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Thursday, October 20, 2011
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Wind causes city power outages By Chris Meyer
the daily northwestern
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Olympian, civil rights activist talks about leading movements.
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US Bank willl not follow national trend of raising debit card fees.
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Severe weather conditions swept through Evanston on Wednesday, causing power outages and prompting University officials to cancel outdoor athletic events and alter shuttle schedules. “Members of the Northwestern University community are advised to use caution in areas near Lake Michigan due to high winds occurring this afternoon and tonight,” the University said in an email statement Wednesday afternoon. “High waves are expected on the lake as a result of the strong winds. Members of the Northwestern community are encouraged to stay away from the lakefront
area.” The warning came a few hours before the National Weather Service issued high wind and lakeshore flood warnings for the Evanston area, saying winds up to 60 mph were likely. The conditions were reportedly the result of a “powerful low pressure system,” which produced winds exceeding 50 mph over Lake Michigan, according to the Chicago Weather Center. Both students and Evanston residents experienced brief power outages after the wind downed a Commonwealth Edison utility pole on the corner of Orrington Avenue and Clinton Street, according to statements by both
Northwestern Facilities Management and the City of Evanston. “This has nothing to do with the school’s electrical system. It has to do with outside utilities,” said Gary Wojtowicz, director of operations for Facilities Management in Evanston. Commonwealth Edison reported that the storm left more than 700 Evanston residents without electricity. Workers resolved the outages, which began just before 3 p.m., by approximately 8 p.m. Some students were asked to evacuate affected buildings until the issue was resolved. “At first, the staff at Sargent just told
us to stay there,” said McCormick freshman Bruno Peynetti, who was eating lunch when the power went out. “They told us it had never happened before and they didn’t know what to do. We eventually had to evacuate the building.” Other students noted similarities between Wednesday’s incidents and more protracted North Campus blackouts over the summer. “There were at least three separate instances where the power would go out for one, two, three days at a time,” said McCormick sophomore Andrew Boston, who spent part of the summer working in a lab on campus. “There would be signs posted on the door of frater-
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chris.meyer@u.northwestern.edu
Matt Zeitlin Occupy highlights systemic flaws
nities saying that no one could enter until such-and-such date.” Jason Vanderlinden, a Weinberg sophomore and former Daily staffer, spent the summer doing research on campus and experienced a power outage that lasted two days. “I think a lot of it had to do with the heavy winds we were experiencing,” he said. “We had a tornado warning one night, during which the power was out.” University officials also canceled Wednesday’s men’s soccer game against Loyola Chicago, citing Lakeside Field’s proximity to Lake Michigan as the determining factor. Although service times were altered in response to the weather, Northwestern Shuttle Services could not be reached for comment.
Rafi Letzter/The Daily Northwestern
Stormy waters: Winds gusting at more than 50 mph swept through Evanston on Wednesday night. More than 700 city residents experienced outages throughout the day, according to Commonwealth Edison.
Maeve Wall Midterm pro offers tips for survival
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NU can’t conquer topranked Illinois in heated matchup at Welsh-Ryan.
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Potential grant could fund bike lane By Marshall Cohen and Patrick Svitek the daily northwestern
Local cyclists welcomed the possibility Wednesday of a protected bike lane in Evanston, despite the highly competitive federal grant required to fund it. If Evanston were to receive the nearly $12 million it could land
from a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III grant, Church Street would be revamped with upgraded sidewalks, new pedestrian features and a protected bike lane similar to the one recently built on Kinzie Street in Chicago. But the popular grant is far from guaranteed, as Director of Public Works Suzette Robinson noted
Patrick Svitek
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Classifieds Crossword Sudoku
the protected lane as an exciting prospect in the wake of Monday’s council discussion. “Cars and bikes would finally be safely separated,” said Heidrun Hoppe, an Evanston resident and Evanston Bike Club member. She pointed to the recently finished Kinzie project as a prime example of what Evanston could offer if it secured the federal grant.
Local anti-immigration graffiti resurfaces
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at Monday night’s Evanston City Council meeting. “It’s a very competitive process,” she said. “There were only two projects that received the grant in the state from TIGER II. We’re hopeful, but we still have to plan what happens if we don’t get it because the odds are not necessarily in our favor.” Regardless, city bikers hailed
The seventh known instance of anti-immigration graffiti in two months surfaced Wednesday in a familiar location — the Metra underpass at Ridge Avenue and Lincoln Street. The new message reads, “You can’t have a 1st world Nation with a 3rd world Population.” Evanston Police Cmdr. Tom Guenther said a vandalism report had not been filed as of early Wednesday afternoon. The department’s daily crime bulletin for Wednesday did not include any graffiti-related incidents. Graffiti implying a similar senKaitlin Svabek/Daily senior staffer timent was spray painted at the Graffi ti: The anti-immigration graffiti at Ridge Avenue Metra same spot in early October. Output On: October 13, 2011 4:40 PM High-Resolution PDF - PRINT READY was removed shortly after its discovery Wednesday. The anti-immigration graffiti
is currently under investigation by the department, which recruited a crime analyst last month to examine the incidents more closely. At Monday’s Evanston City Council meeting, Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) said the “time has come where we take (graffiti) more seriously” and suggested the city should pilot a reward program for citizens who report offenders. Steve Griffin, community and economic director, told Rainey he would discuss her proposal with EPD Chief Richard Eddington.
