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By Joseph Diebold
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Living near Metra stops increases property values for residents.
Forum
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Michael Kurtz NCAA athletes deserve salaries.
Ali Elkin Rethinking the Occupy cause.
Sports
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Chain crew member who suffered heart attack in NU’s thoughts.
NU takes on NIU and hopes to reverse history Wednesday night.
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By Patrick Svitek
daily senior staffer
Even as they weighed removing from the city’s website a list of 52 properties under investigation for code violations, several aldermen at Monday night’s council meeting said the controversial index was a new concept for them. Some said they first heard of the list only after an article about it was printed in the Oct. 4 edition of The Daily and later by other Evanston publications. The property listings were officially handed over to Northwestern officials at a Sept. 29
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meeting involving a joint University-city committee, which includes Ald. Judy Fiske (1st), Ald. Delores Holmes (5th) and Ald. Jane Grover (7th). Holmes on Tuesday night confirmed all three aldermen were present at that gathering and fully knowledgeable of the list’s disclosure to the University. As for the council’s six other aldermen — she declined to comment on their knowledge of the more than 50 properties described as “open building and/ or overcrowding cases under investigation by the City of Evanston as of Sept. 28, 2011.” “I have no idea how they
found out or didn’t find out about it,” Holmes said of her council peers. During Monday night’s planning and development committee meeting, that knowledge level took center stage as some aldermen questioned why they had not received the news release attached to the property listings. In that news release, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and director of community and economic development Steve Griffin clarified the city’s over-occupancy enforcement strategy in response to an Oct. 3 article in The Daily. Planning and development committee chair Ald. Don
Wilson (4th) told council members he felt blind-sided after spotting the property directory in The Daily last week. On Tuesday night, Wilson said he was relieved his committee eventually voted to take the contentious listings off the Evanston website. But he added he was more concerned about the attached news release posing greater transparency issues. “I was disappointed the press release was not shared with the rest of us,” Wilson said, referring to the aldermen outside the NU-city committee and local reporters. At Monday’s council meeting
I was disappointed the press release was not shared with the rest of us. Don Wilson, Alderman (4th)
Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) called the council’s lack of awareness “embarrassing,” adding elected officials “should know about these things.” One building owner, Rebecca See violation, page 6
Research funds More targeted graffiti found decreased in 2011 the daily northwestern
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Forbes magazine published a report Monday ranking Northwestern as the ninth most expensive college in the country. The report, which relied on data from the National Center for Education Statistics, included the cost of tuition, room and board, as well as other costs such as textbooks and transportation. Forbes reported a total yearly cost for NU students of $56,406. Michael Mills, associate provost for university enrollment, cautioned against reading too much into the report because it only gave the gross cost for attending each institution, rather than the net cost accounting for scholarships and financial aid. “We are a high-tuition, high financial aid school, and that’s
sort of the model,” Mills said. “The net price to attend Northwestern after receiving financial aid makes it very affordable.” In fact, according to data from the Department of Education, the net price to attend NU dropped from $28,403 in 2008-09 to $27,919 in 2009-10. Mills said he expects that number to be even lower once data for the 2010-11 academic year is released. The Center for College Affordability and Productivity aided Forbes with the report. The Center, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., aims to facilitate a broader dialogue on the rising costs of higher education in the United States. Matthew Denhart, administrative director of the Center, stressed the importance of
Released violation list spurs council unease
By Safiya Merchant
Wednesday
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Kaitlin Svabek/Daily senior staffer
Light for all: Co-president of NU’s Rainbow Alliance Zach Wichter lights a candle at a vigil at the rock Tuesday intended to recognize National Coming Out Day.
By Kimberly Railey and Patrick Svitek
Weather
NU ranked a costly school the daily northwestern
A new iPhone app helps NU students save a buck at Evanston stores.
