The Daily Northwestern Tuesday, October 17, 2017
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Women’s Soccer
3 CAMPUS/Student Life
Wildcats move into 4th place in Big Ten
Security report reveals fewest liquor law violations on Evanston campus in 3 years
Find us online @thedailynu 4 OPINION/Reed
Disregard of N-word warning is disgraceful
High 69 Low 49
Trial progresses in CTA pushing case Court to pursue criminal charges against NU grad
By RISHIKA DUGYALA and ERICA SNOW daily senior staffers @rdugyala822, @ericasnoww
CHICAGO — A Cook County judge found probable cause Monday to pursue criminal charges against Northwestern doctoral graduate Chad Estep, who was accused of pushing a Chicago man onto CTA train tracks in August. Estep, a 34-year-old who received his doctorate in neuroscience in March, was charged Oct. 9 with attempted firstdegree murder and aggravated battery in a public place, two felony counts. He appeared Monday at the 42nd branch of Cook County Circuit Court in front of Judge Marvin Luckman. The judge held a preliminary hearing with testimony from two witnesses for the prosecution: the plaintiff, Ben Benedict, and Chicago Police Department detective Marc Lapadula. Benedict alleged that on Aug. 1 around 11:30 p.m., he left a Chicago Cubs game and was waiting alone for a train when he felt a push on his lower back, causing him to fall from the platform and land about “12 to 18 inches” from the electrified third rail.
He said he landed on his right arm, rendering it “immobile.” Benedict testified that he didn’t see who pushed him, but he turned around nearly seven to eight seconds after he fell and noticed Estep. “He looked down and pointed straight at me,” Benedict said. Benedict said he and Estep had never met before the incident, and he identified the NU graduate in court as the aggressor. Benedict added that he also picked Estep out of a physical lineup. The plaintiff, who has lived in Chicago for 20 years, said once he walked to the platform’s edge, Estep made a motion to keep him from climbing back onto the platform. Benedict then noticed people waiting for another train about 20 feet away and said he yelled for help, telling them, “I think he’s trying to kill me.” He said about two people helped him onto the platform. There “couldn’t have been more than 30 seconds or a minute” before the next train came, Benedict said. He testified that he did not visit a bar before or after the game, and did not consume alcohol during the game. Vadim Glozman, an attorney representing Estep, said his client “could’ve been there to help,” and clarified no one “physically prevented” Benedict » See ESTEP, page 6
Noah Frick-Alofs/Daily Senior Staffer
Former presidential candidate Martin O’Malley speaks to students about Donald Trump’s presidency and political engagement in Cahn Auditorium on Monday. The event was hosted by College Democrats.
O’Malley talks politics, Trump Former Democratic presidential candidate pushes political activism By GRACE GAY
the daily northwestern @gracegay99
Former presidential candidate Martin O’Malley spoke about the current political
climate and lessons he learned from his 2016 candidacy in a Monday event sponsored by College Democrats. About 90 people attended the event at Cahn Auditorium, which featured Washington Post columnist Eugene
Robinson. O’Malley, who served as Maryland governor from 2007 to 2015, said he wanted to focus on serious issues in his primary campaign, but President Donald Trump distracted people with “political
pornography” and “fascist appeals.” He said the younger generation represents the good within the country and can shape the future. O’Malley » See O’MALLEY, page 6
City clerk to keep control of FOIA Local restaurants Aldermen to continue discussing how much information is released
8th Ward eateries return more than $570,000 to city
By KRISTINA KARISCH
daily senior staffer @kristinakarisch
Aldermen unanimously decided Monday to allow city clerk Devon Reid to keep his jurisdiction over Freedom of Information Act requests, and to continue discussions on the type of information made public. On Tuesday, City Council will reinstate Evanston’s NextRequest database, which stores public records online. However, until aldermen agree on revised FOIA guidelines, all requests will remain private, Reid told The Daily. The decisions come after weeks of discussion by aldermen and an Oct. 5 Facebook post from Reid urging for further review of information. Council members first raised concerns over information made public in the FOIA database at a Sept. 25 meeting. At the September meeting, Ald. Donald Wilson (4th) said the database had publicly disclosed the names of juvenile offenders and at least one survivor
bolster economy By NORA SHELLY
daily senior staffer @noracshelly
Katie Pach/Daily Senior Staffer
City clerk Devon Reid speaks at Monday’s City Council meeting. Aldermen voted unanimously to appoint Reid as Evanston’s Freedom of Information Act officer, but decided to further discuss how and when information should be publicized.
of sexual assault. Aldermen voted to make the database private and began a review of the city’s policies pertaining to the public release of requested information. The September meeting also revealed that, since Reid stepped into his role as city clerk,
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
Evanston has not had a formally designated FOIA officer. When the city drafted its 2014 FOIA policy, former city clerk Rodney Greene was appointed to the post by name, according to city documents. On Monday, aldermen
amended the code and specified that the job falls under the purview of the city clerk’s office, ensuring future clerks’ status as FOIA officers. However, aldermen said they » See FOIA, page 6
Two 8th Ward restaurants launched with the city’s help have returned more than $570,000 to Evanston in economic impact, city officials announced Monday. The report, presented at City Council, listed the costs and revenues garnered from Peckish Pig, 623 Howard St., and Ward Eight, 629 Howard St., which opened in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Both restaurants are located in buildings that were at one point owned by the city. Peckish Pig continues to lease from the city, while the Ward Eight owners bought their building last year. City manager Wally Bobkiewicz told The Daily that Peckish Pig owners are getting ready to buy their building from the city, and will likely do so by the end of the year.
The report was put together at the request of Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) in response to criticism of the city’s redevelopment efforts in the area. A significant portion of Howard Street’s redevelopment has also been paid with tax increment financing. The funding method siphons off tax money collected from property taxes and directs it to funds most often used for economic development projects. The city used TIF to buy the two properties where Peckish Pig and Ward Eight are now located. TIF funds have also been used to “revitalize” the buildings occupied by the restaurants, according to the report. Bobkiewicz said at the meeting it was “unfortunate” that the efforts on Howard Street had been criticized, and called the city’s investment in the area a “textbook” example of redevelopment. “The work we have done there has been a catalyst,” he said. “The work we have done there has really made changes the private sector has not been able to do.” » See RESTAURANTS, page 6
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