number and skill sets of staff who can serve individuals that are unable to afford external care. Self-care and stress-relief can be free of charge. The same cannot be said of clinical care. Though self-care can be of no cost, Instagram and VSCO tell different stories. With photos of fizzling Lush bath bombs and salonquality scrubs, self-care on social media is portrayed as unattainable. A YouTube vlogger’s self-care routine may not be a feasible option for the average person. Therefore, social media and the internet in general need to be balanced in their presentation of self-care. Low-cost self-care techniques deserve attention and may illustrate self-care as a possibility for lowerincome individuals. Another issue with self-care is the fact that it does not acknowledge the role of other people. The promotion of self-care implies that upkeep of mental health is an individual task. This is in line with America’s individualistic culture where every individual is expected to look out for himself or herself. Self-care unconsciously sends
the message that if you’re struggling, you need to rely on yourself and find your own means of coping. However, I believe that opening up to others about your emotions and asking for support is equally, if not more valuable, than self-care. A final concern with self-care is the fact that self-care is gendered. Societal gender roles exist that some men feel they need to adhere to. This means that a man may be less likely to buy scented candles for his room. This means that men may not gravitate toward the majority of self-care practices that are widely promoted. It’s unrealistic to expect every man to participate in stereotypically feminine activities because of today’s gendered culture. Therefore, we need to highlight self-care that is gender-neutral and more accessible to men or individuals who identify as non-binary. We need to talk about self-care in a way that is inclusive and does not present self-care as a long term solution for poor mental health.
Kathryn Augustine is a Medill sophomore. She can be contacted at kathrynaugustine2022@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
Disney+ shows the danger of monopolizing culture BEN BORROK
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
In recent months, Disney has taken steps to maximize their influence over the film industry by purchasing 21st Century Fox and starting their own streaming service, Disney+, which was released to consumers on Nov. 12. Major fans of Disney have been rejoicing the consolidation of all Disney properties into one service, as it allows for on-demand access to classic movies and new exclusive series featuring popular characters and titles. The collection of Marvel movies, Star Wars content and “The Simpsons” series makes the offer of Disney+ unbeatable, especially considering the bundle of ESPN+ and Hulu that it is paired with. Despite all of the excitement surrounding the service, there are still serious flaws with Disney’s moves in the entertainment industry and what the consequences could be for the consumer. The deal is better than any other service ever offered, and Disney is hoping that it will quell fears about their near dominance over our culture. It would be an understatement to say that television, movies, and video games have largely served as the foundation for American culture. The catchphrases and memorable scenes became, and continue to become, the
conversation in every school, workplace, and home. The beauty of our culture was the apparent openness and diversity in the products it created. So many varied genres and unique viewpoints on life, fantasy and society allowed for great debates amongst everyday Americans. The growing reach of Disney, however, threatens the freedom of culture that we have enjoyed and come to define ourselves by. The merger with 21st Century Fox means that Disney now owns one in seven of all movies ever nominated for Best Picture. It commands 40 percent of the domestic box office sales, roughly equal to $2.7 billion. Essentially, everything we see is Disney, or rather, Disney decides what we see. It isn’t a surprise that many directors, including Martin Scorsese, have come out in recent months to criticize Disney and Marvel for the lack of risk-taking art and commodification of cinema that has occurred. It has been compared to an amusement park ride — each of Disney’s films have some ups and downs, but ultimately, the viewer knows the characters they love are safe and the ending is predictable. The movies result in billions of dollars in merchandise sales for Disney at the expense of free expression and innovative art. Nowhere is this clearer than Disney’s slant towards China. Since the country began to allow for more foreign films to be shown, Disney has tailored their films to fit within China’s strict censors. Movies such as “Iron
Man” and “Christopher Robin” were either altered or banned from viewing in China. Disney doesn’t want to miss out on the market, so recent movies don’t cross boundaries as they used to. The result is a dumbed down version of a film or show being released in the United States due to China’s influence on distributors like Disney. The scope of Disney’s control is also apparent in the “Disney Vault” policy, where its media properties are sealed until it decides to release them for highly publicized events. Classic films that local theaters up until recently played seasonally, such as “Alien,” “Home Alone,” or “The Sound of Music,” have all been put into the vault since the Fox-Disney merger. This creates unmatched leverage for Disney against theaters, both small and large. Small, indie theaters thrive on being able to show classic movies to old and new audiences. The revenue from those classics allows for independent films such as “Blindspotting” and “mid90s” to be shown, even if the theaters will take a loss. The loss in revenue from classic movies means that many of these theaters will shutter, resulting in a major artistic loss for many American communities, where movie theaters are sometimes the biggest cultural gathering place in town. As for large, corporate theaters with dozens of screens, Disney has been bullying them into restrictive contracts that demand more occupied screens and more of the ticket revenue. It’s the
Northwestern needs more clubs for beginners YUJIA HUANG
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Northwestern Finance clubs are notoriously cut-throat. The process of getting into a financerelated club at Northwestern is meant to imitate the competitive, challenging and stress-causing procedure of getting into a real asset management or investment bank, but it hurts students who simply want to learn about business. Not everyone who is interested in investment or business has their heart set on working for Goldman Sachs or BlackRock. The overly competitive Northwestern Finance clubs stops students who are simply interested in business and markets from further exploring and learning about these topics. We want to learn about the financial markets and the inner workings of Wall Street, not be tested by rounds of demanding behavioral and technical interviews. Underclassmen, like myself, are only 18 and 19. It’s unrealistic for us to know what we want to commit to after we graduate. We haven’t started thinking about resumes, networking and coffee chats. A lot of us are just curious and have
a desire to learn more about the world. I don’t intend to work for a Wall Street financial firm, but that doesn’t mean I am not qualified to learn about finance. Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of finance clubs on campus, it’s difficult to find a stress-free environment to gain financial knowledge outside of an academic setting. Of course, it’s beneficial to have that knowledge walking into those clubs, but there are more students like me who haven’t had the time or ability to acquire knowledge on our own. We are hoping to find a relaxing place to learn, not to be tested on the meaning of “proprietary trading.” We want the club to be a space where we can learn, but we are rejected because we do not know enough. Similarly, interest groups such as a cappella clubs and hip-hop dance clubs are also competitive and filled with near-professional performers. While it’s admirable that the interest clubs at Northwestern are filled with talented individuals, we should also acknowledge that there are many others just getting started singing, dancing and playing an instrument. Rookies like me need a low-stress, low-stakes environment where I feel encouraged and motivated, not ashamed and looked down upon. We need clubs where we can meet fellow newbies, encourage each other when