City
Wednesday, September 12, 2011
In a year that saw several Northwestern research breakthroughs, the University announced Monday it used only $511.7 million in project funding, an 8 percent decrease from the previous year’s funding pool. While funds for Weinberg and the School of Education and Social Policy increased, the allotments for the Feinberg School of Medicine and McCormick decreased by 8 and 12 percent, respectively. For fiscal year 2010, the funding for NU faculty research projects was $556.4 million. Some of this funding originated from the finances behind the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which contributed money to institutions that offered financial support for research projects, such as the National Institute of Health. Although the funding for fiscal year 2011 is less than that of the previous year, Vice President for Research Jay Walsh said the decrease is not indicative of a lack of faculty
talent. Rather, Walsh said the decrease is a natural part of the ARRA grant. Because it was a one-time federal grant and to be distributed over the course of several years, he said, the yearly allotment will decrease annually until the funds are entirely used. The funding cycle during fiscal year 2010 endured a high increase because of the “bump” from the first installment of the ARRA grant. Walsh added schools like Weinberg and SESP have increased funding due in part to their growing ability to write research grant applications. “Our faculty are really exceptional and creative and competitive in garnering funds from the major agencies,” said Kelly Mayo, Weinberg’s research dean. For Feinberg, whose funding decreased by 8 percent to $317 million, the funding decrease for fiscal year 2011 came as no shock, said Dr. Rex Chisholm, the vice dean of scientific affairs and graduate studies in Feinberg. See research, page 6
the daily northwestern
A recent rash of anti-immigration graffiti on Evanston’s north side may be more than just a few isolated incidents. Evanston Police Cmdr. Tom Guenther on Monday evening said a crime analyst will be compiling the six reports of similar vandalism and examining them collectively. No arrests have been made in connection with the anti-immigration graffiti, he added. The newest defacements appeared this weekend on the El underpass at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Lincoln Street and the Metra underpass by the intersection of Green Bay Road and Lincoln Street. One underpass was painted with, “Euro-Americans, do you want to become minorities? If so, support mass immigration! Circa 2042. Face difficult truths or be [disposed].” The language references a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate that white Americans will comprise less than 50 percent of the U.S. population by 2042, though they will still be the largest minority group. Police were alerted to the messages Sunday morning. Both markings have since been mostly removed. Previous anti-immigration
writings were also mostly removed after their discoveries on Metra viaducts along Green Bay Road from Lincoln to Livingston streets. One viaduct featured the claim “whites will be minorities by 2042” and the question of whether “we all (will) just be poorer” consequently. Another statement said, “Let America decline, support mass immigration. Demography is destiny.” Throughout his 45 years of living on Lincoln Street, Robert McCray said he has never seen graffiti of this nature. City residents generally exhibit tolerant attitudes, he said. “Evanston is pretty progressive in my opinion,” said McCray, citing the NUcommunity and the large proportion of Democrats in the city. “We’ve never had this sort of thing around here.”
In a Sept. 28 article in The Daily, Guenther said the graffiti is relatively “unusual” for its articulateness and pointed subject, referring to the first three reported incidents. Though McCray said the messages’ exact motives are unclear, they are indicative of the country’s current political climate. “The political scene is pretty crazy now,” he said. Last month, City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz told The Daily the graffiti ultimately reflects free speech. “It’s a balance of time and place for that free speech,” Bobkiewicz said after three incidents were reported. kimberlyrailey2014@ u.northwestern.edu patricksvitek2014@ u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo
Graffiti: Anti-immigration messages are being investigated.
The Daily Northwestern
2 News
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Around Town
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New store delivers infant items
Editor in Chief Katherine Driessen eic@dailynorthwestern.com General Manager Stacia Campbell stacia@dailynorthwestern.com
By Cathaleen Qiao Chen
the daily northwestern
Adeline’s Room, a baby boutique that markets itself as a learning community for modern families, opened in downtown Evanston this fall. The store, located at 602 Davis St. in September, features baby products and classes for new mothers as well as clothes, carriers, bath products, breast-feeding supplies and toys. The inventory is determined based on customer suggestions and product reviews, founder and manager Christine Kim said. She said opening the store is fulfilling her goal of helping mothers. “I have a huge respect for moms,” Kim said. “At this particular point in time, women have a Women hard time starting families because they’re so have a hard far away from their own time starting families. We don’t have the sort of community families that generations before us has had, so (Adeline’s because Room) is designed to they’re so far help women in that transition.” away from Kim said her goal their own of creating a welcoming place for mothers families. is reflected in the name of her store, which is an Christine Kim, homage to author VirOwner, ginia Woolf ’s “A Room of One’s Own.” Located Adeline’s Room near Whole Foods Market, 1640 Chicago Ave., and Peet’s Coffee and Tea, 1622 Chicago Ave., the store is convenient for families, she said. “If parents need a place to regroup while they’re running errands, then this is a welcoming space for them,” Kim said. Carolyn Dellutri, executive director of Downtown Evanston, said she is pleased with the new
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Cathaleen Qiao Chen/The Daily Northwestern
New kid on the block: Adeline’s Room offers baby boutique items for new mothers at its location on Davis Street. The store also offers maternity classes for new moms.
store’s presence. “We think Adeline’s Room is a great addition to the business of downtown Evanston,” said Dellutri, who attended the store’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony involved a mini-party and a meet-up for kids and parents to meet other families in the community, according to a Downtown Evanston press release. In addition to products for infants, the store’s family courses include prenatal yoga, infant massage and infant sign language, according to its website. The weekly classes, taught by professionals, aim to transition women into motherhood. Adeline’s Room also offers free services such as changing tables, group play dates and a play area
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for parents. Augie Lacapra, an Evanston State Farm agent and father of two children, said he counts on Adeline’s not only for its convenience but also its quality. “Every time a client has a child, I bring them something from Adeline’s,” said Lacapra, who picked up a pocketed bib for his one-year-old son. “The products are always so unique.” Beyond the basic necessities, Adeline’s also offers specialty products such as organic mattresses, cloth diapers and baby T-shirts with classic book references to “Moby Dick,” “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Brave New World.”
