THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017
FENCING
Cats seek strong performance at Vassar Invitational By PETER WARREN
the daily northwestern
Northwestern enters Saturday’s Vassar Invitational in Poughkeepsie, New York, as the favorite in all eight of its matches. As a result, the Wildcats have very high expectations for the upcoming stretch. “We should go undefeated,” coach Zach Moss said. “We should be able to beat every team there.” This is the third consecutive year NU is competing at the tournament. Over the previous two years, the Cats were 15-1, having only lost in 2015 to Cornell, which is not fencing at the Vassar Invitational this year. Instead, NU will face off against City College of New York, Fairleigh Dickinson, Haverford,
PETITION From page 1
DACA recipient — discussed the petition and read it aloud. After the event, students electronically signed the petition, Gerges said. “It was successful and a great start to our campaign,” the third-year law student said. “The energy was just really powerful, hearing all of the speakers and just seeing the community that we have. You don’t really see that in the classroom as much, but they matter and you see that support.” Gerges said she felt this event allowed her to advocate for friends and fellow students who may not be able to because of their status as a “Dreamer.” Christine Revelo-Lee, a third-year law student and co-founder of PODER, said the group crafted the petition as U.S. citizens rather than as future lawyers. Three hours after the petition’s launch, it had garnered 105 signatures, she said. After several drafting processes, the petition was read and edited by DACA recipients in the School of Law, different affinity groups on campus and School of Law staff, Revelo-Lee said. As future lawyers, law students hold a significant amount of power because they will take an oath to uphold the Constitution, she said. “Right now, there is no law on the books for
Queens, Sacred Heart, Stevens, Wagner and Wellesley in a nine-hour span. The Cats fenced against six of their weekend opponents last year at the invitational. In those meets, NU finished with 133 individual wins and only suffered 29 individual losses. Its results included a 24-3 win over Queens and a 26-1 victory over Haverford. Much like at the Elite Invitational last weekend, injuries will factor into the Cats’ performance “We are definitely are a little beat up but nothing major, just some things rest and recovery will help with,” Moss said. “It makes it a little harder this weekend because we don’t have as much depth as we normally would.” Two sophomores were injured over the past week. Epee Adelle Berdichevsky was hurt in the final practice before the Elite Invitational and Congress in respect to childhood arrivals who are undocumented,” Revelo-Lee said. “We are people who are going to be enforcing laws and we’re calling on you to make one so we can enforce it.” The petition has a three-phase plan, Revelo-Lee said. The group unveiled the petition and will collect signatures through Nov. 15 as part of the first phase, she said. Phase two will begin in January 2018 to contact and lobby local representatives, as well as to circulate it to other law schools. During the third phase, the group will try to “make as much noise as possible” before March, when the program ends, she said. Charlie Isaacs, a first-year law student and cofounder of PODER, said the petition can demonstrate to other law schools the need for legislation. Isaacs said the petition will also help unify the existing NU law student body to help “Dreamers” by reminding students that while they may be future lawyers, they have to focus on the humanity behind those who aren’t citizens. “When it comes to making big changes, we all have to find our own parts of the movement and our different roles,” Isaacs said. “I would like to see this petition represent a role in terms of getting other law schools to speak up and take action as well.” elizabethbyrne2020@u.northwestern.edu
will be sidelined for the second straight event, Moss said. Sabre Abby Tartell, who went 7-2 on the first day of the Elite Invitational, was injured in pre-bout warm-ups on Sunday and will also be out. Even with the lack of high-quality competition this weekend, NU will still look to improve on its previous performances. Freshman epee Anya Harkness said the team recently discussed staying mentally focused after losing early bouts, which happened against Penn last week. “One thing I think we collectively as a team need to work on is not letting one loss get to us,” Harkness said. “At the beginning of a meet, if one person loses one bout, the whole team gets stressed out from it.” In addition to winning all eight meets, Moss has other goals he wants to the see his team accomplish.
He said he hopes the Cats continue to find and cultivate their identity as a team. Moss said NU is going to outwork everybody, is extremely passionate for the sport and will never give up. Although the team identity is still in flux, junior foil Yvonne Chart said the Cats’ chemistry is as strong as it has been in recent years. She added the team has come together as a group and this year’s team chemistry has already surpassed that of last year’s team. “We have had some great opportunities to bond as a team both in practice and outside of practice,” Chart said. “A few people are taking advantage of those and are really getting to know each other on a deeper level rather than just as teammates during practice. I think that has made a big difference.” peterwarren2021@u.northwestern.edu
Source: Marsheda Ewulomi
First-year law student and co-founder of PODER Charlie Isaacs speaks in the Rubloff Atrium on Wednesday. The petition called for Congress to create legislation to support DACA recipients.
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AMONG THE GREATS
CLASS OF 1996 NU SYLLABUS YEARBOOK
PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE IN NORRIS FOR A LIMITED TIME. Several poses will be taken – in your own clothes and with cap and gown. Your choice will be available for purchase. All senior portraits must be taken by Life Touch Photography. $10 sitting fee required.
SIGN UP FOR YOUR SENIOR YEARBOOK PORTRAIT DON'T GET LEFT OUT! SCHEDULE YOUR PORTRAIT Now through Sunday, November 19 @ NORRIS Sign up at: www.OurYear.com NU Code: 87150 Walk-ins welcome (but appointments have priority). questions? email: syllabus@northwestern.edu or go to: www.NUsyllabus.com