By NINETH KANIESKI KOSO daily senior staffer @ninethkk
Nearing the end of his postdoctoral position, postdoctoral researcher Jake Mann said he is starting to think about applying to faculty jobs. However, due to the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to federal funding and endowment taxes, many higher education institutions have instituted hiring freezes on new faculty.
Mann said it is likely he will have to stay at his current position during this period of uncertainty in academia. Because of this, he said it is more important than ever for postdoctoral researchers and research associates to unionize.
Over the summer, postdocs gathered over 50% of their bargaining pools’ signatures in a campaign for salary increases.
“(Te University’s) response was relatively dismissive, and with no ofer to negotiate or open up any broader conversation about postdoc issues here at Northwestern,” Mann said.
Te postdocs began a card
campaign, collecting signatures of the potential bargaining unit on union authorization cards.
Since then, a majority of postdocs and research associates on NU’s Evanston and Chicago campuses have signed these cards, according to postdoctoral researcher Steven Baksa.
“We were able to see the power of the graduate workers union, and what they were able to achieve through going through the process of unionization,” Mann said. “It really made the case that in order to actually make real and lasting change here, we need to organize so that we can force Northwestern to the negotiating table.”
Baksa said the campaign is close to ofcially fling for a union election with a regional ofce of the National Labor Relations Board. However, the fate of the NLRB is uncertain under the Trump administration.
Shortly afer President Donald Trump took ofce in January, he fred former President Joe Biden’s nominee, Gwynne Wilcox. Wilcox has since sued Trump for her fring.
“This leaves the current board with only two members. Tis is a fve-member board, and they’re unable to act if they lack a quorum (of three members),”
» See POST DOC , page 14
Dining employees stand in unison
Workers’ Retention Ordinance approved to protect NU employees
By CLARA MARTINEZ the daily northwestern @claramart1nez7
When NU Dining employee
Veronica Reyes bought a house in Evanston’s 2nd Ward in 2010, she
didn’t anticipate living in constant fear of losing her job should the University change its contractor.
Now, she won’t have to.
On Monday, City Council passed the Workers’ Retention Ordinance, which will protect the jobs of food service, hospitality and
Vigil honors 62 Ukrainian victims
NU Ukrainian club lights candles for anniversary of Russian invasion
By MELODY XU the daily northwestern
Candles illuminated the rows of Alice Millar Chapel on Monday night, fickering in the hands of Northwestern students as they listened to the names of 62 people who have died in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The candle-lighting ceremony was the conclusion of a vigil hosted by student group Northwestern for Ukraine on Monday, which marked three years since Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.
“ Te vigil today is a way, mostly for the members of our community, to refect on this, be there for each other and be sad for a moment,” said Northwestern for Ukraine President and Weinberg sophomore Yuliia Chernova. “Sometimes you don’t allow yourself to be sad, because we’re at Northwestern. We’re in a safe place.”
Three students gave speeches, with Chernova opening and closing the program. Attendees also
stood for Ukraine’s national anthem.
Weinberg freshman Uliana Zelenko, an international student from Kyiv, Ukraine, was the first speaker. Zelenko, a member of the club, discussed her trouble with managing helplessness and guilt especially afer grieving family members.
“Sometimes I even wish I died instead of my grandfather back in 2022, because if I died, I would not have to witness how the world is degraded and roting,” Zelenko said in her speech.
Medill freshman and Daily staffer Mira Trofymchuk also spoke about feelings of uncertainty.
Trofymchuk said she ofen talks with friends about their aspirations for the future. However, she said sometimes it makes her feel like the odd one out.
“For me, it’s diferent,” Trofymchuk said. “It’s hard for me to imagine my future. Not because I’m scared of what might happen or what challenges I can have in my life, I’m just not sure that there is a future.”
Misha Manjuran Oberoi/Daily Northwestern
Trofymchuk dedicated her speech to her stepfather, who died in the war.
News coverage of the invasion has dwindled since the invasion began three years ago, Chernova said.
janitorial employees. Te council voted 8-0 in favor of the ordinance, with Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th) abstaining.
Both Reyes and her son work at NU, which she said builds a sense of community among employees — which was threatened by looming
job insecurity.
“My coworkers, we have younger and older, and some of them have been working since 1980,” Reyes said. “It’s very hard when they have the risk to get fred.”
» See COUNCIL 1, page 14
Top naval ofcer, a Medill alum f red
By MAYA IKENBERRY daily senior staffer
United States Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that he was firing Adm. Lisa Franchetti (Medill ’ 85 ), the 33 rd U.S. Chief of Naval Operations.
“Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars,” Hegseth wrote in his statement.
community, the club yesterday painted Te Rock with blue and yellow resembling the Ukraine fag, with the words “3 years of full-scale war” on top.
“ Tis is just another way of
Three students gave speeches at the vigil, and attendees also stood for the Ukrainian national anthem. » See VIGIL , page 14
Partially to remind the
President Joe Biden nominated Franchetti for the role in July 2023 , citing her “extensive operational and policy experience.” The Senate subsequently confirmed her in November 2023 , making her the first female officer to serve as the Navy’s top officer and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Franchetti spent half of her nearly 40 -year career at sea. She commanded a destroyer ship, a destroyer squadron, aircraft carriers, the entirety of the naval force in Korea and eventually the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
Joint Chiefs of Staff typically serve four-year terms, often extending service between multiple administrations. It is rare for an officer in this position to be replaced in the middle of their tenure.
Franchetti and Coast Guard Adm. Linda Fagan, a fourstar female admiral, were the first two chief officers to be relieved of their duties since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20 In addition to Franchetti, the Trump Administration fired a handful of top military officers Friday, including Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
mayaikenberry2026@u.northwestern.edu
Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern
Veronica Reyes applauds afer City Council passed the Workers’ Retention Ordinance on Monday at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.
Evanston crime is down a er post-pandemic e orts
By KAMRAN NIA the daily north,e-tern @kamran_nia
.e Evanston Police Department was under strain in 2021 .e division saw numerous chief changes and resignations, facing 27 vacancies in early 2022
Yet, as the U.S. enters the post-pandemic era, Evanston crime has decreased amid a national trend of declining o enses.
Group A o enses, which include property and violent crimes, diminished in the city by 6 61% in 2024, driven by a 10 34% reduction in crimes against property. As of Friday, year-to-date crime is also down, including nearly 37 5% and 37 3% decreases in crimes against society and crimes against persons, respectively, according to EPD’s Transparency Hub.
On a larger scale, a January report by the Council on Criminal Justice found that in 2024, most crime types in nationwide sample cities returned to 2019 levels. .e analysis also noted that the numbers should be considered “preliminary” because of the lack of national-level data.
An expert and a police spokesperson said the city has followed national movements. Meanwhile, EPD and the city have implemented and continued various measures designed to tackle crime and reform.
Northwestern Sociology Prof. Andrew Papachristos, director for the Institute for Policy Research, said the city’s reparation payments, guaranteed income and Crisis Alternative Response Evanston procedures could have contributed to the increase in public safety. EPD has also continued gun buyback programs and lled sta ng vacancies, according to EPD Cmdr. Ryan Glew.
“When we look at the strides Evanston is making, it’s following the national trend, yes, but it’s pu ing a lot of things in place that could have a short-term and a mid-term impact,” Papachristos said.
.e CARE program launched in July 2024 .e team — housed outside of EPD — o ers non-police responses to low-risk calls. .e city website says the initiative’s e orts allow EPD to focus on criminal ma ers and “proactive community safety measures.”
“Evanston is not unique, but I think these new sorts of programs are great and have a lot of potential,”
Papachristos said.
Glew said the police department and CARE communicate well. He added he thinks the city has taken a practical approach to implementing the initiative, allowing for their coexistence instead of an “eitheror” system.
Glew said a community responder model allows for more comprehensive mental health emergency responses. He said the EPD previously would only be able to arrest or require people to be evaluated in a mental health facility, but CARE o ers options for post-contact care.
“Bringing alongside the community responder model is huge,” Glew said. “Now you might have people that you know have time to build relationships with people, mental health crises and get diverted into programs that are also going to bene t them.”
Mayor Daniel Biss has advocated for CARE as chair of Evanston’s Reimagining Public Safety Commi ee. He called the initiative a “breakthrough” and praised its team for their work and collaboration with EPD.
Biss said that while CARE sits outside of EPD, police o cers understand how to reach its members if a situation requires it and vice versa. He also lauded Jeron Dorsey, who manages its team.
“Having that diversity of skills, cultures, specializations is really what positions us to be able to confront the broad swath of challenges that exist in this community,” Biss said.
.e post-pandemic crime spike recovery occurred under Police Chief Schenita Stewart, who assumed the role in October 2022
Glew said Stewart prioritizes o cer wellness, and compensation has increased under her leadership. He added that there are opportunities for career development and that the chief is responsive to o cer wellness needs.
Biss said every time he speaks with Stewart, she highlights police department members’ accomplishments.
“Chief Stewart is a star,” Biss said. “She’s extraordinary. We’re so lucky to have her. She’s a great leader for a department, and she’s done a lot to improve morale in the department. .e way she does that is by shining a light on the great work that the team does.”
At a September 2023 council meeting, Stewart
discussed sta ng vacancies, which she noted happened nationwide in the year. Glew said that, as of Feb. 17, EPD had 12 sworn vacancies, but he stated that they had “a number of people in the academy.”
Overall, Glew said there are about 20 o cers fewer than desired patrolling the streets due to the vacancies.
.e chief has made it a priority that we have appropriate sta ng numbers,” Glew said. “Having enough o cers to provide the wider range of police services that we do is important, and that would denitely have a positive e ect on the quality of life in Evanston.”
Dating to before Stewart’s tenure, the city has also periodically hosted gun buyback events, starting over a decade ago.
Glew said buybacks allow people to get rid of rearms safely. Papachristos echoed his sentiment, saying these events alone don’t prevent violence. However, they are a method to remove undesired rearms, potentially preventing suicides and injuries.
“It’s a great way to get unwanted guns out of people’s homes,” Papachristos said. “One of the things we forget about guns because it seems so obvious is they’re durable. So, when you don’t want them, what do you do with them? You can’t throw them out.”
Ultimately, crime is trending downward, but Biss said he wants those numbers to continue shrinking
as the city and EPD implement measures to combat it. Glew also said he wants crime to keep declining as CARE evolves and EPD further lls its sta ng gaps.
A notable incident occurred Feb. 10, when EPD said o cers arrested a Chicago man a er nding a loaded Taurus 9-millimeter handgun in his jacket pocket. Police said they stopped him in an alley behind the 800 block of Mulford Street a er he was “acting suspiciously” and changed walking routes when he saw a police vehicle.
Later, Jones disclosed he knew his Firearm Owners Identi cation card was revoked, meaning he could not lawfully possess a rearm. .e Cook County State’s A orney’s O ce approved two felony counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, authorities said.
.ere were also three shootings in 24 hours during August 2024, in which multiple people sustained gunshot wounds. Biss said those crimes were “solved quickly” despite their “terrifying” nature thanks to solid police work and community assistance, noting the importance of both factors.
“Any amount of crime is too much, but I’m really pleased with the trajectory that we’re on,” Biss said. kamrannia2027@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Daniel Tian
As the U.S. enters the post-pandemic era, Evanston crime has decreased amid a national trend of declining o enses.
‘October 8’ reveals antisemitism surge
By ALEXIA SEXTOU the daily northwestern
Northwestern Hillel and End Jew Hatred
hosted a screening of “October 8” — a documentary exploring the surge of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, social media and beyond since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 atack on Israel — Monday evening in Medill’s McCormick Foundation Center.
In an emotional compilation of interviews with about 40 people — including activists, authors, college students and university faculty — the documentary tells the story of Jewish and non-Jewish individuals within the past year.
In her opening remarks before the screening, documentary director and producer Wendy Sachs (Medill ’93) addressed the audience of around 100 people, noting the flm’s success in geting major theater chains to screen the documentary — including AMC Teatres.
She also gave a content warning, stating the documentary includes graphic and emotionally intense material, including violence and distressing imagery.
“October 8” takes a chronological look at U.S. college scenes from Oct. 8, 2023 until today. It compiles footage acquired from public domains like Telegram, stories from survivors of the Oct. 7 atack, congressional testimonies of university presidents from Harvard University, the Massachusets Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania, and voices of targeted college students during last year’s protests.
“I think a lot of people, they’ve fallen into the propaganda believing that they’re on the right side of the issue,” Sachs said. “ Te terror community has been seething on college campuses.”
Wendy Khabie, co-chair of Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern, said as a parent of an NU student, she said she felt “very concerned” during last year’s protests.
She said she hopes to see improvements in the administration’s approach to tackling antisemitism.
“The film is a very scrupulous microscope to what’s been happening, taking apart incident by incident,” Khabie said. “University presidents put everything under this contextual framework. But it’s not contextual. Hate is not contextual.”
Surrounding the space outside the auditorium were several law enforcement ofcers, with a security check at the entrance. In a panel discussion hosted afer the documentary screening, Sachs said she previously hadn’t thought about security until she organized a flm screening at the University of Michigan, the frst school that hosted a screening.
During the past year, National Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Secure Community Network Michael Masters said his main concern has been with student safety. He said in the first three months since college campus protests began, they identified 129 encampments.
“If students don’t feel safe, they don’t feel secure, then fundamentally we fail,” he said.
In the future, Khabie said she hopes the University will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.
In a non-legally binding working defnition of antisemitism, the IH R currently defnes the term as follows on its website: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
During the panel, Sachs also discussed how misinformation in the media has served as a tool for antisemitism.