we struggle and motivate each other to deepen our pursuits for what we love. While we are all accomplished individuals at Northwestern, we must also realize that not everyone is excellent in all areas of life. The competitive nature of Northwestern clubs can discourage students who are only getting started in a certain field. It’s overwhelming to walk into a room where everyone else has spent hundreds of hours learning about something you have only recently discovered. While competitive clubs at Northwestern are valuable to people who are advanced, we also need more clubs that are willing to accept students who are just getting started. If we carve out a more mindful space for beginners to make mistakes, more of us can better endure the unfamiliarity and difficulty of picking up something completely new and become one step closer to who we want to be. Yujia Huang is a Weinberg sophomore. She can be contacted at yujiahuang2022@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
reason that movies like “Frozen” will show on 7 screens simultaneously, regardless of ticket sales. These contracts restrict theaters from playing other films from smaller studios and explain why it can often be hard to find potential Oscar nominees playing at theaters. What becomes of us, the audience and, therefore, consumer? When the only content available to the mainstream consumer is from one company, it turns stale. There is no competition, so the product can be whatever they dictate it to be. The future isn’t a bold and diverse array of titles at local theaters. It is a lineup of numerous and repetitive Marvel projects paired with Pixar animations. The social order will not be challenged; Disney will reinforce it. No longer will we have conversations on exciting storylines and moments like we had in the past. Instead, we will continue to pay Disney time and time again for censored products with no soul. The lineup for their streaming service may be exciting but it is a sign of worse things to come. Remember, Disney+ costs much more than just their monthly fee. Ben Borrok is a Weinberg sophomore. They can be contacted at benjaminborrok2022@u.northwestern. edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
The Daily Northwestern Volume 140, Issue 40 Editor in Chief Troy Closson Print Managing Editors Catherine Henderson Kristina Karisch Peter Warren
Opinion Editors Pallas Gutierrez Priyanshi Katare Assistant Opinion Editors Kathryn Augustine Zach Bright
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The Daily Northwestern
NORTHWESTERN VS. MASSACHUSETTS SATURDAY, NOV. 16
FAMILY MATTERS @DailyNU_Sports
INSIDE: Fearless Forecasters 6 | Young players 7 | NU’s three pairs of brothers 8
6 GAMEDAY
The Daily Northwestern
Friday, November 15, 2019
Smith prepares to make sixth consecutive start By CHARLIE GOLDSMITH
daily senior staffer @2021_charlie
Aidan Smith is Northwestern’s starting quarterback. For the first time all season, the junior quarterback is listed as the only starter on the depth chart and sophomore Hunter Johnson is slated as the backup. Because of Johnson’s lingering right knee injury and Smith’s strong first quarter against Purdue last week, Smith will go out with the first-team offense when the Wildcats (1-8, 0-7 Big Ten) play UMass (1-9) on Saturday at Ryan Field. “Aidan definitely did some better things in practice, and that’s why he went out first (against the Boilermakers),” offensive coordinator Mick McCall said. “And then he got on a roll, and we went with it. That’s what has happened.” Smith earned the starting spot by leading NU on two touchdown drives in the first quarter against the Boilermakers last Saturday. After those two series, the coaches decided to stick with Smith the rest of the way, even as Smith threw for only five yards during four second-quarter drives. Johnson, a former five-star prospect, didn’t play against Purdue. He had missed several games dealing with a family situation as well as a lingering right knee injury. Johnson told the Daily he reaggravated his knee after taking a late hit two weeks ago against Indiana –– his first game action in over a month –– and he expects his knee to be an issue for the rest of the season. “I’ve been dealing with it all year and reaggravated it,” Johnson said last week. “It’s not going to be perfect for the remainder of the season, but I’ve just got to take care of it.” Johnson was limited in practice last week but has been a full participant this week, McCall said. In the reps he took with the first string offense, Johnson didn’t do enough to separate himself as the starter. As he’s struggled with soreness in his right knee, Johnson hasn’t practiced as well as Smith, McCall said. “( Johnson) has done a decent job,” McCall said. “He’s still sore in some things, but he’s done
a decent job.” McCall said Johnson still has an opportunity to regain the first string role by the end of the season. But he has to balance letting Johnson recover and getting him the reps he needs in practice and in games, which is a “hard” one to strike. As Johnson has struggled, Smith has continued to improve. He played the best game of his career Saturday and led NU on a potential game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. But kicker Charlie Kuhbander missed a 32-yard field goal that would have put the Cats up four points, and NU allowed a game-winning field goal two minutes later. Smith threw a game-changing interception against Purdue, but he also had a career-high 184 passing yards and two touchdowns. Coach Pat Fitzgerald said Smith showed more confidence Saturday but showed some tendencies typical in young quarterbacks. “There were some things that I thought were really positive,” Fitzgerald said. “We got off to a great start, we ran the ball really well, our offensive line gave him a lot of time to throw the ball. But there were opportunities that we missed that could have been game-changing plays… It was a positive step in the right direction, but we’ve got to take more steps if we want to be a consistent winner.” Smith agreed with that assessment, saying he stared down receivers a few times and turned the ball over too often. But heading into the sixth start of his career, Smith said he’s better than he was before. He compared the process he’s going through to a television system. First, the picture was “black and white and fuzzy,” but as he’s played more games he said he’s starting to read defenses better than he has before. “The picture is starting to get a little bit clearer, and I think that showed on Saturday,” Smith said. “There were a few throws and things on Saturday that I want back –– a few beginner mistakes that I made. But other than that the picture is starting to clear up.” charliegoldsmith2021@u.northwestern.edu FEARLESS FORECASTERS
WEEK 12
Picks against the spread
STANDINGS EAST
BENJAMIN
ROSENBERG JONAH
Ohio State
(9-0, 6-0)
Penn State
(8-1, 5-1)
Indiana
(7-2, 4-2)
Michigan
(7-2, 4-2)
Michigan State
(4-5, 2-4)
Maryland
(3-7, 1-6)
Rutgers
(2-7, 0-6)
DYLAN CHARLIE
GOLDSMITH ELLA
BROCKWAY
Aidan Smith takes off on a run. The junior quarterback has started the last five games for Northwestern.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
UMass at Northwestern (-39.5)
Georgia (-2.5) at Auburn
Minnesota at Iowa (-2.5)
Oklahoma (-9.5) at Baylor
Michigan State (-13.5) at Michigan
at Iowa (-2.5)
UMass 13 Northwestern 24
Forecasting Record
32-23
Ding dong, the losing streak is dead.
UMass 20 Northwestern 21
29-26
Why is Northwestern playing UMass in November?
