NU alum wins humanitarian award » PAGE 7
sports Women’s Soccer Cats prepare to face Michigan, Michigan State » PAGE 8
opinion Gates Prerequisites undermine student choice » PAGE 4
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The Daily Northwestern DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
Thursday, October 23, 2014
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Scholars discuss state of ACA By Michelle Kim
the daily northwestern @yeareeka
A panel of political scholars weighed in on the future of the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the upcoming 2014 midterm elections. The panel discussion, hosted by the Evanston Scholars Strategy Network, invited three scholars to share their insight to the NU community at NU’s Transportation Center, 600 Foster St. The panelists included Prof. Colleen Grogan, from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, Lawrence Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance in the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, and Illinois State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston). The speakers highlighted the developments that have taken place throughout the nation since the implementation of the ACA in March 2010, including the enrollment of 7.3 million people and the expansion of Medicaid in 27 states and Washington, D.C. Yet, among the uninsured there is a plurality of 47 percent who view health reform unfavorably because of a lack of awareness about the specifics of health care and how it will affect them, Jacobs said. When people start to become more aware and experience the benefits of the ACA, they lean toward support and
reform, rather than elimination of the plan altogether, he said. “There is this idea out there…that the Affordable Care Act is about a Washington takeover: The government is forcing you to do this,” Jacobs said. “But the more you actually look into what’s going on with health reform, the action is in the states.” Grogan addressed the confusion surrounding health plans that obstruct Medicaid expansion among people who are in need of coverage. “The lack of knowledge hinders mobilization around the program,” she said. “Even if you access private plans, even though we’re using an awful amount of public money, people don’t know they have claims on the state. They think their claim is on the private plan.” Gabel said she and other Democrats are working on establishing a state-provided health insurance plan specific to Illinois, following the models implemented by 14 other states. Republicans are currently standing in the way of progress, because of the approaching deadline for requesting federal money for the development of these state-based exchanges, she said. The panelists went on to point out the partisanship and party control variables that interfere with the expansion of Medicaid. Democratic voters who are » See ACA, page 7
Nathan Richards/Daily Senior Staffer
taking a stand Student performer Prez Harris (McCormick sophomore Randall Harris) raps Wednesday night at The Rock as part of a demonstration to express anger over the shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri in August. About 50 students attended the event, wearing red armbands and listening to student musical and spoken-word acts.
NU gathers in solidarity with Ferguson October By Jeanne Kuang
daily senior staffer @jeannekuang
Sean Su/Daily Senior Staffer
transit updates A Purple Line train pulls up to the Dempster CTA station. Evanston received the results of a transit poll for city residents and Northwestern students, which showed that many had problems with the hours of the Purple Line Express and the public bus routes.
Poll results show focus on Purple Line, bus routes City staff released Wednesday the results of its transit poll, which showed many of those polled wanted additional bus routes and extended hours for the Purple Line Express train. The poll, which Evanston posed in order to improve public transportation in the city, targeted both Evanston residents and Northwestern students. The survey included an open-ended response question about satisfaction with the city’s public transportation system. Some residents complained about the conditions of the subway stations, citing leaky roofs and general disrepair, while others focused on the Purple Line and bus routes, according to the survey
results. The Chicago Transit Authority has addressed problems with the Purple Line trains through the Red and Purple Line Modernization program, which launched in November 2013. The $1.7 billion initiative aims to upgrade the tracks and rebuild CTA stations to improve ridership across the two lines. Although walking, biking and driving are also major methods of transportation for Evanston residents, bus routes and Purple Line trains were discussed most in the free response answers on the survey, said Cindy Plante, a local government management fellow with the International City/County Management Association, in an email to The Daily. According to the results, 7 percent of residents named the CTA bus system as their primary mode of transportation, while 14 percent said the CTA train. The majority of residents, 77 percent, said » See transit, page 7
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“You can’t stop the revolution,” Northwestern students chanted on Wednesday night as they gathered around The Rock in a demonstration against police brutality and racial profiling. About 50 attendees wearing red armbands listened to student musical and spoken-word acts that denounced racism in America and the fatal August shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. “(This event is) only for people that are mad as f—ing hell that black people keep dying,” organizer Sarah Oberholtzer said to the crowd. Throughout the night, students expressed anger over the events in Ferguson, which have sparked weeks of protests and a federal investigation. They
ETHS shows increased student achievement Data from the 2013-14 school year at Evanston Township High School showed record student achievement in many areas, including the highest amount of high scores on Advanced Placement exams and the lowest dropout rate in the school’s history. ETHS staff reported an overview of student achievement Monday to the District 202 Board of Education. Through three different reports, the board heard
named other incidents of alleged racial profiling that led to the shooting deaths of unarmed black teenagers, such as Trayvon Martin and Renisha McBride. “Why should I be scared?” McCormick sophomore Randall Harris rapped at the event. “Why should I feel like I shouldn’t be here?” Later in the evening, students shared their own experiences with racism and painted The Rock, covering it in red handprints. They also circulated a petition asking the Chicago Police Department to decrease spending and answer civilian questions in the interest of transparency, among other demands. Sam Dreessen, an activist who traveled to Missouri earlier this month with the Arab American Action Network to support local protesters, drew cheers and applause from the crowd as he criticized police tactics in the United States. “Resistance is justified when people are occupied,” Dreessen said, leading the crowd in a chant.
