The Daily Northwestern - May 9th, 2024

The Daily Northwestern

3 CAMPUS/International graduates International students navigate challenges in the job market

4 OPINION/Encampment agreement

Community members react to agreement between admin and student demonstrators

New hazing lawsuits filed

Plaintiffs include named linebacker and whistleblower

By NICOLE MARKUS daily senior staffer

@nicolejmarkus

Content warning: This story contains mention of hazing, sexual assault and suicidal ideation.

Three new former football players filed lawsuits Wednesday in the Cook County Circuit Court against Northwestern and former coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuits include former linebacker Nathan Fox (SESP ’19) and the anonymous former player who first reported the hazing to the University and spoke to ArentFox Schiff attorney Maggie Hickey during the independent investigation. The lawsuits list new allegations against the team and coaching staff, one of which details how Fox told at least six NU employees — including several mental health professionals — about the hazing years prior to Hickey’s investigation.

According to the lawsuit,

Fitzgerald looked directly at Fox during a team meeting and accused him of “bitching and moaning to (his) therapists about not playing and having unfair treatment” after a therapist allegedly urged Fox to waive his confidentiality rights and Fox agreed to it.

Fox alleges that a therapist at NU told him the hazing was not “real” but instead a symptom of depressive bipolar disorder, prescribing him medication that caused serious side effects including mental fogginess, sleep paralysis, memory loss and suicidal thoughts.

“It is abundantly clear to us that numerous staff members knew about the violent sexual hazing and emotional abuse that was occurring under Northwestern’s watch,” Levin & Perconti attorney Margaret Battersby Black wrote in a Wednesday news release. “Employees were told about the abusive hazing by some of the players. Instead of doing the right thing and reporting the abuse or taking steps to stop it, those who knew either ignored it or retaliated against those

» See LAWSUIT, page 6

8 SPORTS/So ball preview Scan to see how the ’Cats performed during Big Ten play this season

Biss recaps testy year, looks ahead

State of the City speech addressed Ryan Field, recent city policies

By SHUN GRAVES the daily northwestern @realshungraves

After a year marked by testy debates over Ryan Field and city responsiveness, Mayor

Daniel Biss lauded a benefits pact with Northwestern and called on Evanston to continue advancing on priorities like affordable housing in his annual State of the City address.

In front of about a hundred

Event spotlights linguistic diversity

Festival of Languages and Cultures returns for third straight year

By JERRY WU daily senior staffer

Lively cha er oated from language information tables decorated with colorful yers and containers of cultural foods as students passed by e Rock at the start of the week.

Organized by Northwestern language professors, the third annual Festival of Languages and Cultures is underway, aiming to celebrate the linguistic and cultural diversity on campus.

From Monday to Wednesday, students and professors propped up conversation and information tables related to the language courses and curriculums o ered at NU. At each language stall — including ones for French, Arabic, Hebrew and Chinese — attendees showcased traditional snacks, drinks, garments and other cultural items.

people on Wednesday, Biss rattled off recent policies like a flavored tobacco ban, modified guaranteed income program and community responder initiative as evidence of an effective city government.

“As I think about the situation that we find ourselves in Evanston — the opportunities that are before us and the challenges that we face — what I see as most necessary is for us

» See STATE OF THE CITY, page 6

Former patients to receive millions

Festival organizer and Portuguese Prof. Ana omé Williams said the table conversations remain her favorite part of the week’s programming since the festival’s inception two years ago.

“ e main focus is for the students to know how important it is to know other languages, how important it is to have an open mind for global communication and how each language can open doors for them,” Williams said. e festival concludes on Friday and will feature guest lectures, language gatherings, lm screenings and art exhibits. According to Williams, this programming showcases the breadth of di erent cultures and spoken languages in the community.

Thursday’s annual variety show will include recitals, dances, movies and skits. Students will also have the

With festival plans beginning in winter, organizers on the Outreach Committee of the Council on Language Instruction said they set out to spotlight “less commonly taught” languages and engage more student enrollment in the language department. NU currently offers around 20 languages through academic departments and programs.

opportunity to win multicultural prizes through ra es.

Northshore Health se lement reached in class action suit

By HANNAH WEBSTER the daily northwestern @hannahe_webster

More than two decades a er NorthShore University HealthSystem merged with Highland Park Hospital — a move the Federal Trade Commission deemed anticompetitive in 2007 — former patients will be paid out by a class action se lement.

allegations, and in December 2023 — facing a trial scheduled for Jan. 9, 2024 — the parties reached a se lement agreement. In 2008, the FTC ordered the creation of separate negotiating teams for inpatient and outpatient care to stimulate competition at the hospitals. It also required prior notice of acquisitions for 10 years. e FTC order did not include damages for any customers who were overcharged for services.

e lawsuit gained class certi cation in 2013.

learning Arabic too.

McCormick sophomore Mel Vasquez stopped by the festival to greet their previous language professors. A er taking a full year of Italian at NU, they said they might also be interested in

“In practice it would be a big time commitment, but I do like learning about di erent parts of the world, how the languages are related,” Vasquez

Students and professors from NU language departments propped up information stalls around The Rock from Monday to Wednesday. » See FESTIVAL , page 6

In a Monday hearing at the Evere McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang approved a $55 million settlement between NorthShore University HealthSystem — now a part of Endeavor Health — and a class of former patients.

Originating from complaints led in 2007, the suit alleged that NorthShore violated the Sherman Antitrust Act and Clayton Act, subjecting customers to higher prices for healthcare services. NorthShore denied these

Chang said both parties faced substantial risk in trial and that the settlement amount was appropriate considering the plainti ’s estimated maximum damages of $227 million.

“We would all have been waiting with baited breath to see what the jury would come up with,” he said.

Chang said thousands of claims have been submitted individually on top of thirdparty claims. He determined that the se lement notice plan was appropriate and “reached

» See SETTLEMENT, page 6

Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern

Mayor Daniel Biss delivered his State of the City address at Evanston SPACE on Wednesday.