UMass 10 Northwestern 21
27-28
Meh.
UMass 10 Northwestern 27
26-29
Forty is a lot of points.
UMass 6 Northwestern 31 ANDREW
GOLDEN
25-30
Northwestern has scored 38 points in its last five games.
UMass 10 Northwestern 34
PETER
WARREN
WEST
Daily file photo by Noah Frick-Alofs
NU was founded in 1851. UMass was founded in 1863.
UMass 20 Northwestern 30
Minnesota
(9-0, 6-0)
Wisconsin
(7-2, 4-2)
CLOSSON
Illinois
(6-4, 4-3)
GAMEDAY
Iowa
(6-3, 3-3)
Purdue
(4-6, 4-4)
Nebraska
(4-5, 2-4)
Northwestern
(1-8, 0-7)
TROY
Gameday Editor Jonah Dylan
24-31
What do Lamar Jackson, Tony Vlachos, UMass and I have in common. We’re being underestimated.
22-33
Writers
Designer
Andrew Golden Charlie Goldsmith Benjamin Rosenberg Peter Warren
Roxanne Panas
Gameday is a publication of Students Publishing Co. A four-page issue is usually published on the Friday prior to Northwestern home games and a two-page issue is published on the Friday prior to Northwestern road games. All material is © 2019 Students Publishing Co. Questions or comments should be sent c/o Gameday Editor Jonah Dylan, 1999 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208.
(1-8)
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS vs. MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN 81
(1-9) 11
49
89 69
90
78
22
50
13
19 27
70 66
92
11
65
99
6
52
42
76
13
17
28
26
42
46
51
2 29
89
95 97
7
68 59 19
4
12
10
18
Northwestern Offense
UMass Defense
Northwestern Defense
UMass Offense
11 QB Aidan Smith 6 RB Drake Anderson 81 WR R. Chiaokhiao-Bowman 4 WR Berkeley Holman 19 WR Riley Lees 89 SB Charlie Mangieri 70 LT Rashawn Slater 66 LG Nik Urban 65 C Jared Thomas 52 RG Sam Gerak 76 RT Ethan Wiederkehr
92 DE Caeleb Washington 42 DT Billy Wooden 99 NT Dennis Osagiede 17 BUCK Chinedu Ogbonna 26 SAM Xavier Steele 46 MIKE Cole McCubrey 2 WILL Jarvis Miller 9 CB Isaiah Rodgers 27 S Elijah Johnson 29 FS Martin Mangram 12 CB Josh Wallace
97 DE Joe Gaziano 95 DT Alex Miller 90 DT Jake Saunders 49 DE Adetomiwa Adebawore 51 WILL Blake Gallagher 42 MIKE Paddy Fisher 28 WILL Chris Bergin 3 CB Trae Williams 13 S JR Pace 7 S Travis Whillock 18 CB Cam Ruiz
13 QB Randall West 22 RB Bilal Ally 11 WR Zak Simon 10 WR Jermaine Johnson Jr. 19 WR Samuel Emilus 85 TE Kyle Horn 59 LT Larnel Coleman 68 LG Helber Fagundes 50 C Mike Yerardi 78 RG Michael Sullivan 69 RT Bryce Wade
Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman
Northwestern’s offensive line readies for a play. Both NU and UMass — this week’s opponent — have struggled this season.
NU enters as massive betting favorite By JONAH DYLAN
daily senior staffer @thejonahdylan
To borrow one from the great Matthew Berry: consider ‘Team A’ and ‘Team B.’ By all accounts, Team A has had an awful season. Its offense has been dreadful, near the bottom of the board in every meaningful category. Its defense has stagnated, and it can’t even catch a break on special teams anymore. It’s 1-8, in the midst of one of its most disappointing seasons in years. Team B is favored to win its next game by 41 points. You guessed it! Team A and Team B are both Northwestern. Such will be the backdrop as the Wildcats (1-8, 0-7 Big Ten) prepare to host UMass (1-9) on Saturday at Ryan Field in a one-game break from what’s been a disastrous Big Ten gauntlet for NU. And they’ll do it as a massive 41-point favorite, a fact that’s left fans and bettors extremely confused over the last week. “I just want to win by one, man,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Thanks for the heads up, but we
just want to win by one. And that’s the bottom line. We’ve got to get a win, we’ve got to get some positive momentum.” Since 1970, the Wildcats have only won by 41 or more points twice — a 49-7 win over Bowling Green in 2017 and a 41-0 win over Eastern Illinois in 2015. The Minutemen, meanwhile, have lost by 41 or more points in three of the last four weeks. The other game in that stretch was a 21-point home loss to UConn in a game that likely would’ve decided the title of “worst FBS team” had UMass not beaten Akron earlier this season. UMass has been historically awful across the board this season. SP+? Last. Total defense? Last, and it’s not even close. The Minutemen allow 567 yards per game, eons behind the next worst team at 499. In an ironic twist of fate, UMass actually has a better offense than NU. The Cats average only 277 yards per game, nearly a 300-yard gap from UMass’ average defensive output. So something has to give, in the weirdest way possible. In what might be a lone bright spot, Isaiah Rodgers is leading the country in kick return yards. But that stat can’t be properly presented without noting that he has 12 more kickoff
NU should turn to young players now ANDREW GOLDEN
SPORTS COLUMNIST
3
9
MASSACHUSETTS
NORTHWESTERN
6
GAMEDAY
The Daily Northwestern
Friday, November 15, 2019
returns than anyone else because UMass gives up so many points and fields so many kickoffs on the other end. For defensive end Joe Gaziano, the game will serve as a bit of a reverse homecoming. The Scituate, Mass. native’s first college offer came from UMass, and he knows a few of their players. He’ll also have several high school teammates in attendance at Saturday’s game. But like Fitzgerald, he’s not focused on the point spread. “I don’t really look at the line anyways. I’m just going out and trying to make plays and help us win,” he said. “We’re looking forward to executing on the field and doing what we need to do to win and we’re not really looking at who’s favored, by how many points, the spread, whatever. That’s up for gamblers to decide. I’m the guy on the field who’s trying to just win.” It’s been an incredibly tough season for both these teams, but someone will walk out of Ryan Field with their second win on Saturday afternoon. “This team will be hungry coming in here,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m sure our tape will not intimidate them.” jonahdylan2020@u.northwestern.edu
Let’s face it, Northwestern fans: The season is over. As if it wasn’t already certain, last Saturday’s loss to Purdue made it official. The team would’ve had a slim chance to make a bowl game as a 5-7 team due to the team’s high APR. But with three games left, the Wildcats are just playing to improve and get quality game experience. Coach Pat Fitzgerald should give his young players from the Class of 2019 a chance in these essentially meaningless games. NU has a knack for taking recruiting classes that are typically below the norm and getting the most out of its prospects. In the past five years, the Cats have had classes that were ranked at least 50 or lower. But those classes’ production still led to a trip to the Big Ten Championship. This season has been the first time the team hasn’t lived up to expectations despite the lower recruiting rankings. It’s not time to panic; this is just an off year. But now that it’s over, give the most recent recruiting class a chance to get real playing time. Playing college football is a major adjustment in terms of speed and pace of the games, so playing freshmen will bode well for next season. Some of NU’s freshmen have already seen playing time this season; on offense, running back Evan Hull and wide receiver Malik Washington have played sparingly. Defensively, defensive end Adetomiwa Adebawore has moved his way up the depth chart and been this class’ most productive player. But we should see more freshmen on the field, especially because they are still eligible to redshirt if they play in four games or less. Let’s be