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Kimeberly Railey contributed reporting patricksvitek2014@u. northwestern.edu
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Hoppe recalled a “very comfortable” experience while riding that protected lane over the weekend. “It was really wonderful,” she said. “It felt so amazingly different to not worry about the threat of doors opening into you and throwing you into traffic.” Neal Ney, a board member of See BIKELANE, page 6
Obama picks NU prof for education board
President Barack Obama announced his appointment of Northwestern professor Larry V. Hedges to the National Board of Education Sciences Wednesday. Hedges will be working with Southern Methodist University professor Dr. David J. Chard and Hirokazu Yoshikawa, an academic dean from Harvard, whose appointments were also announced in a statement from the Office of the Press Secretary. Hedges is NU’s Board of Trustees Professor of Statistics, and has worked as a Faculty Fellow of its Institute for Policy Research since 2005. He is also the president of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. — Safiya Merchant
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
Around Town First Bank & Trust promises no card fees
As other financial institutions draw criticism for testing out new debit card fees, Evanston-based First Bank & Trust announced it will buck the national trend Wednesday. In a news release, CEO Robert Yonahan announced his bank is “not hopping on the bandwagon” and will continue to offer a nofee monthly debit card as well as reimbursement for eight surcharges for out-of-network ATM activities per statement period. “There is no value added to the customer experience in relationship to service fees,” Yonahan said in the news release. “The fees merely serve a one-sided goal for the banks to recoup profits limited by the Durbin Act.” In September, Bank of America announced it would start charging checking account holders a $5 monthly fee to use their debit cards. Wells Fargo began instituting a similar $3 fee Friday in select markets, including Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada and Oregon. — Patrick Svitek
POLICEBLOTTER Former Sodexo employee banned from NU campus
to be picked up or the check will be mailed to him.
University Police officers were dispatched to Sargent Hall, 2245 Sheridan Road, on Tuesday in response to a report of assault, Deputy Chief Dan McAleer said. Officers spoke to a Sodexo manager, who stated a former employee entered his basement office at approximately 9:20 a.m. to pick up a check. When the manager said the check wasn’t ready yet because it hadn’t been shipped out from Sodexo’s corporate headquarters, the ex-employee raised his voice. The ex-employee allegedly stated, “I’ll be back tomorrow, and if my check isn’t here, I’ll show you,” according to the manager. An assistant working in the office heard the man’s yelling and was concerned about her own safety, McAleer said. The manager said the ex-employee never made any physical threats against him, but his bodily gestures and loud voice made them feel there was a threat. Officers told the ex-employee he wasn’t allowed on campus for any reason but will either be contacted when his check is ready
Suspicious person caused disturbance at Alice Millar Chapel
Officers received a call from a staff member Tuesday at Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road, in regards to a suspicious person, McAleer said. The staff member said she discovered a 59-year-old man inside the chaplain’s office when the chaplain wasn’t there. When she told him the chaplain wouldn’t return until 2:30 p.m. and he wasn’t allowed to wait inside the office, the man allegedly started yelling about God and swinging his crutch around, she said. The staff member told officers she was uncomfortable with his actions and told him not to return under any circumstances. Officers met with the man and advised him chaplain services were normally meant for students, faculty and staff, and that he was not allowed to return to the University.
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT In the Oct. 19 edition, an article about Northwestern alumni designing a floor of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital misidentified the address of the building. The correct address is 225 E. Chicago Ave. The hospital is located in the Streeterville area of Chicago. THE DAILY regrets the error.
— Susan Du
The Daily Northwestern www.dailynorthwestern.com Editor in Chief Katherine Driessen eic@dailynorthwestern.com General Manager Stacia Campbell stacia@dailynorthwestern.com Newsroom | 847.491.3222 Campus desk campus@dailynorthwestern.com City desk city@dailynorthwestern.com Sports desk sports@dailynorthwestern.com Ad Office | 847.491.7206 spc-compshop@northwestern.edu Fax | 847.491.9905 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, except vacation periods and two weeks preceding them and once during August, by Students Publishing Co., Inc. of Northwestern University, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208; 847-491-7206. First copy of THE DAILY is free, additional copies are 50 cents. All material published herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright 2011 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN and protected under the “work made for hire” and “periodical publication” clauses of copyright law. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE DAILY N ORTHWESTERN , 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208. Subscriptions are $175 for the academic year. THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect ad insertion. All display ad corrections must be received by 3 p.m. one day prior to when the ad is run.
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Daily Northwestern
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On Campus Saberi discusses captivity, voice at Chicago campus By Andrea Salus
the daily northwestern
Medill alumna Roxana Saberi spoke about her captivity as an Iranian “prisoner of conscience” at Thorne Auditorium on Northwestern’s Chicago campus Wednesday evening. About 200 teachers, lawyers, students and community members attended the talk. Saberi discussed the experiences that inspired her book, “Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran,” and how these influenced her idea of identity. Saberi was living in Iran, working as a freelance journalist and writing a book on Iranian culture when Iranian police arrested her in January 2009. Sent to Iran’s Evin Prison, Saberi endured solitary confinement and was pressured into falsely confessing that the book she was working on at the time was really a cover for espionage. The event was sponsored by Chicago’s branch of Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that began in 1976 with the goal of combating racism, anti-Semitism and prejudice, and nurturing
democracy through worldwide education programs, according to its website. Saberi has spoken at three other Facing History events around the country. Chicago director Bonnie Oberman said she jumped at the opportunity of having her speak here in Chicago, especially because Arab Spring “is in full bloom.” “We thought her story was very poignant and related to what we do — looking at identity — which is something she was forced to do while in prison,” Oberman said. Besides telling the story of her captivity, Saberi talked about the journey to find her identity. While she explored her Japanese heritage as a child, she grew more curious about her Iranian ancestry as she grew older. This prompted her move to Iran after graduate school, where she worked as foreign correspondent. While she did see differences in culture and some of these clashed with her American ideals, Saberi said there were also many similarities. She showed photos from her travels through Iran which showed images that would be recognizable to all Americans: parks, parties and upper- and
