sports Women’s Golf Fletcher steadily walks long road to the top » PAGE 8
opinion Hasson How ‘privilege’ can hurt reasoned debate » PAGE 4
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Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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City looks at rooftop safety improvements nor the 32-year-old man had ties to NU. The possibility of adding fencing or netting to buildings to make it more difficult for individuals to jump from them received a mostly negative reaction in January from aldermen on the Administration and Public Works Committee.
By Sophia Bollag
daily senior staffer @SophiaBollag
After three incidents in the past six months in which people died after falling from Evanston buildings, city officials are looking into ways to make rooftops safer. Officials are focusing on the Sherman Plaza apartments at 807 Davis St., where former Northwestern student Caleb Dayton jumped to his death in November. Officials plan to draft a proposal to install a fence around the rooftop parking lot and bring it before City Council this summer, city manager Wally Bobkiewicz said. “There remains concern, specifically among the tenants at Sherman Plaza, about the structure there,” Bobkiewicz told The Daily on Friday. “We’re coming up with a new proposal that we think will address some of the issues.” The parking lot currently has a short cement barrier. City officials intend to present a plan to Council in July asking for funds to install a chain-link fence around the entire perimeter of the lot, Bobkiewicz said. Dayton, 22, jumped from the top
“
There remains concern, specifically among the tenants at Sherman Plaza, about the structure there.
Brian Lee/Daily Senior Staffer
TAKING PRECAUTIONS The Sherman Plaza complex is one of the tallest buildings in Evanston. Changes to Sherman Plaza and other buildings have been proposed in the wake of several recent falling deaths.
of the 12-story garage on November 12. He had taken classes in the School of Continuing Studies earlier that year. Since Dayton’s death, two other
people have jumped to their deaths from other Evanston buildings. Ten days after Dayton’s suicide, a 22-yearold woman died as a result of jumping from the parking garage at 1800
Maple Ave. Last week, a 32-year-old man jumped to his death from the Optima Views condominium complex at 1720 Maple Ave. Neither the 22-year-old woman
Wally Bobkiewicz, city manager
At the meeting, assistant city manager Marty Lyons presented a research memo looking into possible solutions to the problem of people jumping from buildings. Most communities that had tried to address the issue did so with fencing or netting, he said. At the January meeting, Alds. Ann Rainey (8th) and Delores Holmes (5th) said they opposed installing fencing or netting on buildings. » See infrastructure, page 6
Panel talks race, drug arrests Former ASG head discusses activism
By Bailey Williams
the daily northwestern @news_BaileyW
By haYley glatter A panel hosted by the Democratic Party of Evanston on Tuesday discussed problems with punishments for drug possession in light of racial disparities in arrests and citations in Evanston. “Our goal is to get the conversation going in Evanston,” said Cynthia Cornelius, an Equal Justice Works fellow, who led the discussion. The event, “Drug Sentencing: Is It Time For Change?,” addressed an audience of about 30 people at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1004 Greenwood St. with panelists from a variety of backgrounds: Kathie Kane-Willis, the director of Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy at Roosevelt University; Susan Trieschmann, the owner of Evanston’s Curt’s Cafe; Dan Coyne, a law professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Evanston Police Department Officer Loyce Spells.
daily senior staffer @heyhay94
Bailey Williams/The Daily Northwestern
time for change? Four panelists address an audience Tuesday night at a Democratic Party of Evanston panel on drug sentencing. Speakers discussed not only their personal intimacy with the drug sentencing and incarceration situations, but also the racial disparity existing in Evanston arrests and tickets.
Coyne talked briefly about how people of color were more likely to be arrested for drug possession. A handout Kane-Willis created and distributed at the event broke down
incidents of arrests and ticketing in Evanston by race. Between 2008 and 2011, black Americans made up the » See drug, page 6
Bill to unite groups in poverty fight By Paige leskin
the daily northwestern @paigeleskin
State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) has sponsored a resolution in the Illinois House of Representatives aiming to unite the visions of various state groups toward developing an approach that would better fight poverty and hunger in the state. The resolution, first introduced by Gabel on May 8, asks Gov. Pat Quinn (D) to create a overarching
program to spur collaboration between state entities, which could “embolden and empower communities to advance low-cost and high return strategies to help end hunger and poverty,” the bill says. It was assigned Monday to the House’s Human Services Committee. The six Illinois groups mentioned in the bill each focus on different initiatives, including food, community service, employment and economic development. However, the goals of these organizations are fundamentally connected, Gabel
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
said. “I recognized there were a number of committees that had overlapping missions,” she told The Daily. “I think the governor’s office is the perfect place to bring together all those interests. An organized effort will provide the leadership to local (groups).” The bill comes in light of numbers indicating more than 1.8 million Illinois residents in 2012 – 14.2 percent of the state population » See food, page 6
Activist and former Associated Student Government president Jim Lewis spoke to students Tuesday night about his experiences with radical politics and student movements during his time at Northwestern. The talk was held in conjunction with University Library’s exhibit, “Apartheid to Democracy: 20 Years of Transition in South Africa.” During the event, Lewis (Weinberg ’78) highlighted his involvement with the divestment movement that urged American institutions to end support of South Africa’s apartheid system. In a racially tense campus environment, Lewis said his support of an African American student candidate for an Evanston aldermanic office was crucial in cementing a trust between himself and For Members Only, NU’s black student union, during the antiapartheid movement. “It was a more racially divided time,” Lewis said. “The relationship I had developed with the African-American community here sort of came into value because they wanted to see if the white guys in ASG were going to be with them on this thing.” Before becoming involved with the divestment movement, Lewis was part of Student Voice, a group advocating for mandatory course and teacher evaluations, students on the tenure committee and lower tuition. In conjunction with Student Voice, Lewis participated in rallies and a sit-in, during which he was almost arrested. The proliferation of the group impressed
Nathan Richards/Daily Senior Staffer
REMEMBER THE TIME Former Associated Student Government president Jim Lewis (Weinberg ‘78) told stories of his experiences Tuesday with activism and student movements at Northwestern.