real about Saturday’s game: It doesn’t mean anything for NU, and, barring a Merrimack-level upset, the Cats will probably blow the Minutemen off the field. NU has nothing to lose by getting an early lead and turning to its freshmen to see what they’ve got. The Cats could benefit from a boost on offense and fortunately, NU’s top two recruits from last season are skill position players. Wide receivers Bryce Kirtz and Genson Hooper-Price could make an impact immediately. Throw them into the fire. Aside from senior wide receiver Riley Lees, who has 36 catches on the season, no one on the team has more than 15 catches. If the Cats don’t have a standout wide receiver right now, they need to see who they can trust moving forward. The same goes for superback. Thomas Gordon was NU’s fourth-best recruit, according to 24/7Sports. Throw him into the fire too. What have the Cats’ veteran superbacks done? Virtually nothing. Sophomore Charlie Mangieri and junior Trey Pugh have combined for six catches for 22 yards. Even moving past the UMass game, NU should play its young players against No. 8 Minnesota and Illinois. The only team with something to lose eight days from now will be the Gophers. Of course, the Cats will want to play spoiler, but why not let the freshmen play a part in it? A combination of a veteran defense and the young skill position players could give the team a chance. There’s not a lot to look forward to in NU’s final three games. But there is a future to look ahead to, headlined by this 2019 class. So let’s get a glimpse at the future right now, starting with Saturday. Andrew Golden is a Medill junior. He can be contacted at andrewgolden2021@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to sports@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
Noah Frick-Alofs/Daily Senior Staffer
8 GAMEDAY
The Daily Northwestern
Friday, November 15, 2019
Three sets of brothers bring relationships to NU By BENJAMIN ROSENBERG
daily senior staffer @bxrosenberg
Northwestern’s coaching staff wanted to create some excitement during winter workouts. So they matched brothers Joe and Chris Bergin against each other in sprints, conditioning and agility drills — three weeks in a row. “When I told him we were going against each other, he just didn’t even respond to me, looked away, we didn’t make eye contact the rest of the day,” said Chris Bergin, a junior linebacker and the younger of the two. “He was just so locked in and ready to go, and it was so much fun. It was exhausting. Every rep, we were contesting. It was probably the most fun I’ve had in winter workouts. Iron sharpens iron, and we just love making each other better.” The Bergins, both walk-ons from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, took circuitous routes to success with the Wildcats. Joe, a fifth-year senior defensive back, had no scholarship offers out of Detroit Country Day School, though he was considered by a few Ivy League schools, which are not allowed to give athletic scholarships. There was somewhat more interest in Chris — he visited Navy, Air Force, Harvard and Princeton, and Joe said some Mid-American Conference schools looked at him — but after he visited Joe in Evanston, he said he immediately felt at home. “It was literally love at first sight,” Chris said. “I woke up with him to go to the 5:45 workout that Friday morning and I was like ‘this is home.’ Everyone felt like a brother instantly, and it was like no other place I’d been. I was like, I would cut my left arm off to be a part of this program.” Their careers have taken considerably different paths since arriving at NU. Joe redshirted in 2015 and has played almost exclusively on special teams. Chris was mainly a special teams player as well as a freshman in 2017, but an injury to linebacker Nate Hall early in 2018 forced him to take on a bigger role. Chris’ first career start was a memorable one — it came on Oct. 6, 2018 at the home of his father’s alma mater, Michigan State. Joe Bergin Sr. was a starting defensive lineman on the 1987 Spartans team that won the Big Ten and defeated USC in the Rose Bowl. Despite the ties, Michigan State did not recruit either of Joe Sr.’s two oldest sons, and Chris showed the Spartans what they were missing that day by making eight tackles and registering a quarterback hit as the Cats posted a 29-19 win. “It’s really like your dream becoming real, and you have to take it all in but you also have to perform,” he said. “I was so nervous, but once I got out there, it was just playing football.” But while Chris has been the better player, it
was Joe who earned the program’s highest honor this year — the No. 1 jersey, which coach Pat Fitzgerald says is given to the player who “truly embodies the values and character of the Northwestern football family.” Joe said being a walk-on gave him a strong work ethic and a chip on his shoulder, and he constantly tried to outwork his teammates in practice. And that drive extends to facing his brother in winter workouts. Joe said being the older brother gives him added pressure to beat Chris in the drills. “Oh, hell yeah. I have to win,” Joe said. “Even if he is better than me at a drill, I just have to find a way to beat him. He’s got 20 pounds on me, but I still think I can take him. When you’re going against your little brother, there’s a certain mentality that needs to be switched on.” So after two winters of competing in workouts, which Bergin came out ahead? “If I’m being completely honest — this is not a lie — we tied,” Chris said. “A dead tie for reps. We had six stations, he won three and I won three.” And a third Bergin may be joining NU next year. Joe said he and Chris have two younger brothers who also play football. Owen, a high school senior, is considering playing for the Cats. The youngest brother is still in middle school. The Bergins are not alone in having multiple family members on the team — they are one of three sets of brothers on the 2019 Cats. Junior linebacker Blake Gallagher was joined this year by his younger brother, freshman linebacker Bryce Gallagher. And on the defensive line, senior Alex Miller and junior Samdup Miller each started every game until Samdup sustained a seasonending injury on Nov. 2 at Indiana. Fitzgerald said there have been several other sets of brothers to play for NU during his tenure and he has appreciated maintaining connections with their families. “It’s been pretty cool when I go into a house or the oldest brother takes an unofficial visit here, and the parents say ‘hey, don’t forget about his little brother,’ and I’m like, ‘alright, don’t forget about us,” Fitzgerald said. “As someone who did not have a brother, I am incredibly jealous of those guys because having a shared experience like this has to be absolutely unbelievable.” Before getting hurt, Samdup Miller had started every game since he arrived on campus. He was named a freshman all-American by both ESPN and USA Today in 2017, when he led all Big Ten freshmen with 5.5 sacks. Alex, meanwhile, was a backup for the last three years before starting alongside his brother in 2019. He has already set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. His rise, however, coincided with a slight drop in production for Samdup, who had compiled just 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in eight games. One of Fitzgerald’s most commonly-used
Daily file photo by Noah Frick-Alofs
Alex Miller leads NU onto the field. The senior defensive lineman plays alongside his brother Samdup.