@jerrwu

Illustration by Ziye Wang

City-School Liaison Committee discusses

By MADELINE KING daily senior staffer @madelineking_18

The City-School Liaison Committee discussed the Guaranteed Income Program, summer education, repurposing of assets and the emerging Wraparound Evanston program at its Wednesday evening meeting at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center.

The committee aims to facilitate dialogue between Evanston and local School Board officials on financials and other matters of public interest. It is composed of three Evanston city councilmembers, three school board members from Evanston Township High School District 202 and three school board members from Evanston/Skokie School District 65. Members meet three times per school year.

The committee discussed advertisement strategies for the Guaranteed Income Program, saying the city could explore advertisements via texts, emails and flyers to encourage eligible individuals to apply on the city’s website.

The program — a city-sponsored initiative to provide 150 participants with $500 a month to spend however would best support their needs — is entering its second year. Eligible participants live in Census Tract 8092, provide care for a 5-year-old or younger child, and have an annual household income not exceeding 184% of the Federal Poverty Line.

Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) said he feels confident that families will be eager to sign up for the program. The challenge is ensuring that all eligible families know of the program’s existence,

EPD responds to shooting at Foster and Ashland, one injured

Content warning: this article contains mentions of gun

he added.

“I just don’t want people to miss an opportunity,” Burns said.

Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) said the city is looking at its assets and engaging in research and conversations about how to utilize them more efficiently. He specifically mentioned that

Evanston Police Department officers responded to a call of shots fired around the Foster Street and Ashland Avenue intersection at about 4 p.m., EPD announced on its X.

A 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound was found onsite. He has been transported to an area hospital and is in stable condition, according to the X post.

the city is looking for ways to make better use of their smaller assets, such as parking lots.

Nieuwsma invited the two school districts to notify the city if they also possessed assets that may be eligible for repurpose, allowing for the city and districts to collaborate on creating new spaces as a community.

At 4:05 p.m., there was a large police presence at the crime scene, EPD announced on its X. The shooter fled the scene, according to EPD, and no one is in custody as of 4:48 p.m.

Officers blocked off traffic on Foster Street from Jackson to Dewey Avenue and up to Simpson Avenue. As of 4:58 p.m., all affected roads were reopened except for the 1900 block of

District 65 Superintendent Angel Turner said the district expects around 925 students to attend summer education classes. Around 70% of program participants are expected to be underprivileged students, Turner said, adding that free and reduced lunch will be available.

District 65 will also offer 14 summer camp programs with partner organizations, she said.

Pete Bavis, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for District 202, said between 1,200 and 1,300 high school students will attend summer school. The summer education program offers ways for students to make up or accelerate credits.

Social worker Allison Harned delivered a presentation outlining the structure and funding avenues of the developing Wraparound Evanston, a program dedicated to supporting Evanston families in need and creating coordination between social service providers through a comprehensive system.

“We’re trying to make this a normal thing for people to have a system of support,” Harned said.

Harned said Wraparound Evanston provides a family-centered support system, serving specific needs identified by individual families.

Patrick Keenan-Devlin, executive director and youth defense attorney for the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, said the mission of Wraparound Evanston aligns closely with those of the city and school districts.

“We are all people sitting around this table who care deeply about children and family success,” Keenan-Devlin said.

madelineking2026@u.northwestern.edu

Ashland Avenue.

While there “does not appear to be a continued threat to the public,” EPD is advising people to avoid the Foster and Ashland area. An initial investigation suggests the shooting was not a random act, though no motive has been found.

William Tong

Madeline King/The Daily Northwestern

The City-School Liaison Committee meets three times during the school year to converse on financial matters and other matters of importance to the community.

violence.

International students face job barriers

By KELLEY LU the daily northwestern @kelleylu_

Weinberg senior Eraj Uzoqov was deep into a conversation with a LinkedIn recruiter when they asked him what his citizenship status was. When the recruiter discovered Uzuqov is an international student from Tajikistan, the recruiter said, “I apologize, I didn’t know.”

“The big challenge is knowing how to present (citizenship status) to recruiters and how to not scare them off,” Uzoqov said.

For all students, navigating the job market can be challenging. However, international students on the F-1 student visa face additional obstacles in applying for work authorization and finding companies willing to accommodate additional legal processing.

Though there are many ways for international students to obtain U.S. work authorization postgraduation, a common path for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher is entering the lottery for a H1-B visa that allows temporary full-time work authorization but requires sponsorship from the employer.

Prior to entering the H1-B lottery, students can apply for Optional Practical Training or Curricular Practical Training work authorization to gain work experience in the United States while on their student visa.

“There have been instances where I’ve submitted an application and gotten an immediate rejection within the minute, almost as though the second you click ‘Yeah, I would need sponsorship in the future,’ you’re kind of counted out,” said Communication senior Pari Pradhan, an international student from the Philippines.

CPT allows students to work off-campus in a position related to their field of study, including internships, freelance work, performances and practicums, during their academic program. Students apply through Northwestern following a job offer.

OPT allows students to work full-time for 12 months in a position related to their field of study. Often, students apply for OPT in months leading to their graduation as the application can take three to

five months to process. A job offer is not required to apply, but within the allocated 12 months, applicants only have 90 days of eligible unemployment. Otherwise, they have 60 days following the F-1 end date to leave the country.

Students graduating with a science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree can apply for the STEM OPT, a 24-month extension on top of the 12-month work period with an additional 60 days of unemployment.

Many students said they aim to work in the United States rather than their home countries, particularly during the initial years following graduation.

Pradhan said she has fewer and worse job opportunities in the U.S. as an international student because many employers are not international-friendly.

Like many other international students, Pradhan said she initially hoped to work in the United States, but the goal has shifted as she’s explored job markets around the world for the best opportunity, she added.

“Before, I didn’t consider going back to India immediately post-grad at all, but now that I realize the breadth of opportunity that is there, especially for an NU graduate, without having to worry about visa stuff,” Pradhan said.

For all NU students, internship and research positions are valuable experiences and help when applying to full-time positions. But Communication senior Ismet Kucuker, an international student from Turkey, said he found many companies prefer to hire interns who don’t need sponsorship.