She pointed to an example shown in the flm, in which Te New York Times reported on the al-Ahli Arab Hospital blast in Gaza City on Oct. 17, 2023 Te reporting later proved inaccurate in atributing the atack to Israel.
As a strategy to counteract misinformation and antisemitism, Asaf Romirowsky — the executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
and the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa — emphasized the need to understand Middle Eastern history and culture. Romirowsky was also one of the dozens of experts interviewed for the documentary.
“ Te f lm gives a good visual of the consequences of (Oct. 7) and how they have been internalized, and how they’ve cascaded into American society,” Romirowsky said. “But there’s a lot more to be done. You need to continuously look for more.”
Sachs also said her flm crew screened for communities across the board, varying in perspectives, background, race and identity. Te documentary includes voices from Black, Christian, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ communities, a choice that Sachs said was intentional.
In terms of the pushback, Sachs said she feels “ready for it.” She said she is grateful to have the support of important faces in the industry — including David Schwimmer, who atended the screening Monday evening.
“You look around, you fnd your people on campus, you proudly identify, you wear your Jewish star or your kipa,” Sachs told atendees. “Know we are not alone.”
“October 8” will be in theatres March 14 alexiasextou2028@u.northwestern.edu
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A & E
arts & entertainment
Student indie band Inertia jams out for its first concert
By JUNSEO LEE
the daily northwestern
With guitar solos and crashing cymbals, all-female indie rock band Inertia performed its first concert in the Northwestern Room of Norris University Center Saturday night.
The band’s setlist included a total of nine songs, with covers of famous rock and pop artists The Marías, The Cranberries, Deftones and Chappell Roan. The group also played two original songs to conclude its performance.
The band is composed of four students: McCormick freshman and bassist Cameron Crawford, SESP freshman and drummer Hailey Kim, Weinberg freshman and lead singer Maya Raman and Communication freshman
and guitarist Kumi Long. The band formed in November and has played together ever since.
In the wake of Inertia’s first successful live performance, Raman said she felt the instantaneous payoff of the planning and preparation that went into the event.
“My favorite part was at the beginning of the show when the air was really tense,” Raman said. “Everyone was expecting us to start and we finally came in with the first song and everyone started cheering. It was just a really beautiful moment.”
For some audience members, this was the first indie rock concert they had seen at Northwestern.
“The performance was definitely something that this school has never seen before,” said Weinberg freshman Cisco Hernandez, a friend
of Kim. “It’s the epitome of music and originality. The band members have such good chemistry, and you can tell that they’ve put a lot of practice into what they’ve performed tonight.”
The audience also included a group of students from Loyola University Chicago who took the CTA to Evanston for the live performance.
The students heard about the band from their friends at NU who invited them to attend the concert. As fans of the indie rock bands that Inertia covered, the Loyola students said they decided to join the crowd in Norris.
“I really loved it; their covers were really good, but they put their own spin on it,” Loyola freshman Mirsab Naeem said. “We don’t really have a music scene at our university from what I’ve seen, so I’d have to say that the one at
Northwestern seems better.”
In between songs, some of the band members took the time to shout out specific members of the audience and express their gratitude for their friends’ support of the band’s activities.
Crawford gave a shout-out to her close friend McCormick freshman Adele Wilson, who worked on designs for the band’s marketing efforts.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all, so getting that shout-out was really meaningful,” Wilson said. “I feel like a proud parent because I heard them from the start as they’ve grown to be such a powerful band. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”
junseolee2028@u.northwestern.edu
Author R.F. Kuang talks career in writing and academia
By MIGUEL TSANG and SYDNEY GAW
New York Times bestselling author R.F. Kuang
visited Harris Hall on Friday evening for a talk and Q&A session with English and Asian American Studies Prof. Michelle Huang, hosted by Northwestern’s Asian American Studies Program.
Known for her bestselling trilogy “ Te Poppy War” and satire “Yellowface,” Kuang focuses heavily on critiquing systems of violence and oppression in her books while drawing from her research on Sinophone and Asian American literature. Kuang’s books span several genres, from historical fantasy to literary fction, and she said each of her novels derive their inspiration from a speculative question that once challenged her creatively.
Kuang’s 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards winning novel, “Yellowface,” is a psychological satire. Te book follows white author June Hayward as she sells her late Chinese-American friend’s novel as her own, rebranding herself as the ethnically
ambiguous “Juniper Song” in the process. From there, “Song” must balance her overnight success with hiding her real identity.
“Yellowface” was primarily shaped by a therapy exercise called “yes, and?” according to Kuang. While the point of the exercise is to make one realize their situation is not as bad as it seems, Kuang said she retooled it to fgure out all the ways her troubled protagonist could worsen her “deliciously awkward” situation.
“Let’s follow everything to its worst possible conclusion,” Kuang said. “What if you messed up every single thing about a book launch?”
In addition to discussing her books, Kuang described key moments from her writing process.
While working as a professional translator converting Chinese sci-f stories into English, Kuang said she was set on fnding the most accurate matches for each word. She quickly realized there was no perfect translation between words and phrases across languages.
Tere’s always this foating web of meaning that you have to make compromises with,” Kuang
said. “I already thought (translation) was magic — the fact that text can travel thousands of years to us.” Te sensational side of translation is what inspired the magic in “Babel,” Kuang said, which relies heavily on the analytical foundations of etymology and linguistics. In the book, “match-pairs” of translated words writen on silver bars have the power to accomplish a variety of tasks, from healing wounds to lighting cities.
Asian American Studies Prof. Tara Fickle said she is a fan of Kuang’s and even organized an undergraduate reading group for “Babel.” Fickle credited the novel as a “teachable and accessible” jumping point for talking about the efects of imperialism.
“I’m very glad that this book exists,” Fickle said. “I feel like it gets people to talk about issues they may not normally see in fction.”
Te crowd of roughly 80 atendees included both new and old fans of Kuang’s work.
Atendee and Litowitz MFA+MA student Robin Seiler said she enjoys Kuang’s work.
“(Kuang’s books) are really fascinating, and they’re very unique books in a way,” Seiler said.
“ Tey’re kind of unfinching.”
As a current Yale University graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in East Asian languages and literatures, Kuang said she compartmentalizes her academic and novel writing.
Kuang said she appreciates the opportunity to switch between writing styles, as writing a novel for more than three hours a day causes her to “get sick of these people I made up.”
“I’m longing for something more grounded, Kuang said. “I don’t want to be a solitary voice anymore; I want to be responding to people … It’s a pleasure to go back and forth.”
On the subject of school, Kuang said she is no stranger to NU’s campus. She made regular weekend visits while her now-husband was an undergraduate student, even spending a summer at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house.
“My husband will be upset if I don’t say, ‘Go ’Cats,’” Kuang said. “It’s really nice to be back on campus.”
Waa-Mu to expand theatrical tradition, four musicals
By DESIREE LUO the dail( )orth,e-ter)
e Waa-Mu Show, Northwestern’s student-wri en musical and oldest theatrical tradition, was just that for 92 years — one musical. Last year, it became a trilogy. And this year’s “Arch Madness,” opening May 2, consists of four musicals, according to Waa-Mu music supervisor Prof. Ryan Nelson. As the show wrestles with dips in a endance and membership, this new structure, along with increased faculty guidance, alleviates pressure on students, Nelson said.
“It’s a much more academic approach to the creation of the show in the last two years than it has been previously,” Nelson said.
Last year’s audience was roughly one-third of its size prior to the COVID-/9 pandemic, Nelson said. With the show’s centennial approaching, team members want to increase a endance with marketing appealing to Waa-Mu alumni.
“ e change this year is that we are really working to create a much more commercial, audience-friendly, ‘Go ’Cats’ celebration of Northwestern,” Nelson said.
Communication senior Evan Tro er-Wright serves as the show’s student executive board chair. He said the theme “Arch Madness,” a reference to Weber Arch, connects the opening number, closing number and skits between the four shows.
He said in the show, the Arch has powers to unlock alternate realities of Northwestern, which the four musicals represent. Together, they comprise the “WaaMultiverse,” he said.
Nelson said writers will complete scripts by the start of March. In past Waa-Mu shows, one group of about .0 writers worked on one musical, members of the
writing team said. Now, Tro er-Wright said three to seven writers work on each separate musical.
ese smaller teams can work faster, Nelson said, allowing for more rehearsal time. Sometimes writers in past years would change songs days before the show began, he said.
Communication senior and Waa-Mu writing team representative Sadie Fridley said smaller teams also create more opportunities for writers to contribute. Previously, three to four writing coordinators assigned people to songs and made nal decisions.
“Everybody knows when they’re writing now that something that they write is going to end up in e WaaMu Show,” Fridley said. “In previous years, you could write so many things and have them end up being cut.”
Weinberg senior Avery Powers has wri en for WaaMu since her freshman year. At rst, Powers said she was skeptical about spli ing the show into three acts.
But a er she began working, Powers said she appreciated no longer having to resolve .0 con icting opinions. Writers then could devote more time to exploring the show’s theme in their content.
“ at is really great for both the learning process of writers, particularly younger writers who are ge ing involved for the rst time, and also for less tension in the writers room,” Powers said.
Although students receive more mentorship under this new model, they are still in the process of reestablishing Waa-Mu as a registered student organization, which Nelson said dissolved in 202.
Fridley joined Waa-Mu as a freshman just a er the COVID-/9 pandemic. e show returned in person to Cahn Auditorium in 2022 with fewer students involved a er two years online.
During the rebuild, Fridley said budget changes and ticket sales burdened writers and performers.
“It felt like a lot of us were holding the show on our shoulders, especially in the production parts of it that we didn’t sign up to do,” Fridley said.
Nelson said following the 202. musical, student leaders felt they no longer had the bandwidth for another show. e Wirtz Center has led its production since then, Nelson said.
While Nelson said Waa-Mu plans to reapply as a student organization next year, the structure of its creative team remains in ux.
“Because it’s changed so much, we’ve had to make up the structures as we go along, which has put a fair amount of pressure on a small amount of people,” Tro er-Wright said.
Faculty involvement li ed the weight, as students can now focus on aspects that interest them rather than show logistics, Fridley said. Fridley started considering herself a performer and composer because of Waa-Mu. It introduced a new career path to her. “ ere is no be er way to learn than by doing it, and this is the biggest, baddest way to do it,” she said. “No ma er how stressful it gets sometimes or how many changes it’s gone through, I have not learned as much in any other organization at this school.”
desireeluo2028@u.northwestern.edu
Wirtz’s ‘February House’ brings a brownstone to life
By LYDIA PLAHN the dail( )orth,e-ter) @lydiaplahn/.
e Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts’ production “February House” invites audiences into a brownstone for two and half hours, whisking viewers away to an artsy corner of /940s Brooklyn. While not perfect, the show is worth a watch for the grandeur of an immersive set and its poignant message about art. is Wirtz show marks the Chicago debut of Gabriel Kahane’s 20/2 musical about a house of zany artists — that actually existed in the /940s — trying to make art during World War II. e show is centered around George Davis (Communication senior Abraham Deitz-Green), who has opened his home to a myriad of writers, performers and novelists in a empts to create a
“family.” Deitz-Green commands the hearts and a ention of the crowd with a Gatsby-esque charm, clad in a sparkling kimono as he builds his perfect group of housemates.
What makes the show and production more than just a look inside the characters’ homes is the salience of the time period during which the characters exist. During Act /, the presence of World War II weaves in and out of the plot, feeling like an a erthought. But, it cements itself as a driving factor in the characters’ lives in Act 2 e show displays the challenge of artists’ roles in times of war and the ways their art can make an impact, highlighted by the helplessness the characters feel while the war rages overseas.
e /940s-esque musical numbers give all actors the chance to entertain, but no one shines quite like Communication senior Arwen-Vira Marsh as Gypsy Rose Lee, a performer and writer. Marsh delivers a dazzling solo performance (costume
change included) that provides a much-needed pick-up to a lull in the show.
“February House” gives a fantastic glimpse into the process of creating art but gives less focus to the friendships between the inhabitants. As the show ends and the characters part ways, the scenes feel forced and lack emotion because there are not enough moments for the audience to fall in love with their friendships.
But an exception to this trend of underdevelopment lies in the tender friendship between Davis and writer’s block-stricken novelist Carson McCullers (Communication senior Sadie Fridley).
As McCullers struggles with alcoholism and writer’s block, Davis is constantly supporting her with words of encouragement and cups of tea. Fridley and Deitz-Green create the most touching relationship in the show, perfectly encapsulating the strains friendships face throughout trying times.
e set is almost distractingly well done and
deserves a moment in which the audience can just take it in. Made to resemble a brownstone, there are stacks of wood furniture that almost reach the high ceilings of the theater and countless lamps all timed to change based on the scene. ere’s a sense of irony to the breathtaking set. To the audience, it looks like a perfectly curated antique store window, but to the characters, “February House” is a dilapidated, run-down place o en without heat and frequently with bed bugs.
“February House” paints a clear portrait of a group of artists all pursuing their own art, whether a magazine or a Paul Bunyan opera, while living under one roof. e strains of everyday life and world events on a fascinating group of roommates make the show an engaging watch for any viewer.
“February House” runs through March 2 at the Ethel M. Barber eater in the Wirtz Center.
lydiaplahn2027@u.northwestern.edu
Block exhibition highlights Indigenous artists in Chicago
By CLARE KIRWAN
the dail( )orth,e-ter)
@clarekirwan./
e Block Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland, explores the history of art in Chicagoland through Indigenous perspectives. e exhibition holds over 80 works by .. Indigenous artists currently living in the city or from nations forcibly displaced from the area.
e city of Chicago has the third-largest urban Indigenous population in the U.S. e region is home to people from Indigenous nations including the Council of ree Fires — the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa — the Menominee, Miami, Ho-Chunk, Sac, Fox, Kickapoo and Illinois nations.