sayings is “play for the brother to your left and right,” but when the Houston natives started together on the defensive line, the phrase took on a literal meaning. But with Samdup out, Alex is now playing for his brother — and roommate — on the sideline. “Just seeing him in pain and not being able to sleep at night because he can’t sleep on the back of his shoulder,” Alex said. “It’s not a good feeling, but it just makes me more motivated and want to play better for him, because I know he would do everything possible for us to win if I was the one who was down.” While the Bergins and the Millers are in their last year playing together, the Gallaghers, from Raynham, Massachusetts, are in their first. Blake is in his second season as a starter and led the Big Ten in tackles a year ago with 127. He is currently in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career, making at least 10 tackles in three straight games before coming up with his second career interception last Saturday against Purdue. Bryce, who was the first player in the current freshman class to verbally commit, has not seen the field much yet, but said having Blake around has helped him feel at home. He also said that although he has modeled his game after his
brother somewhat, the Cats made it clear they were recruiting him as a separate person. “I definitely try to be as physical as he is,” Bryce said. “He’s definitely had a huge impact on my growth since the first day I got here in the summer. He’s been huge in my development. Obviously he had a huge role in (my coming here), but I made the decision for myself as well.” Blake Gallagher said having a brother on the team helped the six siblings bond and that the older brothers enjoy laughing collectively at the younger brothers going through the same experiences. Joe Bergin concurred, adding that the older brothers naturally look out for the younger ones. Both the Bergins and Millers have just three games left together, so they are trying to make the most of their remaining time as teammates. “It really has not hit yet that we will not be playing together again,” Chris Bergin said. “I don’t really like thinking about it. I’m going to miss him more than anybody and it’s going to be pretty hard without him, because he’s always been my guide, my rock and just my person around here. He’s the best mentor and brother anyone could ever ask for.” benjaminrosenberg2021@u.northwestern.edu
Lack of explosive plays have been a problem for the Cats By PETER WARREN
daily senior staffer @thepeterwarren
Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman
Kyric McGowan lines up on the outside. The junior has played both running back and wide receiver for NU this season.
Last week’s game against Purdue was a high mark for the anemic Northwestern offense this season. The Wildcats scored 22 points — their highest total against a Power 5 conference opponent this season — and gained 435 yards. But beyond that, NU also illustrated an ability it had not displayed since facing UNLV in early September, with a season-best four explosive plays. However, the Cats’ lack of explosive plays has been one of the main reasons their offense this season has been one of the worst in college football. “When we threw on time and took what the defense gave us, we made big plays,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “There were other plays that were out there to be made that we did not make.” For this piece, explosive plays are considered either pass plays of 16 yards or more or rushes of 12 yards or more, which is the definition provided by NFL research pioneer Mike Eayrs. Through nine games this season, NU has run 641 plays on offense. Of those, 82 went for 10 yards or more. That means only 12.8 percent of plays the Cats have run resulted in moving the chains on a regular first-and-10. More specifically, the team has 23 explosive rush plays and 13 explosive pass plays. The Cats also have only five plays of 30-plus yards — three rushes and two passes. That’s less than one percent of their total. Over the past five years, NU has not been an explosive offense, ranking in the bottom sixth in the country in 2018, 2017 and 2014 and topping out at 65 in 2016. In 2017 and 2018, the offense was led by field general Clayton Thorson, who may not have been a big-play machine but was great at leading a team down the field. In 2014,
NU finished with a losing record. Against Purdue, NU had two of those five plays. On the Cats’ second play of the game, junior Kyric McGowan took a handoff up the middle, found a hole in the defense and sprinted 79 yards for a touchdown. It was the first touchdown for the Cats in over a month and only the second time this season NU had a play cover at least half of the field. Then in the third quarter, Smith escaped the pocket as it started collapsing. After rolling to his right, he stopped, looked downfield and found a wide-open Berkeley Holman across the middle for a 33-yard gain. Fitzgerald said it was the first time in six-to-eight weeks the team had extended a play. “I didn’t feel like any of the wide receivers on the route concept were open at the time,” Smith said. “So I escaped the pocket, playing high school ball again, Berkeley’s running down the middle of the field so why not throw it?” This lack of playmaking can be somewhat attributed to injuries: senior wide receiver Bennett Skowronek hasn’t played since Sept. 21; sophomore deep threat JJ Jefferson is out indefinitely; tailback Isaiah Bowser has never been at 100 percent this season; and sophomore quarterback Hunter Johnson has also been oft-injured and limited. But injuries don’t account for it all. The play calling hasn’t been conducive to big plays. Offensive execution has ranged from average to very poor. And there has been some bad luck. Whatever the sources of the issues are, they’re holding NU back. Explosive plays correlate to winning football games, and the Cats have been doing neither. Earlier this season, Bowser had a different take on NU’s offensive struggles. “Just goes back to preparation,” Bowser said. “I guess we’re just not preparing correctly.” peterwarren2021@u.northwestern.edu
THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 9
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019
City delays draft of election procedure referendum By SAMANTHA HANDLER
daily senior staffer @sn_handler
Aldermen at an Administration and Public Works meeting on Monday delayed a decision to vote on a referendum that would formally allow the city to hold its established practice of nonpartisan elections. City staff told the Rules Committee earlier in October that they could not find any records of a referendum that implemented nonpartisan elections in Evanston. The law department added that a referendum is necessary to switch to nonpartisan elections despite the fact that they are already current practice in Evanston. City Council must pass a resolution by the end of December to put a referendum on the ballot for the March 17 election. Ald. Tom Suffredin (6th) said he wants more discussion on the issue before they decide to move forward. Aldermen voted to postpone the discussion until the Dec. 9 meeting. “My issue is that while this is definitely
establishing what our past practice has been,” Suffredin said at the meeting, “we haven’t had a discussion about whether or not this is the best practice.” Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th) said she agreed that there needs to be a discussion at the full council. She added that they needed to get through the budget process before dealing with the elections issue. The Illinois Election Code says that municipalities like Evanston generally hold partisan elections and set partisan elections as “default mechanism” for electing public officials in Evanston, according to city documents. However, the Illinois Constitution of 1970 allows for municipalities to change the way they elect officers by referendum, which is also confirmed in a 1980 Illinois Supreme Court decision. The League of Women Voters found records showing Evanston held nonpartisan elections in 1949, 1965 and 1970, and the Illinois State Board of Elections says the city ran an election as Independent — not considered nonpartisan — in 2001 but has run nonpartisan elections consistently since 2005.