Because interns are a future investment for many firms, companies may be disinclined to hire international students with “no certain future for more than two years,” Kucuker said.

Kucuker completed an internship through NU’s Chicago Field Studies and said it was easier to land an internship going through the program.

“For CFS, they don’t really think long term. They don’t see CFS as, ‘I’m gonna hire this person fulltime,’” Kucuker said. “For both parties it’s more temporary, so they’re more okay with CPT. That was definitely way easier compared to actual job applications.”

Alternatively, other international students have found work experience through the University, including working under fellowships, finding

research positions and assisting in administrative departments.

NU also aims to provide additional support through Northwestern Career Advancement and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. Laura Droste, NCA associate director of student career advising and international student committee member, said she recommends that students begin their career development early and learn about the resources available to them.

Some international students said the NCA provides helpful resources as long as students seek them out.

“A lot of people don’t understand that they’re there,” Pradhan said. “Or you have to really go searching and seeking for them, which I just didn’t know how to do.”

Uzoqov said his experience with networking has been useful in gaining career mentorship and company referrals, adding that he tries to seek out international alumni and employees because they have been in his position.

Kucuker, Pradhan and Uzoqov all said they would advise underclassmen to reach out to older international students for tips. They said they have found support in the International Student Association or within nationality-specific groups, such as the Turkish Student Association.

“There are so many things that you do not know or think about coming out (to the U.S.), and they’re the people who are experienced,” Kucuker said. “They can give you tips on how to get internships, how to plan, when to apply for OPT.”

Despite the support from friends and the University, international students remain concerned about the unknowns and unpredictability they face upon graduation as the process can feel isolating and stressful, Pradhan said.

However, Uzoqov said he remains hopeful about his future with strong support by his side.

“Whether it’s family, a friend or anybody that you can actually talk to and share your struggles (with) is helpful in ensuring stability and peace of mind in those challenging times,” Uzoqov said.

kelleylu2027@u.northwestern.edu

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OPINION

Kronenberg: Encampment resolution undermines free speech

ELI KRONENBERG

OPINION EDITOR

ASSISTANT

In the aftermath of a stand-off between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators at the Deering Meadow encampment on the morning of Sunday, April 28, those at the “Northwestern Liberation Zone” formed a human chain to prevent counterprotesters from entering the space they had occupied for the previous four days.

As I walked by this scene, I heard a chant that made me snap into focus. “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel will fall,” the protesters exclaimed in unison.

The irony of chanting about tearing down walls while literally forming a wall designed to keep out ideological opponents was glaring. Four days into this great anarchist experiment ostensibly built around inclusion and mutual aid, the protesters had enacted border controls.

This hypocrisy is emblematic of what the NU encampment became. While the protesters claimed to be staging a peaceful and liberating act of solidarity — and it very well may have felt that way from within the encampment — the result was the construction of a space that served to intimidate those with differing views, especially Jewish students.

Beyond the forming of a human chain, two Jewish students observing the encampment were told that “Zionists are not welcome here,” journalists were attacked and blocked from filming the protest, and a Jewish student photographing the encampment was publicly shamed by a protester over a loudspeaker.

These incidents illustrate a persistent issue plaguing anti-Israel protests across the country. While many protesters may not arrive with nefarious intentions, encampments have proven themselves to be inherently hostile and exclusionary institutions.

In the most basic of terms, setting up an encampment requires occupying a plot of land that would

NU-AAUP Exec urges NU Board of Trustees’ restraint amid calls to fire President Schill

In response to University President Michael Schill’s agreement with student protesters to remove the pro-Palestinian encampment on Deering Meadow, groups supporting Israel are pressuring the Board of Trustees to fire President Schill. Recent communications from our colleagues indicate the calls from these outside groups may be gaining traction. In the agreement, Schill committed to providing some transparency and support

Twenty-two members of Black 100 back Schill’s agreement to deescalate the Deering encampment

To the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University,

In 1968, we engaged in disruptive peaceful civil disobedience at NU to bring attention to the racism we experienced. We took over the Bursar’s Office on a Friday.

Many of us were frightened, but we felt this action was necessary. We were following in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who used civil disobedience to change society. There were calls to have us expelled and arrested. We were also told that our actions would upset the alumni and donors of NU. But the administration decided to negotiate with the leadership of B100, and the takeover concluded peacefully.

Many of us have been struck by the similarity in the outcome of our building takeover with what happened last week on Deering Meadow. We were delighted that

ordinarily be open to all students and faculty. It requires controlling the flow of people and resources so that the encampment’s mission is not hijacked. And, in the case of anti-Israel encampments, this means imposing ideological litmus tests to prevent visibly Jewish and Zionist students from entering a space which they have the right to be in by virtue of attending the university.

We have seen a similar series of events play out at dozens of college campuses across the country. At UCLA, students were required to wear wristbands signifying their anti-Israel credentials to pass through a barricade on their way to class. At Yale, rows of tents were set up to block students from entering the encampment if they disagreed with the protesters’ political views. At Harvard, a sign posted at the encampment read, “make sure to talk to one of us before entering” the “Liberated Zone.”

”

Tactics that use intimidation to scare off community members are antithetical to a culture of free expression.

- ELI KRONENBERG

When the same practices begin to emerge at each university encampment, it becomes increasingly clear that the ideological screening is central to their design. These checkpoints systematically discriminate against Jewish students who support Israel’s right to exist. Simply put, you do not have the right to create a “Zionistfree zone” on campus enforced through targeted harassment of anyone who appears to be Jewish or pro-Israel.

Tactics that use intimidation to scare off community members are antithetical to a culture of free expression, which is likely one of the reasons that University President Michael Schill chose to enact an interim addendum

to the Student Code of Conduct on the morning of April 25 prohibiting the permanent pitching of tents.

Anticipating potential university policies, some claimed that regulating the time, place and manner of protests is a convenient ploy to suppress pro-Palestinian speech. In a Letter to the Editor published on April 24, 171 NU faculty members argued that the University would be abandoning its commitment to open debate “if it were to take any action to block our students’ rights to peaceful speech, assembly and dissent.”