Lewis, and he said he was inspired by its mobilization efforts. “We met every night, eventually, and built through the winter and past Christmas,” he said. “It got to where every night at 11 o’clock we would meet in the basement of Shepard Hall. And the group that was 20 became 30, became 40, became 50 through the winter there. Eventually, we got to the point where we had 100 people.” Erik Ponder, co-curator of the library exhibit, hoped attendees would appreciate this level of student engagement and apply it to their lives at NU. “All throughout the country around that time, you had students active and voicing their opinions,” Ponder said. » See lewis, page 6
INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8
2 NEWS | the daily northwestern wednesday, may 21, 2014
Around Town Council agrees to 20 percent emissions reduction by 2016
Evanston aldermen approved a plan to reduce emissions by 20 percent by 2016 at their meeting Monday night. The agreement comes in part as a result of the city achieving its first climate action plan goal, to, by 2012, reduce emissions by 13 percent from 2005 levels. That agreement was approved in 2008. The new goal, which sustainable programs coordinator Catherine Hurley called “bold, but achievable,” would reduce emissions by 20 percent by 2016 from 2005 levels and is part of a new socalled Evanston Livability Plan. During a presentation to the council on Monday, Hurley cited several sustainability efforts in Evanston that helped the city achieve the 13 percent reduction goal, including creating an office of sustainability. Hurley highlighted the city’s 100 percent renewable energy contract with Verde Energy USA, which she said had the biggest impact on Evanston’s reduction in emissions. Evanston approved a contract earlier this month with a new energy supplier that will allow residents to purchase 100 percent renewable energy. The
Police Blotter Can of green paint thrown at Evanston resident following chase
Someone threw a can of green paint at a 20-year-old Evanston resident on Northwestern’s campus Monday evening. Police responded to a disorderly conduct call at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday on the sidewalk by the corner of Lincoln Street and Sheridan Road, Evanston Police Cmdr. Jay Parrott said. Police located the 20-year-old there, who said an unknown person began chasing him before throwing a can of paint at him, police said. Green paint splashed onto the victim’s clothing, and after the incident, the person who threw the can of paint fled in a
The
new three-year contract with Homefield Energy will replace the city’s existing contract with Verde Energy USA, which expires in August. “Evanston has really built a strong culture and infrastructure around green transportation and lower emission forms of transportation,” Hurley said. “Evanston is truly a place where you can get around town without having a car.” Hurley’s comments come at the same time the city is soliciting public input on the latest draft of a citywide bike plan that would add features to make bike travel safer on some streets and prohibit it on others. Ald. Jane Grover (7th) asked that there be a study done on school-related travel. She said she believed many students at elementary and middle schools in the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and at Evanston Township High School currently drive to school but could be persuaded to walk or bike. “Some low-hanging fruit would seem to be school-related travel. I think that school-related traffic accounts for not only a lot of carbon consumption, but traffic as well,” Grover said. “We have the infrastructure. We just don’t seem to have the culture, yet.” The council approved the Livability Plan 9-0.
Biss’ bill to consolidate local government passes in state Senate
Three cars were damaged in a single block in west Evanston overnight Saturday. One car had web-like cracks in its windshield, while the other two cars had their driver’s side mirror damaged, police said. The cars included an Infiniti, an Audi and a Volkswagen and were all parked in the 2600 block of Payne Street when they were damaged, Parrott said. The three incidents appear to be related, Parrott added.
A bill sponsored by state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) that would allow the consolidation of certain local government entities was passed by the Illinois Senate on Monday and heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The House bill names 13 different government units that would be able to be annexed by a city or county, or merge with districts next to theirs. The employees of the bodies involved in any consolidation would be able to keep their jobs and any contractual rights they have. The bill would allow for the possibility of government efficiency and saving of tax dollars. Biss said Illinois law allows for the creation of various local government taxing bodies but provides no way for cities to combine them. The bill adds amendments to the codes and acts that provide for these entities, including public health, forest preservation and water commissions. “No state has more taxing bodies than Illinois,” Biss said in a news release. “If government units themselves believe their independent existence is unnecessary and that the taxpayers would be better served by a more efficient arrangement, the state legislature certainly shouldn’t stand in the way.” In order for proposed changes to take effect, the majority of governing authorities involved must vote in favor at a public meeting. Evanston city manager Wally Bobkiewicz said he believed the bill would not impact Evanston greatly, as the city does not possess any of the government bodies mentioned in the text of the bill. He said the most recent consolidation Evanston has been through was the dissolution of the township, which officially transitioned its services to the city on May 1. The bill will return to the state House for another vote because an additional amendment was added.
— Julian Gerez
— Paige Leskin
— Sophia Bollag
vehicle, police said. Parrott could not confirm the 20-year-old man was an NU student.
Three vehicles damaged in same block
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wednesday, may 21, 2014
On Campus
“
I also remember thinking that they were beautiful, and that in another context that possibility existed.
”
— David Harris-Gershon, author
the daily northwestern | NEWS 3 Hillel director, author discuss 2002 bombing aftermath See story on page 5
Big Picture NU showcases student-group diversity By David Lee
the daily northwestern @davidylee95
In an effort to raise awareness about diversity at Northwestern, 10 student groups presented their organization’s past accomplishments and goals moving forward at an event held Tuesday night by Northwestern Interfaith Advocates. About 40 people attended the “Big Picture NU” showcase in Parkes Hall, held as part of Wildcat Interfaith Week. Each group had a five-minute time slot to give a brief overview of the past year and provide a vision for the future. Medill freshman Zahra Haider, who introduced each student group during the event, said she helped plan the program in an effort to increase awareness about the wide variety of student groups on campus. “The inspiration behind the event was making interfaith more inclusive,” Haider said. “You
Dillo Day wristband distribution begins
Registration is now open for Dillo Day, and distribution of wristbands will begin on Wednesday. This year, for the first time, Mayfest is requiring all festival attendees to wear wristbands in order to enter the Lakefill. Northwestern students, faculty, staff, alumni and Evanston residents can register at dillo.mine.nu. After registering online, students will be able to pick up wristbands from Mayfest representatives. Wristband distribution will begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Norris University Center and will continue every weekday through May 31, the day of Dillo Day. Wristbands are free until Dillo Day. On the day of the festival, wristbands will cost $5 for students and $7 for faculty, staff, Evanston residents and all guests. Mayfest spokesman Ian Robinson, a Medill junior, said the fee will incentivize people to pick up
can be outside of a faith group and still be part of interfaith.” During the presentations, some groups provided advice on ways to overcome common struggles, such as fundraising. Board members from AIESEC encouraged other groups to reach out to alumni for donations, and a former president of Habitat for Humanity said she is starting a leadership program to help executives of other organizations overcome certain difficulties involved in executive roles. “It was very informative and very beneficial for student group leaders in particular,” said McCormick junior Umer Zakaria, president of the Muslim-cultural Students Association. “There were resources being talked about that many people may not have even known about.” Other presenters included Form & Function Marketing, Moneythink Northwestern, NU Threads, Bhakti Yoga Society and the Fiedler Hillel Center. Weinberg sophomore Kevin Luong, a member of the Asian-Pacific American Association, which also gave a presentation at the event, said he appreciated the program’s low-key atmosphere.