Oberholtzer organized the gathering with For Members Only, NU’s black student alliance, and held it in conjunction with a National Day of Action Against Police Brutality organized by Ferguson October, a nationwide activist movement. The Communication sophomore told The Daily that although the event, dubbed NU’s “Day of Resistance,” began on a grim note, she was glad to see participants stepping up to the microphone to speak about their own experiences. “The idea was to empower the community and empower the people that are really angry right now,” Oberholtzer said. “People that are angry have their voices stifled and need to be as limited as possible, so it’s really awesome that people got a chance to scream and shout.” Harris, who rapped under his stage name Prez Harris, said he was invited
presentations on key statistical indicators of school performance and Illinois state data, all of which show comprehensively positive results, D202 superintendent Eric Witherspoon said at the meeting. “I really do want to give great kudos to our teachers, to our support staff, to the people who work in this building every day, who have just been literally pouring their hearts and souls into the achievement of the students in this school,” he said. “This takes a lot of people working really, really hard.” ETHS had an increased four-year graduation rate, up to 88 percent, and had 71 percent of students enroll in postsecondary education, according to the state school report card. The dropout rate
in the 2012-13 school year was 1.1 percent, the lowest in the school’s recorded history. Since 2004, the amount of juniors and senior taking AP tests has increased from 36 percent to 64 percent, with a record number of students earning a score of 3 or above. The average ACT composite score of 23.6 is the second highest ever at ETHS, as well as higher than the averages in Illinois and the nation, according to the report on student achievement. “When we look at these reports, if there are positives and good trends, I think it’s very important that we lift those up and take note of them,”
» See Resistance, page 7
» See achievement, page 7
INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8
2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014
Around Town Panelists discuss food sustainability By MIRA WANG
the daily northwestern
Local chefs and restaurant owners talked Wednesday night about going “green� in the restaurant business at a panel discussion as a part of NU Sustainable Food Talks. Panelists, who spoke in Harris Hall, said their restaurants have taken strides in recycling, composting, using compostable products and increasing energy efficiency. The panelists talked about the challenges and the rewards of increasing sustainability efforts in their businesses. Heidi Moorman Coudal, owner of Big Delicious Planet Catering and Canteen, said the company will have grown at least 5,000 pounds of vegetables by the end of this year. Big Delicious, named the “Greenest Caterer in America� by the Green Restaurant Association, operates in a geothermal building and grows its own vegetables on its own urban farm. Panelists also discussed their backgrounds in the sustainability movement, labels often associated with the “green� movement and how social justice plays a role in going “green.� “I was kind of an accidental sustain-abilist,� said chef Zak Dolezal of Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen. “It was a passion for delicious food that began it all.� Dolezal said he would frequent local farmers’
Police Blotter Battery reported at Evanston Township High School Officers responded to a fight Friday morning between two Evanston Township High School students, police said. A 15-year-old bumped into a 17-year-old student, and the two began to exchange words, Evanston police Cmdr. Jay Parrott said. The 15-year-old then hit the other student five or six times in the body and the face, Parrott said. The 17-year-old sustained minor cuts on his hand and
markets in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where the restaurant is based, and search for the locally sourced produce he needed. But farmers’ markets often didn’t produce vegetables in the kind of bulk Dolezal required for his restaurant. He had to take steps — “make promises and handshakes,� he said — to get the produce he needed. But even though the restaurants on the panel are known as sustainable or “green� restaurants, panelists said they believe the term “green� and other sustainable food labels have become meaningless because of advertising and overuse of the terms. “Farm-to-table,� said Found Kitchen and Social House owner Amy Morton. “What does that even mean anymore?� Nonetheless, Found, 1631 Chicago Ave., would fall under that label, she said. Its locally sourced food literally goes from the farm to the table, Morton said, but she added that she would never call it farm-totable because of the overuse of the term. The certification isn’t as important as who the food is from, Morton said. Found will take its employees on field trips to local farms to see how farmers raise their crops or livestock. “There is a cost to the way crops and animals are managed in this country,� Lipschutz said, referring to the way pesticides are sprayed in common agricultural practices and may travel through food reported that the other student pulled out a small knife, Parrott said. Detectives are investigating the incident at the school, 1600 Dodge Ave., and an arrest is pending, Parrott said.
Car stolen after Evanston home burglarized An Evanston home was burglarized between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, police said. Police responded to a reported burglary in the 200 block of Elmwood Avenue, Parrott said.
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GREEN KITCHENS Eloise Karlatiras, president and CEO of the Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition, moderates a discussion in Harris Hall on Wednesday night. Panelists talked about the challenges restaurants face in going “green� as part of NU Sustainable Food Talks.
City desk
and endanger humans. “We have to remember that we’re in a system larger than ourselves.� Education of the public is key, Lipschutz said. “As our guests become more educated, they hold us to a higher standard,� he added. Eloise Karlatiras, the president and CEO of the Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition, moderated the discussion.
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mirawang2018@u.northwestern.edu A 58-year-old woman woke up to find her rear door ajar and window open, Parrott said. The door was locked prior to the incident. Police believe that the point of entry was the unlocked window, Parrott said. The woman discovered her 32-inch TV, laptop computer and purse missing, Parrott said. The purse contained the woman’s wallet, $50 in cash, credit cards, a driver’s license and keys. The woman also discovered her 2002 gray Honda CR-V missing, Parrott said. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident. —Marissa Mizroch
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50,000
Are you ready to venture where others fear to go?
F S O E AR UM YE ST H CO T NG R NI /U WIN D AR
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Panel discussion with experts from Brandeis University’s Crown Center for Middle East Studies and Northwestern University.
www.dailynorthwestern.com eic@dailynorthwestern.com
The Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies at Northwestern University presents:
Gaza and Beyond: Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab World
The Daily Northwestern
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McCormick Tribune Forum 1870 Campus Drive, Evanston campus
PARTICIPANTS: Shai Feldman, Director, Crown Center for Middle East Studies and Professor of Politics, Brandeis Univeristy Abdel Monem Said Aly, Director of the Regional Center for Strategic Studies, Cairo. Chairman of Al-Masry Al-Youm, daily in Egypt and a Senior Fellow, Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University
MODERATOR:
Nabeel Khoury, Visiting Scholar MENA Program, Northwestern University and Senior Fellow, the Chicago Council RQ *OREDO $̆DLUV Khalil Shikaki, Director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (Ramallah); Senior Fellow, Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University
Elie Rekhess, Crown Visiting Professor in Israel Studies, Northwestern University
co-sponsored by the Program in Middle East and North African Studies (MENA), Northwestern University +&8*4)Ĺą456%*&4ĹŠ/035)8&45&3/ &%6 t +&8*4)Ĺą456%*&4 /035)8&45&3/ &%6
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thursday, october 23, 2014
“
On Campus
We really thought there needed to be a single process for getting recognition. Communication with CSI and ASG at the same time creates confusion for everybody.