lower-class neighborhoods. “Just like I was searching for my identity, the Iranians were searching for theirs,” she said. Iranian-American immigration lawyer Alen Takhsh attended the event and said the message of similarity is an important one. “It is important for me to understand how I’d be looked at and treated in Iran and compare that to how Iranian-Americans are looked at and treated here,” he said. Takhsh said he believes the two countries are like mirrors of each other. Saberi, he added, is a testament to this fact. Saberi stressed the importance of the individual for both Iranians and Americans. “Each one of you has a voice, and your voice can make a difference,” she said. “Even though you are only one voice, you can make a difference in other people’s lives.” She then showed slides of other “prisoners of conscience,” imprisoned in Evin for holding political or social beliefs opposed by the Iranian government and talked about how their dedication to their cause
and attitude that they “would rather tell the truth and stay in prison rather than be free and tell lies” inspired her to recant her own confession. “We all have our own prisons, challenges we must face,” she said. “But true freedom is freedom of one’s conscience.” Saberi commended the support and call for her release from groups around the world. Despite her release, she said international attention must remain on prisoners who have yet to be freed. Although Iran is the country with the third largest number of political prisoners, “Iranian officials do care what people say about its human rights records,” she said. “But why should we care?” Saberi asked in conclusion. “Suffering in one part of the world can spread to others. Free one person and they can help 10 more.” The talk and presentation were followed by a short question and answer session facilitated by journalist Victoria Lautmann. andreasalus2013@u.northwestern.edu
Olympian connects civil rights, sports ‘Interrupters’ plays to full audience
Civil rights activist talks about his gesture of protest at 1968 Olympics
By Leah Varjacques
By Stephanie Haines
the daily northwestern
the daily northwestern
The runner famous for raising his fist as a sign of protest at the 1968 Olympic Games visited campus Wednesday. John Carlos, a bronze medalist and civil rights activist, spoke about his recently published autobiography, “The John Carlos Story,” in Harris Hall. Students and Evanston community members attended the presentation, which was sponsored by Northwestern Graduate School, the Department of African American Studies, In that Alice Kaplan Institute of Humanities and Haymoment market Books. of raising F i f t h - ye ar Ph . D. candidate for African my fist, I American Studies Keecould have anga Taylor coordinated Carlos’ visit. been shot. Taylor, who had previously worked with coIt’s hard to author Dave Zirin, said believe she thought the visit was a good opportunity for John Carlos, people to hear Carlos’ story. 1968 Olympic “Students everywhere medalist are interested in Civil Rights and sports history,” Taylor said. “But this is a great way to recognize John Carlos’ bravery.” After winning the 200 m race in the 1968 Olympics, Carlos put his fist up during the National Anthem in protest of the racial injustice, causing much political controversy. This image became a symbol of the fight for human rights. American gold medalist Tommie Smith put up his fist with Carlos, and Australian silver medalist Peter Norman wore a badge saying “Olympic Project for Human Rights,” in recognition of the movement calling for worldwide justice by way of the 1968 Olympics. This movement specifically asked African-American athletes to boycott the Olympics and called for more hiring of African-American coaches, the removal of South Africa’s invitation to the Olympics and the firing of the Olympics’ president, Avery Brundage. In his presentation, Carlos spoke about his childhood experiences, his ideals and the Olympics. He said the U.S. was very different politically and socially in 1968. “In that moment of raising my fist, I could have been shot,” Carlos said. “It’s hard to believe. I was booed, and things were thrown at me.” Carlos stressed that everyone can get involved and make change like he did. “I am no different than anyone in the
Rafi Letzter/The Daily Northwestern
More than a game: Juan Carlos, a bronze medalist at the 1968 Olympic Games and social justice activist, talked about his famous gesture of protest.
audience, “Carlos said. “God just blessed me.” Some students who attended said they learned not only about Carlos but also his political influence. Communication sophomore Jovie Maize admitted she came because her roommate has a picture of Carlos holding his fist up. “I like the picture,” Maize said. “But now I know so much more about it.” Martha Biondi, African American Studies professor, said it is important for students of today’s generation to learn about the people who took risks for racial justice like Carlos did. She said Carlos used the Olympics as an international arena to draw attention to racial injustice worldwide. Biondi also said Carlos’ story should
especially resonate with NU students who take part in social movements like the Living Wage Campaign, in which students work to make sure NU workers earn fair wages to live and take care of their families. “These social movements at NU reflect Carlos’ legacy to work toward justice,“ Biondi said. “He is a model for us to emulate.” Since the 1968 Olympics, Carlos has worked for the NFL and helped coordinate the 1984 Olympics. Recently, Carlos spoke before the general assembly for Occupy Wall Street. Carlos will speak Saturday at the Occupy Chicago march on Jackson and LaSalle streets at 3 p.m. stephaniehaines2015@u.northwestern.edu
The new Steve James documentary, “The Interrupters” was sold out in many Chicago cinemas when it opened late this summer. Last night’s free screening of the film at Block Cinema was no exception. The event, co-presented by Northwestern’s Center for the Writing Arts, Center for Civic Engagement and Medill, was highly publicized throughout campus and over the Internet, drawing in a full house. “It’s the fullest I’ve ever seen it, where people had to give up the seats they were saving” said Carleen Corys, a retired special education teacher from West Rogers Park who has been coming to events at the Block Cinema for the past five years. Undergraduate and graduate students, professors, community members and residents of Evanston and the surrounding area gathered for the showing and a “talkback” with Eddie Bocanegra, one of the film’s protagonists, and Alex Kotlowitz, a senior lecturer at Medill, award-winning author and journalist and the film’s producer. The two-hour long documentary follows three “interrupters,” or outreach workers, from the grassroots organization CeaseFire during one year. These volunteers work to prevent violence in troubled Chicago neighborhoods by forging relationships with the community and campaigning against shootings. The film depicts the dedicated efforts and struggles of volunteers who have learned from their own criminal pasts to make a difference in others’ lives and strive for the betterment of community. “We read about it, but the story of Chicago violence isn’t really seen, and it’s an important one,” said Elizabeth Miller, a Communication senior who said she was most struck by the vivid portrayal of the humanity of the victims, the perpetrators of violence and their families. “The film added a new perspective, a new lens to a side of the city I’ve never seen firsthand, and it was uplifting to see the efforts of CeaseFire,” Miller said. Colleges, universities and high schools throughout the country have requested screenings of the film, which has already been shown in most of the troubled communities where the film takes place, Kotlowitz said. “It’s important to get it seen by a broad audience, by people who wouldn’t have a reason to spend time in these communities, and tell these stories to get people to think of themselves in the world differently, to challenge their assumptions and see things through a different prism,” Kotlowitz said. Several audience members were inspired by CeaseFire’s efforts and asked how to help. Bocanegra called the documentary a gift for CeaseFire, which he said is threatened by big losses in funding and needs donations. “I plead you to really take this with you and that this will inspire you to contribute, ” he said. leahvarjacques2014@u.northwestern.edu
forum
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thursday, october 20, 2011
THE DRAWING BOARD
by Tanner Maxwell
Join the online conversation at
www.dailynorthwestern.com MATT ZEITLIN Daily columnist
Occupy highlights flaws in meritocracy
Would you join the Occupy Chicago protesters? but they need to 23% “Maybe, organize themselves better”
31%
“Yeah- I’m all for rallying for a great cause.”