What this statement overlooks is the University’s fundamental responsibility to ensure that one group’s speech does not impede another’s. Both public and private institutions are legally permitted to place restrictions on the time, place and manner of demonstrations so long as they are content-neutral and leave open other mediums for individuals to express their views.

Even the Chicago Principles — a document created by the University of Chicago in 2014 to promote unfettered free speech on its campus, which President Schill has said is a guiding framework for him — acknowledges that time, place and manner regulations are sometimes necessary “to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the University.”

While they should be implemented sparingly, rules dictating how one may or may not protest on a campus are critical to ensuring not only that a university can perform its basic functions, but also that all sides of an issue can speak freely without being harassed or shouted down. In the case of permanent encampments, both conditions have been impeded.

Although Schill initially followed this logic when crafting the addendum, his April 29 agreement with organizers to end the encampment in exchange for concessions on a series of demands demonstrates a lack of care for the principles of free speech in their most nuanced form.

Rather than attempting to enforce the rules that he himself clearly viewed as necessary, Schill negotiated in good faith with a group who used illiberal and discriminatory tactics to indefinitely seize a section of University property for only those who subscribe to

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

for those protesting NU’s investments in and support for Israel, and protesters agreed to dismantle the tents, save one for aid.

The Executive Committee of the Northwestern University chapter of the American Association of University Professors opposes the removal of President Schill as capitulation to political pressure.

Although we consider the “Interim Policy for Student Demonstrations and Other Expressive Activities on the Evanston Campus” as an infringement on academic freedom, the Board of Trustees’ removal of President Schill due to political pressure would constitute a grievous interference in shared governance and convey an erroneous message to our students, colleagues and the country about the ability of faculty and administration to oversee the university.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The administration decided to negotiate with the leadership of B100, and the takeover ended peacefully.

- MEMBERS OF THE BLACK 100 ”

the University did not call in the police as has happened at so many other campuses around our country. We were truly proud of our alma mater. In the past, some of us had been very disillusioned with NU, but the actions of University President Michael Schill filled us with pride.

There are now calls to fire the president. We disagree. We think the false and provocative charge that the agreement NU reached with the Deering Meadow demonstrators supports antisemitism should not be given any credence.

We are proud of our University, and if the University listens to alumni, then please listen to us. We support the president.

Signed,

No president should ever be removed from office without a concomitant vote of nonconfidence or censure by a representative body of faculty. The Board must understand that the removal of the president could spiral our campus into crisis yet again, and the faculty rightly would see such an intervention as a provocation to further disruptions of education.

We look forward to President Schill implementing his commitments, including the release of information on NU’s investments, and urge restraint on the part of Northwestern Trustees.

Signed,

Executive Committee of NU-AAUP

John Trimble (McCormick ‘71)

Millicent Brown Fauntleroy (Medill, ’70, MSJ ’71)

Dorothy J. Harrell (SESP ‘71)

Eleanor Steele Stewart (WCAS ’69)

Marianne Jackson (WCAS ‘70)

Leslie E. Harris (WCAS ‘70)

Widmon Butler (WCAS ’70)

Debra Avant Bell-Hill (SESP ’71, MA ’72 )

Eva Jefferson Paterson (WCAS ‘71)

Joyce K. Wade (SESP ’70)

Daphne Maxwell Reid (WCAS ‘70)

Jim Pitts (WCAS ‘65, MA ‘68, Ph.D. ‘71)

Laura Richards (Medill ‘71)

Herman C. S. Cage (WCAS ‘69, MBA ‘73)

Audrey Hinton (WCAS ‘69)

Joyce Wade (SESP ‘70)

Juaquita E. Harris Jackson (B.S. Communication ‘70)

Maxine Mitchell (WCAS ‘71)

Jocklyn Smith (WCAS ‘71)

Joanne Williams (Communication ‘71)

Saundra Malone/Kimya Moyo (SESP ‘69)

Dolores Wilson (WCAS ‘70)

Editor’s Note: This letter may not represent the views of every individual member of the Black 100.

If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

certain political beliefs.

This response suggests that the University’s commitment to freedom of expression in practice does not prioritize the fostering of civil dialogue but rather allows the loudest and most inflammatory voices to shout down their peers with impunity. Instead of moving NU toward more constructive discourse, the agreement will only send the message that restricting the use of shared space is a fruitful strategy, planting the seeds of a more confrontational, less governable speech climate on campus.

”

Encampments have proven themselves to be inherently hostile and exclusionary environments.

- ELI KRONENBERG

It is true that Schill’s de-escalatory approach succeeded in avoiding the worst potential outcomes of the encampment — either escalated violence between protesters and other members of the NU community or an invasive police response.

Nevertheless, the agreement sets a dangerous precedent: If you are loud enough, disruptive enough and create a hostile enough environment for your classmates, your blatant violations of University policy will be met not with discipline but with reward.

Eli Kronenberg is a Medill freshman. He can be contacted at elikronenberg2027@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

Jorge Coronado, President Kyle Henry, Vice President Jackie Stevens, Secretary Sam Weber, Member-at-Large

Editor’s note: This letter may not represent the views of every single member of the NU-AAUP

If you would like to respond publicily to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@thedailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern Volume 146, Issue 7

Editor in Chief

Jacob Wendler

Opinion Editor Emily Lichty

Assistant

Opinion Editor Eli Kronenberg

Managing Editors

Nicole Markus

Samantha Powers Casey He Jake Epstein Micah Sandy Sonya Dymova

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ASG Senate distributes $5,000 among 14

By ISAIAH STEINBERG

the daily northwestern @IsaiahStei27

A er hours of deliberation, the Associated Student Government Senate allocated $5,000 to 14 student organizations Wednesday.

Established in Fall Quarter, the New Student Organization Support Fund allocates $5,000 per quarter to student groups with a Student Organization Finance O ce account that have been active for less than two years.

Organizations requested funding for various needs, including event catering, sports equipment, security for speaker events, performance venues, transportation and a program to educate students on combating overdoses.