”
— McCormick senior Alex Van Atta
the daily northwestern | NEWS 3 ASG discusses changes to student group recognition process Page 6
Students pitch ideas at entrepreneurship event By Mollie Leavitt
the daily northwestern @mollieleavitt1
Northwestern students gathered at the Owen L. Coon Forum on Wednesday to pitch their startup ideas to more than 50 audience members during an event held to give student entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with each other and strengthen their pitches. NU undergraduate student group EPIC and the Kellogg School of Management’s Entrepreneurship Club hosted the event. The two groups emphasize student entrepreneurship and hosted the event to bridge the gap between undergraduate and graduate students interested in business, said McCormick junior Vivien Ho, codirector of programming for EPIC. “Our mission is to inspire and empower undergrads, and we want to provide ways for them to try entrepreneurship,” Ho said. Pitch Night provided a chance for students to improve their ideas in a forum that involved neither investors nor money, she said. Pitch Night aims to spark a dialogue about student entrepreneurship in an informal and low-pressure setting, said second-year Kellogg student Kate Yeskey Singh, a member of the graduate eClub leadership
Across Campuses Students undecided on further Hong Kong talks DOHA, QATAR— Hong Kong student leaders say they may not take part in further talks with the government after accusing city authorities of failing to make any meaningful offers to end weeks of mass rallies. The comments on Wednesday are a blow to the city’s Beijing-backed leaders who had expressed hopes for fresh rounds of talks after meeting face-to-face
Abigail Igoe/The Daily Northwestern
pitch it A Northwestern student speaks to an audience of student entrepreneurs. NU EPIC and Kellogg School of Management’s Entrepreneurship Club hosted an event for students to pitch startup ideas and network. committee. involved in entrepreneurial projects earlier in their careers. “At Northwestern, there is a lack of transparency At the event, more than 20 people and teams about entrepreneurship,” Yeskey Singh said. “Lots of pitched their ideas in one to three minutes. Followpeople are wondering, ‘How can I find a team? How ing the open mic session, all audience members and can I find people with common ideas?’” entrepreneurs were invited to an open networking In the past, Pitch Night was held later in the acafloor to discuss further business ventures and critique demic year. However, eClub and EPIC chose to host the event during Fall Quarter this year to get students each others’ ideas.
with students on Tuesday night for the first time. The negotiations are widely seen as the only way to end nearly a month of protests calling for electoral reforms in the southern Chinese city without a police crackdown or further violence. “About whether there will be talks in the future this is something that isn’t decided,” Hong Kong Federation of Students secretary general Alex Chow told reporters. “The government has to come up with some way to solve this problem, but what they are offering does not have any practical content,” Chow said, adding protesters will not leave the streets any time soon.
‘Disappointing discussions’ Government officials have stuck to the official position that Hong Kong’s mini-constitution cannot be amended to accommodate protesters’ demands, while also saying that many others do not share their views. “We hope you would understand that there are a lot of people who are not in Mong Kok, who are not in Admiralty, many people at home who aren’t insisting on civil nomination,” said Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen. Al Jazeera’s Divya Gopalan, reporting from Admiralty, one of the main protest sites, said Tuesday’s talks
The ideas ranged from an online flier gallery to storing college students’ belongings over the summer. Students’ pitches ranged in stages of development as well, from those looking to collaborate on any sort of startup to highly developed elevator pitches. First-year Kellogg student Kevin Takaoka pitched the idea of creating an online platform that connects math tutors to students across the globe who do not have access to them. “My project is still in the ideation phase,” Takaoka said. “I came to Pitch Night to share my idea and to find colleagues to collaborate with.” Michael Tu (McCormick ’13, ’14) pitched his idea to the group with a finished prototype and has already submitted an application for a patent. He has developed a litter box to analyze cat urine and monitor cat urination patterns in order to detect kidney and urinary tract disease in cats. “Every time you get a chance to attend a networking event for entrepreneurs, you should,” he said. Tu came to the event looking for people who would help him commercialize and market his idea, like many other students at the event. “I thought it was a very low pressure way to get ideas and find people with relevant experience, regardless of the stage of the idea and get feedback,” first-year Kellogg student Melissa Caldwell said. MollieLeavitt2018@u.northwestern.edu
seemed to have done little to dampen the protests. She said student leaders appearing on a stage at Admiralty after the discussions were met with loud cheers by thousands of people gathered. “They told the crowd that they did not get a practical response from the government and they are disappointed in the discussions,” she said. “They urged protesters to carry on occupying sites, saying that the five speakers at the talks are not enough to convince the government to address their issues.” — Al Jazeera and agencies (Al Jazeera)
THIS WEEKEND IN MUSIC OCT 24 - 26
26 SUN
Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble: Evensong St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4 p.m. 939 Hinman Ave, Evanston free ^LJŵƉŚŽŶŝĐ tŝŶĚ ŶƐĞŵďůĞ
24 FRI
Symphonic Wind Ensemble Pick-Staiger, 7:30 p.m. $6/4
DĂůůŽƌLJ dŚŽŵƉƐŽŶ͕ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚŽƌ͖ ZLJĂŶ >ŝƩ ůĞ͕ ŚŽƌŶ Kevin Puts (arr. Ryan Kelly), EĞƚǁŽƌŬ Eric Whitacre, ^ůĞĞƉ Brian Balmages, WĞůĞ for solo horn and wind ensemble ;ĨĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐ ZLJĂŶ >ŝƩ ůĞ͕ ŽŶĐĞƌƚŽ ŽŵƉĞƟ Ɵ ŽŶ ǁŝŶŶĞƌͿ Richard Strauss, sŝĞŶŶĂ WŚŝůŚĂƌŵŽŶŝĐ &ĂŶĨĂƌĞ WĂƵů ,ŝŶĚĞŵŝƚŚ͕ ^LJŵƉŚŽŶLJ ŝŶ ͲŇ Ăƚ DĂũŽƌ
ŽŶĂůĚ EĂůůLJ͕ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚŽƌ͖ ^ƚĞƉŚĞŶ ^ƉŝŶĞůůŝ͕ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚŽƌ͖ ƌŝĐ ƵĚnjLJŶƐŬŝ͕ ŽƌŐĂŶ ŵďƌĂĐŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ ŶĞĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƌŝƚƵĂů ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĂŶĐŝĞŶƚ ůŝƚƵƌŐLJ͕ ƐŝŶŐƐ Evensong in one of our area’s loveliest churches with grand organs ĂŶĚ ďƌŝůůŝĂŶƚ ĂĐŽƵƐƟ ĐƐ͘