46%
“No. I disagree with their complaints.”
132 submitted responses to the online poll
The Daily Northwestern Volume 131, Issue 155 Editor in Chief Katherine Driessen
Forum Editor Sammy Caiola
Managing Editors Kris Anne Bonifacio and Annie Chang
Deputy Forum Editor Derrick Clifton
Assistant Forum Editors Dylan Browdie and Ivan Yeh LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to forum@dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside THE DAILY office. Letters have the following requirements: • Should be typed • Should be double-spaced • Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number. • Should be fewer than 300 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar. 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.
MAEVE WALL Daily columnist
Pro tips on how to survive midterms and have fun, too
that often accompany late-night, delirious stints in the library. I would never go so far as to be thankful for midterms (my eyes are red from my four-hour sleep average as I write this column), but as we end Week 5, perhaps there is something to be said for the bonding that they can induce. Below are some other study-related things to appreciate during this stressful time in the quarter.
1. Deering Library
J.K. Rowling famously created her description of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after taking a tour of Northwestern’s Deering Library with her high-school age niece. OK, that’s completely false, but the place does have a beautiful, mysterious and peaceful air and is a perfect spot for some silent study time.
Finals week Fall Quarter last year, I was an absolute wreck. I had a ginormous, cumulative exam in my American Literature class for which I had done little of the reading. The night before, I stayed up until an ungodly hour reviewing a study guide that was so long that the printed pages 2. The Writing Place actually had a significant weight to them. This appointment-only peer editing Panic was preventing me from studyresource is located on the second floor ing properly, and every five minutes or so of the Main Library. The I would either post a staff of students has been new whiny Facebook trained in a special class status or text my I would never go so through the English friends from the class far as to be thankful department and the facilincreasingly insane ity is open seven days statements like “My for midterms ... but a week. This is a great hand won’t move” or as we end Week resource for your mid“Thumb.is.swelling.” term papers! Recognizing my 5, perhaps there is desperation — and perhaps scared for my something to be said 3. Office hours The power of going to safety — they offered for the bonding that office hours should never to join me in my be underestimated. It has efforts. they can induce. moved mountains and The intended changed grades. cram session became instead a Panic Party marked by sporadic 4. Sleep fits of giggles that resulted in one spilled As much as I am all about cramming for coffee, several snorts and a shared instance tests (especially with friends), sleep truly of collapsing to the ground as we shook is the best thing to get the night before a violently with the most potent sort of midterm. Aim for at least six hours — anysilent laughter. thing less will hurt your performance. A year earlier, the day I left for school, my brother attempted to bestow upon me 5. Tests that turn out all right some college wisdom: “Every time someThe exam I mentioned earlier from my one asks you to go out when you should be freshman year that had my blood pressure studying,” he said, “do it — because you’ll up to 140? It turned out to be a piece of remember the times you go out and you’ll cake — literally. Our professor brought in never remember the studying once you’ve cupcakes with various designs on them, graduated.” and our task for the hour was to write an For the majority of my freshman year, essay regarding the symbol on the cupI lived by this rule (with varied results). cake and how it related to our reading. It Then, after I relayed it to a senior friend, was challenging but fun, and I ended up he asserted that he adamantly disagreed doing well. While orgo students probably with my brother. Some of his favorite shouldn’t expect to be fed sushi during memories had been the nights he had their tests, it’s good to remember that spent “studying” with friends — looking exams are just a chance to show what you at videos on YouTube, bursting out into know and may very plausibly turn out OK. the chorus of “Backstreet’s Back” or having spontaneously deep conversations about the meaning of our existence. Maeve Wall is a Weinberg junior. She can be Though perhaps not a life-altering reached at maevewall2013@u.northwestern. revelation, his statement made me more edu conscious of the paradoxically fun times
One of the most common and poignant grievances associated with Occupy Wall Street is the lament of recent college graduates, who are either unemployed or underemployed, saddled with massive amounts of college debt. They see a future of financial stability and some measure of personal fulfillment as something that’s an artifact from a bygone era. This is the product of a meritocratic system that has hit a major snag. Since 1979, the “college wage premium,” the higher pay for college graduates over high school graduates, high school dropouts and community college graduates, has been growing. Since that same time, tuitions and fees have increased by more than 400 percent compared to inflation of 106 percent and the median family wage going up 147 percent. This has led to a huge increase in college loan debt. An economy that cannot produce enough jobs to get unemployment below 9 percent leaves college grads struggling to find jobs, which can lead to a lifetime of lower wages. And so, we have those very same college students and recent college grads occupying Zuccotti Park and getting even Mitt Romney to profess concern about inequality. On the other hand, the supposed target of the occupation — the financial Today, industry, which has finance mostly moved to midtown anyway rewards — seems totally deaf to the fact intelligence, that large swathes not being of the country blame them for the the right economic melttype of down. The titans of the financial WASP, as it industry, more or less correctly, view may have themselves as the decades ago. products of a meritocratic system that rightly rewards their intelligence, education, discipline and hard work. Even if some banks did some bad things, the