Student groups received various amounts of funding ranging from $50 for NU’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom to more than $1000 for Starlight, a new student group functioning as a music label for students. Other groups that received funding included the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at NU, the Housing Security Collective, and the Sociology Collective.

Weinberg sophomore and Outdoor Volleyball Association President Connor Smith said his club will be using the funding on new nets, balls and line markers for tournaments.

“By expanding the amount of nets that we have, we will not only be able to bene t the current members of our community, but also keep growing our community to allow more students to play with more courts,” Smith said.

Student group representatives described their requests, a er which senators evaluated the merits

SAFC allocates $2.09 million from activity fees to student groups

e Associated Student Government’s Student Activities Finance Commi ee announced $2.09 million in funding allocations to student groups for the 2024-2025 academic year on Tuesday.

e sum is an increase from about $1.9 million in funding distributed to student groups last year.

of the requests and determined how much money to allocate.

Criteria used to evaluate requests included necessity, lack of alternative funding and due diligence, according to a document used to train senators for Funding Senate.

Many groups did not receive the full amount

Over 150 student groups received SAFC funding, which comes from the ASG Activity Fee on students’ tuition bill.

“The SAFC did a great job at evaluating a range of profiles to support a very diverse set of programming so that the student body, no matter the person, has a meaningful experience,” said SESP sophomore and ASG Co-President Caleb Snead.

e fund’s budget shortfall increased this year from a minimum of $500,000 to a minimum of $1.1 million. Based on the volume of lower bound

of funding they requested. ough senators allocated $5,000, the lower bound of requests from clubs totaled over $8,000 and the upper bound requests totaled over $11,000.

“We were asking for (funding for) transportation, which I know is di cult in front of ASG, but they were really kind and very understanding of

funding requests from student organizations, not every group will receive the funding it requests, Snead said.

He added the commi ee’s biggest challenge this year was working within the limits of its budget while providing as much bene t to students as possible.

“We’re trying to gure out a way to support the student body in the programming they see as valuable, while also recognizing that we have very strict budget constraints,” Snead said. Student groups will be able to appeal to receive

our circumstances,” said Weinberg sophomore Elizabeth Crawford, a graphic designer for All In, a group that volunteers at a free healthcare clinic in Chicago.

ASG’s Student Activities Finance Commi ee announced its initial allocation decisions for the 2024-2025 academic year Tuesday. e Senate will hear appeals from student group leaders to receive additional funding from a $50,000 pool Wednesday.

e Senate also heard a proposal to establish a residential Pride House for LGBTQ+ students and passed two resolutions proposed at last week’s meeting — one of which would introduce more pass/fail language classes and another which would create a liaison group between healthfocused student organizations and the Student Health Service.

Weinberg sophomore and Rainbow Alliance Senator Zenobia Jordan co-authored the legislation to establish a Pride House, which would replace the empty Phi Mu Alpha fraternity house.

“Northwestern does say that they are committed to serving the needs of queer individuals, they want to help them and bene t them, but I think if they truly do want to bene t them, this would be a great way to start,” Jordan said.

Weinberg sophomore and Speaker of the Senate Grace Houren said senators were thoughtful about how to allocate funds on a limited budget.

“I feel strongly that the senators were wellprepared and they really thought through their decisions and asked good questions,” Houren said. “And I think the allocations were pre y well distributed.”

isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu

more funding at an ASG Senate meeting on May 15 at 7 p.m. in the Technological Institute L211. e Senate will have $50,000 for funding appeals, an increase from $30,000 last year. Snead suggested student groups use the opportunity to ask for funding for items which were not eligible for SAFC funding.

“I’m very proud of the allocations team and their ability to bring all the pieces together to make some truly informed decisions,” Snead said. Isaiah Steinberg

Daily file photo by Joss Broward

Senators had to make decisions about which funding requests to prioritize. Groups requested funds totaling between $8,000 and 11,000, while senators only had $5,000 to allocate.

From page 1

to break out of this prison of a system that makes bold action so very difficult,” he said on a stage at Evanston SPACE.

With Dave Davis, NU’s senior executive director of neighborhood and community relations, in the audience, Biss recounted a long history of “tension” between the city and the University.

Last fall, NU’s proposal to rebuild Ryan Field and host public-facing concerts drew criticism from residents who long scorned the University’s tax-free status and use of city resources. Yet after negotiations with the city, NU proposed a $150 million community benefits agreement that ultimately led to City Council’s narrow approval of the Ryan Field plans.

“We were able this year to negotiate an agreement to fundamentally transform the financial relationship between the city and the University, to bring in ongoing funding for at least 15 years, unlike anything that the University has done for the city before,” Biss said.

Some residents called the pact lackluster, and the Most Livable City Association sued the city, claiming it engaged in “secret negotiations” in NU’s favor. The group has focused its ire on Biss, nicknaming him “Tiebreaker Dan” online for his tie-breaking vote to approve the contentious zoning change.

An Evanston resident announced a stillinactive campaign to topple Biss should he run for reelection. Besides the “Better than Biss” effort, nobody has yet declared a campaign for mayor.

Biss told The Daily he has not decided whether he’ll run. Still, in his final State of the City before the 2025 mayoral election, he riffed more generally about the race while referring to the city’s plan to introduce public funding for candidates.

“This was like an anti-incumbent mayor initiative, basically,” he said jokingly. “So get your petitions ready.”

Biss also addressed debates around the war in Gaza, recounting how two Evanston residents were taken hostage by Hamas on

By Lizzie Ferrazza

Oct. 7 and later released. At the same time, a group of Evanston residents has pushed for City Council to approve a ceasefire resolution.

The mayor said he supported the residents’ right to protest and advised against demonstration-related arrests. But he also said the resolution, which the council has not brought up, would “create division.”

“What we would’ve done is picked at wounds in our community, pitted people against one another, made us less clear about what our values are and weakened us in our efforts to then be able to address the next problem that comes up,” Biss said.

The mayor closed with his own vision for development in Evanston, emphasizing the importance of cutting past red tape in politics.