Hymnfest XII: “Hark, a Thrilling Voice is Sounding” Alice Millar, 7 p.m. free (goodwill offerings accepted)
ůŝĐĞ DŝůůĂƌ ŚĂƉĞů ŚŽŝƌ͕ ^ƚĞƉŚĞŶ ůůƚŽƉ͕ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚŽƌ͖ ƌŝĐ ƵĚnjLJŶƐŬŝ͕ ŽƌŐĂŶ͖ DŝůůĂƌ ƌĂƐƐ ŶƐĞŵďůĞ ŽŵĞ ůŝŌ LJŽƵƌ ǀŽŝĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŝĐĞ DŝůůĂƌ ŚĂƉĞů ŚŽŝƌ͕ ƚŚĞ DŝůůĂƌ ƌĂƐƐ ŶƐĞŵďůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŝŐŚƚLJ ϭϬϬͲƌĂŶŬ ĞŽůŝĂŶͲ^ŬŝŶŶĞƌ ŽƌŐĂŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŵĂũĞƐƟ Đ ĂŶĚ ƵƉůŝŌ ŝŶŐ ŚLJŵŶƐ͘
Bienen School of Music y Northwestern University www.pickstaiger.org y 847.467.4000
Opinion
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Thursday, October 23, 2014
PAGE 4
Unneccesary prerequisites hinder student choice MATT GATES
Daily columnist
Every Northwestern student knows choosing courses can be a stressful process. That psychology class you really wanted to take fills up in ten minutes, your science lab conflicts with five of your desired classes and of course, CAESAR is almost always a pain. From choosing courses to picking a major, planning out one’s academic path may be very stressful. But the presence of nonessential course prerequisites can make this process even more difficult than it needs to be. Prerequisite courses are often necessary for a student to be prepared for a subsequent course. In other cases, prerequisite courses are beneficial to a student trying to master the material in a certain course but are not entirely essential. Requiring prerequisite courses that are not essential to understanding course material creates unnecessary difficulties for student’s academic planning. Students may be delayed in determining their major because they have to take prerequisite courses before they can take courses in their required major department. For example, NU freshmen who want to
pursue a biology major cannot take a biology course until spring quarter due to prerequisite chemistry courses. Chemistry 102 (and by effect 101) is a requirement for Genetics and Molecular Biology. However, this biology course involves relatively little chemistry. Rather than Prerequisites waiting until the end of freshman year to should only start taking true biology courses, students be reserved take biology fall for instances could of freshman year and when they begin to determine are absolutely if it is their desired academic major early necessary. on. This would give students more time to determine what they would like to study and hopefully lead to a better choice. Likewise, the requirement of a quarter of calculus to take General Chemistry 103 is an unnecessary burden on students in the sciences. Yes, strong math skills are necessary to succeed in chemistry and many other science courses. However, one does not necessarily need to understand calculus to do the math required in those courses. Giving students pursuing a biology major greater flexibility as to when they take Calculus 220 would enable them to try different courses
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Penguin suicide and the human condition Kevin Mathew copy chief
I recently watched a video that broke my heart. I learned penguins wander into the arctic, to certain doom, supposedly when they just can’t take life anymore. In the video a penguin separated from the group and waddled off toward the mountains, away from the water that sustains penguins’ lives. My feelings were overwhelming. First, I felt an overload of adorableness. I can never get over how cute penguins are. Second, I felt intense sadness knowing an animal that adorable was wandering toward death. And finally, I felt sudden empathy. I felt a connection with this tortured penguin. I felt I understood why he or she wandered. Perhaps I was caught in my own symbolic interpretation. This penguin did not seem insane. I saw my own life reflected: the comfort in the herd, the instinct to wander, the urge to explore. But I learned from the penguin’s mistake, for he or she forgot the necessary balance between the comfort of community and the appeal of individuality. Most introverts know what I am talking about. Daily, I feel the urge to drop it all and wander off on my own to find some sort of unknown adventure. And yet if I do not see anyone for as little as one day, my loneliness crashes my dreams of a spontaneous adventure. In the crushing “cold” of the Northwestern arctic, more formally known as “midterm season,” there seem to be only two options for solace. One can huddle in the herd to keep warm and persevere, or one can drop it all and wander toward the mountains. However, this is a false dichotomy that tricks me, and apparently penguins, every day. There is a third option. We can choose to live in the comfort of a herd with occasional adventures to the mountains, returning each time to prepare for the next adventure. As a strong introvert, it is all too easy to forget just how crucial social interaction is. Sure, we become overwhelmed when we are at an “untz, untz” fraternity party, packed in a sweaty herd, shoulder-toshoulder, wing-to-wing. But just because large groups can be overwhelming, do not assume we do not need others. We need a
home to return to once we finish recharging. It takes a constant, conscious effort to balance the strong individuality of an introvert with the loneliness outside the warmth of the herd. I felt this penguin’s existential crisis and the undeniable will to express individuality, to go to the forbidden, to explore. This may sound overly romantic coming from an NU student who We must spends most days in class or remember that between classes, when our spark but look around. of adventure The world we live in is an incredburns dim and ible place, littered the cold of the with the enduring achievements competitive of the individual environment will. We learn seems too much complex concepts in classes taught to bear, we can within elegantly always return to designed buildings at a tremeneach other. dous university, a true monument to fearless mental exploration. Every day we witness inspiration to annunciate our individuality, but the danger is real. Although we do not waddle toward corporeal mountains, we boldly develop ourselves into individuals with unique perspectives and unique ideas. We must remember that when our spark of adventure burns dim and the cold of the competitive environment seems too much to bear, we can always return to each other, where we will find comfort and warmth before we press on. The penguin condition is tragic because penguins cannot explicitly communicate with one another. But we can. We can encourage each other to explore where none have gone before. We can push one another toward our greatest passions. We must remind each other that the warmth of our company is always waiting, for when there is a home to return to, we are able to explore so much further than we ever could before.