people in them should not be punished for doing what everyone else tried to do — go the best schools and excel at every point. They don’t see a lack of social justice, but a screwup that unleashed waves of bitterness and resentment. In 2009, New York magazine published a piece cataloging the viewpoint of the financial elite, then the subject of massive public outcry due to the continued high pay packages for executives at the very same companies that required billions in government aid to stay afloat. One email statement from a Citigroup executive captured the flipside of the meritocratic lament that would erupt two years later: “No offense to Middle America, but if someone went to Columbia or Wharton, (even if) their company is a fumbling, mismanaged bank, why should they all of a sudden be paid the same as the guy down the block who delivers restaurant supplies for Sysco out of a huge, shiny truck?” While this comes off as just snobby entitlement, in our brave new meritocratic world, such attitudes make a certain type of sense. At their best, schools like “Columbia or Wharton” (or Northwestern!) are open to anyone who has natural talent and is willing to work hard. If you get good grades, the student debt you piled up to attend Wharton will soon evaporate after a few years of working in finance. And those years will be grueling, with their notorious 100 hour, six-and-seven-day work weeks. The entire system rewards those with just the qualities that ought to be prized: discipline, ambition and a willingness to make sacrifices in the present for rewards in the future. Today, finance rewards intelligence, not being the right type of WASP, as it may have decades ago. Matt Zeitlin is a Weinberg senior. He can be reached at Matthewzeitlin2012@u.northwestern.edu
The Daily Northwestern
Thursday, October 20, 2011
News 5
Undergraduate research funding on the rise By Safiya Merchant
the daily northwestern
This summer, Medill junior Mitchell Steinfeld fulfilled his longtime goal of going to Africa when he investigated the effects of an oil discovery on local fishing populations in Ghana. The trip was the result of a $4,000 Northwestern undergraduate research grant, one of hundreds of similar grants distributed each year. According to Peter Civetta, coordinator of undergraduate research programs, the amount of distributed funds for undergraduate research has increased over the last two academic years, offering more students like Steinfeld the opportunity to conduct research. The office of the Provost gave about $386,000 to undergraduates in fiscal year 2010, and offered about $453,000 in fiscal year 2011. For Civetta, this rise in funding stems from increasing student interest as well as University publicity of research opportunities.
“It’s a way for you to take what you’ve learned in a class and take it in a direction that’s specifically interesting to you,” he said. “You get to study what you care about, not what somebody else thinks is important.” According to the website for undergraduate research, the Provost’s office provides funding for Undergraduate Research, Language, Conference Travel, Engagement and Circumnavigators TravelStudy grants. Besides the Provost’s office, whose grants are available for all undergraduates, many NU schools offer grants for their respective students. Stephen Carr, the associate dean for undergraduate engineering, said the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences receives funding for undergraduate research through nationwide organizations like the National Science Foundation, federal agencies and private companies. “We want our students to have an inclination to be at some frontier, either in discovery or design,” Carr said. “They don’t need their hands held; they’re looking for (research opportunities).”
McCormick students who do independent studies perform research for class credit and receive $3,000 to $4,000 to fund direct costs of their work. Those who research during the summer receive a separate stipend of about $5,000 to $6,000. Although many students in science and engineering make research a part of their undergraduate experience, Civetta said one prevalent misconception about research is it only belongs to this academic realm. “People don’t necessarily understand what undergraduate research means,” he said. “That term has been co-opted by the sciences.” Weinberg sophomore Sam Ide majors in political science and international studies and is one of many NU students who practice research in a non-science discipline. Ide spent this summer studying the relationship between China and Kyrgyzstan. Ide said learning about a new culture and way of living was equally important to the knowledge he
gained from his research. “Being in a culture like that was just as rewarding to me as finding out about a very specific research topic,” Ide said. “I think if we all slow down a little bit … that could be something people in the U.S. could learn from Kyrgyzstan.” Civetta said the website for undergraduate research also includes a growing database of research opportunities, informational videos and research-related news and events. He said he hopes to expand the website’s resources in the future. Steinfeld emphasized the importance of research in his overall academic career, a point which Civetta said inspires students to pursue their own research projects. “I wanted to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world,” Steinfeld said. “I think this in itself is more important than anything else I’ve done here.” safiyamerchant2014@u.northwestern.edu
CTA awaits union agreement to maintain 2012 fares, service By Kimberly Railey
the daily northwestern
Chicago Transit Authority riders won’t experience any fare increases or service cuts in 2012 — as long as the CTA secures agreement from its unions to concede to millions of dollars in work rule changes. Of the agency’s $277 million deficit, $117 million would be trimmed through management initiatives, according to a news release issued Wednesday. Additional cuts, including labor reforms and restraint in wage growth, could shave off up to $160 million. Modifications to health care benefits are also on the table. “Since May, the CTA has launched a series of service improvements while cutting hundreds of positions and implementing management efficiencies that are saving tens of millions of dollars,” CTA president Forrest Claypool said in the news release. “The result is a lean management structure and the smallest number of employees in the CTA’s history.”
