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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, April 14, 2022
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12 SPORTS/Student Section
9 CAMPUS/Activism
4 A&E/Mental Health
Fans reflect on the return of audiences
Student organizers discuss the impact of pandemic-era activism and community
Student groups take on mental health initiatives
High 52 Low 40
Low income students discuss food access Students look for solutions amid offcampus housing By ASTRY RODRIGUEZ
the daily northwestern @astry_tpwk
Illustration by Gemma DeCetra
The lab will help Evanston access timely policy resources, local housing data, technical assistance, research support and a network of other cities attempting to tackle similar issues.
City joins equitable housing lab Forman Center Housing Solutions Lab to help Evanston innovate By AVANI KALRA
daily senior staffers @avanidkalra
Evanston will join the NYU Furman Center Housing Solutions
Lab, which aims to help small and midsize cities develop innovative and equitable housing solutions, the city announced last month. The lab will help the city access timely policy resources, local housing data, technical assistance,
research support and a network of other cities attempting to tackle similar issues. Mayor Daniel Biss said he is excited about the opportunities available through the Housing Solutions Lab. “Evanston has a lot of work to
do when it comes to affordable housing,” Biss told The Daily in an email. “The Housing Solutions Lab Network will expose us both to expert input from leaders in the
» See HOUSING, page 6
As a low-income student who has lived off campus for two years, McCormick senior Yaritza Chavez doesn’t have a Northwestern meal plan, so she said she has to balance the responsibility of credit card and utility bills in her everyday decisions, especially when grocery shopping. “The transition from junior year to senior year … that’s been pretty difficult,” Chavez said. “Now (with in-person classes), I have to actually meal plan and pack my food.” For some low-income students living off campus for the first time, food accessibility is a major concern. Chavez said she is trying to find time to cook, instead of relying on microwaveable foods like she did during remote learning. She eats a lot of oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, and pasta or sandwiches for a fast, convenient lunch, Chavez said. Proximity is also a major concern in regard to food access, she said, as transportation often limits how much food she buys because she has to carry groceries back to her apartment.
Chavez said she prefers shopping at Jewel-Osco and Valli Produce because they have affordable options, wider variety and discounts — even though they are a 20- to 30-minute walk from her apartment. Closer options, like the downtown Evanston Target, are costly and do not stock a lot of produce, she said. “The vegetables are not (really) there,” Chavez said. “They’re overpriced, and second of all, the oranges themselves are bad quality … or go bad very quickly.” When McCormick senior and low-income student Jennifer Ibarra started living off campus about two years ago, it was the first time she ever had to shop for her own groceries, she said. Since then, she said she’s relied on budgeting. Ibarra said her financial aid helps her work grocery expenses into her budget. “Most of my (food) spending money is through my scholarship,” Ibarra said. “Every quarter, I get a refund, and then I basically divide that by the amount of months in a quarter.” Ibarra said Mint, an app in which users can create a personal budget and set budget goals, has been her number one resource. Her account has categories for grocery shopping and dining out. She said she tries to
» See FOOD, page 6
Local orgs prepare ASG presidential candidates face off for Passover food Slates talk student needs, Senate representation, ASG visibility Faith-based groups take measures to help keep kosher By AVIVA BECHKY
the daily northwestern @avivabechky
Last Sunday, Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler stood outside a grocery store in Skokie handing out flyers advertising a food drive. Among the items she wanted were gefilte fish and macaroons — both Passover staples — as well as kosher-for-Passover oil and jelly.
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“It was really exciting to watch the shopping carts fill with food,” she said. “Some people would come out with full bag-fulls of groceries to put in, some people had one item. When you add all those items up, it just filled my heart.” Her temple, Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, donated the food to The ARK’s kosher food pantries, which serve Chicagoarea Jews in need. Passover, a holiday commemorating the story of Jews’ exodus from Egypt, will begin Friday evening, and lasts seven to eight days,
» See KOSHER, page 6
By MAIA PANDEY and ALEX PERRY
the daily northwestern @maiapandey @whoisalexperry
Associated Student Government presidential and vice presidential candidates discussed student activism, Greek life, campus workers and ASG visibility in a debate Tuesday night, moderated by The Daily and Northwestern News Network. Weinberg junior Jason Hegelmeyer and SESP sophomore Donovan Cusick — who are running for president and vice president, respectively — currently serve as chair of ASG’s Campus Life Committee and ASG’s chief of staff. Weinberg
junior David Grow and Weinberg sophomore Camila Vicens are running for ASG president and vice president, respectively, and enter the campaign with less collective experience than their opponents. Grow currently serves as the College Republicans senator and sits on the Finance Committee, while Vicens has not previously served on ASG. Given his personal experiences on ASG, Grow said prioritizing student input is a priority of their campaign. Grow said ASG is disconnected from the general student population’s needs. Leading up to the campaign, he said he and Vicens
» See DEBATE, page 6
Jonah Elkowitz/The Daily Northwestern
Associated Student Government presidential candidates shake hands after the conclusion of Tuesday night’s debate.
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