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Kevin Mathew is a Weinberg senior. He can be reached at kevinmathew2015@u.northwestern.edu. If you want to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern. com.
early on or pursue studies that are only available to freshmen, such as the Kaplan Humanities Scholars Program. Weinberg students pursuing biology majors under the current requirements have most, if not all, of their schedules for their first quarter at NU prescribed for them: calculus, chemistry, a freshman seminar and likely a foreign language. But prerequisites are not limited to the hard sciences. For instance, the political science department has prerequisites for some 300 level courses. It is understandable that there is some knowledge imparted in earlier courses that is important for higher-level courses. However, outside of math, science and foreign language courses, material is far less sequential. In order to understand calculus, a student must first understand algebra. One must understand the basics of American government and politics in order to take later courses on public opinion, the presidency or the legislature. Having taken introductory American Government and Politics will impart one with this knowledge, but it is not the only means to do so. Much of this knowledge could also have been learned from other courses taken at NU, in high school or at another institution. Other courses in the political science department have no prerequisites but state
that “some knowledge of political theory is desirable.” A recommended prerequisite may serve the student body better than a requirement. Students who take a class without the suggested prerequisites may undermine their own success but should be allowed to make this decision themselves. Especially as incoming freshmen, students have a large amount of expert guidance in selecting courses. Course prerequisites make sense when students stand little chance of having the background to understand material without them. Single variable calculus is necessary to learn multivariable calculus. General Chemistry makes sense as a prerequisite for Organic Chemistry. And students should not be allowed to read and write about Don Quixote when they know no Spanish. However, prerequisites should only be reserved for instances when they are absolutely necessary. Removing nonessential course prerequisites would enable students interested in certain majors to determine their true interests early on, give freshmen more freedom to explore during their first year and allow the entire student body to have more academic freedom. Matt Gates is a Weinberg sophomore. He can be reached at matthewgates2017@u.northwestern.edu. If you want to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com.
Online Buzz In response to: “Folmsbee: There’s no need to fear genetically modified food,” submitted on 10/21/14. I understand that many of the chemicals we eat are banned in Europe. I also understand, having lived there most of my life, that the level of anti-scientific fear in the political discourse there would exceed the wildest dreams of the Food Babe types. On some things (e.g. healthcare, foreign policy), Europe has it right, on other things (e.g. science, protectionism), we have it wrong. — Phillip Egger
I n response to: “New Northwestern group launches discussions for women of color,” published on 10/21/14. I feel as though this is also reflective of the times we live in today. People are now mustering up the courage to make their voice heard through various avenues, and the Daily, being a newspaper, is simply reporting that. There have been quite a few organizations and events recently that have dealt with such issues, trying to make them heard and I think that the Daily is just trying to update students about all of these things as they happen, along with the myriad of other events and issues that go on on-campus. — Aditi Bhandari
In response to: “ Three takeaways from Northwestern’s 38-17 loss to Nebraska,” published on 10/20/14. It’s incomprehensible that Siemian has taken all but two snaps this year. At the very least, throw Alviti in for a Wildcat formation or two just to shake things up. I find it absolutely impossible to believe that one of the best-dual threat blue chip recruits or a redshirt junior give us less chance to win than a Trevor Siemian who was short-hopping balls by multiple yards by the end of the game. — Christoph Wilhelm Schmidt
The Daily Northwestern Volume 135, Issue 25 Editor in Chief Ciara McCarthy
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6 NEWS | the daily northwestern
thursday, october 23, 2014
ASG talks streamlining student group recognition By olivia exstrum
daily senior staffer @olivesocean
Associated Student Government discussed Wednesday potential changes to the student group recognition process to help streamline the application procedure for new groups. McCormick senior Alex Van Atta, vice president for student groups, said in the past, the recognition process required students to go through several steps to eventually be recognized. Students would have an idea for a student group, reach out to the Center for Student Involvement, ASG or both, and eventually be redirected to ASG before obtaining T-status and then B-status recognition. Van Atta said there would often be miscommunication when students hoping to obtain student group recognition would reach out to both CSI and ASG. “It’s just bureaucracy in general,” Van Atta said. “We really thought there needed to be a single process for getting recognition. Communication with CSI and ASG at the same time creates confusion for everybody.” In the future, Van Atta said student groups will initially go to CSI to become recognized and approach ASG if they need funding. Rather than T-status, new groups will receive CSI recognition, which will allow them to reserve rooms, have an adviser and fundraise. Unlike T-status though, these groups do not have to have hosted
a previous event to receive the title. If groups need funding, they can apply for B-status and if approved, they can receive funding from ASG. T-status groups and those currently applying for T-status will go through the old process and will then transition to the new system. Natalie Furlett, associate director of CSI, said the center is working with schools and departments that provide funding for groups outside of ASG and CSI to incorporate them into the new system. Students interested in recognition will fill out a form, which can be viewed on the CSI website, to begin the process. Van Atta said the new guidelines still need to be approved by Senate but he hopes to have the process finalized before Thanksgiving. Northwestern Community Development Corps chair Taylor Billings also spoke at the meeting about the organization’s recent efforts to increase collaboration between student groups. NCDC held its first Campus Conversations event Oct. 9, with 25 different student groups represented, to increase communication. “I’m excited for more of that to take place and not be this formal email conversation,” Billings, a Weinberg senior, said. “I’m excited to see interactions between student groups become more casual and friendly, and I’m excited to see engagement become more accessible at Northwestern.” Billings said NCDC also plans to spur discussion about over-programming on campus. She said hosting a lot of events doesn’t necessarily
Nathan Richards/Daily Senior Staffer
CAMPUS COLLABORATION Northwestern Community Development Corps chair Taylor Billings discusses NCDC’s efforts to connect student groups at Senate on Wednesday. Billings said the organization also wants to reduce over-programming on campus.
