New barre studio plans to open in city » PAGE 2
sports Gameday Siemian’s ankle causing trouble for Cats» PAGE 7
opinion Shin NU should place more emphasis on computer science » PAGE 4
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The Daily Northwestern DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
Friday, October 31, 2014
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Simon release raises questions By Tyler Pager
daily senior staffer @tylerpager
The Cook County state’s attorney vacated the double-murder conviction of Alstory Simon on Thursday,
raising questions about an investigation assisted by former Medill Prof. David Protess. Protess led the Medill Innocence Project, whose landmark investigation resulted in the release of Anthony Porter from death row. » See Simon, page 11
Nathan Richards/Daily Senior Staffer
tricks and treats Communication freshman Allison Towbes paints the face of a trick-or-treater at Project Pumpkin on Thursday night. The event, sponsored by NCDC, provided treats and games for Chicago-area children.
Norris celebrates Halloween early with Project Pumpkin By BENJAMIN DIN Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT
Innocence project Prof. David Protess, right, leads a group of students in a Medill Innocence Project meeting at Northwestern on Oct. 12, 2009 in Evanston, Illinois.
Former NU researcher settles fraud lawsuit
A former Northwestern research physician will pay the United States $475,000 to settle claims of misusing federal grant money for personal expenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday. Dr. Charles Bennett, who worked at NU’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Center for Cancer in Chicago, was accused by a former coworker of submitting false claims for reimbursement for family trips, meals, hotels and consulting fees for his family and friends from Jan. 1, 2003 to Aug. 31, 2010. His brother and cousin, who were paid for consulting fees, were unqualified for the services, according to the lawsuit. Bennett did not admit liability as part of the settlement. NU paid $2.93 million in July 2013 to settle claims that the University ignored a whistleblower’s concerns about Bennett. NU also did not admit
the daily northwestern @benjamindin
With more than 1,000 children in attendance, Project Pumpkin took over Norris University Center on
Thursday night for an early Halloween celebration. Northwestern Community Development Corps hosted its annual Project Pumpkin event, during which children from around the Chicago area took part in trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities.
“NCDC is really all about Northwestern and the Evanston-Chicago communities together,” Weinberg senior and NCDC co-chair Lakin Davis said. “So we host this event every year to give Evanston-Chicago » See pumpkin, page 11
liability. “The University was nonetheless disappointed to see the allegations in the complaint because they are at odds with the University’s commitment to a culture of compliance in the administration of federal research grants,” NU spokesman Al Cubbage said in a statement in July 2013. “Northwestern takes its grant administration responsibilities seriously, and fully cooperated with the government’s investigation of these allegations in an effort to demonstrate their inconsistency with its institutional values.” Melissa Theis, the whistleblower and a former NU employee, initially made the allegations and will receive $80,750 from Bennett’s settlement. Theis previously received $498,100 from NU’s settlement. The settlement ends the litigation for the suit, but gives any federal agency the authority to suspend Bennett from receiving future research grants. Bennett must pay the settlement by Dec. 1.
City reacts to new tobacco rule
— Tyler Pager
» See TOBACCO, page 11
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
By Stephanie Kelly
the daily northwestern @StephanieKellyM
Some Northwestern students said they see the practicality in outlawing the sale and purchase of tobacco products for anyone under age 21 in Evanston but still think it is unfair to those who have been smoking since they were 18. City Council voted unanimously Monday to make it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy tobacco or liquid nicotine products. The approval of the amendment came after discussions among the aldermen about how much it would affect Evanston residents and the city’s economy. Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) told The Daily on Monday she thought the beneficial health effects in raising the age were the largest reason in passing the amendment.
City manager Wally Bobkiewicz also told The Daily on Monday that he did not see the amendment affecting students too much, because he did not see smoking as a considerable issue at NU. Weinberg sophomore Ryan Fleming said he is a regular smoker, but thinks there are few other students who smoke at the University. “It’s well below the national average from what I can tell just walking down the streets,” Fleming said. “You rarely see a group, usually it’s just one person by (his or herself ).” Fleming said the city law is a good one in principle, but is unfair to the people who started smoking at 18 and are still not 21. “It just makes it harder for people, which will deter them to smoke I guess,” Fleming said. “But people who are already addicted, they’re not going to stop. It’s just going to
force them to go other places to buy them.” If the ordinance had been passed before he had started smoking, he probably would have been less likely to start in the first place, he said. Weinberg junior Isabella Valdescruz is only 20 years old and has been buying her own cigarettes for the past two years while attending NU. “I still hate the fact that they’re trying to control someone else’s life,” Valdescruz said. “They’re just like, ‘No, just kidding. You’re not old enough to make this decision for yourself.’” She said there is a large underground group of people at NU who smoke, and they will still be able to get cigarettes if they want to. Valdescruz said she did smoke
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