“We can get students that are interested in so many different things together and just have a nice casual talk about what we’re all about,” he said. Many of the attendees were members of at least one of the represented groups. Zakaria said he learned about many great causes and saw a lot of potential for collaboration among the groups. He added he encourages diversity even within his group, so he welcomes similar events in the future. “Our members are all diverse individuals themselves,” he said. “We really wanted to broadcast that we’re so much more than just our major, labels, organizations and ethnicities.” The event also allowed many lesser-known groups on campus to broadcast their goals and missions to a wide audience. Luong said he liked coming together as a diverse group of people with intersecting interests. “There were a lot of groups that I’ve definitely heard of, but I didn’t really understand their missions or methods until today,” he said. “I’ll definitely be looking to reach out to them.”
wristbands prior to the festival.
serve basis for faculty, Evanston residents and guests. Online registration does not guarantee attendance. Individuals are only guaranteed attendance after picking up a wristband. Undergraduate students must pick up their wristbands during scheduled distribution times. Students will not be able to pick up a wristband after 12 p.m. on Dillo Day. Distribution times are posted on the Dillo Day website. Mayfest officials recommend students register guests early while wristbands are still available. The number of wristbands is limited to how many people can fit on the Lakefill.
Q: Who needs a wristband for Dillo Day?
A: All festival attendees, including NU students, faculty and staff, Evanston residents and alumni. In order to receive a wristband, attendees must register online. Dillo Day is closed to the general public.
Q: Where can I pick up a wristband?
A: Wristbands can be picked up at Norris University Center every weekday until Dillo Day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Monday when times will vary. On select days, students can also pick up wristbands in Sargent Hall. There are different pick-up times for faculty, staff, alumni and Evanston residents.
Q: Are wristbands guaranteed for everyone?
A: No. Wristbands are reserved for all undergraduate students. Wristbands are on a first-come, first-
davidlee2017@u.northwestern.edu
Q: How many guests can I bring?
A: Undergraduate students can register up to two guests. Graduate students and alumni can register one guest. Faculty, staff and Evanston residents can register up to four guests.
Nathan Richards/Daily Senior Staffer
big picture Students present Tuesday at the “Big Picture NU” showcase held in Parkes Hall as part of Wildcat Interfaith Week.
Setting the record straight In “NU startup recognized for treatment” from Tuesday’s print edition, Jason Sandler was misquoted. The Daily regrets the error.
— Tyler Pager
Trauma Recovery Program
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Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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Don’t use ‘privilege’ to silence reasoned debate isaac hasson
Daily columnist
A few weeks ago, Princeton freshman Tal Fortgang set off a firestorm with a column assailing the privilege conversation that is taking place on college campuses across the country. Unfortunately, Fortgang’s response embodies the same antiintellectualism he rightfully condemns. Though charges of racism, sexism and privilege are often made without a shred of honesty, there are countless examples of persisting, empirically proven inequalities across race, gender and other categories, not to mention shocking incidents of bias that occur with unfortunate regularity. My support for the “diversity conversation” is a longstanding matter of public record as is my distaste for people who pretend that racism does not exist. Fortgang is wrong to ignore the numerous ways he is privileged but he brings up legitimate grievances about the way we deal with difference. The problem is not with the discussion of privilege, but with many of the shrill, insipid people who direct it. These self-appointed diversity czars define diversity as “people who agree with me.” The arrogance is astounding. They believe not only that their perspective is the only valid perspective, but that they also have the right to make sweeping assumptions about other peoples lives, assumptions they would never tolerate anyone making about them. Rather than asking someone to sincerely consider their own bias and advantage, too often the charge of privilege is used to dismiss their perspective and truncate debate. For these individuals to exist in a place where this sort of behavior is tolerated is of course, privilege in itself. In the words of my African Studies professor Richard Joseph, the reality is that we are all privileged. We are privileged to go to one of the greatest universities in the world, heavily subsidized by some combination of our parents, donors and taxpayers. Obviously, the daughter of the hedge fund manager from Winnetka is enormously privileged over the daughter of the single mom from the South Side who goes into debt to finance her education, but we all enjoy advantages that are not enjoyed by the vast majority of the planet. As I ran to the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette last week, I reflected on the Baha’i of Iran who are literally banned from enrolling in Iranian universities. Just 50 years ago, people from my religion faced quotas at this university. We are privileged to live in a time and place where policies like this are unimaginable. America is simultaneously a place
with persistent racism but also one of the most racially tolerant countries in the world. Those who ignore the influence of structural discrimination, privilege, individual effort, family, culture and values on success will never see the full picture. The real world is enormously complicated and that means that dogma is usually wrong. Issues of privilege and difference are worth discussing. Take the issue of affirmative action; there are valid reasons why someone might think it’s a good policy, and there are valid reasons why another person might think it’s a bad policy. The purpose of the academy is to provide a forum for this discussion and teach critical thinking in the process, it is not to advance a particular agenda or position. Why then do many activists believe that anyone who refuses to walk in lock step conformity with their worldview must be purged? These delicate flowers believe that they are entitled to live in a bubble where they should never suffer the indignity of dealing with people who disagree with them. Grow up. This month alone, these crusaders chased Condoleezza Rice out of the Rutgers commencement and Christine Lagarde out of the Smith College commencement. Christine Lagarde is one of the most highly regarded technocrats in the world. Her candidacy to run the IMF was endorsed by the socialist government of Brazil and the conservative government of Great Britain. But because she works for an organization whose policies have been controversial, she apparently has nothing of value to say. Unfortunately, the treatment of Condoleezza Rice seems deeply racist and sexist. The war in Iraq turned out to be a quagmire based on bad intelligence. But a white man who had access to that intelligence and argued forcefully for war (like Joe Biden when he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations) was not subjected to this. Condoleezza is likely held to a different standard because she is black, because she is a woman and because she rejects their zeitgeist. It goes without saying that not everyone involved in the diversity conversation falls into this category. In particular, the leaders of the Sustained Dialogue program deserve enormous credit. During my time at Northwestern, I have learned the most by engaging with people with whom I strongly disagree, but whom I respect. My experience in Sustained Dialogue was one of thoughtful discussion and respectful disagreement. The faculty and the rest of campus ought to follow their good example. Isaac Hasson is a Weinberg senior. He can be reached at isaachasson2013@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com.