“It’s such an important exhibition for the region because Chicago has been a long-standing cultural and
economic hub for Indigenous tribal nations,” Jordan Poorman Cocker, the show’s co-curator said. “Despite that rich and deep history that predates American history, Indigenous voices are o en excluded from Chicago’s art histories, and that silence is harmful.”
e Block does not have full-time permanent Indigenous sta members. When thinking about how to cra the exhibition, it was important for them to have Indigenous voices involved, the Associate Director of Curatorial A airs at Block Kathleen Berzock said.
Five years ago, Berzock and her former colleague, Janet Dees, reached out to the Terra Foundation, an organization that facilitates intercultural conversations to “expand narratives of American art.” rough one of the foundation’s programs, Art Design Chicago, e Block received funding for Woven Being and was able to hire Cocker, who is Kiowa, as well as two Indigenous Terra Foundation fellows, Marisa Cruz Branco and Teagan Harris, to work on the project.
e team also worked with four collaborative Indigenous artists — Kelly Church, Nora Moore Lloyd, Jason Wesaw and Andrea Carlson — to design the show. ey met about once a month, coming up with artists and works to include, as well as, ideas for their own creations, Wesaw said.
“I think in Woven Being, just in the title alone, you can understand that there are many di erent threads or many di erent ideas that are woven into this one exhibition,” Wesaw said. “We made sure that it was about our communities, our friends, our fellow artists.”
Cruz Branco said the exhibition centers around the land. Some pieces focus on material kinship, honoring di erent materials like birch bark, black ash, sweetgrass and cedar. Others focus on the land’s close relationship to waterways.
Woven Being works to weave together the past, present and future of Indigenous communities. From historical works by deceased artists to contemporary works, the show is about celebrating the relationships between the artists and communities across time periods, Poorman Cocker said.
For Moore Lloyd, this aspect of the show is particularly important.
For the rst half of Moore Lloyd’s life, she did not know she was native. Her grandmother, who was born on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation, was forced to a end a mission school and then was kidnapped by missionaries and moved from Wisconsin to Indiana.
She died without telling her children that she was native. A er her family found old le ers, Moore Lloyd went to Lac Courte Oreilles to see where she was from, she said.
Moore Lloyd said the elders took her in and the oldest elder in the tribe mentored her as she learned about her history. Because of this, Moore Lloyd was passionate about bringing the works of elders to the show, inviting artists who created art in the /980s.
“I snuck in before the opening, and it just took my breath away,” Lloyd said. I wasn’t sure how all these pre y di erent works would come together as a story,
but they do. It just reinforced how important the community is and how important it is for all these viewpoints to be highlighted.”
e exhibition also has a community room, a space that invites re ection apart from the artwork. It was important to make a room for Indigenous people to be able to relax, laugh, discuss and re ect on the show in a less formal way, Cruz Branco said.
Woven Being opened on Jan. 2: and will run until July /.
“It’s really just a way to assert our presence, our voices (and) our ideas as modern, native people in American culture,” Wesaw said. “ rough our arts, I think we’re able to show not only the beauty and the reverence that we have for continuing our tribal lifeways, but also to begin to go deeper than just the surface of these conversations where people are longing to feel loved and accepted and welcome.”
clarekirwan2028@u.northwestern.edu
Clare Kirwan/The Daily Northwestern
Andrea Carlson’s “The Indi erence of Fire” explores the historical context of fire in relation to the Zhegagoynak region.
Illustration by Isabel Su
The Waa-Mu show began in 1929 and celebrates its 94th anniversary this year.
Council delays HBO after NU-inflected fracas
By SHUN GRAVES daily senior staffer @realshungraves
Before City Council once again punted a decision Monday on the contentious Healthy Buildings Ordinance to ban emissions from certain large buildings by 2050, the devolving tenor on the dais peaked with some personal broadsides.
“You’re not a prosecutor,” Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) told Ald. Devon Reid (8th). “Just make the amendment so that the issue that you think Northwestern could challenge on can’t be challenged. I don’t want to be here all night, man. It’s like you’re trying to fnd an angle.”
Earlier, Reid angled against a sentence describing organizations that could receive special consideration to secure exemptions from Evanston’s new rules. It included all nonprofits, he argued, and therefore could grant those benefits to NU.
His colleagues, including Mayor Daniel Biss, disagreed with his take on the brief phrase. Biss allowed that the council could further clarify the language, but he maintained that “we don’t really have a problem here.”
“I think we do,” Reid shot back.
Te discussion over the long-stalled ordinance descended into further acrimony.
Not long afer Burns complained about having to stay at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center “all night,” Reid complained about giving Burns more time to speak — because it could keep councilmembers from leaving for the night.
Still, the council’s ultimate decision to table the ordinance for the March 10 meeting underscored the fractious, if more civil, divides over the measure that has drawn both impassioned support and brickbats aplenty.
Introduced by a unanimous council vote Jan. 13, the Healthy Buildings Ordinance would ban on-site greenhouse gas emissions and require allrenewable energy electricity for buildings of more than 20,000 square feet. City buildings of more than 10,000 square feet would also have to comply.
Fault lines appeared later that month.
Te measure seemed poised for fnal approval at the Jan. 27 council meeting. Earlier that day, Biss declared a full-throated endorsement of the sweeping emissions policy, arguing that it bolstered
Evanston’s focus on sustainability.
A coalition of Evanston power players delivered an opposing missive. Te leter, signed by leaders like University President Michael Schill and former mayor Steve Hagerty, argued that the measure needed more time for deliberation.
Monday’s public comment period profered a similar dynamic. Sustainability advocates pushed for the ordinance’s approval, while property managers spoke against it, arguing it would prove onerous and economically destructive.
Te council’s Monday vote to table a fnal decision on the Healthy Buildings Ordinance marked
the third time it has delayed acting on it. Next time might prove diferent, some councilmembers said. Others ofered a more conciliatory tone.
“I’m not prepared to vote on this tonight, but I’m also not prepared to vote on the sequencing of this,” Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) said, referring to the ordinance’s implementation. She also urged the city to collaborate with NU.
Te ti f over whether the ordinance might give large nonprofts like NU a pass continued the small-scale but wide-reaching debates over the measure’s nebulous details. Other discussion
centered on giving business leaders seats in conversations about the ordinance and the boards the city would ultimately create for its implementation.
Yet the high-minded rhetoric that some public commenters ofered — for and against the Healthy Buildings Ordinance — ended up largely absent from the council’s deliberations. Te digs on the dais punctuated the discussion with a sometimes melancholy mark.
“We’re writing a sloppy ordinance, in some regard,” Reid said. “And I’m sad that we’re here.” shungraves 2027 @u.northwestern.edu
Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern
City Council once again punted a decision Monday on the contentious Healthy Buildings Ordinance to ban emissions from certain large buildings by 2050.
Each year, Te Daily Northwestern creates a special edition highlighting local businesses and restaurants in Evanston. Best of Evanston 2025 features 22 businesses or organizations and remembers 12 businesses that closed this past year. I am proud to announce this year’s “bests” in our community.
During the past three weeks, Te Daily’s editors and reporters have worked tirelessly with me to produce this edition dedicated to Evanston and all the hard work that local businesses put in to serve our city.
For this year’s edition, I also wanted to highlight
businesses and organizations that do good within our community, so I added stories that highlight some amazing nonprofts to our coverage!
I hope that this year’s Best of Evanston shows our appreciation to all the wonderful businesses, restaurants, organizations and nonprofts that make our city truly special. I encourage all of our readers to go out into the community and support all these organizations and more.
Nineth Kanieski Koso, Best of Evanston Editor
SEA RANCH SUSHI
If you are craving delicious, homey brunch on a lovely morning, Ovo Frito Café is just the place for you.
Founded by Roberto Flores and Zinnia Iglesias in ing “Fried Egg” in Portuguese — is a culmination of both of their experiences working in restaurants, including Iglesias’ 13 years as a manager.
While everything on their menu is appetizing, their wildberry pancakes are e dish includes pancakes and a perfect ratio of y whipped cream and juicy berries. For customers looking for something on the savory side, be sure to check out their de esta sierra benedict, a Mexicaninspired eggs benedict dish with salsa
Nestled between Hinman Avenue and Chicago Avenue on Dempster Street, Sea Ranch Sushi is the perfect spot for a spontaneous treat when your schedule unexpectedly clears up. Te best part? It’s a hidden gem that many people don’t even know about.
Serving a variety of mouthwatering brunch options, this family-run, brightly-decorated brunch spot has something for everyone.
With most rolls hovering between $5 and $15, the menu ofers a mix of beloved classics like California rolls as well as innovative creations waiting to be discovered at an afordable price. It also serves a unique, afordable kitsune udon set, featuring a California roll and delicious warm noodles adorned with fried bean curd.
LEFTY’S RIGHTEOUS BAGELS BEST NEW BUSINESS
Since its opening in June, Lefy’s Righteous Bagels quickly became a neighborhood favorite.
Its cheerful vibe, mustard-yellow and woodbrown interior and natural light from its windowed storefront make you feel right at home.
Te staf welcomes regular customers by name.
One loyal customer is Carol Johnson, who travels four stops on the El from Wilmete once a week for a garlic onion bagel.
“Their bagels are great. Their coffee is
TAPAS BARCELONA
At Tapas Barcelona, more is always merrier. Tis Spanish restaurant serves over 30 diferent small plates made to savor and share.
Located across from Whole Foods on Chicago Avenue, Tapas Barcelona is the perfect spot for a well-atended meal. Each plate, priced between $7 and $16, ofers something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds, from the seafood fanatic to the hungry carnivore.
Start of with an order — or two, or three — of the bacon-wrapped dates and fried croquetes. For a main course, split an order of paella, topped with your choice of seafood, chicken or vegetables.
Young picky eaters in your party will enjoy Tapas Barcelona’s selection of pastas and pizza.
wasabi.
In addition to sushi, Sea Ranch features a well-stocked Japanese market where you can fnd everything you need to make sushi at home — from bamboo mats to seaweed
nishing touches like ginger and ying solo or dining with friends, a few indoor and outdoor tables make it a great place for a quick lunch or a casual meal away from your routine.
Tey ofer online ordering for delivery or takeout, and you can even have your order sent directly to Evanston Pour, a nearby cofee shop.
Open daily, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays, Sea Ranch combines quality, afordability and a bit of mystery — perfect for when you’re craving something a litle out of the ordinary.
excellent. It’s just a nice group of people,” Johnson said.
— Audrey Pachuta
Lefy’s is serious about its bagels, keeping them crunchy on the outside and sof on the inside. Its branded tissue boxes, placed around the shop, remind you that the mess is worth it, but wiping your hands is righteous.
Its menu keeps the wordplay going with sandwich items named afer what they say are “some of the most righteous characters around.”
Spread options range from Jalapeño to Kerrygold Buter to Garlic conft to keep your bagel as customizable as can be.
With its unbeatable breakfast and lunch oferings, it’s no surprise Lef y’s Righteous Bagels was titled Best New Business in Evanston. It only takes one visit, and your bagel made just right, to leave you craving for more afer the frst bite.
— Luluya Tekle
BAT 17 BEST BURGER
Adventurous diners can dig into the Cabrillas Barcelona (baked snails topped with a tomato aioli) and Pulpito a la Plancha (baby grilled octopus served on a bed of escarole).
Make sure to save room for dessert. Or, at the very least, order some to-go to enjoy later.
Split the arroz con leche or the fan, but fair warning, you’ll be elbowing your way for the very last bite.
Whether you’re looking for a dinner spot during Family Weekend or a casual night out with friends, look no further than Tapas Barcelona.
— Rachel Schlueter
BLIND FAITH CAFE BEST VEGETARIAN
Tucked on the corner of Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue, Blind Faith Cafe has cemented itself as an Evanston vegetarian staple. Te restaurant with an on-site bakery puts a delectable spin on plant-based cuisine, packing a myriad of menu items for every culinary connoisseur.
A local institution with roots dating back to 1979, Blind Faith Cafe delivers both a cozy indoor ambiance and outdoor seating for the warmer months.
Te eatery serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, while ofering an extensive selection of alcoholic beverages for 21+ patrons.
Standout dishes include the Mongolian stir-fry, seitan marsala, spicy fried brussel sprouts, Tai peanut noodles and a variety of alternative-protein-packed bowls. Blind Faith Cafe also presents a plethora of ca creations, fulflling a personal modus operandi that there’s always room for cofee.
For those with a sweet tooth, Blind Faith Cafe’s dessert options range from tiramisu and apple-peach cobbler to peanut buter chocolate cake topped with raspberry sorbet. With generous portion sizes and enough options to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, Blind Faith Cafe has rightfully solidifed its — Jake Epstein
FRÍO GELATO
If you are searching for a savory, satiating burger spot, look no further than Bat 17
Inspired by New York City delicatessens, Bat 17 is a pub serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bat 17 recently relocated to 1735 Benson Ave. in December, welcoming its customers with warm lighting, wooden furnishings and purple walls — creating a perfect mix of coziness and Northwestern pride.
With a burger menu with over 15 options, Bat 17 is far from your typical burger spot.
Te butery buns, favorful paties and creative toppings create an irresistible dining experience. Plus, they ofer a variety of add-ons like fries and salads to amplify your experience.
With its inviting vibe and exceptional food, Bat 17 is the ideal spot to enjoy a delicious burger with friends and family. If you are looking for a satisfying burger experience, Bat 17 — Teresa Ayala Leon
Between its Nacho Burger, a burger with nacho cheese and jalapenos; Sunny Side Up Burger, served with a sunny side egg and bacon; and Pretzel Boy, a burger with a pretzel bun and gouda cheese, there is something for everyone.