“We’ve just done it wrong,” City Clerk Devon Reid said at the Oct. 7 Rules Committee meeting. “Somewhere down the line, folks dropped the partisan labels and instead of classifying themselves as independent, they ran as nonpartisan and it became a norm here and we never passed a referendum.” Reid said if the referendum failed, candidates would run in a partisan election and could declare as Independents or as part of an “Evanston Caucus Party” similar to the Village of Skokie’s election system, which has the Skokie Caucus Party. Ald. Ann Rainey (8th), who has served on City Council consistently since 1997 and was first elected in the 1980s, said at the Rules Committee meeting that Evanston has never had a partisan election as long as she has been running. “I believe I have every petition I have ever submitted,” Rainey said, “and every single one I have ever run in has been nonpartisan.” If aldermen vote to move the item out of committee on Dec. 9, the full City Council will discuss the issue. samanthahandler2021@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Evan Robinson-Johnson
Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th) at a City Council meeting. Fleming said aldermen should wait until after the budget to consider a referendum on nonpartisan elections.
CROSS COUNTRY
Wildcats set hopes high ahead of likely final fall meet By JOHN RIKER
the daily northwestern @thejohnriker
Northwestern stumbled in the Big Ten Championships, its first race of championship season, but Friday’s NCAA Midwest Regional offers a chance for redemption. At the conference championships earlier this month, the Wildcats struggled with their positioning and stumbled to a 13th place finish out of 14 teams. With NU’s chance of advancing to Nationals unlikely, Regionals — held in Stillwater, Okla. — will likely be their last test of the season, and their last chance to rid themselves of the sour taste of their Big Ten disappointment. Senior Sarah Nicholson said the Cats struggled
to handle the pressure of the Big Ten Championships. She said composure in their next high-level opportunity is a point of emphasis. “Last time, a lot of us were pretty nervous going into Big Tens,” Nicholson said. “And so going into regionals, we’re trying to be a little more excited. Everybody’s been constantly improving over the season. I’m really excited to see everyone and their peak performance.” Coach Jill Miller expects the competition at Regionals will not be as deep as the conference championship, but she added that the size of the field and unrelenting course terrain pose significant challenges for her team. NU is narrowing its focus to what it can bring to the course. “We talked about today, about making sure we are focusing on what we control,” Miller said. “There’s the course and competition, but also
focusing just on the attitude that we bring to competition and also the effort level that we exert out there… Just keep it simple, go in with an engaged, positive attitude and put it all out there.” The Cats’ young talent has taken center stage this season, with three freshmen finishing in their top eight at the Big Ten Championships. With such a young team, the experience provided by seniors has come at a premium. Miller credits the team’s senior leadership, Kelly O’Brien and Sarah Nicholson, with guiding NU’s development and stepping up after the team was forced to redshirt All-American Aubrey Roberts. “They’ve poured in a tremendous amount of work not just this year but for the past three years,” Miller said. “In terms of leadership out on the course they’re learning new ways to do that. I’m really excited to see Kelly O’Brien, who has had a
major breakthrough in terms of her racing. Sarah Nicholson is doing a great job of continuing to push forward in her training and bringing energy to every competitive environment. I can’t wait to see both of them compete out there.” Roberts and O’Brien still have a year of NCAA eligibility remaining, but for Nicholson, Friday will likely be the last time she dons the Northwestern uniform on a cross country course. “It’s a mix of emotions,” Nicholson said. “I’ll definitely be sad, but the sport has definitely given me a lot. It’s been an honor to race at Northwestern and so to have one more opportunity, I’m really lucky. I’m also fortunate to have such great teammates, all four years and so being able to compete with them one more time is really special.” johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu
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10 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2019
MOHAMMED
LETTER
on me when we all came from tin? Arrogance is the sunnah that you learned from Iblis.” Mohammed spoke about how his very first day of high school was Sept. 11, 2001. He joked that being one of the only Muslim students at his school made him the “spokesperson” for Islam. Though he grew up in a home that was nonpracticing, Mohammed said joining the Muslim Students Association during college brought him closer to Islam. He was already a poet and performer before college, but he said that being around positive influences in his Muslim Students Association community allowed him to incorporate Islam into his art. “I want to be as accessible to as many different Muslims as possible,” Mohammed said. “Sometimes a lot of Muslim artists feel like you can’t make good music without instruments, and I’m trying to reinvent that notion.” Mohammed is also the founder of Safina Media, an Islamic media production company that he said he created in order to provide a platform for stories told through an Islamic lens. Mohammed said he sees film and media as the future of storytelling, yet he wishes there were more creative avenues for Muslims to build their craft. Mohammed said he scrolled through Netflix one day to see how many films there were about Muslims and Arabs and realized none of them were written by Muslims or had anything to do with the spiritual aspects of Islam he highlights in his poetry. He added many films he’s seen written by non-Muslims only feature the negative aspects of Islam. “If you’re not at the table, you’re going to be on the menu,” Mohammed said. “Very rarely do we get to tell our own stories.” Communication junior and McSA Director of External Relations Asha Abdalla said she was pleasantly surprised by the way Mohammed integrated comedy into his poetry and performance. She said his narrative was compelling and felt familiar. “Coming from a Muslim background,” Abdalla said. “I feel like I related to a lot of what he said because hearing his story was very easy to connect to.” McCormick sophomore and McSA Executive Vice President Mariam Tolba said she was inspired to invite Mohammed to campus hearing his poetry online. She said that she was moved by his desire for Muslim voices to be represented more in the production of media. Tolba emphasized the importance of bringing a Muslim performer to campus because Muslims are a significant minority at Northwestern. “If we’re not speaking out about what we face or what goes on, someone who doesn’t have that experience will speak about it and it might not be true,” she said.