define how successful a group is. “I think a lot of people are eager to put on events and produce, produce, produce,” she said. “More flexibility is necessary if we want to create
dynamic programming, especially in collaboration with others.” oliviaexstrum2017@u.northwestern.edu
‘Kits & Cats’ initiative brings ETHS students to NU By marissa page
the daily northwestern @MarissaHPage
Nearly 100 Evanston Township High School sophomores and juniors visited Northwestern on Wednesday as part of the seventh Kits & Cats initiative, held to give high school students a chance to experience different aspects of college life. The event, which has occurred biannually since October 2011, included talks from NU and ETHS administrators, a visit to athletic facilities, student athletics panels and a speech from football coach Pat Fitzgerald. ETHS students were also taken on campus tours led by NU students with similar academic interests.
“Students will get broken up into very small groups, around six to eight students per group paired with one Northwestern student, mostly undergrads,” said NU/ETHS partnership coordinator Kristen Perkins. “These NU students have designed sort of a customized tour on campus based on their interests.” Kits & Cats was instituted as part of University President Morton Schapiro’s Good Neighbor, Great University program, which aims to provide scholarships to local high school students, such as those at ETHS. Wednesday’s program functions as an attempt to shed light on the college experience in general, Perkins said. “When we first started Kits & Cats, it was somewhat Northwestern-centric,” Perkins said. “We used to use admissions tours and NUadmissions focused talks, so we’ve broadened
it to make it more relevant to lots of different universities.” There are currently 40 ETHS alumni enrolled at NU, with 14 in the class of 2018 alone. McCormick senior Camaria Lehman, a volunteer with Kits & Cats, said she values helping high schoolers consider their options for continuing their educations. “Connecting with students and showing them that college is an opportunity they should go after is really exciting,” Lehman said. “There are a lot of opportunities and great things to come for all of these students, and just being that small little piece of the pie is unbelievably special.” These benefits aside, ETHS college and career coordinator Beth Arey said certain valuable elements are missing from the program. “Things we’re not doing that students are looking for is to see the dorm rooms and
residence hall living,” Arey said. “Also, the very first Kits & Cats day, we ate in the dining halls, and that’s particularly significant for students to see. But we have not been able to do that again.” Weinberg junior Kevin Harris, Associated Student Government vice president for community relations and a Kits & Cats student volunteer, said he also enjoys creating personal connections with the ETHS students at Kits & Cats. “The best part is not just leading the tour, but coming back afterward to Norris or wherever and having lunch with some of the students,” Harris said. “It’s a little more casual, and you kind of get to know them a little better over a casual lunch.” marissapage2018@u.northwestern.edu
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the daily northwestern | NEWS 7
thursday, october 23, 2014
Alum wins humanitarian award for work in India By Allyson Chiu
the daily northwestern @_AllysonChiu
Anoop Jain (McCormick ’09) recently won the $100,000 Waislitz Global Citizen Award for his humanitarian efforts to improve public health in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India. Jain is the co-founder and U.S. director of the Humanure Power, which aims to decrease the amount of people who defecate outdoors to improve the area’s overall health. After graduating from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science with a degree in environmental engineering, Jain was hired at an engineering company in Chicago.
ACA
From page 1 most affected by the ACA tend not to turn out in as many numbers in midterm elections as they do in presidential elections, Jacobs said. The larger the Republican majority is within Congress, the more trouble the ACA is in, he said. Grogan talked about how there are vast segments of the population that are vulnerable and don’t have coverage. With many Americans having some close connection to Medicaid and the dramatic increase in enrollment, there is a discrepancy between what people want and what states are doing, she said. Weinberg junior Jonathan Kamel remarked how important it is for students to understand what the ACA does and its benefits. “The next two years will have a lot of effects on how the Affordable Care Act will progress, whether or not it will be amended and whether or not there will be bipartisan support to amend
Resistance From page 1
by FMO to perform. “It just felt good to go up there and get it all out and see everybody reacting with me,” he said.
Less than a year later, he quit to pursue his true passion: humanitarian work. Jain moved to India and discovered that millions in Bihar did not have toilets. The lack of a sanitation system was causing many to die of preventable diseases, which Jain said he finds absurd. “Those numbers are tragic, and there’s absolutely no reason why those numbers should be the way they are, not in the 21st century,” he said. Jain said he had anything but a smooth transition into college. After a difficult first two years brought on by “extenuating circumstances,” he was expelled for low academic performance from the University in 2006. He then took classes at another school, appealed the expulsion and was re-admitted to NU nine months later. “It really forced me to go through a challenge early it in ways that can improve it,” Kamel said. “Over the coming years, it’s going to gather momentum and strength among Democrats, and Republicans will only have a small window in which they can attack it because it’s going to become more of a political fixture.” Joseph Feinglass, a research professor of medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, told The Daily that it’s important for students to be knowledgeable about the developments of the ACA. “It’s crucial for young people who are citizens to know about health policy who are going to be voting,” he said. “It’s more than just what influences you personally. It’s what influences your country, and your community, and your families, your moms and dads. Students don’t particularly think of themselves as getting sick, but this is not something that has to do with just individual circumstances. This has to do with the public as a whole.” yeareekim2018@u.northwestern.edu Harris called the crowd “tense” but noted moments of humor. “It was tense in the way of, it needed to be, so you can realize how important this is,” he said. jkuang@u.northwestern.edu
in life, and it made me a lot stronger,” Jain said. “I often think back and think, ‘Man you know I got through that.’” Joseph Holtgreive, McCormick assistant dean for student career development, who made the call to Jain informing him of the expulsion, said he sees him as an inspiration to other NU students because he is “a testimonial to the importance of resilience” for fighting his way out of the “it wasn’t my fault” mentality. “He deserves enormous credit for his persistence and hard work,” Holtgreive said. “I think the award is a nice acknowledgment of that, but I think the real exciting thing to celebrate is the impact he’s had and the effort he’s put into changing people’s lives.” After returning to NU, Jain discovered his love for humanitarian work by participating and leading relief efforts sponsored by Alternative Student Breaks.