Embrace unique traits of each major NU offers MATT GATES
Daily columnist
Northwestern’s size is one of the things I like about the school. It’s big enough that you will never stop meeting new people. It’s small enough that there will always be familiar faces. In a school of this size, we are all NU students, but we also inevitably divide ourselves into subgroups to make the ocean of faces on campus manageable. The word “division” tends to carry a negative connotation on college campuses, but some amount of division makes sense and is not necessarily a bad thing. Whether we live on North or South Campus, our specific dorms, our years, our schools and our majors are all divisions that tend to occur naturally. However, the different schools and majors at NU could benefit from respecting and learning from each other rather than creating a culture of division and competition. People in Some majors different majors might tend to give should make out lower grades on average than othan effort to ers, but to call one learn from each major “harder” than other. College is another is making a judgment about studying subjective that differs from what you want person to person. Different majors to study and require very different respecting and skill sets, and what is learning from “hard” for one person may not be as hard what others for someone else. want to study. Humanities majors might struggle with a math requirement. Hard science majors or engineers might be overwhelmed by the amount of reading required in some English or history classes. Although it is not fair for one major to say another is harder, it is also not fair to try to compare grade point averages across majors. (Not that I’m advocating comparing GPAs at all.) Some majors, and some schools within NU, have higher average GPAs than others. Some majors may be called “harder” in that they give lower grades on average. But averages do not tell the full story. Major
“
1 might hand out more Cs than Major 2. But achieving an A in each major could be equally difficult. Even if one major truly does give out lower grades on the whole, this still does not tell the whole story. Getting the A is not always everything. Achieving true mastery of the material in any major is hard. Sometimes the NU community does compare GPAs without examining the major they were earned in as well. When the University compares the average GPA in each Greek house for example, it fails to take into account which major or which school those GPAs were earned in. One house may have more members in a school that has a lowerthan-average GPA. Perhaps there is no better way of presenting this information. However, it does prove that the statistic should be taken with a grain of salt. It is also not fair to compare extracurricular participation across majors. A major in RTVF, Theatre or Medill is more likely to be expected to engage in extracurriculars associated with their field. Less pre-professional majors in Weinberg might be more likely to be involved in activities not directly related to their major. Majors that require labs or a higher number of credits may take away from extracurricular involvement. Creating a competition over who is doing the best academically and involved in the most activities is never a good idea, but creating one that compares beakers to encyclopedias is even more problematic. People in different majors should make an effort to learn from each other. We may not be as likely to be in classes together, to be able to study together or even to be involved in the same extracurriculars, but we can still learn things from each other that will be useful inside and outside the classroom. A philosophy major can learn from a math major how the discoveries of Aristotle have become the foundation for a concept in modern mathematics. A religion major can explain to a biological sciences major how Darwin’s discoveries transformed more than just biology. Competition over who works harder or does more should have been left behind in high school. College is about studying what you want to study and respecting and learning from what others want to study. Matt Gates is a Weinberg freshman. He can be reached at matthewgates2017@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a letter to the editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com.
What commenters are saying: “Let’s not forget that concealed carry license holders have the most extensive training in Illinois than any other state and very strict background checks. You have nothing to fear from legal license holders.”
“If only she was our commencement speaker...” — Nouha Boundaoui
— Jason Hassler “All laws prohibiting the carrying of a firearm are based on the logic that somehow criminals obey laws.” — Richard Dombrowski In response to:“D65 school board petitions for change in concealed carry law,” submitted May 14
In response to: “Radical activist Angela Davis draws large crowd for social justice talk,” submitted May 20
The Daily Northwestern Volume 134, Issue 126 Editor in Chief Paulina Firozi
Managing Editors
Joseph Diebold Ciara McCarthy Manuel Rapada
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the daily northwestern | NEWS 5
wednesday, may 21, 2014
Hillel director, author discuss bombing
Jordan Harrison/The Daily Northwestern
‘i brought them gifts’ Author David Harris-Gershon speaks about how he was affected by a 2002 bombing at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
By jordan harrison
the daily northwestern @MedillJordan
Fiedler Hillel Center director Michael Simon and author David Harris-Gershon spoke to about 60 people Tuesday about their experiences following a 2002 bombing at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Harris-Gershon’s wife, Jamie Harris-Gershon, was injured by a piece of shrapnel from a bomb set by a Hamas terrorist at the school. She survived, but in the
Botched drug deal leads to Skokie teen stripping at knifepoint
A plan by two Skokie teens to rob an Evanston drug dealer backfired when the dealer ran after one of them and stole his clothes at knifepoint, police said Monday. The incident led to the arrests Thursday of the two teens, the drug dealer and a third Skokie teen, according to authorities. The two teens had set up a meeting to buy
First group completes emergency response training program
aftermath, David Harris-Gershon said he needed to find closure for the trauma and aimed to contact the bomber, Mohammad Odeh. He recently published a memoir, “What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?” Harris-Gershon said he was never able to meet Odeh, who publicly expressed remorse after the bombing, but he met with Odeh’s family and his two children. “I brought them gifts,” Harris-Gershon said. “I brought a stencil set for the young girl and a Rubik’s cube for the older boy and they kind of came up to me, very sweetly — the guy was in a Chicago Bulls sweatshirt and the girl was wearing Hello Kitty. They just looked like they would be my kid’s friends or my students.” Harris-Gershon said after meeting with the family for the first time, he had conflicting emotions. “(The children) took the toys and they were just beautiful and they walked away and Mohammad’s grandmother said to them to explain to them who I was, ‘This is your father’s friend,’” he said. “I remember looking at them thinking, ‘I am not your father’s friend,’ and I also remember thinking that they were beautiful, and that in another context that possibility existed.” Simon had a very different experience with the bombing. Marla Bennett, his girlfriend at the time, died in the explosion. Simon said, in contrast to Harris-Gershon, that his faith deepened after the experience. He illustrated his thoughts on prayer with a different story about a family responding to the death of their son, an Israeli soldier. “The father’s answer was, ‘We pray to God, sometimes the answer is no,’” Simon said. “That answer,
which was of course my answer, was in my heart and mind and soul as I dealt with trying to figure it out, and I continue to pray and I continue to believe.” Through his journey, Harris-Gershon said, his viewpoint on the conflict between Israel and Palestine shifted dramatically, noting he thought Northwestern students had a more mature understanding of the issue than he had growing up. “I viewed myself as a typical American Jew at that stage,” he said. “I really viewed Palestinians at that point as nothing but a caricature of evil, as just one in a series of enemies who throughout history have risen up to destroy us, and this was just the latest iteration. That’s how naive I was, and that’s how uninformed I was, and what happened is that I began a quest to meet Mohammad.” The event was co-sponsored by the Office of Religious Life and the Creative Writing Program, which Simon said was partly to attract interest in the event from outside the Jewish community at NU. SESP sophomore Jacqueline Soria said she was taking a seminar with Simon about the relationship between Jewish faith and the politics of Israel, and said the themes of the talk related well to the course. “I thought that this event where (Simon) brought in his friend, this person in his life who he’s tied to through a really unfortunate event, and showing how they both took different paths, how they both interpret it in different ways and are coping with it in different ways, I thought that that was a really meaningful example of how we can have conversations even if we don’t see things the same way,” Soria said.