UNION SQUARED BEST PIZZA
As a fan of thin-crust pizzas, I was pleasantly surprised when I frst tried Union Squared’s dense Detroit-style pizza.
Te thick, pillowy crust complements the rich tomato sauce, creating a truly satisfying bite. I can confdently say I didn’t miss the thin crust at all and found a new favorite pizza spot.
can’t go wrong with its pepperoni slice. Te crispy pepperoni paired with its fuf y crust is unbeatable. If you’re in the mood for something diferent, be sure to ask for the weekly special.
Its warm, cheesy slices are perfect for winter months; however, Union Squared is equally great for warm weather. Its outdoor beer garden provides an ideal spot to enjoy a slice in the sun with good company. If you’re searching for a more upscale pizza spot, look no further than Union Squared’s sister restaurant, Union Pizzeria, serving status as a Best of Evanston mainstay.
BEST SWEET TREAT AND DATE SPOT
Afer studying abroad in Italy, the word “gelato” triggers emotions and memories. It is hard to beat that — perhaps even impossible. However, FRÍO Gelato ofers ferce competition. Despite being very picky about dulce de leche and only sometimes fnding an interest in any favors ending in “berry,” my go-to’s from FRÍO are their selection of dulce de leche favors, and my all-time favorite, their blackberry and chocolate chip. FRÍO’s favors are the right amount of sweet, and it would be impossible to confuse their artful gelato for an average ice cream scoop on any given day.
convenient Chicago Avenue location, favors and cones will prove you should. Ofering a nice walk from campus when the weather is not colder than the gelato and proximity to various dinner options to precede your delicious dessert, it is also a great spot for dates.
I normally opt for a cake cone or a cup, but I proudly call their freshly made wafe cone an exception. My parents, avid wafe cone fans, approve as well.
If you aren’t convinced to try FRÍO yet, its
If these factors nor FRÍO Gelato’s Best of Evanston title wins this year win you over, I recommend a scoop of dulce de leche — or a refreshing sorbet if you have dietary restrictions — as a cure for anti-gelato sentiments.
FRÍO Gelato may be Argentinian rather than Italian, but it still ofers a taste close to authentic Italian gelato while featuring the dulce de leche favor I enjoy from having grown up eating alfajores.
— Micah Sandy
Located on 1307 Chicago Ave., Union Squared is a small, charming spot — the perfect location to grab a slice with friends or family. Tey ofer a diverse range of toppings to suit all pizza preferences, from veggies to pineapple to hot honey.
While all of Union Squared’s pizza options are tempting, you
SOUL & SMOKE BEST COMFORT FOOD
Comfort food is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and Soul & Smoke has a variety of options that are perfect for your cravings. Whether you are looking for traditional soul food or delicious sandwiches, Soul & Smoke on Payne Street and Ashland Avenue has the thing for you.
Menu items include the classic barbecue fare — pulled pork sandwiches, smoked spare ribs and smoked prime brisket — as well as side dishes including mac and cheese, collard greens and cornbread mufns.
My personal favorite, the pulled pork sandwich, reminds me of one of my favorite soul food restaurants that I went to growing up in Florida. Te order features two pulled pork
sliders with barbecue sauce on a fuf y roll and comes with coleslaw and a choice of side.
Customers who are dining in have the option of ordering at the front, or from a QR code at the table. Te restaurant also ofers delivery and takeout. Currently, there are just a few picnic tables in its indoor space. However, a renovated restaurant featuring a larger dining area, bar and private event space is set to open in May. With a relaxed ambience, Soul & Smoke is a great pick if you are looking for a place to go with friends, or a quick grab-and-go during these chilly winter months.
— Maya Heyman
TABLE TO STIX RAMEN BEST RAMEN
When visitors enter Table to Stix on 1007 Davis St., they are greeted with ambient mood lighting, geometric-paterned walls and customers enjoying steaming bowls of ramen — a welcoming sight in the depths of a frigid Evanston winter.
Table to Stix’s cozy ambiance, customer service and favor-packed dishes have won it its title as Best Ramen in Te Daily’s 2025 Best of Evanston.
Te eatery frst opened its doors to Evanston residents in 2015, ofering bowls reminiscent of comforting South Korean instant ramen characteristic of the 1980s.
miso-pork base broth, fried pork gyoza and Korean chili powder on top of the traditional scallions, egg and sliced pork belly.
Te spicy tonkotsu is an option that delights the taste buds with a spicy pork-base broth with tender slices of pork belly and a sof egg nestled in springy noodles, complemented by favorful scallions, woodear mushrooms, fermented bamboo shoots and a kick of spice.
Currently, the restaurant ofers a varied array of rich broths like tonkotsu, miso, shoyu and a vegan broth option.
Foodies may also enjoy Table To Stix’s wide variety of appetizers, like its iconic steam buns, pan-fried gyoza and delicious takoyaki — savory Japanese wheat cakes flled with octopus and topped with okonomi sauce, mayo, and nori and bonito fsh fakes.
One of the restaurant’s most popular picks is its tonkotsu ramen, of which it o ers three types, classic, spicy and modern. e modern tonkotsu contains a
CHICKEN SHACK
A 35-year Evanston staple, Chicken Shack serves some of the best handbatered fried chicken in Evanston. Known for its fresh, made-to-order method, the small but mighty spot has grown a chicken-lover following.
BACKLOT COFFEE
er the dish, Evanston food lovers are sure to delight in Table To Stix’s chill, hometown ambiance and eclectic variety of comforting dishes.
— Marisa Guerra Echeverria
Jerry Campos, manager of 25 years, said he’s observed the recent change in customer preferences. With a growing demand for sandwich options, the restaurant will add a new chicken sandwich menu option. Taking its meals to the next level, Chicken Shack will soon serve a crispy, crunchy and sauced chicken on a sof bun for its customers.
Thrillist, a travel publication,
recognized Chicken Shack as one of the nation’s best fried chicken spots in 2015. Named Best Takeout and Best Late-Night Spot in Evanston, the award-winning restaurant continues to be a favorite for customers craving a hot and crispy, late-night takeout meal. With its fast-paced takeout setup, many customers grab their fresh and ready meals to go.
A bag in hand, customers leave with cherished comfort food.
Tat’s what makes us diferent: We cook it as you ordered it,” Campos said. — Luluya
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Nestled in Evanston’s bustling and eclectic Central Street business district, Backlot Co has been an Evanston staple since ee shop serves a standard array of beverages and pastries alongside a breakfast menu featuring bagels, burritos, toast and breakfast sandwiches. Te shop ofen stocks donuts from Do-Rite Donuts.
Te drink menu is sure to include your go-to order but also includes several specialty drinks for the novelty-seeking customer. (Oatmeal cookie late, anyone?)
Looking to fll a couple of hours? Te shop’s rustic, casual atmosphere is friendly to both laptops and conversation, making it the ideal space to catch up with a friend or an essay.
On a time crunch? No worries. Backlot’s quick service will provide your cafeine fx to-go and have you out the door in minutes. Te cafe also provides refrigerated grab-and-go options to those in need of a quick snack.
Since its opening, Backlot has fexed to ft the Evanston community. It moved to its current location at 2006 Central St. in 2017 and briefy operated an additional Evanston location on Sherman Avenue.
With the shop now boasting a small cafe in Kresge Hall, Northwestern students don’t have to leave campus to give Backlot a try. But for this reporter, access to the shop’s full menu is well worth the trek from Sherman to Central.
— Hannah Webster
FOUNTAIN SQUARE BEST SPOT TO PEOPLE WATCH
As a frequent visitor of the Evanston Sweetgreen, I have spent plenty of sunny afernoons in Fountain Square enjoying a salad and watching other Evanston residents go by.
As a new 21 -year-old, I’ve been searching Evanston for the perfect place to indulge in a crafty cocktail. Ward Eight happened to serve up just the right blend of classy drinks, delicious dishes and the perfect atmosphere to enjoy myself.
Voted the Best Bar in Evanston, Ward Eight is open Wednesday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to closing time on Howard Street.
Ward Eight opened in December 2012 , and they have been providing the 8 th Ward of Evanston with delectable drinks ever since.
Tis beloved landmark is located in the heart of downtown Evanston at the intersection of Davis Street and Sherman Avenue. Its proximity to many of the city’s most popular businesses makes it this year’s Best of Evanston In the spring and summer months, you’ll plenty of outdoor seating where you can pause in between running errands or have a picnic.
If you’re looking for a clean and floral drink, try the Blackthorn: a perfectly concocted blend of London dry gin, plymouth sloe gin and sweet vermouth. If you’re looking for
EVANSTON
As a newly declared English minor and perpetual complainer that ‘I don’t have enough time to read,’ my main goal for 2025 was to read 25 books — very clever, I know.
something with more zest, try the Rabbit Tale: a combination of mezcal, lime, demerara, allspice dram and angostura bitters.
From the kitchen, try the smoked brisket tacos or the pomme frites with truffle creme fraiche for a taste of their elevated small plates. Ward Eight’s menu says they pride themselves on their pre-prohibition style cocktails, and they do not disappoint.
Whether you’re looking for a happy hour destination after work or a weekend outing for drinks and a bite to eat, Ward Eight is the perfect destination for your evening of delightful conversation and classy food and drink.
— Maya Ikenberry
Downtown Evanston also frequently hosts events at the square, such as their upcoming S’mores on the Square on March 8 Tese festivities — which include night markets and concerts— make Fountain Square the ideal place to meet other residents. Head to Fountain Square to get some sunshine when the weather clears up. While it’s a great spot to people watch, it’s an even beter spot to meet other members of the Evanston community. So, don’t forget to put some of their events on your calendar the next time you need something fun to look forward to.
‘THE BEAR’ BEST MOVIE/TV SHOW SHOT IN EVANSTON
PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST SUSTAINABLE
Lucky for me, Evanston Public Library has an extensive collection of books and other resources, from Emily Henry rom-coms to LSAT study books, to fulfll all my needs.
Tat catalog, coupled with a warm environment and ample study spaces, makes EPL a downtown gem — and my go-to destination when I have a break between classes.
EPL was voted Evanston’s Best Sustainable Organization in 2025. According to its 2024-26
— Emily Lichty
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Plan, Sustainability is one of EPL’s fve core values, alongside Inclusivity & Belonging, Lifelong Exploration, Equitable Access and Community Wellbeing.
“We are commited to fscal and environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources, incorporating eco-friendly practices and initiatives into our operations and facilities,” the Evanston Public Library states.
Be on the lookout for other sustainability initiatives, events and even sustainability-related books at EPL this year!
— David Samson
“Te Bear” has exploded in popularity since its release in 2022, garnering a 96% rating on Roten Tomatoes and an 8 5/10 score on IMDb. It also won 11 Emmys in September, a record for the comedy category.
Considering its popularity and raving reviews, why the award-winning show triumphed is apparent.
THE LAKEFILL
BEST OUTDOOR SPACE
It may not be the most appealing right now as the last throes of winter pierce through parkas via the wind chill whipping of Lake Michigan. But once the ice melts and fowers begin to bloom, the Lakefll will slowly fll with students and Evanston residents eager to embrace the spring season. Known for its trademark tree groves and running path stretching from the Segal Visitors Center to the Ryan Fieldhouse, the Lakefll serves as a lush respite for Northwestern students avoiding arduous class schedules.
During Spring Quarter and Fall Quarter, the Lakefll is consistently flled with
hammocks, ambitious joggers and cyclists. acres of reclaimed underwater land serve as an idyllic landscape for a betweenclass hiatus once the sun starts shining. Bring your dog, a picnic blanket or a Spikeball set and relax. Read a book or toss a Frisbee with the Chicago skyline twinkling in the background. Get outside, on the Lakefll and away from your responsibilities. Because, afer all, there’s nothing more important than touching grass.
— Henry Frieman
Te three-season series, which follows young chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzato (Jeremy Allen White) in his hometown of Chicago, was primarily flmed in Windy City. However, parts of the show were shot in Evanston, including in spring 2024. Multiple scenes in the second and third seasons took place in the city, atracting
crowds to the flming site. Carmy moved back to Chicago following a death in his family, dealing with a struggling restaurant. He has to manage the business, staf and family relationships, among other challenges.
Te Daily Beast called “Te Bear” “TV’s coolest show,” and Te New York Times said people cherished the series because it understood Chicago, workplace culture and grief. Te show’s fourth season will premiere in 2025, with a release date yet to be announced.
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, friend or family member, look no further than local boutique niceLena & Friends. Located right near Trader Joe’s on Chicago Avenue, this shop has every trinket or knick-knack you can think of –– and a card to go with it!
Named best place to find a gift, niceLena & Friends offers a carefully curated selection of handmade jewelry, art prints, candles, stickers and DIY kits. Artist Lena Kim, also known as “The Wizard of Cute,” founded the store and manages everything from design and production to social media and branding for the beloved local gem.
More than just a gift shop, niceLena & Friends partners with local creators, featuring unique products you won’t find anywhere else. Their “Fairy Doors of Evanston” collection is a community
favorite, adding a whimsical touch to the neighborhood. The boutique’s warm, inviting atmosphere makes it easy to browse for the perfect find, whether it’s a handmade accessory, home decor or a thoughtful greeting card.