Next year’s proposed operating budget is $66.2 million, a 5.1 percent reduction from the 2011 budget, according to the news release. If the CTA cannot achieve its recommendations through management-union negotiations by July 1, Claypool cautioned hike fares would be a possibility. Weinberg junior Katie Bailey, who takes the El twice a week for her internship, said she might weigh other transportation options — such as Northwestern’s Intercampus Shuttle — if CTA fares increase. “I think the fares are manageable (now),” Bailey said. “At the same time, I go downtown for my internship, which is unpaid, so if they were to go up, that would make me seek alternative routes depending on the degree to which they went up.” Other students said changes to fare rates would not modify their riding behavior. “As a student without any other modes of transportation, it’s just too convenient not to use,” said Joe Deng, a Communication sophomore who takes the El about once every other
week. Deng said despite delays in service sometimes, the current fare is “reasonable.” “It’s cheaper than owning a car,” he said. In addition, the agency would have to lay off up to 1,000 employees and make cuts to its bus and rail services if it cannot garner unions’ support, Claypool said in the news release. Collective bargaining agreements for the CTA’s union expire Dec. 31, but the negotiation process is underway. Meanwhile, Amalgamated Transit Union leaders have already declared they would not sacrifice working conditions to close the CTA’s deficit. The proposed budget cuts are the CTA’s deepest in recent years, excluding 2010, when it laid off more than 1,000 employees to resolve a $300 million deficit. The agency has been wrestling with its financial issues for nearly 30 years, according to the news release. kimberlyrailey2014@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo
On the rails: CTA fares will stay the same if unions agree to the new budget cuts.
The Daily Northwestern Fall 2011 | An independent voice since 1923 | Evanston, Ill. EDITOR IN CHIEF | Katherine Driessen MANAGING EDITOR | Annie Chang ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR | Kris Anne Bonifacio ___________________
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
Green initiatives, clubs aim for collaboration By Chelsea Corbin
the daily northwestern
Increased awareness, support and collaboration among environmental student groups were the focus of the Northwestern Energy and Sustainability Roundtable discussion Wednesday at Chambers Hall. Nearly 20 students, staff and alumni met to discuss methods to progress energy and sustainability action on campus. “A lot of the schools and groups do amazing things regarding energy and sustainability, but we just don’t know what the others are doing,” said Anuj Saigal, second-year Kellogg student. Group leaders from eight graduate and undergraduate student groups agreed that a lack of communication infrastructure hinders the impact of
environmental education and outreach on campus. The absence of a “central hub” for environmental issues at NU leaves many students unaware of ways to get involved, Saigal said. “The system of communication is very fractured right now,” said Jeff Henderson, marketing manager for the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern. “The ability for the average person to get engaged is severely diminished — this is about making Northwestern a community based in energy and sustainability,” he said. While attendees agreed there is a need for centralization of environmental information, some disagreed about the appropriate method. Suggestions included a mass listserv of environmental information, a common calendar featuring each group’s events, a new website to serve as a portal
to environmental news and events, social media approaches and social gatherings that engage alumni. “There are a lot of efforts to collaborate already going on, but I think they’re diluting by adding another group to the pool but not functioning effectively,” said Thea Klein-Mayer, Weinberg senior and president of Wild Roots. Ultimately, the group agreed on the development of a common calendar to provide environmental information to the campus and external community. Saigal and GREEN House president Mark Silberg invited attendees to gather again later in the week to further develop this and other communication initiatives. “We are confident that our efforts, beginning today, will inspire students, administration and
A lot of the schools and group do amazing things ... but we just don’t know what the others are doing. Anuj Saigal,
Kellogg student the campus at large to more fully understand the energy and sustainability efforts at Northwestern and to bring Northwestern to the forefront of a larger national debate,” Silberg said. chelseacorbin2014@u.northwestern.edu
Evanston bikers hope to receive grant for protected lane ON THE ROAD AGAIN
= potential protected bike lane
Gre en Bay Rd.
Ridge Rd.
s Exp
Central St.
y
Emerson St. Church St.
Main St. Oakton St.
ve. Chicago A
marshallcohen2014@u.northwestern.edu patricksvitek2014@u.northwestern.edu
Dempster St. Crawford Ave.
Skokie Blvd.
the Evanston Bike Club, was similarly supportive of Evanston’s vision for Church Street. He called protected bike lanes an “important addition to the road,” wherever they may be constructed. Plus, safer avenues for cycling encourage more efficient transportation decisions, Ney added. “When you look at the bicycle as a means of transportation, bike lanes are really key to getting more people comfortable to hop on a bike instead of getting in the car,” he said. Catherine Hurley, the city’s sustainable programs coordinator, agreed a protected bike lane could have a meaningful community impact. She said although she is uninvolved in the grant application — which is being handled by the Public Works Department — she “get(s) comments all the time” from new and old residents seeking bike-specific facilities. “There is definitely support in the community for more bike infrastructure,” Hurley said. “Any infrastructure we can provide that helps safety, helps motivate people to get out, definitely helps show the community’s commitment to active forms of transportation.” She added it is presently difficult to predict how many riders would take advantage of a protected bike lane in Evanston. One of those who would benefit, Chris Mailing, said
Eden
he is “thrilled” the city is applying for the federal grant. He owns Turin Bicycle, 1027 Davis St., located one block away from the proposed lane. He cited the plastic spikes separating the bike and car lanes on Kinzie Street as the type of “hard barrier” needed to guard riders. And despite the federal grant remaining a long-shot endeavor for Evanston, Mailing estimated it could pay huge dividends for both cyclists and non-cyclists. “There will certainly be more cyclists and more people using their bikes because every little thing that is done by the city to encourage cycling helps,” Mailing said. “All of these small projects just keep reinforcing the idea that bicycling is accepted and encouraged.” If awarded, the TIGER III grant would fund a protected bike lane along Church Street from the Evanston lakefront to the north-south trail of Harms Woods park in Skokie. TIGER discretionary grants fund “innovative transportation projects that will create jobs and have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Final grant applications must be submitted by Oct. 31.
From BIKELANE, page 6
Graphic by Sarah Overmeyer and Hye Sun Kim/The Daily Northwestern
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NU CLASS OF 2012: Sign up for your Senior Portrait. Sittings take place in For Rent 3rd fl. at 1834 Wesley Sep. Norris starting Nov. 1. Choose the day Entry 1BR-Shared LR, Kitchen & Bath and time that works best for you. All Utilities Laundry & Wifi Included. • LOG ON TO www.OurYear.com $650a/mo. Call Tony at 847-902-2144 • Enter NU School Code: 87150 Or call Herff Jones at (800) 687-9327 Apartments and Houses. 410-493-8150 pathikrami@gmail.com 2,3,4,5,10 bedrooms available Renovated with stainless steel apps.