— “what he has supported and not supported in the past.” She said Schapiro’s attended a 2017 vigil before Rasmea Odeh — a Palestinian activist who was convicted by the Israeli government in 1969 for a bombing attack — spoke on campus. But when a public relations officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement came to campus, Schapiro emphasized free speech. “It shows that he’s not engaging with student concerns, the people who are protesting and what they’re concerned about,” Sales said. The letter also cited the legacy of student
From page 1
From page 1
isabellesarraf2023@u.northwestern.edu
PROTEST From page 1
However, many students at the rally disagreed. By the time they’re done leading discussion sections, grading papers and working on their own projects, they said they have little time left to eat or sleep. “We do the work that lets the University function,” Mauricio Maluff Masi, a second-year philosophy graduate student at Northwestern, told the group. He went on to describe wins that NUGW — which is not currently recognized by the University — has accomplished in the past few years, including securing fifth-year summer funding and pushing to roll back Northwestern’s decision not to cap mental health visit copays at $20. Caroline McCraw, a graduate student from Loyola, took the megaphone and told the crowd
MAYOR
From page 1 about the impact that the ordinance could have on the community. Friedman said he was frustrated that the city didn’t commission an impact report to look into how the new amendment would affect residents. “My biggest question is, why wasn’t a study done to show what the impact would be on the surrounding properties around Welsh-Ryan Arena?”Friedman said. In response, Hagerty said that the city followed the proper protocol required for the change, saying an impact study wasn’t required. Comparing the logistics of a 7,000 person event to a men’s basketball game held at the arena, he said the needs wouldn’t be much different. Still, some residents felt that their voices weren’t heard in the vote. Evanston resident Clare Kelly said she was dismayed by the outcome, even though the vote was close. “The vote on the amendment did not represent the people there,” Kelly said. “No (residents) spoke for the project, except for one or two people. But the fact is that they voted against people.”
activism at Northwestern and called the University’s celebration of the Bursar’s Takeover’s 50th anniversary in 2018 “hypocritical, insulting, and exploitative” in light of the deployment of NUPD officers to silent students protesting Sessions. The University followed up with a longer response to Tuesday’s letter, saying Northwestern encourages “members of our community passionately debating issues.” However, students who are found to be in violation of University policy “will be held accountable,” the response said. “Investigations into the conduct by the demonstrators are continuing, and reports of those responsible will be shared with Student Affairs and other authorities and follow up as appropriate,” a University spokesperson wrote in a
Thursday email to The Daily. To address allegations that UP officers physically assaulted students, the university spokesperson said a small number of students “forcefully pushed back”, when asked by officers to leave. Sales also criticized the University’s emphasis on free speech as a defense for inviting neoconservatives to campus because “free speech isn’t equal for everybody.” There are human consequences for certain groups, she said. “Not all speech has the same political power,” Sales said. “Sessions as political power because he was a former attorney general — his rhetoric backed up policies that have endangered thousands of people.”
that, even though she’s paid by the school, she works four jobs to make ends meet. “It is frankly insulting to be told that my labor isn’t labor,” McCraw said. “Without the opportunity to organize collectively, the voice of graduate workers will be fragmented and ultimately suppressed.” She said graduate worker unions and universities should have the same priorities and commitment to their students. Jesse Sharkey, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, attended the protest in solidarity with the graduate workers. He also addressed the students, reminding them that people in power don’t give workers rights “because they (don’t) feel like it.” “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” Sharkey said. “It never has, never will.” The protesters marched around the building and in the plaza, chanting “What’s disgusting? Union busting!” and “Get up, get down, Chicago is a union town!” before ending the event with
the song “Solidarity Forever.” The protest coincided with similar ones across the country as part of a larger movement of graduate students. The American Federation of Teachers, the national union with which NUGW is associated, hosted protests in Washington D.C. and Boston as well. Benjamin Zucker, a third-year composition and music technology graduate student at Northwestern, stressed the importance of solidarity between unions at universities in achieving their common goal. “Many of the unions of Chicago-based universities are out here together, and that shows that it’s part of a larger mission,” he said. “This cannot be stopped in any one place but it also doesn’t happen in any one place. We will not sit down and take this quietly.”
However, Hagerty said that other residents who didn’t attend the vote expressed their support of the amendment. He said the close vote demonstrated that there was city-wide conflict over the issue. Evanston resident Jim Young said he chaired a group called Evanstonians for Fun and collected over 125 signatures in favor of the amendment, which he shared with the City Council. “There are a lot of people in this community who support this amendment,”Young said. “They may not have been there Monday. Some people have other things to do. But the support is there.” Though many residents expressed concern about the potential impacts of the professional events, Hagerty said he hoped it would be a positive source of revenue for the city. He emphasized the importance of expanding the tax base of the community. “Taxes are really high, and we can’t continue to have a city where the taxes keep going up. We need to make sure we have economic activity,” Hagerty said. “There are people that want to see if this is successful without overly burdening neighbors, but I’m nervous.” jacobfulton2023@u.northwestern.edu
amyli2021@u.northwestern.edu
cameroncook@u.northwestern.edu
Jacob Fulton/The Daily Northwestern
Mayor Steve Hagerty. Hagerty spoke to Evanston residents in a town hall on Thursday night.
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SPORTS
ON DECK NOV.
16
Football UMass at NU, 11 a.m. Saturday
ON THE RECORD
They’ve got a lot of international experience on the roster. They may be young, but theyre experienced players and — Shane Davis, coach they play a tough game.