Beyond gifts, the shop embraces creativity and sustainability, prioritizing handmade, small-batch goods that support independent artists. Whether you’re looking for an origami paper earring, a custom art print or a specialty candle, niceLena & Friends provides a unique shopping experience that highlights craftsmanship and individuality, allowing you to find the perfect gift for that special someone. You can visit the brick-and-mortar shop in person at 1235 Chicago Ave. — Cayla Labgold-Carroll
Te 7th Ward cofee
— Kamran Nia
Tekle
EDZO’S BURGER SHOP
Entering Edzo’s Burger Shop, customers were quickly greeted with a colorful mural and a lively, yet intimate atmosphere. Te vibrant yellow walls, orange chairs and abundance of posters contributed to a special dining atmosphere unique to Edzo’s.
Te chalkboard menu featured well-executed classics like burgers, hot dogs and fries, as well as numerous variations, including vegan alternatives. Edzo’s had something for everyone, and its meals paired perfectly with its renowned milkshakes.
Owner Eddie Lakin started the staple burger joint in 2009 Te winner of Te Daily’s “Best Burger” title in 2015, 2016 and 2024, Edzo’s was a beloved community staple.
Sadly, the pandemic took a toll on the business, forcing Lakin to start investing more of his personal savings into the business. In September 2022, Edzo’s relaunched afer a temporary closing that February. Despite its eforts to recover afer the pandemic, Edzo’s closed its doors in December 2024 Sherman Avenue will feel empty without Edzo’s, a cherished community treasure. Lakin has mentioned potentially opening up a new location, but nothing is set in stone. I’m sad to see them go, but I hope they’re able to rebuild their business and keep ofering great service.
— Ashley Wei
GIORDANO’S PIZZA
Giordano’s Pizza is a Chicago staple ––so much so that 43 of the chain’s 58 stores are in Illinois, mostly clustered around the city.
Coming from the West Coast, the idea of deep-dish was always synonymous with Chicago. When I visited Chicago for the frst time, our frst lunch stop was Giordano’s. Later, upon my move to campus, the Evanston Giordano’s became the default destination whenever my parents visited.
Giordano’s gooey, cheesy slices — which I am convinced are impossible to eat without a fork — have quickly become one of my favorite treats.
But fans of the chain’s infamous deepdish pizza, including myself, now have a longer trek to obtain it, as the Evanston Giordano’s shut its doors in January. A sign lef on the door says that the restaurant is looking to relocate to a new location within the community.
Until this new location is revealed, Evanston pizza lovers looking for Giordano’s will have to travel to one of the many other locations in the Chicago area, with the closest being Rogers Park, around three and a half miles from Evanston.
I am truly hoping for the return of a Giordano’s within walking distance, but for now, all we can do is wait.
— Brooke Nelson
High Touch boutique, a family-owned ceramics shop, closed its Evanston location in September. Formerly located at 1551 Sherman Ave., the boutique has now shifted to online sales.
Originally, the boutique opened its Evanston shop — its second branch — in late 2022 . It sold Middle Eastern and Persian ceramics, home decor, statues and metal crafts.
Each product sold is handmade and all the pottery is made in a large production studio south of Chicago.
High Touch offers many unique ceramic pieces from intricately painted bowls and
THE PLANT SHOP
Just fresh o f of its third anniversary, Te Plant Shop’s Evanston location drooped its leaves with a closure in 2024 T e plant nursery and store specialized in tropicals, succulents, cacti and a wide variety of houseplants.
which added a positive and open space for guests to indulge in the world of greenery. Tey even won “Best Sustainable Business” in Te Daily’s 2022 Best of Evanston.
Located at 1549 Sherman Ave., the shop opened Aug. 13, 2021 and replaced Backlot Cofee afer the closure of its downtown Evanston location. Having established a relationship with Backlot founders, owners Juan Quezada and Ozzy Gamez believed the shop would ft perfectly in the abandoned location.
Te shop was full of light, afordable plants and a down-to-earth team,
On Sep. 20 , 2024 , store staff announced on Instagram that they were closing its Evanston location “for good.”
Te Plant Shop leaves a hole in the heart of the Evanston community, especially as plant nurseries are slowly closing up shop. However, there is no need to fret, as they have a location in the Mayfair-Albany Park neighborhood.
— Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez
CINNAHOLIC
BITTER BLOSSOM
During a short and sweet 10 month stint, Biter Blossom’s business shriveled as they closed their doors in 2024 Te one-of-a-kind bar was under the same ownership as Evanston Games & Cafe and served a variety of craf cocktails and local brews.
Located at 1707 Maple Ave. on the frst foor of the Church Street Plaza, the local bar opened in September 2023 Te space held 23 seats for patrons to enjoy drinks and socialize until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., which is unusually late for the Evanston community since it lacks late night spots compared to other Chicagoland areas.
Temed nights and vinyl music sessions flled a huge gap in Evanston’s nightlife scene: a place to hang out with friends, grab a drink and indulge in the local culture that doesn’t close early. Te staf, known for their friendliness, provided drink suggestions and recommendations for where to hit in town.
When the bar opened, Former General Manager Lo McGrath said that Biter Blossom was “going to get to play a big role in how bar culture and nightlife culture comes back into Evanston.”
Unfortunately, that opportunity is no longer available due to their closure.
Business mistakes and a pay cut that led to the team walking out of the business contributed to the demise of Evanston’s latest atempt of bringing nightlife back.
While Biter Blossom’s fate lef a biter taste in many patrons’ mouths, we can only hope for a new location that provides nourishment to the dry nightlife scene that Evanston has been known for years.
— Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez
HIGH TOUCH
Te closure of Cinnaholic, Evanston’s much-beloved spot for gourmet cinnamon rolls, was rather unceremonious. Last winter, a sign on the bakery’s former storefront on 1596 Sherman Ave. announced a temporary shutdown. Weeks went by with no return or updates. By March, I grew anxious. Where was Cinnaholic? I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the City Clerk’s Ofce for Cinnaholic’s inspection records between November 2023 and March 2024 Te news came a few days later: the
Evanston location was gone forever, without a farewell.
Cinnaholic will be remembered for its wide array of frostings and toppings, as well as its ambitious specialty rolls. Tere’s no other place where you could get a cinnamon roll topped with chai frosting, fresh berries and pie crumble. Well, except for the three remaining locations in the Chicago area. But let’s be real. Who would travel that far for a cinnamon roll?
— Jaharia Knowles
vases to expertly sculpted and curved decorative pieces. Each piece is marketed as organic and eco-friendly and can appeal to almost everyone.
Those who are interested in seeing the pottery can visit the High Touch Spa and Boutique in Wilmette.
While we are sad that High Touch has left its Evanston location, we are glad that it will be able to continue to sell its handmade ceramics online.
FONDA CANTINA
— Nineth Kanieski Koso
TAG’S CAFE
After six years on Central Street, Tag’s Cafe closed its doors to customers Dec. 28 , 2024 . The restaurant was under the same ownership as Tag’s Bakery and proudly served a variety of coffees, soups, chilis and unique sandwiches.
The family-owned cafe opened June 25 , 2018 . The menu featured savory delicacies which perfectly complemented the historic Tag’s Bakery right next door, which was founded in 1937 Customer favorites such as the breakfast panini and Tag’s Grilled Cheese coupled with a casual, conversation-friendly atmosphere provided the perfect place to catch up with a loved one or enjoy a warm cappuccino. The cozy cafe was a great spot to turn some pages on a
new book.
The menu on their website boasted affordable, tasty treats that could be devoured in their spacious restaurant, as well as options for delicious grabn-go items such as salads, parfaits or oatmeal.
Tag’s owns the spaces for both the cafe and the bakery and plans to lease the cafe’s old space in the future.
While the cozy ambiance of Tag’s will be missed by locals and nonlocals alike, lovers of Tag’s need not worry; many of the savory goodies will continue to be served in the bakery, alongside their famous fresh baked bread and all kinds of sweet treats.
BLAZE PIZZA
Opened in early 2023 , Fonda Cantina described itself to customers as a “Memoir of Mexico.” Through the work of chef Michael Lachowicz and his business partners, chef Miguel Escobar, wine director Sergio Angel and sous chef Carlos Cahue, the casual dining restaurant delivered authentic Mexican flavor.
The menu combined classic Mexican flavors, featuring dishes like the chile relleno and original cocktail creations like the Artesanal Old Fashioned which uses mezcal liquor, agave and tobacco bitters, that surprised diners with its bold and balanced flavors.
Formerly located at 1735 Benson Ave., Fonda
Cantina brought a unique blend of different regional Mexican traditions to the local dining scene. With its warm ambiance and generational recipes, the restaurant aimed to remind diners of cozy nostalgia with each bite. It was a welcoming spot for both casual outings and special occasions. Despite its promising start, Fonda Cantina ultimately closed its doors last summer due to financial difficulties. It leaves behind memories of rich flavors, warm hospitality and a mark on Evanston’s culinary landscape. It will surely be missed by students and locals alike.
— Trois Francoise
Ono
Evanston’s Blaze Pizza closed up shop in August 2024 as one of a series of closures by the corporate chain nationwide.
Formerly located at 1737 Sherman Ave., Blaze opened in 2015 and served a wide variety of pizzas, cheesy breads and salads. The chain has locations in 38 different states and six different countries and is co-owned by Lakers star Lebron James.
Blaze made major changes to its menu last year, adding five new pizzas and replacing its menu offerings of over 12 years. The customizable menu includes typical toppings like pepperoni, sausage, artichokes and pickles — everything a pizza lover might want.
This move, however, did not save Evanston’s Blaze Pizza, as it was soon replaced by Taco Bell. The fast-food joint’s opening brought a groundswell of excitement, after months of false speculation that it would offer alcoholic drinks as a Taco Bell Cantina.
Even without the Cantina, Blaze’s replacement has continued its legacy as a daily gathering place for students and Evanston residents alike.
—
Fans of Blaze won’t have to look far to fulfill their pizza craving. The closest Blaze location is on North Sheridan Road in Chicago.
— Maya Ikenberry
Caroline Killilea
Jerry Starkman forged history in hot dog stand
By AUDREY PACHUTA
daily senior staffer @audreypachuta
Just over a decade afer he graduated from Northwestern, Peter Dufy (Communication ’98) stood on the sidelines of the Chicago Marathon with his then-girlfriend — now wife — by his side, wearing a t-shirt he’d bought years earlier just a few miles up the road in Evanston.
A runner, winded and focused, hufed past and, without missing a beat, pointed at Dufy’s shirt. “Greatest restaurant in America,” he quipped as if it were an old inside joke.
Te shirt, a souvenir from Mustard’s Last Stand on Central Street, wasn’t just a piece of clothing. It was a symbol — a shared piece of pride for Dufy and his friends, just as it is for the thousands of others who’ve crossed the threshold of the iconic hot dog stand since it opened in 1969
But when Jerry Starkman frst bought the building, a hot dog stand wasn’t what he had in mind at all. Starkman had been the owner of Inferno Pizza, just about a block from Mustard’s current location. When he couldn’t secure a long-term lease, he decided to shif gears. Te idea was to set up a temporary hot dog stand while he fgured out his next move. But what was meant to be short-term quickly became something much bigger.
“It just took of, and he never looked back,” Steve Starkman, Jerry Starkman’s son, said.
Steve Starkman —who took over co-ownership of Mustard’s with his brother, Lonnie Starkman, afer their father died in 2022 — was just three years old when the business opened. He joked that he put in one of the frst nails with a toy plastic hammer, while his mother stood behind the counter, pregnant with his younger brother. Mustard’s has always been a family business,
through and through. Both brothers worked there as teenagers, and now they employ their own children to follow in their footsteps. For Steve Starkman, it’s this deep-rooted sense of family that keeps the shop feeling timeless.
“My dad said he wanted a customer who walked in 50 years ago to taste the same thing 50 years later,” Steve Starkman said.
Once the Starkmans decided Mustard’s would remain a hot dog stand, they held a naming contest in the early ’70s in which the victor would receive $100 and a year’s worth of free hotdogs.
Te winner’s entry, “Mustard’s Last Stand,” was inspired by a former city fair on Custer Avenue, known as Custer’s Last Stand — a nod to the 1876 Batle of Litle Bighorn, where U.S. Lt. Col. George Custer was defeated by Native American tribes in Montana.
Steve Starkman said his dad became known by a handful of nicknames over the years with many customers calling him the “Elvis of Evanston” or “Colonel Mustard” due to his local prominence.
Over the years, Mustard’s has meant diferent things to diferent people: a gathering place for esteemed NU alumni, like Michael Wilbon and David Schwimmer; a go-to spot for a quick bite afer athletic events; and, for some, even a place where love begins to bloom.
“A lot of people had their frst dates at Mustard’s. Tere have been many proposals,” Lonnie Starkman said. “Tere’s a whole bunch of diferent things that happen here.”
He added that on several occasions, couples who married at a nearby church came by for a hot dog aferward, calling it “the frst meal of the rest of their lives.”
Aside from the Starkmans, other staf members at Mustard’s have forged their own sense of family through years of experience, creating lasting
connections with those who’ve chosen to become part of the shop’s legacy.
Keith Woods, a longtime employee at Mustard’s, entered the shop’s history when he was looking to make a litle extra cash afer returning home from the military.
Woods — who worked at the shop for almost 30 years before he died in 2013 — earned a reputation for knowing customers’ orders down to the last condiment, even if they hadn’t stopped by in years.
Tough it’s been more than a decade since his passing, Woods remains an irreplaceable part of Mustard’s documented history. His photo is among the many proudly displayed on the walls, a highly coveted spot for customers who have lef a mark on the shop.
“A lot of these guys come in over the years,
and if we take it down, they come in and ask,
‘Where’s my picture? You’ve got to put it back up,’” Lonnie Starkman said. “So we fnd it and put it back up.”
While the brothers note that their current customer base consists more of residents, alumni and visiting fans rather than current students, they don’t seem to mind. For former students like Duf y, it’s part of what makes returning to Mustard’s so special.
“When you’re a college kid. It doesn’t really stick, and that’s fne,” Duf y said. “But when you go back and nostalgia is more of a thing, you’re more appreciative that it’s there and has stood the test of time.”
audreypachuta2027@u.northwestern.edu
Local spots thrive despite chain movement
By CLARA MARTINEZ the daily northwestern @claramart1nez7
When Daniel Kelch opened Taco Diablo, LuLu’s, Te Blue Horse Tavern and the Five & Dime 33 years ago, fast food chains were not intimidating. Despite familiar favorites like Taco Bell, Te Fat Shallot and DosBros Mexican Grill infltrating the ranks of cozy hole-in-the-wall restaurants following the COVID-19 pandemic, he said they have ceased to cause concern.
“Chains have never, ever done really well here,” Kelch said. “Tey tend to come, stay a few years, then they’re out. I think that’s because of the community.”
In fact, Kelch said chains seem to come and go, but locally owned restaurants tend to stick around.
He atributes customer loyalty to Evanston’s small-town nature, despite its size as a city of 75,000
“It seems like everyone knows everyone,” Kelch said. “I think that people in the town really pay atention to what’s happening in town.”
However, the choice for Mexican- or Spanishinspired cuisine can be a tight race. Tose seeking a quesadilla or burrito bowl may fnd themselves at locally-owned Taco Diablo or Tapas Barcelona, or commercially beloved spots like Chipotle and the recently opened Taco Bell on Sherman Avenue.
Tapas Barcelona general manager Vladimir Huante isn’t worried about competition from chains serving similar cuisine because he said his restaurant is distinct in its sit-down service and atmosphere.
“We have built up good clientele that, you
know, they come almost every week,” Huante said. “Some people come every day.”
Huante said Tapas Barcelona has been a staple of Spanish food in Evanston for 30 years, which he said has given the restaurant time to develop a loyal customer base. Tis was especially evident post-pandemic when the community continued to support the restaurant by ordering food and returned to in-person dining soon afer reopening, he said.
“We have very good patrons that come on a regular basis, and they’ve been supporting us for a long time,” Huante said. “COVID hit (and) they were ordering food to go and as soon as we were able to open, they would come to support us.”
Some local food spots have said they are doing beter than ever. Berry Pike Cafe manager Adat Ali said they have been increasing their sales over the past two years by maintaining a
loyal customer base and increasing their online presence.
“What brings people back is the quality of food and customer service,” Ali said. “Also discounts, but most importantly, social media platforms.”
Kelch said his group of restaurants on Davis Street has improved its sales in the years afer the pandemic. He said their efort to appeal to every demographic — from families to college students to the retired community — helps to cushion sales against fast food chains.
Rather, he said the concerns faced by the restaurant have to do with economic infation.
“One of the hardships right now is infation is just completely out of control,” Kelch said. “Te cost of goods has just doubled in price, so that’s probably one of our biggest challenges.”
claramartinez2028@u.northwestern.edu
Mural Arts Program features local artists
Illustration by Siri Reddy
Over 55 years afer it originally opened, Mustard’s Last Stand remains a family-owned and operated business, as well as an Evanston staple.
OPINION
Oh: Evanston’s Asian food scene needs an upgrade
I remember my excitement during the frst few weeks of school exploring Downtown Evanston’s collection of eateries. A quick Google search had loaded up what seemed like a hopeful list of restaurants, dessert shops and boba stores, covering a variety of cuisines and ofering student discounts.
Eager to eat something other than Northwestern’s infamous dining hall food, I embarked on my Evanston food journey, only to be sorely disappointed afer enjoying years of San Francisco’s thriving food scene. Fresh fsh directly from the pier in elaborate pieces of sushi, juicy Korean BBQ grilled to perfection and the creamiest, most soul-soothing ramen with a just-right oilto-soup ratio.
Tough there appears to be a plethora of
We can not trade hate for hate, Oct. 8 flm shouldn’t be shown at NU
In his op-ed “Show up for your Jewish peers,” Medill junior Tobias Khabie accurately recognizes the recent proliferation of antisemitic rhetoric on college campuses. Khabie asserts that the Northwestern community ought to show up to support the Jewish community by watching the documentary “October 8 ,” which is set to be released on March 14 th.
However, despite Khabie’s valid concerns, I believe that supporting this documentary,
Asian cuisine options, including restaurants like Soban Korea, Hokkaido and Shang Noodle & Chinese, fnding a spot with quality food and great options is surprisingly difcult.
Overly greasy and Americanized, these restaurants don’t retain much of the authentic Asian favor that I’ve been craving nearly every day since arriving at NU. Of course, there are picks from each of these restaurants that I don’t mind at all. But I can’t say there’s a place where I’m able to head for a full meal that reminds me of home.
As for the boba, the hotest Asian drink in the game: Ume Tea and Happy Lemon, the strongest contenders on the feld, aren’t bad. Earth-shatering, mouth-watering, unforgetable boba with the chewiest pearls and most fragrant favors? Not even close.
What’s disappointing is when you log onto DoorDash, especially when the unbearable craving takes over during the worst of the winter season at -10 degrees, and they don’t deliver the boba you want. Some of Ume’s drinks only ship from the chain’s Chicago location and don’t ofer the option to add boba toppings. I’ve forgoten
about this pitfall one time too many and ended up both thirsty and sad.
Kung Fu Tea? Don’t even get me started. Te tea is so sweet and sticky that it leaves my tongue in pain with the sugar overload. Te store’s most popular drink on Grubhub right now is Strawberry Milk Slush at $7 79, which quickly becomes at least $10 with added boba and tax.
Expensive and sickly sweet? Not exactly a college student’s boba fantasy.
Joy Yee is yet another disappointment. As expected from a restaurant that serves boba on the side, the taste just doesn’t have the characteristic blend of tea and juice, or tea and milk. I will say it’s a lot of drink for the price, but it’s nowhere near what I’d call “good boba.” Te fruity drinks taste of too much juice and too litle tea, with rigid pearls leaving my teeth in pain.
It’s just strange that no store has emerged that’s so good it overwhelms the boba scene, leaving us with a food of mediocre stores raising rent and giving us options we don’t need.
Do I have high standards? Maybe. My taste buds might be too accustomed to the boba haven
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
which platforms and emboldens Islamophobes and false anti-Palestinian narratives, is dangerous and misguided.
Antisemitism is one of the most despicable forms of bigotry alive today, and the events of Oct. 7 th are an undeniable tragedy. With the state of this nation, it is more important than ever to support the Jewish community.
However, platforming the documentary “October 8 ,” which primarily features an Islamophobic and genocide-supporting bigot — Mosab Hassan Yousef — is a betrayal towards our University’s Middle Eastern and North African community.
The Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and President Donald Trump, amid a ceasefire, are advancing the discussion of forcibly
removing Palestinians from their land. After the death of at least 47 , 000 Palestinians coupled with a 50% rise in hate crimes targeting Muslims, it is important to remember that there is no reason to believe that advocacy for Palestinians and Muslims is inherently antisemitic. What is inherently Islamophobic is the rhetoric and speakers of “October 8 .”
For example, the documentary’s website has stated one of its “principal characters” will be Yousef — a man who stated he would choose the life “of a [single] cow” over the lives of 1 6 billion Muslims. Yousef, in May of 2024 , further advocated for the deaths of Muslims and the complete “burning of Rafah.”
The documentarians have also recreated one of the longest-standing racist tropes
called the Bay Area. Why doesn’t Evanston focus on bringing in quality boba rather than compensating for its underwhelming array of boba providers with the emergence of more low-rate stores? Hopefully, TE’AMO’s arrival on campus will fnally give us what we’re looking for: a sweet, but not-too-sweet blend of slightly biter tea and bursting favor, chewy boba, great delivery and options galore. We’re all waiting for the day we get consistent, delicious boba for a fair price. Imagine a downtown city that prioritizes restaurant quality over quantity. Business would boom and students would be both full and content.
Alice Oh is a Medill and Bienen sophomore. She can be contacted at aliceoh2027@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Leter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. Te views expressed in this piece do not necessarily refect the views of all staf members of Te Daily Northwestern.
against Middle Easterners claiming “this is no longer about Jews or Israel. This is about Western civilization.” This rhetoric is nothing new; claiming Muslims are a threat to Western civilization was also used to justify the illegitimate Iraq War and the USA PATRIOT Act. There are ways to advocate for Jewish students without platforming individuals who see Muslim lives as expendable or even detestable. We cannot trade hate for hate. We must and can honor both our Jewish and Muslim communities. If you support this film, you will have failed both groups.
— Franke Gordon
Hernandez Gonzalez: Small businesses are important
Growing up in Montbello, a neighborhood in the far northeast of Denver, small businesses were places for meaningful conversations, gathering with friends and family and bonding over issues that afect the community. Visiting small businesses is more than fulflling a craving; they are for engaging with your community.
I always looked forward to joining my parents in their visits to these small businesses because I could see my culture and experiences refected in store oferings. Even just taking a stroll around stores that I have never entered before is always a sight to behold, and I walk away informed about what is available for the community.
Tis is why small businesses mater! I mean, you aren’t going to fnd an authentic pack of tortillas at King Soopers. You would go to the local tortillería and buy a pack that has the authentic taste and you won’t get complaints fom your Mexican parents.
- ALEXANDER HERNANDEX GONZALEZ, opinion editor
Not to mention, a great majority of these small businesses are run by immigrants who reside within Montbello and the surrounding neighborhoods. Black-founded barber shops, Latino-owned snack establishments and Caribbean grocery stores cater to their communities, especially when bigger chains aren’t necessarily tailored to specifc demographics.
Last fall, my parents had me go on a journey
to fnd fresh tortillas for my household. Our usual spot, Tortilleria La Amapola, was closed for the week as they had run out of dough to make their iconic product. So, we had to setle for the Guerrero tortillas, which are not our favorites.
Tis is why small businesses mater! I mean, you aren’t going to fnd an authentic pack of tortillas at King Soopers. You would go to the local tortillería and buy a pack that has the authentic taste — and you won’t get complaints from your Mexican parents.
Frankly, sometimes services and products can be expensive compared to the chain oferings. But, they are of higher quality, have a story behind them and support those who have a direct hand in providing good to the community and beyond.
Tis experience is not just felt in Montbello; it is a national phenomenon. In fact, according to the Small Business Administration’s Ofce of Advocacy, “Immigrant owners consisted of roughly 18 percent of business owners with employees and almost 23 percent of business owners without employees” in 2022
Te Neighborhood Small Business Growth Strategy, launched by former Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, assists small businesses with flling vacant storefronts with high potential, creating networking opportunities with other businesses and developing connections with the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy.
Not only does this strategy allow new businesses to have a connection to the city, but they are backed and supported by an administration that wants them to thrive. Yet, what about the communities that aren’t directly a part of a major city?
When I began my undergraduate career at Northwestern, I was expecting a lot of major corporations and brands to have a hold on the Evanston community. Fortunately, I was welcomed by a diverse community of entrepreneurs and innovators who want to further their connection to the city.
Ovo Frito Cafe, cloth + home and Gigio’s Pizzeria are not just some of Evanston’s favorite small businesses. Tey are places I was welcomed, formed genuine connections with owners and ultimately recommended to friends who wanted to explore what downtown Evanston has to ofer. Even the 2024 Best of Evanston issue
pushed me out of my comfort zone.
From talking about how we maintain Mexican culture and values in Evanston to bonding over one-of-a-kind products made by local creatives, these bonds would not have been possible without the existence of small businesses. But, there is something I would like to address.
For quite some time, Evanston has participated in Small Business Saturday, which usually takes place around the holidays for consumers to shop at small local businesses. Even though the sentiment is there, this special occasion should not be the only reminder to shop local.
Ovo Frito Cafe, cloth + home and Gigio’s Pizzeria are not just some of Evanston’s favorite small businesses. Tey are places I was welcomed, formed genuine connections with owners and ultimately recommended to fiends who wanted to explore what downtown Evanston has to ofer.
- ALEXANDER HERNANDEX GONZALEZ, opinion editor
I love the small business directory featured on the Downtown Evanston website and the features on their social media platforms, but as more national chains take over the vacant spaces downtown, additional efort should be made.
With the Trump administration removing diversity, equity and inclusion programs, national corporations and brands have scaled back on these practices. In spite of this, small businesses still support DEI eforts since they have a direct efect on hiring, workplace culture and employee satisfaction.
Small businesses have always been important to the economy, community culture and overall
impact. But, with the uncertainty of the coming months, supporting local businesses should not just be used for economic purposes — we should be supporting our community as much as we can.
Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez is a Medill sophomore. He can be contacted at alexanderhernandezgonzalez2027@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Leter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. Te views expressed in this piece do not necessarily refect the views of all staf members of Te Daily Northwestern.
The Daily Northwestern Volume 148, Issue 7
Editor in Chief Lily Ogburn
Opinion Editor AlexanderHernandez Gonzalez
Assistant
Opinion Editor Alice Oh
Managing Editors Henry Frieman Lexi Goldstein
Betsy Lecy
Emily Lichty Kelley Lu Jillian Moore
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside THE DAILY office.
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• Should be typed and double-spaced
• Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number.
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Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group.
Editorials reflect the majority opinion of THE DAILY’s student editorial board and not the opinions of either Northwestern University or Students Publishing Co. Inc.
Democratic Party of Evanston hosts meet and greet
By SOPHIE BAKER
the daily northwestern
For this year’s candidate meet and greet, the Democratic Party of Evanston tried something new: In place of a structured speaker event, candidates set up tri-fold posters reminiscent of a science fair.