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The Daily Northwestern
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
News 3
On Campus Greek life aims to combat stereotypes, recruit By Alexandria Johnson
the daily northwestern
Last week, hundreds of freshmen were introduced to Greek life on a large scale for the first time since beginning college. Greek organizations hosted numerous events from Top Chef: Greek Edition to a day of service around campus to foster community spirit and counter Greek life stereotypes. Although freshmen cannot join a fraternity or sorority until Winter They might Quarter, preview and feel it’s a pre-recruitment events being Fall Quarter. social club, Most notably, this week and they don’t Northwestern’s Sigma Chi chapter announced necessarily its annual fall concert will feature hip-hop see all the artist Shaggy on Oct. benefits of it. 16. Other chapters have begun advocating for their respective philanHazim thropies on campus. Ahmad, Panhellenic AssociaMGC President tion president Kirstin Nordhaus said the opportunities to join a value-based community and establish a network of friends outweigh some negative perceptions about Greek life. Although 35 percent of students on campus — about 2,700 undergraduates — are involved in Greek life, students’ motivations for going Greek vary. Some join for social reasons, appreciating the events organized by the community, while others seek networking opportunities that will benefit them in post-college job searches. “The realities of that at Northwestern far outweigh the stereotypes I encountered on campus or before coming to college,” said Nordhaus, a SESP senior. NU’s Greek system consists of the
Interfraternity Council, which has 17 fraternity chapters, and the Panhellenic Association, which has 12 sorority chapters. The setup also includes the Multicultural Greek Council, an organization of six culturally-based fraternities and sororities, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which possesses seven black fraternities and sorority chapters. MGC President Hazim Ahmad said he sought out fraternity membership in Omega Delta Phi in order to gain service experience and benefit from a small, established brotherhood. “I was able to be very involved in the multicultural community,” the McCormick senior said. “I found my niche. Being in a fraternity, I was able to cater my Northwestern experience.” For Medill senior Ashleigh Joplin , Greek life was always a part of the college experience. Both of her older sisters were affiliated with the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the presence of an AKA chapter drew her to NU. “Pretty much since I was about 10, I knew I was going to be a member of their sorority,” said Joplin, who is now president of NU’s AKA chapter and vice president of NPHC. “That was a big factor in which colleges I was going to pick. If it didn’t have AKA on campus, then I probably wouldn’t really even apply.” Others enter the Greek scene with less certainty, debating the role of affiliation in the college experience. Weinberg senior Andrew Duble , now IFC president, was reluctant to rush his freshman year, but decided to pursue fraternity life after encouragement from his family. Since pledging Sigma Alpha Epsilon during his freshman year, he said he has enjoyed a variety of roles within the system. “I’ve loved my experience. I think Greek life provides an opportunity in leadership. It exceeded my expectations,” Duble said. “NU has a very unique Greek system. There have been issues in the past with hazing, alcohol and misogyny, but NU does a great job being
proactive in addressing these issues.” Ahmad said these issues are often at the forefront of discussion surrounding Greek life, and that many fail to recognize the philanthropic activities involved with membership. “They might feel it’s just a social club, and they don’t necessarily see all the benefits of it,” Ahmad said. “When I first came to college, I thought the same thing: that fraternities are just social and go to parties. That’s what the culture is in American media. (But) there’s definitely a lot more to it.” For fraternity and sorority members, those benefits of affiliation extend beyond the college environment, offering opportunities for networking in the professional world. “Being involved in a sorority provides great opportunities for leadership and getting more involved in campus activities as well, and I think all of that lends itself well to building your resume,” said Nicki Meneley, executive director of the National Panhellenic Conference. The organization’s member groups often offer social networking opportunities, mentoring programs and job connections websites in order to maintain sorority bonds after college. “If the women that are graduating take advantage of those, it’s a great way to get networked and find out about job opportunities and really utilize the sorority experience to benefit them after college,” Meneley said. While some seniors step back from sorority and fraternity life in their final year and decrease involvement with their chapters, Ahmad said he plans to maintain a moderate level of involvement. “I definitely feel I’m going to have a very strong affiliation to my chapter,” he said. “This is the reason I’m having such a great experience at Northwestern, but at the same time, I support the Greek community at Northwestern, not just my chapter.” Joplin believes there are numerous benefits to staying involved in NPHC and AKA after
Rafi Letzter/The Daily Northwestern
Letters: Though official recruitment does not begin until Winter Quarter, chapters on campus have begin publicizing their events and philanthropies around campus.
college, including opportunities to network and continue volunteering to make the world a better place. “You join your respective fraternity or sorority with the idea that you are going to be a member for the rest of your life and that you will continue to pay dues,” Joplin said. “You will continue to go meetings because you will be a part of a grad chapter, and you will still be active until the day you die.” alexandriajohnson2015@u.northwestern.edu
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forum ALI ELKIN Daily columnist
Corporations can be the Apples of consumers’ eyes The first Apple product I ever coveted was Elle Woods’ orange iBook in “Legally Blonde.” I was 11 years old. In the movie, Elle buys the computer while wearing a sparkly Playboy bunny costume, her fluffy white tail bobbing with determination as the spunky montage music begins. She will take control of her life. She will kick some law school butt. She will stick out in a lecture hall full of black laptops. I was mesmerized. And when I got my own computer a few years later, I chose an iBook. Steve Jobs’ death was met with widespread expressions of sadness and admiration. Some of those expressions came from those who are currently protesting the influence of corporations. Of course someone’s death should always be treated with due somberness and respect, but I can think of no other tremendously successful CEO who has an equal stronghold within consumers’ hearts. In an interview for The Street, a financial blog, Wall Street protesters voiced admiration for Jobs’ achievements, one even saying the technology he created was what allowed the protestors to mobilize. There was one who was critical of Apple, calling its lawsuit against Android manufacturer HTC “anti-competitive.”