@DailyNU_Sports
Friday, November 15, 2019
FIELD HOCKEY
NU preps for NCAA Tourney By GABRIELA CARROLL
the daily northwestern @gablcarroll
Northwestern accomplished a big feat — it made the NCAA tournament. Now, it’s time for the Wildcats to try to win it. NU will face Boston College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday — and the Eagles are a familiar opponent for the Cats. NU defeated them 3-2 on Sept. 8, but Boston College has a lot of momentum after making a run to the finals of the ACC Tournament on Sunday. NU (14-7, 5-3 Big Ten) is in No. 4 seeded Louisville’s region, and with a win will face either the Cardinals or Michigan. The Cats are very familiar with the Wolverines, a conference opponent, but have not faced Louisville since 2017. “We’ve played all three of these teams (in our bracket) in our four years here, so they’re not unfamiliar, which I think is good for us, so we know what we’re getting with the teams,” senior midfielder
Lily Katzman said. “It’s just going to be about coming out and doing the game plan and knowing our stuff.” When NU faced the Eagles (13-7, 4-2 ACC) early in the season, they were outshot 17 to 9. The shot deficit allowed Boston College to take a 2-1 lead that they held up until late in the fourth quarter. One of Boston College’s weaknesses are its penalty corners — they’ve allowed 94, and only taken 92 themselves. The Cats forced 119 corners this season and average 5.67 per game. If NU can take advantage of those opportunities like they did in their previous game against the Eagles, when freshman midfielder Peyton Halsey scored one off a penalty corner shot, that gives the team a critical edge over Boston College. Boston College has won nine of its last eleven games, with those two losses both coming against defending NCAA champions No. 1 North Carolina, the favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. But some of the Eagles’ wins came against NCAA Tournament teams Duke, Virginia and
Syracuse. The Eagles are hitting their stride at exactly the right time. For the junior and senior Cats, this is their second time in the NCAA tournament, after an Elite Eight finish in 2017. Boston College has not made the tournament since 2016, so NU’s strong senior leadership and experience could give them an edge. “Especially as seniors, it’s extra important. There are more emotions,” senior midfielder Saar de Breij added. “We don’t want the season to end, because it’s our last one.” The Cats will need to play their best hockey to advance in the tournament. Coach Tracey Fuchs said that since the field is so small, it comes with great competition, and NU will need to rise to the challenge or risk being eliminated. “We’ll just make sure everyone is calm but very excited,” de Breij said. “When we’re excited and poised, we play the best hockey.” gabrielacarroll2023@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Alison Albelda
Saar de Breij surveys the field. The senior midfielder has scored nine goals this season.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
VOLLEYBALL
Pulliam carries Cats to OT win Northwestern looks to
take two this weekend
By CHARLES GOLDSMITH
daily senior staffer @2021_charlie
In the last six minutes of regulation, Lindsey Pulliam missed all three jumpers she took. The junior guard didn’t even attempt a shot in the last two minutes, but Pulliam’s teammates picked up enough slack to force overtime. Then when Pulliam came back onto the court for five extra minutes, the all-Big Ten guard took over. She scored nine points in the fiveminute period, outscoring Marquette in overtime to lead Northwestern (2-0) to a 64-56 win over the Golden Eagles (3-1). “That’s what makes her a great player,” coach Joe McKeown said. “She can have tough quarters, but she’s so mentally tough. She wants the ball when things are on the line.” Despite her difficult cold shooting at the end of regulation, McKeown started the extra period by calling a play for his team’s best scorer. Pulliam used a ball screen and canned a running 12-footer from the left elbow to take a two-point lead. She was just getting started –– she consecutively made a layup, two free throws and a floater to build NU’s lead. By the end of overtime, she doubled her scoring total to finish the game with 18 points. But the Cats wouldn’t have even gotten to overtime without Veronica Burton’s clutch fourth quarter. The sophomore guard usually falls behind Pulliam and junior guard Jordan Hamilton in the pecking order. But with Pulliam off her game and Hamilton inactive, Burton scored NU’s last four points of regulation. McKeown gave her the ball on the biggest possession of the game. With NU down two with the ball with fewer than 10 seconds remaining, Burton received the pass off an out-of-bounds play in the left corner. Then she drove the lane and made a game-tying floater, one of the biggest shots of her young career. “If Pulliam wasn’t open, we wanted Veronica to come back and get a look,” McKeown said. “I’m proud how she saw it and beat (the defender) off the dribble.” Burton’s scoring late helped the Cats survive a 19-point fourth quarter from Marquette. The Golden Eagles had fewer than ten points in
By CARLOS STINSON-MAAS
the daily northwestern @thepresidito
Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman
Northwestern enters this weekend with its worst conference record through 14 games since 2016, with an abysmal .077 winning percentage against Big Ten opponents. On Friday, the last-place Wildcats will face Rutgers, the second-worst team in the Big Ten. The last time NU (10-16, 1-13 Big Ten) faced the Scarlet Knights (8-17, 2-12), Rutgers won a grueling fiveset battle, marking only its second Big Ten victory in program history. But now, the Cats have an opportunity take revenge and leapfrog the Scarlet Knights in the standings with a win Friday. NU with be playing with a more robust roster this time around, as freshman outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara is back from injury. She was sidelined in the second set of the first match against Rutgers, but returned on Nov. 6 against Nebraska. Thomas-Ailara has been back to her usual self since recovering from the injury — she recorded 11 kills in last Saturday’s loss at Michigan State. ThomasAilara ranks second in the Big Ten in kills per set and led the team in kills in her first nine conference matches. The Scarlet Knights have already secured their best Big Ten record ever after sweeping Iowa just six days after their upset over the Cats. Coach Shane Davis said he’s been impressed with Rutgers’s well-rounded play this year. “They’ve got a lot of international experience on their roster,” Davis said. “They may be young, but they’re experienced players and they play a tough game.”
In NU’s loss to the Scarlet Knights, Davis switched setters midway through the match, replacing sophomore Kiara McNulty with graduate transfer Payton Chang. Chang has started in every match since, and Davis said she’s proven herself as the starting setter for the Cats. “The last couple weeks Payton has owned that position,” Davis said. “We’ve had a couple setters battle, but she’s the one driving the ship right now.” NU is 6-1 all-time against the Rutgers, sweeping the Scarlet Knights in five of those meetings. No. 8 Penn State, who the Cats will face on Sunday, will present an entirely different challenge. The Nittany Lions (19-4, 12-2) have statement wins against four ranked opponents this season and figure to be contenders in the NCAA tournament. Their four losses all came to top-15 squads. Penn State has two players in the top five in the conference in hitting percentage, including Big Ten leader Kaitlyn Hord. The sophomore middle blocker ranks fourth in the nation in hitting percentage and also is tied for fourth in the conference in blocks per set. NU has fared extremely poorly against ranked opponents this season, failing to win a single set in such games. The Nittany Lions have been nearly perfect against unranked squads, winning all but three sets in those matches. Although even winning a set against a team like Penn State would be unprecedented this season, Davis said he thinks the Cats can play with the top teams in the country. “We’ve just gotta find a way to win,” Davis said. carlosstinson-maas2023@u.northwestern.edu
Lindsey Pulliam prepares to shoot the ball. The junior guard scored nine points in overtime.
the first two quarters and only 15 in the third. But their hot 3-point shooting in the fourth quarter gave Marquette its first lead of the game midway through the period. NU led by eight at halftime but saw the Golden Eagles take a threepoint lead with eight minutes to go. But the ensuing stretch by Burton got the Cats to overtime, and Pulliam sealed the win in overtime. Last season, NU lost by 19 at home to Marquette, a team that ended up a No. 5 seed in the NCAA
Tournament. With the win, the Cats gain an important boost for their tournament resume. The team set the preseason goal to make the postseason this year. With their second win of the season, the Cats took a major step in that direction. “They lost some players to graduation but this was a top ten team last year,” McKeown said. “We defended pretty well and showed we had what it takes to win a game like this.” charliegoldsmith2021@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman