The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, January 31, 2018
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Ethnic studies gets student support Groups seek dept recognition for AASP, LLSP By ALAN PEREZ
daily senior staffer @_perezalan_
MEChA de Northwestern and the Asian Pacific American Coalition are leading a campaign for department status for two of the University’s largest ethnic studies programs. Working together as the Latinx Asian American Collective, the student groups published a proposal last week urging the establishment of the Latina and Latino and Asian American Studies Programs as departments. As of Tuesday night, about 165 students had signed an online petition in support of the proposal. The proposal echoes a Jan. 23 letter to the editor authored by the Collective, but it lays out reform measures for the programs in more detail. In a statement to The Daily, the Collective said it is “necessary to establish (the programs) as fully funded and autonomous departments” as they continue to expand. “By denying this demand,
Northwestern would be neglecting the educational needs of its students of color, specifically those who are in these disciplines,” the statement said. “When you neglect Ethnic Studies, you neglect the people within these communities.” The LLSP budget has not changed since 2011, and the AASP budget was increased last year for the first time in at least a decade, the programs’ respective directors said. The proposal states the lack of funding limits the programs’ abilities to support research projects and conference presentations in a growing field of study. Additionally, their lack of departmental status means the programs are not able to hire tenure-track faculty to dedicate their time fully to ethnic studies, both directors said. Faculty members, including directors, have to balance positions in other departments, limiting time spent within the ethnic studies programs, said LLSP director and Spanish Prof. Frances Aparicio and AASP director and African American Studies Prof. Nitasha Sharma. The lack of faculty also » See DEPARTMENT, page 6
Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer
A Black Lives Matter flag flies over Norris University Center for the second year in a row. The flag signaled the beginning of Black History Month programming events on campus.
BLM flag raised for second year Norris Center flies flag to commemorate Black History Month By ALEXIS WHITE
the daily northwestern @alexisfwhite
A Black Lives Matter flag was raised Friday at Norris University Center to signal the start of Black History Month programming. The flag was raised in time for the Harambee event on Friday
that “celebrated Blackness,” For Members Only vice coordinator Michelle Sanders told The Daily in an email. Sanders said Harambee kicked off Black History Month programming with the participation of many NU black-centric groups. “We especially wanted (the flag) this year because this is the 50th-year commemoration of
the Bursar’s Takeover,” the SESP senior said in the email, “which was a pivotal moment for Black students on campus that got us the Black House and so many resources that we can still take advantage of today.” The flag was raised for the first time last year, as students organized events and dialogue around the Black Lives Matter
movement. It remained flying for two weeks. Norris executive director Jeremy Schenk told The Daily that Norris does not fly special flags often, and that this has been the only one flown both years due to student request and its connection to programming. Schenk said he » See BLM, page 6
Students, faculty talk Trump address Principal leaves as Campus responses criticize vague rhetoric, call for bipartisanship
By ADRIAN WAN
the daily northwestern @piuadrianw
In his first State of the Union address Tuesday, President Donald Trump reflected on his first year in office and highlighted individuals and policies central to “a new American moment.” About 20 students gathered in Communications Residential College to watch the address, in which Trump argued for bipartisan efforts in bolstering the growing economy, keeping the unemployment rate low and tackling terrorism and gang violence. Weinberg freshman Christasia Strader said she thought the speech was largely vague. Strader said she felt Trump sidelined issues that people were “actually concerned about,” like social justice issues and gender inequalities, in order to focus on things like foreign policy and immigration. “I wish he would’ve spoken more about the #MeToo movement ... as well as being more specific with his plan for immigration,” Strader said. “At first it seemed like he talked a little about DACA, but I feel like there could be a more comprehensive
curriculum shifts Bessie Rhodes leader leaves for post at CPS By CATHERINE HENDERSON
the daily northwestern @caity_henderson
Noah Frick-Alofs/Daily Senior Staffer
Students watch the State of the Union address in Communications Residential College. Trump focused on immigration and foreign policy, but some students said they wished he would have mentioned more social issues.
plan for immigration.” In his remarks, Trump said “the House and Senate will be voting on an immigration reform package” in the next few weeks with a “bipartisan approach.” The four-pillar framework Trump proposed would offer citizenship
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to the 1.8 million people who immigrated to the U.S. at a young age with relatives, but would eliminate the visa lottery, which he said “randomly hands out” green cards without taking into account applicants’ skills or “the safety of our people.”
Despite the recent controversy over tax reforms signed into law last month — which slashed business tax rates from 35 percent to 21 percent — Trump said the package would “provide » See ADDRESS, page 6
Principal Lauren Norwood left the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies on Friday, leaving behind a school in the middle of transitioning its entire curriculum to bilingual learning. Norwood took an administrative position in Chicago Public Schools, according to an email, obtained by The Daily, sent from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 to parents on Jan. 11. The email said the assistant principal at Bessie Rhodes, Matt Condon, will serve as the interim principal until the district comes up with a “full transition plan.” District superintendent Paul Goren told The Daily he is committed to finding the “best possible” principal for Bessie Rhodes and added he would like to see a bilingual administrator step into the position. “We wish (Norwood) well on this exciting new opportunity,”
Goren said. “As she departs, we can look for a long term principal.” Norwood and Condon did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In December 2017, the District 65 board voted to expand the Two-Way Immersion program to Bessie Rhodes, starting next school year with the kindergarten class. Two-Way Immersion program is designed to increase bilingualism and cultural awareness between English speakers and Spanish speakers in class together. Goren said the district has looked at expanding the TwoWay Immersion program for years because the demand is high in Evanston and nationally. This year, the board took action to expand the program when they had been hesitant in previous years, he said. The email to parents said the district is working to make sure “school operations continue as usual.” Goren also said the transition could be an opportunity to focus on the Two-Way Immersion transition and find a “new school leader.” However, he also emphasized Norwood’s leaving » See RHODES, page 6
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