Transit
From page 1 walking, biking or driving were their main modes of transportation. Although the maintenance and upkeep of train stations are a main focus for the city, staff will also look at bicycling, as it plans to bring bike-sharing service Divvy to Evanston as early as next summer, Plante said. “City officials have to collaborate and communicate effectively with each transit agency on an ongoing basis, navigating different structures and
Achievement From page 1
Witherspoon said. “And likewise, that we also use this report to help point the direction where our challenges continue to be and where we should put our focus.“ The achievement summary fell on the same night as a presentation on the Black Male Summit, a conscious decision by the staff, board president Gretchen Livingston said at Monday’s meeting. The summit, which took place at ETHS on Sept. 26, was held to support black students by encouraging them to stay in school and make them aware of available resources.
“I loved ASB because it was never about just going there and building a house for a week and then coming back to campus,” Jain said. “It was about responding to a need in that moment but understanding that it will never, ever, ever be enough, and if you really want to affect substantive change, it’s going to take a lot more.” Even with the external praise, Jain does not see himself as an entrepreneur or a director of a program. Instead he said he considers himself and his team “people who are working where there’s need.” “When you have experienced the grace of a second chance firsthand, all you want to do is work with people to ensure that they have not only just a second chance, but any chance to succeed,” Jain said. AllysonChiu2018@u.northwestern.edu procedures for each system,” she said in the email. The poll is being used to start a more comprehensive dialogue about Evanston’s transit options, Plante said. She said a larger, more thorough study planned by the Pace bus system and the Regional Transit Authority will begin next year. The City’s Transportation and Parking Committee scheduled a meeting Wednesday night to discuss the results of the transit poll, but staff cancelled it when it failed to reach a quorum of committee members. — Jennifer Ball
Black students made up about 30 percent of the more than 3,100 students who attended ETHS last year. The demographic averaged higher ACT scores than their counterparts both state and nationwide, according to the report on student achievement. At the same time, scores for black students on the PLAN test, given to sophomores each year, decreased from the previous year. “There is so much good in (the report), but it also shines a light on the areas where we need to continue to do work,” Livingston said at Monday’s meeting. —Paige Leskin
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SPORTS
ON DECK
ON THE RECORD
Women’s soccer 24 Michigan at Northwestern, 7 p.m. Friday OCT.
We still have our sights set on making the Big Ten tournament. That was our goal from the beginning of — Michael Moynihan, coach the season.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
@DailyNU_Sports
Football
Cats hope to stay alive at Lakeside Offensive numbers not good
Michigan vs. Northwestern Evanston 7 p.m. Friday
Michigan State vs. Northwestern
BOBBY PILLOTE
Evanston 1 p.m. Sunday
DAILY SPORTS @ BOBBYPILLOTE
By HUZAIFA PATEL
the daily northwestern @HuzaifaPatel95
As it stands, the Wildcats won’t have to leave Evanston for the rest of the season, but the team is trying to change that with a late playoff push in the final three regular-season games. The homestand begins Friday, when the Cats (6-7-3, 2-6-2 Big Ten) take on Michigan at Lakeside Field and continues Sunday when they face Michigan State. The Wolverines (11-4-1, 7-2-1) aren’t currently ranked nationally but have received votes for seven weeks this season. The Spartans of Michigan State (9-6-1, 3-6-1) currently sit 10th in the Big Ten standings. With the Cats 12th, this is a game that may give them the opportunity to help themselves move up closer to the eighth seed, which would earn them a bid to the conference tournament. Either way, both games are must-wins for the Cats. “We still have our sights set on making the Big Ten tournament,” Northwestern coach Michael Moynihan said. “That was our goal from the beginning of the season, and mathematically it’s still achievable. So we’re still fighting for that.” Michigan is coming off of a 1-0 loss against Penn State and a 2-2 tie against Ohio State. The Cats fell to both teams earlier this season, 4-1 to Penn State and 3-1 to Ohio State. Like the Cats, the Wolverines have consistently outshot their opponents,
own, requiring constant defensive vigilance. “They have some fast forwards and counter-attack really well,” Fuchs said. “When they get a free hit, they can go from point A to point B quickly, so we need to really be ready as soon as the whistle blows.” McCarthy said the key to defending Ohio State will be staying in the game mentally as well as physically. “They definitely have some quick forwards, so we need to make sure we are swiveling our heads and staying with our girl,” she said. “That’s really important.” The game Saturday might also have an undercurrent of revenge. Last year, the Cats trounced the Buckeyes in the regular season only to fall to them weeks later in the Big Ten tournament. “We really want to prove something with this game,” Masters said. “We want to play our own game, enjoy it and get a good win.” Meeting the Buckeyes on NU’s home turf will only serve to strengthen the Cats’ resolve. “We want to protect our team and our field,” Masters said. “We don’t want anyone coming in and taking it and getting a win off of us. This is our home.”