marijuana from the Evanston drug dealer, 21-yearold Corie R. Brissette, and the third Skokie teen, police said. While the deal was in progress, the two teens pulled out pellet guns, apparently trying to rob Brissette, of the 1800 block of Hartrey Avenue, and the third teen, according to authorities. Realizing the weapons were pellet guns, Brissette chased after one of the two teens and threatened him with a knife, according to police. Authorities said Brissette then demanded that the teen strip. The teen took off his clothes, and Brissette fled with them. Shortly after the incident, all four suspects were taken into custody, police said. Brissette was arrested in the 2200 block of Main Street, while the teens were
arrested in the 7300 block of Niles Center Road. Brissette has been charged with armed robbery and delivery of cannabis. One of the teens has been charged with aggravated battery and possession of cannabis, another has been charged with aggravated robbery and possession of cannabis and the other has been charged with armed robbery, battery and delivery of cannabis. Two of the teens are 16, and the other is 17. Brissette’s bail has been set at $10,000, according to records from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. His next court date is June 10.
The first group of participants in Northwestern’s Community Emergency Response Team program completed their training earlier this month, giving them the skills to respond to campus and community crises. There were 24 members in the first group, including student, staff and faculty representatives. As part of their final training session held May 1, volunteers took part in several different exercises including search-and-rescue operations and extinguishing fires. The training was led by Evanston fire department officials. “It’s been a very valuable program for us,” said Thomas Janetske, division chief for the department, in a news release. Members involved received a certificate from the Federal Emergency Management Institute and from University Police when they graduated from the program after completing the final exercises. Although the city has had CERT training since 2004 with citizen volunteers, the NU CERT program is a newer addition. “Northwestern’s CERT program will be very valuable to the community, and their contribution to the town-gown partnership will be great,” Janetske said in the release. The purpose of CERT is to equip individuals with the ability to respond to help when needed in emergency situations. The program is operated under the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps Council. “Throughout the country, states, counties and local jurisdictions, including Evanston, have developed and implemented CERT programs to enhance emergency preparedness and increase community education, awareness and outreach,” said Joseph Frascati, emergency preparedness manager for UP, in the release. Before being certified, members are trained in a variety of areas including basic disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations and disaster psychology and team organization, among others.
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NU to offer free online course for alumni
Northwestern is offering a free massive open online course this summer exclusively for NU alumni and friends. The course, Content Strategy for Professionals: Engaging Audiences for Your Organization, will run from June 9 to July 20. It is designed for professionals to better understand audiences and improve communication strategies. In the winter, NU offered its first content strategy MOOC, which drew interest from more than 21,000 professionals in 141 countries. This edition of the course be available only for NU alumni and other individuals they recommend, including clients, family and friends. “In this complex information age, forwardthinking people know that if they and their for-profit or non-profit organizations are to thrive, they must master the most demanding
communications frontier–creating engaging, strategic, honest stories and information that are valued by their most important audiences,” said John Lavine, the lead professor on the MOOC and the director of Northwestern’s Media Management Center, in a news release. “If they do this, it will make their enterprise stand out.” The course will be taught by 10 professors, eight from the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications and two with joint appointments at Medill and the Kellogg School of Management. Medill Prof. Candy Lee said the course will give alums better communication strategies. “We’re offering this free MOOC for you because you are a Northwestern alum and thoughtful about how you communicate,” Lee said in a news release. “Just think about your myriad clients, customers, friends and colleagues who would appreciate knowing how to have far more impact with the information they want to get across.” — Tyler Pager
Lewis
Infrastructure
“I would think that the current students, and the current generation, are more concerned about their careers. … I think students are a little bit more lukewarm about really stepping out and having voice and activism to the issues of today.” Ponder added that “liking” something on Facebook or holding up a sign is not the same level of activism as the mobilization efforts of Lewis and his colleagues. He encouraged students to think about their efforts to effect change and consider what issues are important to them. During his time at NU, Lewis and other members of Student Voice wrestled with similar questions. Though the group eventually united for common causes, they were initially unclear of their vision. “It was sort of a mix of people, and we had this question of, ‘If we have this student movement, what is it about? What is the purpose of it? What kind of reform are we about?’” Lewis said. This idea resonated with Kassandra Blanchard, a member of the new ASG student activities resource committee, who said Lewis’ speech made clearer the value that student government has in effecting change. “I’ve become more passionate about the power of ASG, which, listening to him and listening to the changes he was able to enact, was really quite eye-opening for me,” the Weinberg freshman said. “I didn’t understand the extent to which it could influence the campus community, so I hope to be able to do that in the future.”
Rainey said she thought both options would be too expensive. Ald. Jane Grover (7th) questioned whether changes to infrastructure would be the most effective option. “I don’t know if the parking garages present the largest risk for us,” Grover said at the January meeting. “I’m interested — we all are — in preventing people from injuring themselves.” Aldermen at the meeting suggested it might be more effective to focus on mental health initiatives to prevent suicide, as opposed to physical changes to buildings. Rainey said the committee needed more data on suicides in order to decide whether any action needed to be taken. “I think if it’s almost epidemic proportions, then we ought to address it,” Rainey said at the January meeting. “If they’re all University related, then we ought to encourage the University to address it.” If aldermen approve the funds to install a fence around the Sherman Plaza parking lot, Bobkiewicz said city officials will look into installing fences on other buildings. He said the garage on Maple Avenue would probably be the next building they would address. “There really is no one solution that seems to have worked in other communities,” Bobkiewicz said. “Ultimately, if an individual wants to do harm to themselves, they’re going to climb over whatever they need to climb over.”
hayleyglatter2016@u.northwestern.edu
sophiabollag@u.northwestern.edu
From page 1
From page 1
Food
From page 1 — were labeled “food insecure,” according to a 2014 study from Feeding Illinois, an association of eight Illinois food banks. Gabel also cited in her resolution the fact that Illinois schools provide subsidized meals to one in every five students who come from impoverished families. Evanston resident Bob Heuer said the resolution is essential for the state because it draws on the government’s “convening power,” bringing diverse constituencies together in a coordinated approach to solve problems. Heuer is currently the director of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council, an organization formed in 2009 under the Illinois Department of Agriculture to connect state entities with local agencies. The council is one of the groups included in Gabel’s resolution. “The Council was formed to provide a state-level solution to a grassroots problem,” he said in an email to The Daily. “They saw the need for a community-led ‘team member.’” Heuer said the passage of the bill could have a great beneficial impact on Evanston. “Our legislative charge involves facilitating the alignment of state resources to promote local food demand, access, production and infrastructure,” he said in the email. “Locally (the resolution) can be a unifying force — aligning community efforts to support local food demand, access, production and infrastructure.”
