The Daily Northwestern - Feb. 26, 2014

Page 1

2014 Spring Sports Guide

»Inside

The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, February 26, 2014

DAilYNoRthWEStERN.CoM

Find us online @thedailynu

Committee aims to Blanco talks poetry, heritage replace sunshine By eLi PanKen

the daily northwestern

By ReBeCCa savRansKy

the daily northwestern @beccasavransky

Administrators have organized a search committee to find a replacement for Eugene Sunshine, senior vice president for business and finance, who will be stepping down at the end of the academic year. Sunshine (Weinberg ‘71) has worked at the University for 17 years and oversaw a significant number of projects, including large-scale campus expansion and endowment growth. He announced last month he was stepping down to devote more time to consulting, teaching, advising companies and serving on boards of directors. The replacement committee, headed by University Provost Dan Linzer and Chief Investment Officer William McLean, is made up of members of the NU community from different areas of campus. “The idea was that the person that would replace Sunshine needs to be involved in a range of different university activities,” said Weinberg Prof. Teri Odom, a member of the committee. “Representatives and constituents were chosen such that some of the decisions he might make that would impact them most directly are

part of the decision in selecting his successor.” The committee was formed shortly after Sunshine announced his intention to step down, Linzer said. Since its formation, involved members have met once to discuss the way in which the search will be conducted, he said. Committee members said they are hoping to find a replacement who would be ready to begin the position when Sunshine steps down. The committee is currently in its planning stages but will be devoting more time to the initiative within the coming weeks. Linzer said due to their recent start, the proposed timeline for the project is not yet confirmed. “Once you get started, then you tend to get a much better sense of the pool of candidates,” he said. The committee will be working with a search firm to create a description of the position and reach out to potential candidates, Linzer said. He said he does not expect finding a capable successor will pose significant challenges for the University, because of its quality of students, financial strength and location. “Northwestern is an amazingly

Richard Blanco, the first gay, immigrant and Latino poet to read at a presidential inauguration, spoke Tuesday at Northwestern about his personal journey and his beliefs on the role of poetry in public life. A crowd of faculty, administrators and students nearly filled Harris Hall for the “Poetry for the People” event, which was organized by The Graduate School and NU’s Society of Presidential Fellows as part of a speaker series. Blanco, the son of Cuban exiles who moved to Florida, earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in creative writing from Florida International University. He composed and performed “One Today,” a poem about the nation’s unity, for President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in January 2013. Dwight McBride, TGS dean and associate provost for graduate education, introduced the speaker, who drew laughs with his opening remarks. “I feel wonderful,” Blanco said. “You guys have been the most welcoming. I hope we can laugh a little bit today, cry a little bit today, possibly get in a little salsa, who knows?” Throughout his 90-minute talk, Blanco gave a detailed description of his “road to the podium.” He spoke a great deal about his childhood, his relationship with his mother, his sexuality and his

» See SUnSHInE, page 7

» See BlAnCo, page 6

Brian lee/Daily Senior Staffer

BrEAKIng nEw groUnD Poet Richard Blanco chats with University President Schapiro before his presentation tuesday afternoon. Blanco, who read at President Barack obama’s second inauguration, read several poems in between describing the influence of his immigrant upbringing and sexuality on his work and discussing his work.

Students remember Richards Former NU student Mahoney found dead By aLLy MUTniCK and TyLeR PaGeR the daily northwestern @allymutnick, @tylerpager

Northwestern colleagues and students remembered Residence Director Kristina Richards on Tuesday as “a great listener” and a “dedicated professional.” Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president for student affairs, announced Richards’ death Sunday evening via email. Richards had worked at NU since 2003, most recently serving as the graduate halls residence director. Andrew Yoon (Weinberg ‘13) said Richards was “very open and approachable” during the two years he served as a community assistant under her. During the 2010-11 school year, Yoon worked in 1835 Hinman and the year after, he worked in the Ayers College of Commerce and Industry. “At the beginning of the year, she always made sure we were comfortable with her and we were comfortable with each other as CAs,” Yoon said. “She understood that teamwork and chemistry were such a valuable part of watching over residents.” Yoon said she was an excellent listener and very understanding. “She really cared for each member of her staff as well as all the residents she oversaw,” he said. Previously an area coordinator, Richards supervised several undergraduate residence halls, including

Slivka Residential College, 1835 Hinman, Jones Residential College and Sargent Hall. Richards “always put her students first,” said Paul Riel, executive director of residential services. “Kristina was a dedicated professional staff member who was known for her support of residential students, a commitment to Northwestern, and developing strong partnerships across the campus,” Riel wrote in an email to The Daily. As an area director, Richards was an engaging leader who worked well with the Slivka Executive Board, said McCormick senior Holden Faber, who served on the board. Faber said Richards helped with the Freshmen Emerging Leaders Program and Red Watch Band training. He described her as a great resource who could always connect students with useful NU offices and departments. “It’s one of those positions and she’s one of those people who enjoyed the human interaction component of it,” Faber said. “She really liked Northwestern students.” Richards lived in Slivka for years and loved the community there, said Alex Fontana, a graduate student who served as an assistant master for Slivka. She was involved with her residents, going to executive board events and meeting with students one-on-one. Fontana said Richards’ door was always open to students.

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

By TyLeR PaGeR

the daily northwestern @tylerpager

Source: Facebook

Kristina Richards

“She was a really active presence in their life,” Fontana said. “She was sort of like the mother of the building.” Telles-Irvin said Richards impacted the lives of many in the NU community. “She will be remembered for her love of her family, her strong student advocacy, her commitment to Northwestern, and for her empathy toward students,” Telles-Irvin said in the email. “Her colleagues speak of her interests in working with others and establishing effective partnerships within the campus. Her kindness, consideration and dedication to her students were special traits she held.” A memorial service for Richards will be held in the coming weeks, Telles-Irvin said. allymutnick@u.northwestern.edu tylerpager2017@u.northwestern.edu

Former Northwestern student Jaqueline Mahoney was found dead in Tigard, Ore., on Monday, Tigard police said. Mahoney, 23, was found in the Tigard Embassy Suites hotel, said Tigard Police Sgt. Jerry Bartolomucci. Josh Brechner (Weinberg ‘12), a friend of Mahoney, said Mahoney was working on becoming a comedian and was a very talented rapper. He said he last spoke to her a few months ago. Mahoney was enrolled in the School of Communication beginning Fall Quarter 2008, University Registrar Jaci Casazza said. She was last enrolled as a student in Summer Quarter 2012. Mahoney never graduated from NU and her enrollment was not consecutive. She returned for Winter Quarter 2012 after taking more than two years off. Brechner said Mahoney’s time off was due to a medical leave. Mahoney was living in Portland, Ore., at the time of her death, according to her Facebook page. Bartolomucci said Mahoney’s family has been notified.

University spokesman Bob Rowley did not have any additional information Tuesday evening. Brechner knew Mahoney through Boomshaka, a drum and dance ensemble, which she was a part of during her first year at NU. He called When it came her “extremely to further genuine and members of unselfish.” “Everyone Boomshaka was always down the stunned by how unique line, they an individual were always she was and compared to how remarkable and how her abilities and talented she her explosive was in what she applied energy herself to,” Josh Brechner, Brechner said. Weinberg ‘12 “She was very supportive, very excited by other people’s ideas and would love to suggest her ideas to help improve your ideas even though it could be on any topic at any time.” He added she was an energetic participant of Boomshaka. When

» See MAHonEY, page 6

INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 5 | Sports 8


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.