The Daily Northwestern Volume 131, Issue 149 Editor in Chief Katherine Driessen
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Managing Editors Kris Anne Bonifacio and Annie Chang
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page 4
Wednesday, october 12, 2011
Jobs’ success is somehow exempt from the 99 percent’s classification of “corporate greed,” which is useful for all 100 percent of us to consider. Under Jobs, Apple made consumers feel like individuals when buying its mass marketed products. Through compelling design and marketing, we came to view PCs as the stuff of work and Macs as the stuff of life. The “I’m a Mac” ad campaigns that personified the product as Justin Long in a hoodie told us the technology we used could be an extension of ourselves. It became worthwhile for that technology to be very, very cool. Virgin Mobile is currently using a similar idea in its TV advertising. Saatchi & Saatchi, an advertising firm, has come up with a name for brands to which consumers feel a strong emotional connection. They call them Lovemarks and say they “transcend brands” by gaining consumers’ love along with their respect. Since branding is their thing, I’m a little surprised they chose to give the concept a name that sounds like something on your neck the day after a midnight tryst that needs to be covered by a pashmina, but the idea perfectly describes the consumer relationship to Apple. Other brands are not feeling the love. In D.C., protesters made a giant replica of The Declaration of Independence that read “We the Corporations.” The signatures were replaced with logos, including Amazon’s and Microsoft’s. Apple’s logo was absent, though corporate personhood is what allows it to protect its patents and so very effectively make us want to buy its very sleek products. We’re often willing to get behind the accomplishments of the people we love, even if our feelings for them are not entirely rational. We want them to succeed and we celebrate their accomplishments. Loving people makes it hard to recognize when they are taking advantage of us. It even makes it hard to recognize when they really are doing something that’s illegal or unethical. When we don’t love someone, we’re less likely to celebrate his or her success. We might even resent it. But it makes no sense to write off every successful person we do not happen to love as inherently evil. You probably see where I’m going with this, but this might be another case in which we should apply the same standard to corporations.
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Ali Elkin is a Medill senior. She can be reached at originalgangster@u.northwestern.edu. Illustration by Tanner Maxwell
thriving black market economy and a slew of silly sanctions that defy common sense. The summary of the NCAA’s 2011-12 Division 1 Regulations states that athletes Daily columnist will be ineligible to play if they have used their athletic skills for pay in any form in their sport. This prohibits them from working at sports camps, which is just one example. To give you a sense of the reigning absurdity, consider that in 2009, the NCAA hit the University of South Carolina’s athletic department with sanctions for giving basketball players “impermissible snacks” – fruit and bagels – outside of breakfast, lunch and As a moderately successful high school dinner. Earlier this year, a scandal erupted soccer player and wrestler, I have an unsoat Ohio State because football players – licited, contradictory confession to make to gasp!!! – traded jerseys for cash. A rhetoristudent-athletes at NU: I envy you but think cal question clarifies things even further: you’re very mistreated. Would anyone object if a math major were On the one hand, I wish that I had been to fund his trips to Chipotle with a tutoring talented enough to continue playing sports business? in college. I miss shouting One could object to salty exhortations at my what I’ve said on the Would anyone object grounds athletes are teammates and yelling unrepeatable pejoratives with both if a math major were compensated about the opposition in tuition and room and the soccer team’s preboard. However, accordto fund his trips match huddle. I long ing to a report by the to Chipotle with a for the butterflies that National Collegiate Playfluttered when I revved ers Association, which tutoring business? up my iPod’s wrestling advocates for college playlist and began to pace athletes, “the average full the dimly lit gyms where I strained sinews, scholarship at a Football Bowl Series unihoping to get my hand raised by a pudgy ref versity lacks $3,222 in educational expenses, with a thick gray mustache. Even looking at including everything from parking fees to calendars feels funny; the only dates that I utilities charges.” Your average college athmentally circle and obsess over are academic lete is hardly living a life of decadence. ones. Even coaches find this arrangement fishy. I realize that I’m waxing a little nostalSteve Spurrier, who coaches the University gic here. I hated waking up early, coming of South Carolina’s football team has told the home late and feeling totally exhausted. I Associated Press that “50 years ago, athletes also know that we have a full spectrum of got full scholarships. Television income intramural sports – although I’d say that was … maybe $50,000? … Now everybody’s they simply don’t feel the same. Teammates getting 14, 15 million bucks and they’re still can only skip optional practices for next getting a scholarship.” week’s economics quiz so many times before As