Drug
From page 1 largest racial group arrested in Evanston at 66 percent. Those numbers grew 5 percent, between 2011 and 2012, when 71 percent of Evanston arrests were of black Americans. Similarly, black Americans made up the largest ticketed population in Evanston from 2011 to 2012, representing 61 percent of those ticketed, the handout said. Coyne said the sites of arrests tend to be clustered in certain areas of the city. Spells, who grew up in Chicago, said arrests were common in the area where he lived and were so frequent that prison sentences often resulted in a “family reunion” of sorts, as cousins, brothers and others were likely also incarcerated. Spells, who works on the Problem Solving Team at EPD, said the problem of incarceration should be addressed at its roots, especially the risk factors that lead to drug selling in the first place. Kane-Willis, a former heroin user, said she knew from experience that there were a lot of misconceptions concerning drug use and drugs in general. People tended to categorize drugs based on whether they were stigmatized or not.
Heuer said he attended a dinner May 12 with other Evanston community leaders, including District 202 Superintendent Eric Witherspoon and retiring McGaw YMCA president and CEO Bill Geiger. He said attendees talked about local initiatives that would benefit in the future from discussion between community entities. The long-term education initiative Cradle to Career would receive support from collaboration with food nutrition and agricultural plans, Heuer said. In order for better food policies to be implemented, Heuer said the majority of the grunt work will have to come from local groups. “The direction, energy and political will have to come from the grassroots,” he said. “As the Evanstons of Illinois create their own food nutrition and agriculture plans, the Council can support these comprehensive grassroots models by networking … in cooperation with the overlapping missions of these other state entities.” Because the House soon takes a break for the summer, Heuer said it is important Gabel’s bill at least be brought to the table and given consideration. “The timing of its introduction so late in the legislative session means that lawmakers are very focused on the big pieces of legislation that need to be approved,” he said. “It’s gotten notice from the governor’s office, which can provide the senior-level attention needed to help foster coordination.” paigeleskin2017@u.northwestern.edu She asked audience members how many of them used caffeine, chocolate or alcohol, yet no stigma was associated with any of those. Everyone uses drugs, and not everyone misuses them, she said. Before the discussion on race, a few other items concerning drug sentencing were discussed. Coyne talked about the frustration people have with felony convictions and how they tend to mark the relations people have even after the fact. Before adjourning, Cornelius asked Trieschmann to share her thoughts on the situation, after the other panelists mainly dominated the discussion. Trieschmann said she was not all that familiar on drug sentencing policy, but the work she was doing already with youth of the community is where the focus should be. If residents were unable to reach legislators to bring about the change they wanted, she said that was fine as long as the community itself was making an effort. The discussion concluded with Cornelius asking attendees if they were at a consensus about whether or not it was time for a change. A number of attendees voiced agreement and nodded their heads. baileywilliams2017@u.northwestern.edu
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Fletcher From page 8
to their goals of a Big Ten title and an appearance in the NCAA Championships, the origins of the progress were obvious: NU was on a recruiting roll. Before Fletcher, NU rarely garnered a top recruit. From the program’s inception in 1997 to 2007, Jennifer Hong, Alice Kim and Hana Kim stood as the only Cats players who were ranked among the top 25 in their recruiting classes. Weaver, eighth in her 2009 class, offered hope things might be changing, and that’s all that Fletcher needed. Devon Brown, 25th in her class, followed in Weaver’s footsteps to NU the next year. Then they came in bunches. The 2011 class included the nation’s No. 16 and 17 recruits, Hana Lee and Brittany Mai, and 2012 brought in No. 7 Kaitlin Park and No. 25 Suchaya Tangkamolprasert. And after No. 27 Kacie Komoto joined in this past season’s freshman class, Fletcher struck the largest fountain of gold yet when she convinced Sarah Cho and Hannah Kim, No. 4 and No. 9 in the country at the time of their signings, to join NU in the fall. It’s a deliciously fruitful base that sprouted out of a largely barren system before Fletcher arrived. Certainly the aforementioned advantages and increasingly tantalizing results have been major factors in this recruiting binge. But there’s something about Fletcher that provides the main factor in explaining this monsoon of talent. “When you sit down with Emily, she’s just a very genuine person,” assistant coach Beth Miller said. “I know that players and parents feel really good entrusting their child to her for four years. She’ll help them become the best person on top of being the best golfer they can be.” Fletcher gets rave reviews among her current and former players for her personality. She’s genuine and considered a nice and caring person by her players. The warmth she exudes from the get-go serves as a major enticement. Yet there’s a certain edge to her as well, born out of a fierce competitive streak. “My initial impression was that she was passionate,” Park said. “She just pushed me to the program with her passion. I was looking for that motivation, she brought that competitive side that showed me the goals you can have in college.” And it doesn’t end there: Fletcher has an ego so small a microscope might miss it. You can see it in the way she goes about recruiting. In many college golf programs, the assistant coaches play a significant role in the recruiting. At NU,
Miller isn’t an ancillary part in the process, but rather a full-on partner with Fletcher on the recruiting trail. To add to that two-headed monster, Fletcher entrusts her players to socialize with recruits; have meals with them, take them to courses in the area and talk to them about the program. For her, the current lot of talent will be the one that sells the next generation. If that weren’t enough, one more factor stands out in this recruiting prowess. When programs become elite, as NU arguably has with back-to-back NCAA Championships appearances, it is easy for the enjoyment of it all to drown in a sea of incessant determination. That has not been the case for the Cats, and is the last piece of the puzzle in explaining the program’s rise to prominence. “I talked to players from other programs and not all of their coaches afford them a lot of fun,” Weaver said. “But Emily loves doing team bonding things. At nationals last year, after each round we went to movies, went shopping, et cetera. When we win it’s clear that it’s a team victory rather than a bunch of individuals playing together.”
A scare of a lifetime, a ‘ridiculous’ response Everything was on track for Fletcher as the Cats season wound down in 2010. She was entrenched as the head coach and appeared on the precipice of a major leap in the program’s fortune. Then, in June, Fletcher was diagnosed with breast cancer during an annual exam. The shocking news contained an even greater hint of surprise due to the fact that Fletcher’s family had no history of the disease. She would be relegated to months of chemotherapy doses and radiation treatments. This was a year after Phil Mickelson dealt with the news that both his wife and mother had breast cancer. But if you thought his fortune turned, it was nothing compared to Fletcher. After all, Mickelson wasn’t going through the treatments himself and both of his loved ones became breast cancer survivors. When Fletcher’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months later, it was another blow in an increasingly tough year. NU’s coach would ultimately beat her cancer, but her mother died the following March. Anyone would’ve understood if Fletcher used the time, a period marked by physical weakness, hair loss (replaced by a wig) and death, as an occasion for extended rest at home and a justifiable neglect of her coaching duties.