Biss said the Envision Evanston 2045 zoning and planning overhaul would serve as a “game changer” for high-density and transit-oriented development — a “yes in my backyard” mindset he further explained in an op-ed printed in Wednesday’s Chicago Tribune.

Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita and several councilmembers watched Biss’ address. But unlike last year, University President Michael Schill did not attend.

“I agree with the mayor that the package that we were able to negotiate with Northwestern is historic,” Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) told The Daily after Biss’ address. “And it’s an accomplishment that I’m proud of — that I think we can all be proud of.”

The mayor also mentioned the migrant crisis, sustainability goals and the Civic Center’s upcoming move to downtown Evanston as important issues for the future. He described continuing attempts by city staff to identify a suitable building that would house migrants.

Biss can now step back and look at his accomplishments, said former mayor Steve Hagerty, who also attended.

“If you look at his campaign account, if you look at the speech he gave today, there’s a clear indication that he has a strong vision for Evanston and a real commitment to seeing things through,” Hagerty said.

shungraves2027@u.northwestern.edu

SETTLEMENT

From page 1

a broad swath of the class.” The class includes individuals who paid NorthShore directly for inpatient hospital services between Feb. 10, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2015, and opted into the suit before April 4, 2024.

Chang said the case was “exponentially more difficult and extensive” than other class action suits.

Marvin Miller of Miller Law LLC is lead class counsel, and NorthShore is represented by Dan Webb of Winston & Strawn LLP. The agreement was a result of “more than an arms length negotiation” between the two parties, Chang said.

The prosecution was awarded over $18 million, one third of the settlement award, in attorneys’ fees and around $5 million in costs and expenses. In the order, Chang recognized the size of the settlement as “a significant result,” to justify the fees and expenses.

David Freedman, the class representative, was awarded $50,000 as an incentive award.

LAWSUIT

From page 1

who came forward.”

With the addition of these three plaintiffs, the total number of football players who have filed suit against the University is 25. According to the release, more former players intend to file suit in the coming weeks.

Other players have alleged in lawsuits they were

FESTIVAL

From page 1

said. “Because I speak three languages, I really like just kind of seeing the relationships each share.”

Event organizers also encouraged attendees to acknowledge the benefits of learning language beyond face value as a venue to shape students’ global perspective.

Organizer and German Prof. Ingrid Zeller said the event is more than just a festival — it also celebrates the student diversity at NU.

“It’s really about a celebration of different cultures

Webb told The Daily the defense agrees with the settlement and finds it “fair and reasonable.”

One party not included in the class is insurance company United HealthCare, which submitted an objection to the settlement agreement in March. It said the order was unclear regarding whether they were part of the class, according to the objection.

On Monday, attorney Scott Fisher, representing United HealthCare, said it was “fundamentally not apparent” from court decisions or the settlement agreement whether self-insured entities such as United HealthCare were included in the class. He added that there was “significant confusion” regarding the qualifications of the class.

Chang overruled the objection, saying it would be “nonsensical” for United HealthCare to be included in the class after agreeing to arbitration.

“It’s crystal clear that United is not a part of the class,” he said.

hannahwebster2027@u.northwestern.edu

subjected to racial discrimination, sexualized hazing, physical abuse and retaliation while on the football team. Fitzgerald, who is suing the University for breach of contract and defamation, was fired in July after some of these allegations became public.

The University declined to comment on the pending litigation. Fitzgerald’s attorney Dan Webb did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

nicolemarkus2025@u.northwestern.edu

and different languages,” she said. “I think otherwise the purpose (of the festival) is this idea of celebrating diversity and celebrating different cultures or languages.”

Seeing the high turnout, Zeller emphasized the need of holding events like the festival to celebrate the linguistic variety on campus.

Zeller added that seeing the event come together each year brings it even “closer to her heart.”

“We need to work together to try to make events like this happen,” she said. “It’s not just about learning words. It’s about intercultural communication.” jerrywu2027@u.northwestern.edu

Annual Sex Week returns to campus with a bang

By BEATRICE VILLAFLOR daily senior staffer @beatricedvilla

Amid the meal exchanges students held in their hands at the Norris University Center on Wednesday midday were some unfamiliar sights, ranging from phallic-shaped, glitter-covered candles to tie-dye sex toys.

Members from Northwestern Sex Week hosted a sex toy giveaway at the entrance of Norris as part of an ongoing three-day program to promote sexual health and confidence. NU College Feminists planned Sex Week in collaboration with Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators and the Center for Awareness, Response and Education.

Sex Week co-leader and Weinberg sophomore Kaleah Estep said the aim of the program is to promote students’ sexual health and confidence. She said the week looks to raise awareness and ensure sex becomes less taboo on campus. With Wednesday’s giveaway, she hoped to give students “the ability to try new things.”

“It shouldn’t be such a taboo subject. I believe people are scared and they think they should be scared to talk about it openly,” Estep said. “I don’t think it should matter. It can be a closedoff thing if you want it to be, but it could also be open if you want it.”

Weinberg senior Skylar Waldron was one of over a dozen people waiting for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, when the organizers would release a new batch of free sex toys from Chicago-based store Early to Bed.

Accuracy in Media deploys billboard, calls for Schill’s resignation

Conservative news media watchdog Accuracy in Media dispatched a mobile billboard to University President Michael Schill’s residence, Wieboldt House, on Tuesday. e billboard, a xed to a truck, contains a photo of Schill on a red background with the text “Hamas’s favorite university president, Michael Schill.” It also

Students lined up as early as 15 minutes before toys were distributed during “Wet Wednesday.” The week, which began with “Make-It-Spicy Monday,” also has educational programs led by SHAPE and CARE.

Sex Week co-leader and Weinberg sophomore Jordyn Simon said the sex toy giveaway is “everyone’s favorite.”

“We have dildos and vibrators,” Simon said. “We have some fun candles, and we have these cute, li le, squishy penis toys, which are my favorite.”

Waldron described Sex Week as one dedicated to “educating and empowering” people in their sexual health journey.