things stand, according to Prof. Allen my enthusiasm wanes. I also don’t want to Sack, who played football at the University romanticize D-1 varsity sports; their pracof Notre Dame and is currently a business tices probably make my competitive matches professor at the University of New Haven, look like Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Still, what “Anybody who can write a business plan is they do thrills me. I can only imagine how able to make money from big-time college it would feel to score a big goal at Lakeside sports — except the athletes themselves.” Field or pin a guy at Welsh-Ryan Arena. In the spirit of the free market and what’s But, for the same reasons I envy them, I left of American capitalism, the NCAA think they deserve better. Just as the Olymshould, like the Olympics, let you engage pics once did, to the detriment of absolutely in whatever (legal) business activity you no one, the National Collegiate Athletic please off the field. It’s only fair; the rest of Association should eliminate amateurism, us already do. the antiquated concept that prohibits college athletes from receiving compensation Michael Kurtz is a Weinberg junior. He can be for their skills. This would put an end to a reached at MichaelKurtz2013@u.northwestern.edu
THE DRAWING BOARD
by Sara Dunberg
MICHAEL KURTZ
NCAA’s no-pay policy exploits student athletes
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Daily Northwestern
News 5
Proximity to Metra stops boosts home value By Alexandria Johnson
the daily northwestern
RE/MAX Northern Illinois released its fourth annual Metra community study last week, revealing home values in Metra-served communities — including Evanston — were higher than in other communities over the past five years. “What the Metra study has been studying is if houses that are located in markets that have Metra lines show any type of difference in towns where there is not a line,” said Laura Ortoleva, RE/MAX Northern Illinois communication strategist. Although the study reported Metra communities generally have shown increased home values, data from 2011 indicated a decrease in values. “We know that living in proximity to a commuter rail line or CTA line increases the value of the house, not exclusively monetarily, but it makes it much more attractive for people to say you live within walking distance of a train station,” Metra spokesperson Michael Gillis said. “It’s not surprising this study has come to this conclusion.” Overall, home values in the area have suffered greatly since the housing boom of 2006, the study
reports. Median home values decreased from a median of $242,000 in the spring of 2006 to a median of $160,000 in the spring of 2011. The average market time — how long a house is for sale — increased from an average of 87 days in 2006 to an average of 179 days in 2011. “I think this is primarily because of the global market, and I think that is what affects us the most,” Ortoleva said. “It affects everything and makes it harder to rebound.” Evanston’s median home values for the first six months of 2006 were $342,500. Median home values for January through June of both 2010 and 2011 were $296,000 and $288,500 respectively. “Our UP (Union Pacific) North line runs through Evanston, and we have a lot of riders in Evanston,” Gillis said. “It is a thriving area. I’d say Metra is probably one of the factors there, but there are other factors as well.” Ortoleva said selling times on homes are decreasing and that this is the best time to buy a home. “The houses are becoming more and more quicker to sell,” Ortoleva said. “Consumer confidence has somewhat stabilized.” alexandriajohnson2015@u.northwestern.edu
Rafi Letzter/The Daily Northwestern
All aboard: A recent RE/MAX report said home value in Evanston and along most Metra stops was increased by its access to the transportation service.
New iPhone app helps NU students get Evanston discounts By Stephanie Haines
the daily northwestern
Northwestern University Services is now listed in an iPhone4 and Android app called Vidappe, which alerts students of nearby stores’ discounts. Created by 2010 Cornell University graduate Star Li, the app organizes the day-to-day discounts a person can redeem simply by flashing a membership card — or, for Northwestern students, a WildCARD. Vidappe allows the user to choose a geographic region and then a specific membership program for the user’s area. The app can notify the user of locations within both driving and walking distances; the driving setting alerts the user of discounts within a mile radius, and the walking setting reminds users within a block radius. “There are so many existing discounts that people
don’t know about,” Li said. “All they have to do is show a membership card or a school ID.” Though her app is only three months old, 78 colleges and more than 80 businesses are listed on its alert system. Now, Li is working to globalize it. She said she advertises the free app by personally contacting membership departments of local businesses, student governments and student media outlets. “It’s really a side tool for organizations to say ‘Hey, by the way, we have this discount,’” Li said. Li said she contacted NU Services Marketing and Communications Manager Jessica Jacobs about Vidappe. Jacobs decided to list NU on the app for the benefit of both students and Evanston businesses. According to Jacobs, business owners have responded enthusiastically to the student patronage they rake in from the WildCARD advantages. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship,” she said.