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&#+.; 57&1-7 Complete the grid so each ROW, COLUMN and 3-by-3 BOX (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. Over . . . .
For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, Over . . . . visit www.sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis Edited by RichEdited Norris by andRich Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Composes, as a telegram 8 Render harmless, in a way 14 Warranty contract fig. 15 Hold ’em challenge 16 Sniveled, “But I don’t wanna!” 18 Flagrant felonies 19 Moxie 20 Puffin kin 21 Damon and others 22 Like runts 23 River in a 1957 film title 24 What much may follow 25 Indigo Girls song, e.g. 26 Fetches flies 27 Common starting word 28 Male mallards 29 Treated like royalty 33 Symbolic trees of Lebanon 34 Days in Durango 35 Loosely arrange 36 Like a soufflé 37 Scrapple meat 41 Prefix with byte 42 Pantry lineup 43 Broadcast network 44 Like the Opry? 45 Brand of syrup 46 Beatles nonsense syllables 47 Take care of every last detail 50 Tennis great Goolagong 51 Traces 52 Puts new prices on 53 He voiced curmudgeonly Carl in “Up” DOWN 1 Azadi Tower city 2 Barry Manilow’s longtime label
10/20/11
By Jeff Chen
3 Some Côte-d’Or reds 4 Composer Saint-__ 5 Auto industry pioneer 6 __-ball pens 7 Flooring joint 8 Unsportsmanlike 9 Piccadilly Circus statue 10 Critter to 8Across, perhaps 11 Stare at the ceiling, maybe 12 Eased 13 Sloppy greeting from a puppy 14 Guru 17 Give up the ball 22 Tawny predator 23 Kublai __ 25 A&W competitor 26 Hindu titles 27 __ mortals 28 Time for action 29 TV roving reporter’s opening 30 Words of reluctance
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
31 County with grapes on its seal 32 Finds cool, man 33 Storage for jewel cases 36 British peer 37 Offer to a bunch of hitchhikers 38 Valencia, for one 39 Not as well-done 40 __ Kringle
10/20/11
42 Makes fun of 43 Picks the locks for, perhaps 45 “__ Fu Panda”: 2008 animated film 46 Greek high point 48 It was Genentech’s stock ticker symbol, aptly 49 20-volume ref.
Sports page 8
ON DECK
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Women’s Soccer NU vs. No. 25 Illinois, Lakeside Field, 7:00 p.m. Thursday Women’s Tennis ITA Midwest Regional Championships, Columbus, Ohio, All Day. Thursday
“
ON THE RECORD
Every game we get closer and closer and soon it has to be our time to just go off. We’re not getting blown out at all. — Madalyn Shalter, junior setter
Cats fail to topple top dogs By Steven Montero
the daily northwestern
“Don’t miss.” Those were the words racing through Mary Grace Gallagher’s head as she tried to fend off match point from the service line. The senior libero succeeded in her goal, avoiding any service errors, but Northwestern was unable to muster much of a comeback as it lost three straight sets to No. 1 Illinois. The Wildcats were virtually perfect Wednesday night but the Fighting Illini proved a tough foe on the offensive end, claiming 48 kills to NU’s 31. On the other hand, the Cats did have more team blocks then their opponents, showing improvement in an area where they had dragged their paws before. Coach Keylor Chan said that NU did a “solid” job overall. “Illinois is a great team,” Chan said, “and when you play great teams, you got to rise to that occasion. I don’t think it was anything that we didn’t do. Illinois was very good tonight.” That didn’t mean Chan was content with the result. The 12-year coach exploded with frustration when a controversial call by the official gave Illinois its match point in the third set. A spiked ball from sophomore Stephanie Holthus ricocheted back off a block, bouncing off her head and back over the net to fall on the Fighting Illini’s side of the court. Although it would appear that the Cats had won the point, the first official ignored Chan’s cries and declared the ball out on Holthus, a decision that Chan called “an impossibility.” Nevertheless Chan said he was particularly impressed by the performances of three of his veteran players, including Holthus, who accumulated the majority of NU’s kills with 17. Junior setter Madalyn Shalter added a kill, 26 assists and 10 digs, while fellow junior Julie Chin led the team with 22 digs.
Volleyball NU
No. 1 Illinois
0
3
Shalter said the Cats managed to leash onto Michelle Bartsch, the Fighting Illini’s outside hitter. According to the junior, NU had aimed to stop Illinois’ outside hitters as part of its game plan and that the Cats executed it well. “Our passing got better throughout the game,” Shalter said, “and outsides had a tremendous game, making big swings for us against a big block out there.” Although Illinois handed NU a swift defeat on its home court, the Cats said that they can grow from the experience. Gallagher said that the Cats’ hitters excelled against the Fighting Illini, but NU lost valuable points as it struggled to make adjustments throughout the match. The Cats’ failure to control the Fighting Illini’s middle hitters proved especially detrimental. Shalter said that the Cats are teetering on the edge of glory. “Every game we get closer and closer and soon it has to be our time to just go off,” Shalter said. “We’re not getting blown out at all. We’re right there within two or three points. Our team — we’re good — we’re not giving up at all. At practice we’re not lollygagging around. We work hard every time we’re out on the court and it shows.” For the time being, Gallagher said the Cats know that they can win and are working to prove it. She said the only thing missing is energy. “The skills are there, the execution is there,” Gallagher said. “It’s just for some reason we can’t get over that hump. Hopefully it will be this weekend in Iowa. We’re away, we’re getting out of here for a little bit and hopefully the new arena will spark something in us.” stevenmontero2014@u.northwestern.edu
By Callie Counsellor
As demonstrated by countless successful teams throughout history, defense wins championships. Although Northwestern (2-12-1, 1-6-1 Big Ten) has a long way to go
before it will ever be considered as a Big Ten championship contender, its defense is suddenly a force, allowing one or fewer goals in each of the last four games. The Wildcats had allowed one or fewer goals only twice in their first 11 games . “It’s just a mentality right now,”
Daily file photo
From start to finish: Junior defender Briana Westlund has started all but two games in her Northwestern career, tallying two goals.
