The Daily Northwestern - February 9, 2018

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The Daily Northwestern Friday, February 9, 2018

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Women’s Basketball

3 CAMPUS/Events

Wildcats lose to Michigan in rematch

Poet discusses relationships, Salvadoran identity at Harris Hall performance

Find us online @thedailynu 4 OPINION/Holtzman

Long-term self care requires resources

High 28 Low 17

Medill Prof to take leave following harassment allegations Director of Medill Justice Project Alec Klein requests leave until Northwestern investigation is complete By MARIANA ALFARO and NORA SHELLY daily senior staffers @marianaa_alfaro, @noracshelly

Medill Prof. Alec Klein, who on Wednesday was accused of harassment by several former students and employees of

Medill, is taking a leave of absence from Northwestern. University spokesperson Al Cubbage made the announcement in a statement Thursday afternoon. According to the statement, Klein requested the leave of absence from all his positions at NU until the

investigation into the allegations made against him is complete. Klein is the director of the Medill Justice Project. Klein was accused of “harassing” and “predatory” behavior by former students and employees in an open letter sent to Northwestern

administrators on Wednesday. In the letter, former students and employees of Klein and the Medill Justice Project allege that the tenured professor displayed “controlling, discriminatory, emotionally and verbally abusive behavior” while working at the Medill

School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. The letter accuses Klein of attempting to kiss a prospective female employee and asking a female employee to come to his hotel room for drinks during a business trip, among other accusations.

Klein’s lawyer sends former employees letter By MARIANA ALFARO

daily senior staffer @marianaa_alfaro

Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer

A bus traverses the snow. City officials are preparing for a snowstorm that will hit Evanston this weekend.

Evanston officials prepare for ‘snow emergency’ this weekend daily senior staffer @ryanwangman

As a massive storm heads for the Chicago area and prepares to dump about an estimated foot of snow onto Evanston,

city officials are gearing up to handle the winter flurries. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for northeastern Illinois that is in effect from 6 p.m. Thursday through 9 p.m. on Friday. The service said that heavy snow is expected, with a

likely accumulation of snowfall between 8 to 14 inches. City manager Wally Bobkiewicz said the city will likely declare a “snow emergency” on Saturday and Sunday to clean up the streets in the aftermath of the storm. Emergency sirens will sound at 7:15 a.m. and

» See LEAVE, page 5

Women receive cease-and-desist

WHITE OUT

By RYAN WANGMAN

The letter states Klein “talked about his sex life and pressed for explicit details about others,” and gave “unwanted neck massages while a female employee was trying to work.”

12:15 p.m. on snow emergency days, according to the city’s website. Bobkiewicz urged students who haven’t heard the sirens before to not be alarmed when they likely go off this weekend. » See SNOW, page 6

On Thursday, a day after 10 former Medill students and employees accused Medill Justice Project Director Alec Klein of bullying, verbal abuse and sexual harassment, two former Medill Justice Project employees received a cease-and-desist letter from Klein’s attorney. Olivia Pera and Alison Flowers (Medill ’09), both former Medill Justice Project employees, signed the letter, published Wednesday, that accused Klein of sexual advances and verbal abuse in the workplace. On Wednesday, Klein said he “categorically” denied all allegations in the letter and that he would pursue legal action. “This letter is obviously a threat, and it’s a way to continue to intimidate me as a journalist and as a woman,” Flowers said. “I will not be silenced.” Klein’s lawyer, Andrew Miltenberg, told The Daily in a statement that Klein “denies the allegations that are being made … (and) intends to respect the confidentiality and privacy of

Northwestern University and its internal process.” “It is unfortunate that these allegations are being made in a rush to judgment, denying Mr. Klein of due process,” Miltenberg said. “We are confident that upon review, the allegations will be determined to have been unfounded.” University spokesperson Al Cubbage sent a statement saying Northwestern will investigate the new allegations “promptly and thoroughly,” but declined to comment on previous investigations. Klein took a leave of absence from Northwestern on Thursday until the University’s investigation is complete. In 2015, Pera received an $8,000 payment from Northwestern after she filed a complaint to the Illinois Human Rights Commission alleging that Klein sexually harassed her. The cease-anddesist letter demands that Pera stop discussing her interactions with Klein. According to documents reviewed by The Daily, Pera starting working for the Medill Justice Project in fall 2014. In September 2015, she signed a nondisclosure agreement with Northwestern and received $8,000 after filing the Human Rights Commission complaint in July. » See SETTLE, page 5

NU Athletics incentivize students to increase fan turnout By ALAN PEREZ

daily senior staffer @_perezalan_

Northwestern Athletics is doubling down on efforts to boost student attendance at basketball games after construction at Welsh-Ryan Arena forced several sports to relocate their home games. The Department of Athletics and Recreation has offered Interfraternity Council chapters and club sports teams targeted benefits for attendance at men’s and women’s home basketball games this year, including private transportation and the chance to win cash prizes, according to emails sent to student groups.

“Our student section is (an) absolutely critical part of our gameday environment, for any sport, in any venue,” an athletic department spokesperson told The Daily in an email. “It’s a significant commitment for our students to make the trip to Rosemont, so we want to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.” The men’s and women’s basketball teams have temporarily relocated their home courts to Allstate Arena in Rosemont and Evanston Township High School, respectively, after renovations to Welsh-Ryan Arena began last year. The Wildcats are scheduled to return to campus next season. While ETHS is just a mile and a half away, Allstate,

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

about 15 miles from campus, is significantly farther. The attendance rewards aren’t new to Northwestern sports. When games were still at WelshRyan, student attendees were previously offered some apparel items and food. But this year, students are offered a $15 concessions voucher at every game and typically guaranteed athletic apparel if they make the near-30 minute trip to Rosemont. Some groups are being offered additional, exclusive benefits. IFC members were offered transportation for a Jan. 20 game against Penn State via wifienabled buses usually reserved for athletes, according to one email. » See FANS, page 6

Daily file photo by Colin Boyle

A sparse crowd looks on as Northwestern takes on Nebraska in January. The Athletics and Recreation Department has offered a few groups exclusive benefits to encourage attendance at games.

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8


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