Manager Hector Garcia of Cold Stone Creamery, 1611 Sherman Ave., said he knows about Vidappe and is currently working to be listed on the application. Cold Stone has been offering a 10 percent WildCARD advantage discount for five years. Although the offer has been good for business, Garcia said he is not sure whether the app will make a marked difference. “No one walks around just looking for discounts,” said Garcia. “But it wouldn’t hurt to be listed on the app.” Despite Li’s efforts, many Evanston businesses do not yet know about the app. Local beauty store Benefit Boutique, 1625 Sherman Ave., has offered a 10 percent discount for WildCARD holders for five years. Assistant Manager Stephanie Aitkin said although she has not heard about Vidappe, she believes it could increase awareness of Benefit’s
service. Other business owners and managers do not see evident benefits of the app, or even a WildCARD discount. Eddie Lakin, owner of Edzo’s Burger Shop, 1571 Sherman Ave., said he recently decided to remove his discount offer because he said it did not make much difference to his business. “A small discount doesn’t make or break a visit,” Lakin said. Weinberg sophomore Shruti Zaveri agreed that the app will not impact students’ personal shopping or dining habits. “I don’t think the app would motivate anyone to go into Evanston,” Zaveri said. “But if they were already there, the alerts would be beneficial.” stephaniehaines2015@u.northwestern.edu
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The Daily Northwestern
6  News
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Some aldermen surprised by list
NU ranks in top-10 priciest schools list
From violation, page 1
Mati of ANG Management, echoed Rainey’s sentiments, recalling what she said was an ignorance among some aldermen. “It was obvious there were aldermen who had no idea about that list,� she said. “They were as caught off guard as the landlords.� The list was an even fresher revelation to Ald. Coleen Burrus (9th), who said she was not fully familiar with it until stepping into the council chambers Monday night. “I heard that there was a list out there, but I didn’t exactly know where or who it was from,� she said Tuesday. But because Burrus works in the University’s Office of Corporate Relations, she said she always distances herself from “anything to do with NU� leading up to council discussions. With the property listings officially retracted, some dispute remains among the several landlords who showed up at Monday’s council meeting. Mati said the city’s faulty methodology in curating the list is similar to another
From expense, page 1
socioeconomic diversity at NU. “Obviously it’s seen as kind of a rich kid school in suburban Chicago,� Denhart said. “Qualified students from many different demographics do add a diverse component to the campus that other students can learn from and that will benefit them in their careers.� Many students, many of whom are able to attend NU because of the school’s financial policies, said they don’t see NU as unaffordable. “I think they’re great,� Weinberg freshman Kalyn Kahler said of NU’s financial aid office. Kahler said she was accepted to NU through its binding early decision program and worked with Financial Aid to make sure she could afford her firstchoice school. “I really wasn’t expecting to get any money because I’m white and middle class.� Communication freshman Abiola Aderonmu, whose combination of outside scholarships and University aid means she pays almost nothing outof-pocket to attend NU, said she was similarly pleased with Financial Aid. “I don’t think there’s a school that does it better,� Aderonmu said. “There are very few schools that can afford to meet 100 percent of kids’ needs, so it’s pretty awesome that we can do it here.� Several of the schools on the Forbes list, University of Chicago (No. 2) and Washington University in St. Louis (No. 4), share similar characteristics with NU, particularly their urban or suburban settings. Mills noted that this was likely a factor in the list’s results. “The costs of living and conducting business in Chicago, in New York, in Boston and so forth are very high,� he said. Mills echoed Denhart’s opinions regarding diversity on the NU campus. “People who go to school in a diverse environment tend to maintain cross-cultural and cross-racial friendships much more than people who go to an isolated environment,� Mills said. Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., topped the Forbes list for the second year in a row.
council debate — new development along Central Street. She said some complaints on the original index were as many as three years old. Mati added some listings were reported by anonymous observers and never followed up on by city personnel. Such negligence would be like complaining about stumbling upon a mouse in a Central Street cafe’s bathroom two years ago, Mati said. “How does that work?� she said Tuesday night. “If the list is antiquated? Or a fraud? Or not up to date?� Aldermen declined to comment on the index’s credibility but Wilson said he was mostly satisfied with Monday’s outcome. “I definitely believe I was heard and things will change going forward,� he said. The Daily was unable to reach other city officials, including Evanston spokesman Eric Palmer, on Tuesday evening. Kimberly Railey contributed reporting. patricksvitek2014@u.northwestern.edu
Kaitlin Svabek/Daily senior staffer
Controversy: Off-campus chalking about the city’s list of violations, specifically the ‘brothel law,’ has surfaced.