Roughly 35 candidates participated in Sunday’s meet and greet at the Unitarian Church of Evanston. Residents cycled between tables, eager to interact with the mayoral, aldermanic and school board candidates ahead of Evanston’s April 1 election.
“The thing that I love the most about Evanston is how passionate we are about the political process,” party Secretary Ryan Flynn said. “Everyone participates.”
Party President Kathy Hayes said she hopes the event allows residents to make informed decisions and feel excited to vote. The party, helmed by committeeman and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, dominates city politics. She said the party made a deliberate effort to adjust the event’s format to facilitate conversation between residents and their potential representatives.
“People have suspicions and are leery about opening their door,” Hayes said. “People are cut off from vital information that they probably would ask if they were face to face. So the more communal we can make it, the better we think people will have responses and be more educated about who’s running.”
The party also decided not to endorse candidates, diverging from years past. In addition to the fact that a few members of the party board are running, Hayes said the Democratic parties in other municipalities do not typically endorse candidates.
Many candidates were excited by the opportunity to engage in direct conversation with the residents they are seeking to represent.
John Kennedy, who is running to represent the 3 rd Ward on City Council, said it was nice to meet people through a more formal gathering, as opposed to door knocking. Other candidates expressed similar sentiments.
“I’m here to learn,” said Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education
candidate Brandon Utter. “I’m here to talk to people. I’m here to see what the public thinks about District 65 and what they think would help.”
Some attendees, like 2 nd Ward resident Joanne Zolomij, said they had already met their aldermanic representatives and came seeking information on the District 65 candidates.
Leigh Bailey, a resident of the 1 st Ward, said she moved to Evanston just three years ago
and attended the event to learn more about the city’s political climate.
“We’re new residents of Evanston and so everything is pretty new and it’s very interesting,” Bailey said. “We’ve always been involved in politics, and it’s very interesting to find out about our board, so this is a wonderful education.”
Many candidates voiced their optimism ahead of the election. In particular, mayoral challenger Jeff Boarini said he felt he was
“gaining traction” and was eager to continue telling his story.
Reflecting on the event, Hayes said it was vital to counteract the community’s political concern, bred in large part by the outcome of the recent presidential election.
“We understand that democracy starts at the grassroots,” Hayes said. “This is as grassroots as it gets.”
sophiebaker2028@u.northwestern.edu
Sophie Baker/The Daily Northwestern
Gennifer Geer, a 3rd Ward aldermanic candidate, spoke to a resident at Sunday’s meet and greet.
trying to communicate our message that the war is still going on, that it is not over, and that Ukrainians primarily want justice,” Chernova said. “We did not give up three years ago. We have not given up now. Tis rock is a reminder for the community that it is still going.”
Monday also marked the anniversary of the club, which Chernova said was founded on the day of the invasion.
Chernova said the club will also be hosting
COUNCIL 1
From page 1
Te ordinance states that if an institution changes contractors, the new contractor must retain employees for a 90-day transition period and ofer continued employment if their performance is satisfactory during that time.
Ahead of voting, dozens of NU employees came to the council meeting and stood in unison at the end of Reyes’ remarks.
Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) congratulated the crowd of workers, saying that the council has supported the
POST
DOC From page 1
political science Prof. Daniel Galvin said. “By firing this Democratic-appointed member of the NLRB, Trump has effectively rendered the NLRB incapable of doing its job.”
Galvin said the NLRB acts like an independent appellate court for disputes between labor and management. Rulings made at a regional level can be appealed to the NLRB, he said. While the paralyzed national board may not affect local unions immediately, Galvin said it essentially prevents the board from making rulings in any appeal process.
“If there’s a dispute, it’ll get stuck in a kind of purgatory, where the NLRB won’t be able to adjudicate,” Galvin said.
Mann said while they are following the news relating to the NLRB, the postdocs are “just moving on as usual.”
Still, many postdocs have felt the effects of the Trump administration’s policy. Postdoctoral researcher Valentina Olivera-Pasilio, who
cultural events in the coming weeks such as a group dinner in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village and a movie night in collaboration with the Bufet Institute for Global Afairs.
“(Northwestern for Ukraine) was established as kind of our response to the war happening,” Chernova said. “Ever since, it’s been raising funds for primarily humanitarian aid. Tis year we are also raising funds for people who need prosthetics.”
McCormick senior Anthony Bartolomei, who atended the event, said students like him tend to think about the war in Ukraine as something so far
ordinance from the beginning.
Tis was not controversial at all,” he said. “Both publicly and behind the scenes, there was never any question that this was going to have the support it needed to pass, and I believe that’s also a win.”
He recognized the importance of the ordinance to ensure workers continue receiving benefts during the summer when most students are not on campus.
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) also expressed her continued support for the ordinance.
“I’m really delighted that our City Council can play a signifcant role in enhancing the job security for these workers,” she said. “It makes me very proud to stand in
is originally from Uruguay, said she was very concerned about Trump’s policy.
The future of academia is at risk, especially for federal researchers, Olivera-Pasilio said. Beyond job security, she said a union could help prevent harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
“We’re trying to talk to people to try to make them feel like unionization is the way to secure our jobs in a way, trying to use this for something good (by) promoting unionization efforts,” Olivera-Pasilio said. “I think that is the only way that we can be more relaxed in our workplace.”
Mann also noted that many postdocs feel anxious about what might happen with federal funding cuts. He emphasized the importance of taking feelings of anxiety and turning them into action.
With the 10% reduction in non-personnel spending, Mann said there has been frustration about the lack of transparency from the University. The impact of these budget cuts on postdocs and other researchers is also unclear, he said.
“My biggest hope at the moment is that we
removed from our everyday lives.
Bartolomei said he is close friends with students in the organization, and the speeches were emotionally moving.
Tese speakers are people who have been through tremendous life events, unfathomable events, and they’re here just pouring their heart out,” Bartolomei said. “I think it’s a really brave thing to do.”
Chernova said this is a very personal mater for her, with her family still located in Ukraine and not having seen them in a year and a half.
Chernova said a lot of emotional weight can
solidarity with you all.”
When residents had the opportunity for public comment, numerous NU students expressed support for the ordinance and accused the University of not upholding its own values.
Weinberg junior Ruth Debono advocated for fnancial security to be given to NU Dining workers, saying the last contracting shif in 2018 put dozens of workers in “fnancial limbo.”
“I’m lucky to have institutional support when I have fnancial uncertainty,” Debono said. “We should extend that same support to employees.”
When the University changed contractors to the
can feel safer and protected and enabled to continue our research with job security, that we can continue our projects, continue to progress through our careers and not be left out to dry
come with being a university student away from a war at home. Shesaid that right now, her greatest wish is for justice for her country.
“It is very easy to forget that the war is going and like in general, understand what it is like for regular people, because it is something that we read about in the books or watching the movies,” Chernova said. “I just want people to not underestimate the power that they have, and that even small actions mater, because I think together, we can achieve much more.”
melodyxu2027@u.northwestern.edu
current food service provider Compass Group in 2018, employees in the hospitality workers’ union UNITE HERE Local 1 feared losing their jobs and campaigned for months to remain employed.
Reyes has fought for the rules outlined by the ordinance since then, saying the ordinance establishes employees’ place within the University.
And the students’ solidarity impressed her. “I always love all students and how they support us,” Reyes said. “(Tey) are my family.”
by the University in the face of these federal funding cuts,” Mann said.
ninethkanieskikoso 2027 @u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Nick Francis
Over the summer, postdocs gathered over 50% of their bargaining pools’ signatures in a campaign for salary increases.
‘I really do it for the fans’: Darrel Dupit leaves a legacy
By ISAIAH STEINBERG daily se(i)r sta,,er @isaiahstei-.
In -009, Northwestern men’s basketball in-game host Darrel Dupit didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. A part-time retail employee and a high school gymnastics and cheerleading coach, Dupit was juggling gigs. en he tried out for the Chicago White Sox’s pride crew.
“Being in front of people — performing — that was something already in my nature,” Dupit said.
Dupit ultimately landed the gig, launching an entertainment career that combined his dual passions in sports and performance.
As he ran onto Rate Field for the rst time on game day, Dupit was starstruck. e thousands of screaming fans gave the lifelong Sox fan goosebumps.
“Running out of the center eld doors onto the eld is a feeling that is almost unmatched,” Dupit said.
Now, Dupit, age 4., works in fan experience as an in-game host, stage manager and pride crew member for seven Chicago-area teams.
In -0-3, Dupit joined NU’s men’s basketball team as an in-game host.
A production stage manager for the Bulls and a pride crew member for the White Sox, Dupit said he has nally found his niche and passion in entertaining sports fans citywide.
Growing up in West Chicago and Willowbrook, Dupit dreamed of playing professional football. He a ended a Christian school without any varsity sports, where he played ag football, basketball, volleyball, oor hockey and soccer. In high school, Dupit vaulted toward gymnastics and cheerleading.
“I was fortunate I was coordinated because I was able to play a lot of sports,” Dupit said. “I was not the best one, but I could hang with people, and we’d play a er school in the neighborhood.”
Dupit a ended college on and o from 199: to -006, where he studied physical therapy before switching to education. He dropped out of North Central College in -006 to care for his sick aunt.
Deanry Dupit, four years Darrel’s junior, said his older brother’s athletic prowess provided him a constant source of motivation. Darrel was always picked rst for every team, he added.
“He always had a connection with sports — not even just as your common spectator going to games and everything — he wanted to be involved all the
time,” Deanry Dupit said.
During his formative years, Darrel Dupit also developed a love for performing.
He took center stage as a traveling musician in a high school play, took up the saxophone in the h grade band and participated in a youth church choir.
As he developed his parallel proclivities for performing and playing sports, Dupit was inspired by a friend serving as a physical therapist for the Indiana Pacers. at, Dupit thought, would be his ticket into the world of professional sports. ***
In his youth, Dupit had to get creative to support his favorite baseball team. Dupit’s father worked the a ernoon shi at Brach’s Candy Company in West Gar eld Park. Meanwhile, his mother worked the overnight shi at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. at le a narrow window of time late at night for Dupit to a end games.
Occasionally, he and his mother would drive to his father’s o ce and take the “L” to Comiskey Park — now Rate Field — to watch the Sox. Unlike the Cubs, the Sox had lights on the eld and o en played late at night.
Dawn Veal, Darrel Dupit’s older sister by four years, said sports were always her brother’s passion.
Veal, who has watched her brother entertain the crowd at Sox and Bulls games, said Dupit’s diehard Chicago sports fandom shines through in every facet of his life.
“He is a true Chicago sports fan,” Veal said. ***
He continued working part-time jobs — including positions as a stocker and customer service representative at e Container Store — to support himself while throwing shirts for the Sox.
“I will run through a brick wall for each and every one of them,” Dupit said. “I mean, I really do it for the fans.”
In the simple task of throwing T-shirts, Dupit said he found something more purposeful. e most meaningful part of his job, he said, is giving children “special moments” by making them feel like they’re a part of the team.
A er two years with the Sox, Dupit joined the “Incredibulls” — throwing T-shirts for the Chicago Bulls. He later became a production stage manager,
coordinating logistics for in-game production.
Dupit also became an in-game host for the G League’s Windy City Bulls shortly a er the organization was founded in -016
Bulls senior producer Todd Abbo said Dupit brings energy and enthusiasm to his role.
“He’s got great positivity and great energy,” Abbo said.
Abbo said Dupit’s aptitude for fun does not diminish his serious contribution to the team. Abbo described Dupit as “thorough,” asking thoughtful questions and presenting innovative ideas in team production meetings.
Dupit also serves as a mentor for new production team members. He o en arrives early to games to help new hires set up the concourse, banners and DJ equipment.
“He’s a jack of all trades. He’s got so many di erent skills, not just being a personality,” Abbo said. “He’s just a really good coworker, a really good person that I trust.”
A er Dupit joined the Chicago Bulls in -011, he pursued similar opportunities with other teams. He joined the Bears in -01: as a member of the Monster Squad, the team’s ambassadors in games and at fan events.
“ e guy loves life and has a true passion for all Chicago sports,” Bears’ Manager of Talent and Game Presentation Robert Hack said.
In -018, the Chicago Sky added Dupit to its pride crew. He soon created and captained its T-shirt team.
“What you see on the court is Darrel o the court,” Sky Director of Operations Samantha Salzeider said. “He brings great energy to the fans, but he also is a hype man for his colleagues.”
On March 11, -0-0, Dupit received a call from his boss at the Windy City Bulls: ere would be no game the next day.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dupit needed to pivot out of empty arenas.
at was my identity,” he said. “I worked at that point for ve teams.”
Over the next year, still impacted by COVID-19 safety measures, Dupit found a backup on YouTube. Dupit began reviewing local restaurants, food and other products on his YouTube channel.
“YouTube was my outlet to get through the pandemic,” Dupit said.
Meanwhile, Dupit pursued another goal during the pandemic — growing facial hair.
Dupit said he hoped to grow a full beard, but his “cheeks didn’t get the memo.” An unexpected player emerged: a monster mustache. He decided on a whim to add a curl on each side of his mustache, and his most distinctive feature was born.
Dupit continues to sport his thick black mustache, complete with thin upward curls on each end. “ at’s my signature, and I’m not ashamed of it at all,” Dupit said.
anks to his growing roster of professional teams and his new mustache, Dupit is o en recognized in public. In Evanston, he said NU students sometimes make a claw and shout “Go ’Cats” when he passes by.
With 16 years under his belt, Dupit said he hopes to one day be the oldest person throwing T-shirts.
Seeing the impact he makes on fans, especially kids, keeps Dupit motivated. Although he said it can be difcult to please every fan, he tries to make every fan feel special.
“It’s about upli ing (fans),” Dupit said. “You want to make that moment special because you never know what they’ve been going through.”