Lauren Weaver was a sophomore on the team at that time, and, she said, that didn’t happen. “She didn’t miss a single tournament, she hardly missed any practices. It was really amazing,” Weaver said. “She never seemed physically sick, upset or nervous. There is no way from an outsider perspective to tell that she was dealing with these issues. I was with her on the team through the whole treatment and I could barely tell. It was ridiculous.” Weaver wasn’t alone. In a year where the team’s main storyline could have been about Fletcher Parents feel working through these really good health issues, then-junior entrusting their Alex Lederhausen insists it wasn’t. child to her ... “As a player, of course, She’ll help them you were aware what she was going through,” Lederbecome the hausen said. “But she was best person on very open if you asked her top of being the questions, which was nice. At the same time, I don’t best golfer. remember that being the central theme of that year. Beth Miller, It was always in the back assistant coach of our heads, but it wasn’t what she was all about. First and foremost, she was our coach and second she was going through chemotherapy. It made us appreciate her a million times more.” Others tried to make the Cats’ season about Fletcher’s fight. After NU hosted the Big Ten Championships, an undertaking the coach puts up with some of the program’s greatest accomplishments, Fletcher was honored as Big Ten Co-Coach of the Year. The award was in large part due to NU’s play that season, but Fletcher’s peers also wished to show her gratitude for staying the course through a very trying year. How did Fletcher pull the deception of the century? By digging deep into her bulldog spirit. “My faith is really important to me,” Fletcher said. “And I think I felt empowered in a unique way. I look back on it and go like, ‘How did you really do that?’ But you just push through it one day at a time. To have it culminate with what happened last year was a big thing.”
“
Moving forward If any of the program’s boring remnants are left, that might change very quickly. More Big Ten crowns appear in the offing, as well
as at least serious contention in future NCAA Championships. If a shot at a national title doesn’t excite, nothing will. The good times should continue for Fletcher and her squad, regardless of whether they live up to this potential. That’s bound to happen when Fletcher makes it a point to keep tabs on her players’ personal lives. She created such an inclusive environment that Lederhausen once called Fletcher before her parents, who lived close by, when her car got a flat tire. In another instance, Fletcher completely revolutionized Lee’s strategy to social interactions. “Hana, her freshman year, she was very quiet,” Weaver said. “She would talk and you couldn’t hear her because she wouldn’t speak up. We were at breakfast one day and the waitress forgot Hana’s bacon. And then Hana would go (and) quietly say, ‘Miss, can I have some bacon?’ And Emily just goes like, ‘What? I can’t hear you! Nobody can hear you!’ and Hana was like, ‘Can I get some bacon, please?’ Emily told her that she needed to speak up and from that moment, Hana’s personality totally changed. She was super outgoing the rest of the year. Everyone liked being around her and she joked around a lot.” There is little evidence NU will suddenly stagnate. There is a certain carefree environment around the team, but Fletcher’s fiery side surfaces from time to time, usually at the exact moment it needs to. Fletcher also never takes for granted she’s mastered what it takes to be a coach. “One of the biggest points about Emily is her willingness to really want to improve the people around her, but also herself,” Lederhausen said. “Any coach, good or bad, can get stuck in their ways and be stubborn and try to execute something do it their own way. But what Emily does very, very well is that she is really willing to be flexible about what works for everyone and what gets us to that common goal of getting better. For every year that she was a coach, she not only improved the program but also improved herself as a coach.” The coach’s quest for perfection will continue. Fletcher takes pride in what she has helped fulfill in six years, but, for a woman who wouldn’t let cancer keep her from her team, complacency is never an option. “It’s certainly encouraging to tick off and actually accomplish some of those things we set out to do,” Fletcher said. “It’s my nature, though, that I’m never satisfied. As much as we were excited about what we did last year, that was last year. ... As I see it, we are part of a story that is still in its early stages.” kevincasey2015@u.northwestern.edu
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SPORTS
ON DECK
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Women’s Golf 21 NCAA Championships, Wednesday-Friday MAY
Veronica and I play the best when we don’t know who we’re playing, what ranking they are. We just go out and play like hell. — Alicia Barnett, senior women’s tennis player
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
@Wildcat_Extra
Fletcher marches long road to the top By kevin casey
daily senior staffer @KevinCasey19
Over the past few years, women’s golf has been at times one of Northwestern’s most exciting and boring programs. The Wildcats have made it to NCAA Regionals five consecutive years and seemingly improved as seasons wore on. Following three finishes of 10th or worse at Regionals from 2010 to 2012, NU broke out of its shell in 2013. That spring, the team won its first-ever Big Ten Championship, and placed sixth at Regionals, advancing to NCAA Championships for the first time since 2000. A new year has brought continued success, with the Cats earning another trip to nationals, entering the event as the 15th-ranked team in the country. However fanciful the narrative, NU’s climb to national prominence has been slow. When Emily Fletcher took over the head coaching position in 2008, a Big Ten title and a trip to nationals were on her agenda. It wasn’t until Fletcher’s third season that the team even reached Regionals, and it would be a half-decade before she could cross those two goals off her list. There is much to be admired in a patient, long-term awakening, but it doesn’t offer the sexiest storyline. And though there have been some standouts during Fletcher’s tenure, the rise is more attributed to increasing the depth of multiple elite players rather than riding the back of one electric individual. The recent history here has not been one of miracles in the team’s climb to the national stage. But there is something to be said for steadiness, and the Cats appear to have built a sustainable model of success for years to come. All of this suggests the good times have rolled in for Fletcher in her six years at Northwestern. Although for the most part that’s been true, the full picture is more complicated than that.
Fletcher’s road to Northwestern There really wasn’t much suggesting that Fletcher would inevitably become NU’s women’s golf head coach. In fact, being a college coach in any capacity never really factored into her plans. The catalyst that moved Fletcher to
Source: Northwestern Athletics
watchful eye Emily Fletcher observes the action. Fletcher is in her sixth year as the women’s golf head coach and has led her team to national prominence.
her current position was a long relationship she had developed with none other than NU director of golf Pat Goss. “I had sort of reconnected with Pat when he was coaching and they hosted the Windon Memorial at the Glen View Club when I was working there as an assistant,” Fletcher said. “At the end of the event, Pat asked me, ‘Have you ever thought about getting into college coaching? Because if you do, I think you would be a great coach.’ And I said, ‘Oh, that’s really nice. Thanks.’ And never really gave it any more thought. Fast-forward a few years and when the
position opened up here and Pat took over as director of golf. He was a big part of the hiring ... and he circled back around and asked me again. I was at a point in my career that I thought it was a good opportunity.” It took a certain leap of faith from Goss to pull the trigger on Fletcher, who at the time had no experience in college coaching at any level. But it would be misleading to say Fletcher was entirely green to the job. She started her college golf career at Longwood University in Virginia before transferring to Ferris State University.