“A lot of (assigned female at birth) people are taught and shown that sexuality is a bad thing,” Waldron said. “You’re looked down upon if you’re a sexual being even though all people have hormones and bodies. So it’s nice to see something that is for everyone.”

Simon said she wants more conversations around sexual health but noted that these conversations also have to be inclusive and encompass topics like queer sex.

For example, Simon said her friends knew what dildos and vibrators were but did not know what a butt plug was.

SHAPE provided students access to lubricants, condoms and informational packets at the G-Spot on Monday. The group also held a “Hot and Sexy Chicken” conversation on safe sex, sexual pleasure and kinks Monday evening.

To close out the week, CARE and the Women’s Center are hosting social worker and psychotherapist Sophia Etling (SESP ’18).

Simon said the talk will be about safe sex

says that it is Schill’s “time to resign.” It links to a website that prompts community members to contact University Trustees and urge that Schill step down. Calls for Schill’s resignation have come as University administration reached an agreement with organizers on April 29 to end a ve-day pro-Palestinian encampment. In the days since the agreement was reached, organizations like the Anti-Defamation League Midwest have also demanded that Schill resign.

According to a Monday news release, Accuracy in Media is using the board to call for Schill’s resignation for failing “to hold violent, antisemitic protesters on

The bird may be gone, but we're here to stay

practices, consent and sex work.

Sex Week has been an NU staple for over a decade, a tradition Simon calls “exciting.” Planning for this year began in February.

Last year’s programming spanned eight days. A statement on the Sex Week Instagram reads that the decision to shorten this year’s programming was made to support the NU

campus accountable.”

“Rather than holding these students accountable for harassing Jewish students, engaging in hateful activities, and breaking numerous campus regulations, Schill caved to their demands,” the organization said in the release.

e initiative is part of Accuracy in Media’s Antisemitism Accountability Project. e group aims to combat antisemitism on college campuses through mobile billboards across the country. ere have been similar billboards at Harvard University, Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley.

e project has been associated with “doxxing

decade.

Divestment Coalition — the group behind a five-day pro-Palestinian encampment on Deering Meadow — and “to keep attention focused on liberation.”

David Samson contributed reporting. beavilla or@u.northwestern.edu

trucks” displaying the names and faces of university a liates who the group allege have signed onto proPalestinian statements.

“ is work is essential because these campuses are infested with antisemitism. We have proven time and again how holding students and faculty accountable is e ective – and if the university won’t hold them accountable, we will,” wrote the organization in an article on its website.

e mobile billboard will remain around campus until Wednesday morning.

Beatrice Villa or

Beatrice Villaflor/The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern Sex Week has been a campus tradition for over a

No. 23 Northwestern set for conference tournament

By AUDREY PACHUTA the daily northwestern @audreypachuta

Just shy of a year ago, a much different Northwestern squad descended upon Champaign as the clear favorite to win the Big Ten Tournament.

On the heels of an undefeated season at home and a regular season conference title, the Wildcats’ senior-laden lineup was poised to make another deep postseason run a year after making the program’s first Women’s College World Series appearance in 15 years. Adding to its lofty list of accomplishments, coach Kate Drohan’s standout senior class — which featured Danielle Williams, Skyler Shellmyer, Nikki Cuchran, Jordyn Rudd and Maeve Nelson — delivered, collecting its second automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in as many years.

Now, with seven new starters and nine fresh faces on the roster, NU (33-10, 19-3 Big Ten) returns to the fray, aiming to defend its title as Big Ten Tournament victors for the second consecutive year.

In a season where the odds were stacked against them from the outset — losing key players like starting second baseman Grace Nieto and top returning pitcher Lauren Boyd to injury, while also graduating a historic class of five seniors last spring — the ’Cats have surpassed all expectations in an expected rebuilding year.

With three upperclassmen in its starting lineup, NU has leaned on a promising group of freshmen and sophomores to uphold the team’s legacy, while also drawing on the leadership of veteran players like graduate student outfielder Angela Zedak and senior infielder Hannah Cady to maintain the program’s culture.

Behind standout performances from graduate transfer pitcher Ashley Miller in the circle,

the ’Cats have maintained their high level of play from last year, securing the Big Ten regular-season title for the third consecutive season as they head into the conference tournament later this week.

Here are three things to know ahead of the Big Ten Tournament.

The road does not relent

Entering its final conference series against Indiana, NU sat atop the Big Ten standings by a half-game over Michigan.

The ’Cats held the reins of their own destiny — a sweep over their opponents would have secured the regular season title. But after dropping the second contest of the weekend against the Hoosiers, all eyes turned toward Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines were riding a 13-game win streak as they prepared to host Ohio State — a team that had been in the middle of the Big Ten pack all year — for their final series of regular season play.

As its offense went stagnant at the worst possible time, Michigan dropped its second game of the weekend early on Sunday, handing NU its third consecutive regular season conference title before it even beat the Hoosiers.

“The Big Ten has been up for grabs all season, and I think it’s going to be a really unique tournament because of it,” Drohan said after the team’s win over Indiana Sunday.

Conference matchups were unpredictable throughout the regular season with NU’s three losses coming to teams who weren’t strong contenders for the regular season title.

As the tournament’s top seed, the ’Cats are set to play eight-seed Indiana, which defeated Purdue 6-3 in the tournament’s opening round Wednesday.

Unlike some conference tournaments with clear frontrunners, NU faces a challenging road back to the championship, starting with what is poised to be a tough quarterfinal match Thursday.

Clutch hitting is NU’s secret weapon

Throughout their Big Ten slate, the ’Cats have thrived under pressure, weaponizing the two-out scenario to their advantage.

Of the 144 runs NU has tallied against conference opponents, 71 were scored with two outs, showcasing Drohan’s group’s strong reliance on its self-proclaimed “pass the bat mentality.”

Batting ninth in the lineup, junior outfielder Ayana Lindsey’s offensive contributions often go unnoticed. With a .228 batting average and zero home runs on the year, the Iowa City native doesn’t boast standout statistics on the surface.

But when the moment comes — Lindsey rises to the occasion like few others.