2011 research funding announced From research, page 1
Like Walsh, Chisholm said he understood the ARRA program was ending, which would be illustrated through the final funding amount. Instead, he said, he worries about attaining funding for fiscal year 2012 in the face of a predicted NIH decrease. “It just reflects economic realities in the federal budget,� Chisholm said. Dr. Teepu Siddique, one of the main researchers behind Feinberg’s recent discovery of a common cause of all forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, said he will not be able to continue his research on ALS if he does not get any grant money. Currently, he has no federal funding, and his last grant ended in June. If he doesn’t get any more grant money, he said, he will not be able
jdiebold@u.northwestern.edu
to pay the rent for his work space. “We’ll go home,� he said. Besides federal sources, faculty researchers can apply for grants through nongovernmental organizations such as the American Heart Association. However, these organizations come with their own financial limitations. “They have much smaller research portfolios available,� Chisholm said. Unlike faculty research, NU’s funding for undergraduate research through the office of the Provost has increased from last year, said Peter Civetta, the assistant to the associate provost and coordinator of undergraduate research programs. In 2011, the office gave out about $453,000 compared to the previous year’s approximate $386,000. The funding comes out of the Office
of the Provost. According to Civetta, the office has been providing more money because of the growing interest in undergraduate research by students. “One of the things it allows them to do is give them the ability to discover something that’s theirs,� Civetta said. “You get to study what you care about, not what somebody else thinks is important.� Chisholm said he thinks research is an integral part of NU, and affects the quality of its students and faculty members. “In some ways, it’s an important lifeblood of the university,� he said. “Those are the things that elevate the quality of the intellectual life we have at Northwestern.� safiyamerchant2014@u.northwestern.edu
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wednesday, October 11, 2011
ON DECK Men’s Soccer NU vs. Northern Illinois, Lakeside Field, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday Men’s Tennis ITA Midwest Regional Championships, All Day. Thursday
“
Cats seek to keep spirits up By Josh Walfish
Cats hope to build on momentum with win over Huskies
The last time the Wildcats took on a regional rival, it didn’t go so well: Northwestern was the victim of a 4-0 bludgeoning at DePaul on Sept. 28 . NU (5-4-3, 1-0-1 Big Ten) is hoping for better results this time around as it takes on Northern Illinois (8-3-0, 0-2-0 Mid-American Conference) at Lakeside Field. The Wednesday night matchup marks the fourth game out of their last five which the Cats have played outside of the Big Ten. The Cats have turned a corner of sorts recently. Over its past six games, NU has gone 4-1-1, including a hard-fought draw against No. 12 Notre Dame and a victory over conference foe Ohio State. Last season, NU also entered its matchup with Northern Illinois on a positive streak, having just defeated Ohio State . The Cats’ momentum was silenced by the Huskies, however, as they fell 2-0 at home despite out-shooting their opponents 15-9. Northern Illinois scored both of its goals on set pieces , one in each half. The Huskies once again bring a highly impressive defense to the field. They are second in the Mid-American Conference in goals against average, surrendering just 0.65 goals per game. The Cats have gone 5-2-1 against the Huskies under coach Tim Lenahan . — Jonah Rosenblum
If (the fans) don’t (expect us to win), go root for somebody else. We expect to win every damn game. — Pat Fitzgerald, football coach
KEVIN TRAHAN Daily sports
It’s still up to us to fill the seats
the daily northwestern
Keeping one’s morale up during a losing streak is never easy. That is the challenge Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald faces as his team tries to bounce back from three straight losses heading into a rivalry game with Iowa on Saturday. One way the coaching staff combatted the challenge was to remind the players of their skills even after the loss to Michigan. Fitzgerald said he wanted to reiterate that, despite the losing streak, the sky wasn’t falling in on his team. “When you’re in the middle of a storm and y ou’re n ot If you finding a way to win, you’ve can’t lead got to showyourself, case and highlight the areas you can’t we’re playing ve r y wel l,” lead Fitzgerald anybody said. “There are a number else. of areas where we’re playPat ing very well. We wanted to Fitzgerald, remind them Football coach they are great players individually, but we got to be great players collectively as a team.” Fitzgerald said the key to keeping morale up is to control the voice inside one’s mind. He said his job is to keep his players from concentrating on the fans and media who criticize the team. The key to getting out of the rut is to stay the course and only tweak things when necessary, and to avoid a major overhaul like Tiger Woods initiated after his issues, he said. Fitzgerald did say, however, that it is not all on the coaches to control the mindset of the players. At the end of the day, only the players themselves
ON THE RECORD
Sharon Paravastu/The Daily Northwestern
Purple pressure: A full student section attempted to inspire the Wildcats to an upset victory over the No. 12 Wolverines, but their efforts were in vain. Coach Pat Fitzgerald said the energy is a good sign.
can decide what they listen to and what they choose to ignore, he said. “It falls on everyone individually,” Fitzgerald said. “The first sign of a leader is a guy who can lead himself. If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead anybody else.” Al Netter, one of the team’s captains and a member of the team’s 10-player Leadership Council, said one of the key messages the seniors send to the team is to avoid dwelling on past results, stay focused on the task at hand and look toward the future. To do so, the team stays loose during practices. The cheering, jawing and high-fiving during practice keep morale high — especially in a tough stretch like this one, he said. “That’s been a point of emphasis for us,” said Netter, a senior left tackle. “Just go out, have fun this week at practice. Enjoy the little things and get better, get better, get better.”