It’s become an all too common sight for Northwestern fans this season: The Wildcats are in a third-and-manageable situation, drop back to throw and complete a pass short of the first down. The offense cedes the field to the punting unit after what was probably a very short drive. Beyond a crippling lack of situational awareness, these plays reveal something else endemic in the NU offense. The Cats are plagued by short passes and, subsequently, are doomed to be mired in the offensive mediocrity that caused them to lose a winnable game against Nebraska on Saturday. That’s not to say there’s something inherently wrong with throwing short passes because NU runs many screen plays and is usually successful with them. The issue is the Cats run too high a volume of short passes to sustainably produce offense. Bigger is almost always better when it comes to plays. Every team wants to nail a long bomb to a streaking receiver for an easy touchdown as soon as it takes possession. Quick scoring takes less time off the clock and also minimizes the chances of committing a turnover or suffering a sack or dropped pass. But all teams recognize they can’t score at will. Some offenses even embrace their own ineptitude, intentionally plodding down the field at a methodical pace to keep possession of the ball and limit their own mistakes. That’s exactly the strategy Minnesota used to beat NU earlier this season, eluding defeat even though the Cats ran 30 more plays than the Golden Gophers. NU’s offense is predicated on getting into third-and-manageable situations and then converting those situations. The Cats are excellent at the first part, having generated 123 third down opportunities this season, which ranks ninth among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams. But they’re awful at the second part, converting just under 40 percent of those attempts into first downs, which ranks 74th. The team’s lack of explosiveness is epitomized by its dismal 4.61 yards per play, which ranks 116th nationally. That’s one spot behind Vanderbilt, a team that has only scored 15 touchdowns this season. Put into perspective, if NU produced its average yards per play on every play on a drive starting from its own 25 yard line, which is not an unreasonable assumption given how averse the offense is to moving the ball downfield, it would take them 17 plays to score a touchdown. Because that hypothetical drive involves so many plays and based on the offense’s turnover rate this season, there is a 23 percent chance they throw an interception or lose a fumble, and based on their sack rate, there is a 44 percent chance they suffer a drive-crippling sack. Those numbers aren’t good, and they don’t even account for the numerous drops that have plagued the Cats’ receivers this year. Yet the offense continues to call short passes, either because offensive coordinator Mick McCall isn’t willing to risk throwing downfield or because senior quarterback Trevor Siemian is incapable of throwing downfield. Regardless, the current strategy isn’t working. Freshman running back Justin Jackson is averaging more yards on his own, 4.7 per carry, than the entire offense. Something needs to change.
clairehansen2018@u.northwestern.edu
robertpillote2017@u.northwestern.edu
Women’s Soccer
Nathan Richards/Daily Senior Staffer
GETTING AHEAD Northwestern players position themselves to win a header. The Wildcats’ defense will have its hands full with a Wolverines offense that has scored 10 of its 30 goals this season on corner kicks.
posting a 100-71 advantage in shots on goal. The Wolverines, however, are converting at a better rate than the Cats, one of the main reasons the team has won more games this year. Another thing to pay close attention to is set-piece defense. The Wolverines have been active on corner kicks this season, creating 28 more opportunities than their opponents. The team has also converted 10 of its 30 goals on the season following corners. Finally, Michigan has come up huge in clutch situations this year. During a two week stretch in September, the Wolverines won three straight home games with goals in the final 30 seconds of regulation or overtime. With the Cats coming off of two overtime finishes, it will be interesting to see which team will show
up in big moments. “To me, it’s about taking ownership of those moments in games,” Moynihan said. “There’s a number of games this season where we probably should’ve won but ceded a silly goal late. Last week was a good step for our girls.” Michigan State is also coming off games against Penn State and Ohio State, falling to the Nittany Lions 2-1 and beating the Buckeyes by the same score. The big story for the Spartans is true freshman Jamie Cheslik, who has scored 8 goals on the season. She also ranks 7th in the Big Ten in points with 20, just ahead of Cats star Addie Steiner, who has 19. The game also features two top goalies in the Big Ten, who happen to be sisters. Michigan’s goalie Courtney Clem seems
to share more than just a last name with NU’s freshman goalie Lauren Clem. Both Courtney and Lauren rank in the top-five in the conference saves with Courtney firmly in first, saving over 20 more than the next best player. The Cats will have to carry over the positive momentum, clutch play and a little bit of luck from last weekend, when the team upset No. 14 Rutgers, to beat the Wolverines and Spartans and set up a possible season-saving game next week against Minnesota. “Sometimes there’s an element of fortune I guess and bounces and all of that,” Moynihan said. “But you just try to create your own luck and your own destiny as much as you can.” huzaifapatel2017@u.northwestern.edu
NU returns home to face Ohio State Ohio State vs. No. 9 Northwestern
By CLAIRE HANSEN
the daily northwestern @clairechansen
After three long weeks on the road, No. 9 Northwestern (11-5, 5-1 Big Ten) is finally returning home to Lakeside Field on Saturday to face Big Ten opponent Ohio State (6-9, 1-5). In their penultimate home game of the season, the Wildcats, who sit in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten, look to cement their dominance of the conference. The road, at times, has proved challenging for the Cats. Though NU has earned decisive victories against Central Michigan and Michigan State in the past two weeks, the team has been narrowly edged by both No. 3 Stanford and No. 12 Michigan. “We’re really excited to play a home game,” coach Tracey Fuchs said. “We only have two left, so we are really going to take advantage of it.” Offensively, the Cats will continue to focus on starting out strong, pressing hard in the circle and cleanly executing penalty corners. “We’ve been talking a lot about starting on our front foot,” junior Lisa McCarthy said. Sophomore Dominique Masters, who is tied for the team lead in goals scored, agreed. “You want an early lead to put the other team on their back foot,” she said. “Once you get a good lead, you can control the game, and that’s really what we want to do.”
Evanston Noon, Saturday
Field Hockey
Daily file photo by Sean Su
SCORING MASTER Sophomore Dominique Masters is tied for the Wildcats’ team lead in goals with 10. Northwestern returns home after five straight road games to face Ohio State at Lakeside Field.
As for corners, McCarthy said it’s all in executing the setup cleanly. “Our hitters can put it on cage
once it’s set up perfectly,” she said. The Buckeyes, however, have some formidable attackers of their