The golf program at Ferris State wasn’t the main factor that enticed her there but rather the school’s professional golf management program, the first of its kind in the country. For Fletcher, who was interested in the business of golf, it was the perfect fit at the right moment. She used the program’s high-quality connections to procure multiple internships during her undergraduate years, first at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona, and then at Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Those internships are designed to start you at the bottom rung of the ladder,” Fletcher said. “You start in the bag room, and picking the range, all of the grunt work. Then as the internships progress, you take more and more responsibility, more teaching, more work with junior golfers. Working in the golf shop, merchandising, purchasing and that kind of thing.” By the time she graduated from Ferris State in 1987 with a marketing degree, Fletcher had 18 months of job experience under her belt. She quickly found employment in post-grad life as an assistant professional at Desert Highlands and stayed for four years before moving on to Glen View, where she was in charge of instruction duties and golf operations. During that time, Fletcher became well-acquainted with the LPGA Tour. In 1996, she became the assistant tournament director for the Wachovia Betsy King Classic, a position she held until 2004. But it was her teaching that gained her the greatest notoriety. Fletcher was the swing instructor for LPGA player Jenny Lidback for nine years, a partnership that produced 20 top-10 finishes and a major championship victory in 1995. It was a relationship that ran very deep. Fletcher was not just a teacher but also Lidback’s mentor, occasionally her caddy and sometimes her business liaison when it came to clothing contracts and sponsorships. Whatever the various duties, Fletcher felt the greatest sense of pull toward building Lidback’s golf game. “You feel a tremendous amount of responsibility and burden because it’s their livelihood and they’re going out and playing golf for a living and their score matters,” Fletcher said. “Having to discern if it’s the right thing, if it’s
the right time to make an improvement that needs to be done. You have to be mindful that they can’t just scrap it. They have to maintain their level of play and keep their tour card. Part of the balance there is having a good feel for when it’s time to push and when it’s time to play with what we’ve got for a little while.” For nearly two decades, Fletcher had unwittingly built the base she needed to succeed at Northwestern.
Opening years Fletcher was hired as head coach in May 2008, entering a program that had scored solid results over the years but one that Goss felt had lingered below its potential. “I always felt we had always underachieved in women’s golf a bit,” Goss said. “What we’ve seen with all of our sports here at Northwestern is that it is a very appealing and attractive place for female student-athletes. So we knew there was a great potential to grow that program.” Fletcher came in at a good time. Goss’ new position signified a greater integration between the two golf programs, a development that meant more attention and more funding for women’s golf. And Lauren Weaver, NU’s first real blue-chip recruit, had already committed to the program. It was certainly a favorable position for the new coach, but Fletcher added her own flavor to the job. “I remember that all the girls told me that she’s really tough, and that you have to do a lot of drills,” Weaver said. “A lot of girls weren’t really happy with that because there was a lot more structure than their previous coaching. But I thought it was great. She really wanted to develop you as a player and that’s what I was looking forward to.” Whatever the advantages, NU failed to qualify for Regionals in Fletcher’s first two seasons. But program-building takes a few campaigns, and in due time the results of the team’s work shone through.
Constructing a national power As the Cats inched closer and closer » See fletcher, page 7
Women’s Tennis
3 NU players head south for NCAA championships By Mike Marut
daily senior staffer @mikeonthemic93
Although the team season ended two weeks ago for Northwestern, seniors Veronica Corning and Belinda Niu and sophomore Alicia Barnett will play on, competing this week at the NCAA singles and doubles championships in Athens, Georgia. The NCAA honored Niu on Tuesday with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for her efforts both on and off the court. The award recognizes one player in each division for his or her tennis accomplishments, scholastic achievements and extracurricular endeavors. Niu’s play also earned her the opportunity to represent the Wildcats alongside Corning in the singles championships. NU’s top duo of Corning and Barnett, a Daily staffer, was selected to compete in the doubles championships. The festivities
begin Wednesday with the singles tournament. “We’ve been trying to focus on getting as much outdoor practice as we can,” Niu said before the trio departed Evanston for the University of Georgia. “To be honest, for me I don’t plan on playing after graduation, so this is going to be my last competitive tennis tournament ever. Without the pressure of the team outcome being dependent on my performance, I’m really just going in with nothing to lose and with the mindset of, I want to have fun and make it a good final experience.” With the bracket recently announced, Niu will be taking on the Bulldogs’ Silvia Garcia. Garcia racked up 35 wins on the season to only seven losses. Primarily playing at number two singles for Georgia, Garcia has the second-winningest record on the team. The Cats did not face the Bulldogs this year, so this will be the first matchup of the season between Niu and Garcia. Corning and Barnett will begin
their quest on Thursday with their first match against Kentucky’s Caitlin McGraw and CeCe Witten. The other Wildcats held fast at the team’s number one doubles spot and amassed a nine-match win streak before falling to Texas A&M’s Stefania Hristov and Cristina Stancu. “I’ve been hitting with Nida (Hamilton) … practicing my return, and there’s a couple things I would like to polish up before we go: returns, volleys, making good decisions and playing smart,” Barnett said Thursday. “Veronica and I play the best when we don’t know who we’re playing, what ranking they are. We just go out and play like hell,” she added, before the pairing was announced. Coach Claire Pollard won an NCAA doubles championship of her own when she played at Mississippi State, alongside assistant coach Jackie Holden. To prepare her players for the fierce competition, Pollard has been having them practice outdoors and has offered her own experience while hoping for the best
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We’ve been trying to focus on getting as much outdoor practice as we can. Belinda Niu, senior
for the seniors. “I think if we can get a decent draw and play our way in, that is going to be critical for us,” Pollard said. “My goal for all of them, especially for our seniors, is to leave AllAmericans. That’s the goal, you’ve got to win two matches in either singles or doubles, so the goal is for everyone to leave All-Americans. It would be a phenomenal story for Veronica to go from where she started, and I think Belinda has had some really great moments for our team. It would be really nice if she got that for herself.” michaelmarut2016@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Brian Lee
Swan song Belinda Niu returns a backhand. The senior does not plan to seek a professional tennis career and hopes to end her competitive time in the sport on a high note at the NCAA singles championships this week.