Sometimes, Dupit said, he has a bad day and knows he will have to work a game that night. When that happens, he said he tries to keep his energy high because he doesn’t want fans to feed o his negative energy.
When Dupit is running on empty and has to perform, the fans’ encouragement helps him nd his rhythm.
“I do love what I’m doing — interacting with the fans — and sometimes all I need is that one fan to give me that high ve,” Dupit said. “It’s like, ‘All right, let’s go get ‘em.’ It’ll turn me around, at least for that moment.”
Whether a ending a White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Windy City Bulls, Bears, Sky, Blackhawks or Northwestern game — Dupit aims to give fans an unforgettable arena visit.
Dupit described his impact on others as a ripple e ect. If he can give a young fan an unforge able moment, he said that child might pass their positivity forward to someone else.
“I don’t ever want to stop,” Dupit said. “I want it to last as long as I physically can.”
isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu
The Daily Northwestern
Winter 2025 | An independent voice since 1923 | Evanston, Illinois
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Wednesday, February 26, 2025
LACROSSE
Lacrosse No. 3 NU beats No. 6 Syracuse 12-8
By HENRY FRIEMAN daily se(i)r sta,,er @henryfrieman
Graduate student goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer — who spent the past three seasons with Syracuse’s women’s lacrosse program — is no stranger to winning in the JMA Wireless Dome , where the Orange call home.
No. - Northwestern, however, entered Tuesday’s clash with No. . Syracuse hoping to break a nearly 1--year losing streak in the Salt City.
Propelled by four rst-quarter goals, the Wildcats (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) never trailed in their rst road game of the season, solidifying a 12-8 victory as coach Kelly Amonte Hiller’s squad won its rst game in Orange (--2, 0-1 ACC) territory
since February 2012
We came out strong, that was great,” Amonte Hiller said postgame. “We were able to really move the ball around, put our shots away, get some draw controls. … Defense really stood tall in the beginning of the game.”
Junior a acker Madison Taylor scored a team-high ve goals, while senior midfielder Sam Smith snagged 10 draw controls. Eight players scored for the ’Cats Tuesday.
NU roared to a quick start as graduate student attacker Niki Miles found the back of the net just -7 seconds into the game.
Meanwhile, the ’Cats’ zone defense appeared impenetrable, forcing four turnovers in the rst frame as Syracuse failed to muster a shot on goal through 15 minutes.
Taylor, who leads the team in goals this season, spent most of her time in the a ack area with a Syracuse defender face-guarding her, meaning the ’Cats were forced to nd other means of o ensive production.
ey did, with junior a acker Lucy Munro finding freshman mid elder Hannah Rudolph on a free position opportunity before goals from both redshirt sophomore a acker Abby LoCascio and sophomore a acker Alexis Ventresca extended the lead to 4-0
A er Sweitzer saved a pointblank free position shot by Syracuse’s Emma Ward, who logged three goals and three assists Tuesday, Smith added a goal with 10 minutes remaining to make the score 5-0
Sweitzer saved 4. 7% of the
NU starts strong: wins 3-of-4 in Cary BASEBALL
By ANNA WATSON daily se(i)r sta,,er @adub_sports
Northwestern’s winning momentum did not falter a er capturing its rst season-opening series victory since 2008 last weekend.
In their four-game stretch in Cary, North Carolina, the Wildcats (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) recorded a win over Harvard and two victories over Fordham. is marks their best start since 200- when they started .-1
In the team’s weekend opening tilt with the Crimson, graduate student le -hander Crawford Wade bounced back from a tough rst appearance last weekend.
Wade struck out nine ba ers in seven scoreless innings of work to pick up the win. Paired with graduate student right-hander Sam Hliboki, who tossed the game’s nal two innings and struck three ba ers out, the ’Cats defense was stout. O ensively, NU was equally hot.
Junior in elder Trent Liolios opened the scoring with a third-inning RBI single that scored junior out elder Jack Lausch. Later in the inning, graduate student utility player Tyler Ganus singled to bring home Liolios and extend the lead to two.
NU piled it on in the h inning as sophomore out elder Jackson Freeman and senior catcher Benne Markinson both notched RBI singles to give the ’Cats a 4-0 lead. A er NU extended its lead by one in the eighth frame, Harvard responded with a run of its own, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the dominant slinging duo of Wade and Hliboki.
In the rst of NU’s matchups against Fordham Sunday, the ’Cats jumped out to a quick lead. A er Ganus doubled in the top of the rst inning, Markinson launched a two-run shot over the le eld fence to score them both.
Fordham scored one run to cut the de cit in the bo om of the frame, but that would be it. Sophomore right-hander Garre Shearer built on last weekend’s successful showing, throwing six scoreless innings as the ’Cats notched a 2-1 win.
In the teams’ second contest of the day, Fordham grabbed an early 2-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Markinson answered the call, blasting a 2-run home run to tie things up. e ’Cats continued to blow the game open in the subsequent inning when Ganus poked an RBI single up the middle and Markinson hit a three-run homer to put NU up four.
Fordham responded in the next inning with an RBI single, but three more runs from the ’Cats between the seventh and eighth innings put the game out of reach.
Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Ma hew Kouser picked up the win, throwing six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits. Graduate student le -hander Blake MacMillan pitched three scoreless innings in relief as NU moved to --0 on the weekend.
As the ’Cats turned towards their rst conference foe of the season in Indiana, the matchup proved much more competitive than the Hoosiers’ preseason accolades may have indicated.
e Hoosiers were ranked in Baseball America’s preseason top 25 poll and featured the unanimous Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, but that didn’t seem to intimidate NU.
Hliboki, who pitched in relief Saturday, earned the start. e right-hander started o strong, tossing three scoreless innings to start the game.
NU’s play was complimentary early on, as a Ganus sacri ce y scored senior out elder Preston Kno and gave NU a 1-0 advantage.
A er junior in elder Owen McElfatrick kicked o the second inning with a double, sophomore in elder Ryan Kucherak scored him on a groundout to further extend the lead.
e Hoosiers didn’t get on the board until the fourth inning when an RBI double cut the NU lead in half.
Following two scoreless innings for both squads, Indiana came alive when it ma ered most. Indiana out elder Korbyn Dickerson knocked an RBI single to le eld to tie the game at two in the bo om of the seventh inning. A frame later an RBI in eld single allowed the Hoosiers to take their rst lead.
e ’Cats’ backs were against the ropes in the top of the ninth inning, but a new addition stepped up.
Needing a run to stay alive with two outs and McElfatrick on second base, Lausch singled to le center, scoring McElfatrick and tying the game at three. Former Wildcat Ben Grable took over on the mound for Indiana and got out of the inning to send the Hoosiers back to the dugout.
e ’Cats were just unable to hold onto their lead in the bo om of the frame as sophomore right-hander Cole Masco allowed a single, a walk and an RBI single to hand Indiana a walk-o 4-- victory.
Following another winning weekend, NU will have its work cut out for it again as it faces No. 17 Duke in a weekend series starting Friday afternoon.
annawatson2027@u.northwestern.edu
shots she faced, making seven saves while allowing eight goals. She also logged three ground ball pickups. “ is place is really special to me,” Sweitzer said postgame. “ e dome holds a lot of memories. … Just coming in here and playing in this sick facility was just like such a cool opportunity to have again and, obviously, to come out with a win feels good.”
It took Syracuse 22 minutes to score its rst goal, a testament to the work of NU’s defensive stalwarts.
Graduate student defender Jane Hansen caused three turnovers and snagged four ground balls.
But the Orange corralled four consecutive draw controls in the second quarter, scoring three before hal ime.
The ’Cats offense remained stagnant as the Orange cut the
de cit to just one following a free position goal midway through the third quarter. It was time for Taylor to get going.
The junior attacker earned four free positions and converted three as her third-quarter hat trick, combined with a spin-cycle goal by graduate student a acker Riley Campbell, propelled NU to a 9-5 lead heading into the nal frame.
“For some top players, that would get them really rattled,” Amonte Hiller said of the faceguard defense placed on Taylor. “I think she just stayed calm. She just let things come to her and didn’t really force too much. And when she had her opportunity, she took it.”
ough Syracuse drew closer, trailing just 10-8 with two minutes le and controlling possession,
WOMEN’S TENNIS
the ’Cats stood rm, preventing the Orange from taking a shot. Hansen made a key takeaway on the defensive end before nding Taylor in transition. She promptly buried the empty-net shot. en, a er NU won the draw control, Taylor scored another empty-ne er, delivering the proverbial dagger with her h goal of the game.
“We just played with a lot of toughness out there,” Taylor said. “I think that was a goal for us, just to try and stay consistent, tough, and play with a lot of heart throughout the whole game … I’m really happy that we did that.”
NU has a week o before taking on Marque e in Milwaukee on March 7 h. ieman@u.northwestern.edu
NU de es de cit, 3-0 comeback
By CHARLIE SPUNGIN daily se(i)r sta,,er @charliespungin
As graduate student Britany Lau trailed .--, 4-1 in her match at the No. - singles slot Sunday against No. -0 Kansas, she looked over toward the No. 1 and No. 2 courts. Both of her teammates, freshmen Erica Jessel and Mika Dagan Fruchtman, were just one game away from losing their matches.
After losing the doubles point and with three players down double breaks in their second set, a 4-0 loss for Northwestern seemed plausible. Minutes later, Jessel and Dagan Fruchtman dropped their matches, giving the Jayhawks (.-4, 0-0 Big 12) a --0 lead.
Facing a double-break de cit, Lau got a break back. Still, as her opponent a empted to serve out the match at .--, 5-4, Lau broke at love with a lob, then forced a tiebreak that she won 7-5 Lau said she relied on her superior tness en route to a .-0 third set victory, giving the Wildcats (7-5, 0-0 Big Ten) their rst point of the day.
“When Brit won her second-set tiebreaker, I think the hope started to set in,” coach Claire Pollard told e Daily. “I think that was probably the moment where I thought, ‘Okay, we keep staying with it, we might be okay.’”
In its nal nonconference match, Pollard’s squad captured its three remaining singles matches at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. . singles spots to rumble back for a 4-- win against the Jayhawks on the road. e match marked NU’s rst comeback from down --0 since Feb. 17, 2018 against Washington.
At the No. 1 doubles spot, Lau and Dagan Fruchtman lost .-- a er losing the deuce point at 5--. Despite having a match point in the set’s tiebreak, NU’s No. 2 doubles pairing of Jessel and senior Sydney Pra fell 7-.(.).
At No. - doubles, senior Kiley Rabjohns and sophomore Neena Feldman were down 1-0 in a tiebreak upon the doubles point’s conclusion.
In singles, the ’Cats dropped ve rst sets. Only Pra , playing at No. 4, won her rst set with a 7-.(2) victory. In order for NU to win the match, it needed Pra to hold on and have three of its ve other players come back from a set down.
“You can’t get ahead of yourself, either positively or negatively,” Pollard said. “You can be up --0 and lose matches, so staying in the moment and controlling what you can control is something I try and ask the girls to do.”
No. 1 Jessel and No. 2 Dagan
Fruchtman’s matches were rst to nish with .-2, .-1 and .--, .-1 losses, respectively.
Lau earned NU’s rst point with her --., 7-.(5), .-0 triumph.
“Ge ing any point on the board, especially when you’re down --0 — kind of with your back against the wall — is super important,” Lau said. “And especially for Kiley, who was playing right next to me, I saw how hard she was ghting.”
When Lau earned the ’Cats’ rst point, Rabjohns, playing on the No. 5 court, was deadlocked at 5-5 in the third set. Pra , who had dropped her second set, was up 2-1 in the third set, and No. . Feldman was set to serve out the second set at 5-2
NU was just one point away from losing the match when Rabjohns and Kansas’ Jasmine Adams kno ed at deuce down 5-. in her third set. A er an extended rally, Rabjohns’ opponent hit a forehand long, se ing up a tiebreak. Rabjohns set up match point at .-5 in the tiebreak and ripped a backhand down the line that her opponent returned wide.
Pollard said Rabjohns’ 0-., .--, 7-.(5) win was de ned by grit.
“You got to ght in college tennis,” Pollard said. “If you don’t know how to ght, you’re gonna have a really hard time. Everyone’s playing with so much pride for their program and pride for their team. I think Kiley epitomizes that about herself as a player. (I’m) just really proud of how much she had to
ght and dig and compete, especially a er a pre y rough rst set.”
As Rabjohns won, Pra was up 7-.(2), 4-., 5-2. She served out the match at 5--, sealing it with an insideout forehand winner from the baseline. e match was le to Feldman one court to Pra ’s le Early in the third set, Feldman fell down a break at --1, but she remained con dent.
“ e only thing I was thinking was that it’s ne,” Feldman said. “I’ve done this before and just (had to) keep my composure.”
Feldman held serve twice and broke to take a 4-- lead. With her opponent Anna Putilina serving down --4, -0-40, the Jayhawk double faulted, handing Feldman the opportunity to serve out the match.
Feldman did precisely that. On match point at 5-7, .--, 5--, 40-15, Putilina’s shot hit the net cord. Feldman was able to track down the ball and return it, rushing the net. Putilina’s backhand went long. All nine of Feldman’s teammates rushed the court to mob her a er the sophomore won ve straight games to complete the team’s comeback.
e coaches have talked about, ‘Someday, you’re gonna be at threeall, and you’re gonna clinch,’” Feldman said. “Having to experience that in real life is a whole di erent thing, and it’s pre y surreal.”
charliespungin2027@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Dov Weinstein Elul
Sophomore Neena Feldman celebrates a er winning a point earlier this season. Feldman’s 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 singles win clinched Northwestern’s first comeback from down 3-0