There is a difference between this three-game losing streak and the Wildcats’ last three-game losing streak, which occurred at the end of last season. According to Fitzgerald, the subtle difference is that while the 2010 team lost its edge, this year’s team has continued to play physically and control the line of scrimmage. The true issue with this year’s team, he said, is the big “explosion plays” that suck out every ounce of positive thought. Netter agreed the issue this season is more mental than physical, but he said that it will take both aspects to beat the Hawkeyes. “It’s a little bit of both,” Netter said. “This game is going to be a very physical game, but what is going to be important for us is going to be the mental aspect. Just get over that hump, especially at the start of the second half, find a way to become more consistent
and not have that lull that we’ve had in the past few weeks.” One of the few positives Fitzgerald said he takes from fans’ criticism is that they expect NU to win. The added pressure from fans really excites Fitzgerald. “I like it,” Fitzgerald said. “I like it a lot. If (the fans) don’t (expect us to win), go root for somebody else. We expect to win every damn game. We expect to control the game and win the game and when we don’t, nobody’s more disappointed and nobody’s more upset than I am. But I’m not going to let that make me put my head down. We’re going to fight our way and scratch and claw and find a way to win and if guys don’t follow that lead, then they’re going to have to get out of the way because that’s where we’re going.” joshuawalfish2014@u.northwestern.edu
Prayers abound for Gilson By Jonah Rosenblum
daily senior staffer
Fans who arrived early to Ryan Field on Saturday night were part of a moment far scarier than any blown halftime lead. Chain crew member Fred Gilson, 83, who has roamed the Northwestern sidelines for the past 47 seasons, suffered a heart attack about 45 minutes before the start of the Wildcats’ matchup with the Wolverines. “The entire Northwestern community is praying for a full recovery of our family member, Fred Gilson,” Athletic Director Jim Phillips wrote in an email Tuesday. “Fred has been an integral part of the football game operations for the past (47) seasons. He remains in our thoughts, prayers, and hearts during this difficult period and the entire NU community stands by his side every step of the way.” An ambulance was brought on to the field to drive Gilson to Evanston Hospital, where his condition stabilized, according to The Chicago Tribune. Phillips spent the duration of the match with Gilson and didn’t even know the score of the game until well after 11 p.m. NU declined to comment on Gilson’s condition, but Cats coach Pat Fitzgerald hinted at a positive prognosis. “We’ve certainly had Fred in our thoughts and prayers the past few days,” Fitzgerald said. “We were thrilled to hear that he was resting comfortably at the hospital earlier this week. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he can get
Sharon Paravastu/The Daily Northwestern
Frightening moment: A hushed silence came over the crowd at Ryan Field as Fred Gilson was carted into a waiting ambulance.
back on the sidelines in the coming weeks.” Evanston Hospital had no record of Gilson as of Monday night. Saturday’s cardiac incident was only the latest in a series of medical issues throughout the Big Ten. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio suffered a heart attack last season and Minnesota coach Jerry Kill suffered
a seizure on the sidelines earlier this season. NU had its own experience several seasons ago, when Fitzgerald’s predecessor, coach Randy Walker, suffered a heart attack and died when he was just 52 years old. jonahrosenblum2012@u.northwestern. edu
Unlike so many stadiums around college football, Ryan Field has rarely been synonymous with “electric.” With a capacity of 47,130, it pales in comparison to most Big Ten stadiums, including the Big House in Michigan and Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, both of which hold more than 100,000 fans. Ryan Field will never be the Big House. It can’t be. Northwestern is the Big Ten’s only private school and has an undergraduate enrollment of only 8,943. Nebraska, the conference’s secondsmallest school, has an undergraduate enrollment of 18,955. Many NU alumni leave the Chicago area after graduating — whereas many graduates of the conference’s state schools stay in-state after graduation — and the school is located in a saturated sports market, leaving potential Wildcats fans with plenty of places to go besides Ryan Field. Chicago has a lot more to do on a Saturday night than Lincoln, Iowa City or Ann Arbor might offer. Despite the athletic department’s efforts and marketing slogans — we all know by now who “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” is — Ryan Field will never have a top college football atmosphere and it will likely continue to endure the “high school stadium” jokes from the rest of the Big Ten. But as we saw Saturday against Michigan, Ryan Field can still be electric. Saturday night was a showcase of sorts for the NU program. The Michigan game was NU’s only sellout of the year so far and will likely continue to be its only sellout of the season. It was a night game against the No. 12 team in the nation that aired in prime time on national television. Apart from the Wrigley Field game last season, it’s the most exposure NU has received in quite awhile. And while the Wildcats failed to showcase their play on the field very well — Michigan scored 28 unanswered points en route to a 42-24 win — the fans gave the country a taste of Ryan Field at its finest. For the first time in years, Ryan Field was a spectacle reminiscent of big-time college football everywhere. As safety Brain Peters led the Wildcats out onto the field with an American flag in hand, I got goosebumps, just as I do during the “Jump Around” at Wisconsin, a whiteout at Penn State or the playing of “In Heaven There is no Beer” at Iowa. That’s as good a measure of electric as you’ll find. “I’d like to thank our great fans tonight for the support, especially our students,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said after the game. “It was absolutely an outstanding environment. We thank them and expect it moving forward and we’ll see them back in a few weeks for homecoming.” Now, the name of the game is consistency. Just like the team must be with its play, the fans must be more consistent with their support. Northwestern’s next home game, a night matchup with Penn State, is Homecoming and represents another rare chance for the Wildcats to put on a showcase for the nation. Ryan Field will never be the biggest stadium in the Big Ten, nor will it be the loudest or most intimidating. But despite its size, Ryan Field can have an amazing atmosphere on game day, and it’s up to the fans to make that happen again on. Sports writer Kevin Trahan covers the Wildcats for Scout.com. He can be reached at kevintrahan2015@u.northwestern.edu