Her 10 two-out hits are tied for the highest on NU’s roster with Zedak. Typically a contact hitter, Lindsey has notched four doubles and a triple when the team is down to the frame’s final out — serving as a prime momentum boost as the lineup flips back to sophomore sluggers Kansas Robinson and Kelsey Nader.

Of the team’s 64 two-out hits against Big Ten teams, nearly half have been for extra bases, including 18 homers.

In two of the ‘Cats’ three conference losses, they were unable to score any runs with two outs, managing just five two-out hits combined in those games.

As NU prepares for a talented pool of Big Ten opponents this weekend, maintaining its season-long composure under pressure will be vital for success on the postseason stage.

It’s Miller Time

After graduating its best pitcher in program history last season, NU found its new ace through the transfer portal in Ashley Miller.

The former Michigan State pitcher has put up career-best statistics in her lone season in purple digs.

Boasting a conference-best 1.34 ERA, Miller was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Wednesday in addition to her four Big Ten Pitcher of

In the ’Cats’ most recent series against Indiana, Miller struggled to find the strike zone — walking 18 batters in just 10 innings pitched.

Despite experiencing difficulty in controlling her command, Miller appeared in all three games in the team’s final weekend of the regular season and gave up just three total earned runs. Starting in the circle for Sunday’s contest, she seemed to regain her composure after Michigan’s loss clinched NU’s Big Ten title. As the stands erupted in celebration, Miller quickly got the final out of the inning and eased into the game with the pressure relieved from her performance.

The ’Cats’ success at the Big Ten Tournament will depend on not only Miller’s ability to bring her best game, but also depth within the rotation from graduate student pitcher Cami Henry and freshman pitcher Renae Cunningham — both of whom have shone with gamewinning performances in relief this week. audreypachuta2027@u.northwestern.edu

Wildcats gear up for western foe in NCAA second round

By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer

@jakeepste1n

After nabbing its second consecutive Big Ten title Saturday in a 14-12 championship victory over Penn State, Northwestern received the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 seed during Sunday’s selection show. Sitting atop the 29-team field’s totem pole, coach Kelly Amonte Hiller’s squad received a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the quarterfinals.

The Wildcats (15-2, 5-1 Big Ten) await the result of Friday afternoon’s first-round faceoff between Denver and Stanford to find out their next opponent. NU boasts familiarity with both groups: the ’Cats downed the Pioneers (153, 5-0 Big East) in a 14-10 March melee and clashed with the Cardinal (13-4, 7-0 Pac-12) in a preseason exhibition.

When Stanford and Denver met in Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on March 17, the Pioneers prevailed 10-6. However, much has changed since the defensive nonconference battle, and NU will likely have its work cut out against the victors Sunday at Martin Stadium.

As the ’Cats prepare for their Sunday showdown with an undetermined foe, here are the storylines and difference-makers to key in on Friday — and beyond.

Tournament resumes

Both squads enter Evanston’s first-round site as NCAA Tournament automatic qualifiers, winning their respective conference tournaments. Denver would’ve likely received an atlarge bid had it collapsed against UConn Saturday, but its Pac-12 opponent had no guarantees entering its championship clash.

After falling to Maryland and NU in consecutive games, the Pioneers have ripped off 12 consecutive victories to close the regular season and Big East Tournament play. Denver’s other loss was an early-season defeat at Michigan, another NCAA Tournament team.

The Pioneers picked up a momentous 8-7 victory over Stony Brook, marking the Seawolves’ first home loss since March 23, 2019. Another key win came against No. 6 Yale in a 12-11 neutral site result.

The Cardinal opened its season with onegoal losses to Yale and Virginia but proceeded to win five consecutive games before its defeat at Denver. The team’s other loss came against Stony Brook, which secured an 11-10 overtime victory.

Stanford coach Danielle Spencer’s squad is 0-4 against NCAA Tournament opponents, though the Cardinal established significant superiority out west this year.

Players to watch

Denver defender Trinity McPherson took home Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, and the graduate student has been a bona fide dynamo for the Pioneers since her arrival in 2023.

The one-woman-clear in last season’s Final Four against the ’Cats epitomized her gamebreaking speed in transition, and the Baltimore native is a nightmare for opposing attacks. She has pulled down 77 draw controls, scooped 39 ground balls and recorded 36 caused turnovers in 18 starts.

Pioneer attacker Julia Gilbert spearheads

her scoring unit, having tallied 57 goals and 12 assists this season. Her last trip to Evanston didn’t live up to her typical production, as NU held her to just one goal on five shots.

Cardinal attacker Aliya Polisky has put forth a standout campaign during her first season in Palo Alto, piling on 50 goals and 17 assists. A crafty left-hander with a lethal end product, Polisky may possess ample firepower to defeat Denver.

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year played under Amonte Hiller on the U.S. U20 Training Team in summer and fall 2023. She has tallied at least three points in 12 of 16 games this season.

Stanford goalkeeper Lucy Pearson boasts a .471 save percentage, and she has posted more than 10 saves in five contests. The sophomore received conference goalkeeper of the year honors and significantly improved toward the season’s final stretch.

Storylines of note

Pioneer defender Sam Thacker was the central piece to Denver’s suffocating zone scheme last season, but she hasn’t played since suffering a lower-body injury against Colorado on April 3. Thacker recorded 21 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers before that point. If the 5-foot-6 graduate student can’t compete Friday, her absence will likely loom large in a high-stakes environment. The Pioneers have weathered the storm in seven games sans Thacker, but a late UConn push Sunday signaled cracks in their defensive foundation.

Stanford hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round since 2013, and Spencer will look to reach the stage after the Cardinal lost record-breaking points scorer Ashley Humphrey to UNC in the transfer portal after last season.

NU is a combined 17-1 against the two teams, and both would have a tall task ahead following a Friday win.

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

the Week honors — which tie NU’s former-star Danielle Williams in her 2022 All-American season.

LACROSSE

Daily file photo by Henry Frieman

Graduate student attacker Izzy Scane fires a free-position shot during her team’s early March matchup with Denver.

Daily file photo by Henry Frieman