Daily sports
Can the Cats make the grade?
Daily file photo
Stellar in defeat: Sophomore Stephanie Holthus rebounded from a rough performance against Michigan with 17 kills Wednesday.
Dynamic defense could use help the daily northwestern
ROHAN NADKARNI
coach Stephanie Foster said. “It’s just a really competitive mentality. It’s a lot of pride and gritty defending all over the field.” While this recent defensive improvement has translated into only one win, a tie and two losses for the Cats, the progress is tangible. Whereas earlier in the season, losses could be attributed to defensive mistakes, the team can now rely on its defense to compensate for mistakes made on other parts of the field. Freshman defender Jackie Alyinovich said that time and repetition were the biggest factors in improving the defense. “Just by getting multiple games and reps, we’ve been able to become more of a team,” she said. “We’re a young team so it takes a while to get that feeling on the field.” A stronger defense has also taken some of the pressure off of a struggling offense. The Cats remain last in most Big Ten offensive categories, but those on offense feel encouraged by their defensive teammates. “Our defense has been doing amazing,” sophomore forward Kate Allen said. “They’ve been able to stop, and they’ve been hard. Our marking has been great. We’ve denied a lot of potential from opposing teams by our defense. They’ve made (the offense) want to work harder. They’ve been really inspiring these past four games.” NU must maintain its solid defense if it intends to challenge Illinois (11-4-1, 5-2-1) on Thursday in a Big Ten matchup of polar opposite teams. The Fighting Illini lead the Big
Women’s Soccer Thursday, 7:00 NU (2-12-1)
Lakeside Field No. 25 Illinois (11-4-1)
Ten with 19 shots per game, nearly double the Cats’ 10.87 shots per game. Of those 19 shots, Illinois scores on about two per game, compiling 39 goals this season, good for second in the conference. “They’re a very good possession team,” Foster said. “We have to be comfortable with them having the ball quite a bit. We need to not let that rattle us if they have the ball for more time in this game than we do. It doesn’t always have to mean it’s dangerous.” Illinois enters as an offensive powerhouse, but defensively, the Fighting Illini have proven more vulnerable. They have allowed 18 goals this season, sixth most in the Big Ten. Facing a somewhat suspect defense, NU’s struggling offense will seek to gain some sort of advantage. If the Cats can keep up their recent defensive tenacity, a single goal against Illinois could provide at least a tie, if not a win, and prove to be a turning point in a waning season. “We just have to play some patient soccer,” Foster said. “We just have to stay the course, know what we’re dangerous with and trust that they’re going to go in for us.” calliecounsellor2015@u.northwestern.edu
Midterm week (or weeks) of Fall Quarter is finally here. While some students slog through their studies and others attend a paint party at ZBT, I play NCAA Football 2012 alone in my room on Friday nights. With the universe aligning in this shining moment, it’s also the halfway point of the season for the Wildcats football team. At this point in time, I thought I would hand out some midterm grades of my own to Northwestern. Dan Persa — Incomplete: Although I wrote last week that NU’s season is mostly lost already, Persa receives an incomplete because he has only appeared in three games. Despite his 0-3 record, Persa has played valiantly in the action he has seen this year. Even with the football team’s disappointing start, Persa still has a chance to deliver something for his fellow seniors, the fans and the younger members of the football team. Not to mention, he has a chance to give the elderly alumni in South Florida attending their 60th reunion this year something they have not received since 1949: a bowl win. The Weather — C+: So far, the weather on campus has been up and down. A native of South Florida, I find myself intrigued by this mysterious season known as “fall.” Despite one week of beautiful weather featuring temperatures in the 70s, there has also been plenty of rain. Also, I don’t care what you Midwesterners say, it’s getting cold. If you think it’s not chilly outside, try explaining that to my nipples. Athletic Director Jim Phillips — B: Jim Phillips has done a great job of building our athletic program, and entering this school year, the buzz about NU sports was arguably the highest it has ever been. My only bone to pick with Dr. Phillips is the location of the student section at Ryan Field. Many students are clamoring for a move, mainly because no one can see the ‘CatVision scoreboard from the current seats. Hopefully Dr. Phillips hears the voice of the students and listens to their advice. Doing Laundry — F-: All right, doing laundry sucks enough as is, but do we really have to pay for it? NU ranks in the top 10 nationally with its massive financial endowment, but apparently they still need that $1.50 every time I do laundry in Hinman. It’s ridiculous. I’m surprised local banks don’t have a quarter shortage. Are you tired of paying for laundry as well? Feel free to join my Twitter protest: follow me @FeFiRoHan and use #OccupyLaundryRooms every time you pay to inadvertently shrink your favorite T-shirt. Coach Fitzgerald — C-: I’ll probably be hated for saying this, but I’m a fan of our sports teams more than I am anything else (a columnist, a man, etc.). I never intended my freshman year to be some kind of crusade against our beloved coach, but I’ve been most disappointed by Fitz this year. We can’t keep falling back on the excuse of poor execution as the reason for our losses. The last three weeks, our team failed to adjust to the opponent, allowing 38, 41 and 42 points on defense. As the second half of the season begins, Fitz must do what he has seemingly failed to do during the second half of each game, and that’s make the adjustments necessary for our team to win. Sports writer Rohan Nadkarni is a Medill freshman. He can be reached at rohannadkarni2015@u.northwestern.edu