The Daily Northwestern
12 SPORTS/Christian Sarkisian
Christian Sarkisian named Northwestern Athletics’ general manager
NUGW reacts to new policies
e organization mobilizes a er funding eeze
By SIDDARTH SIVARAMAN the daily northwestern @sidvaraman
Eighty-three percent of Northwestern graduate students say they could last less than six months without a paycheck before being forced to drop out.
at’s according to an April survey by the Northwestern University Graduate Workers union that garnered 300 responses a er the Trump administration froze $790 million in federal funding for NU, issued at least 98 stopwork orders and terminated at least 51 grants for NU programs.
e poll was part of a mobilization e ort by the union including le ers to university leaders, public protests and general membership meetings to counter the Trump administration.
ird-year Ph.D. candidate in molecular biophysics and NUGW Chief Steward Gracie Si er said her paycheck has not
been federally reimbursed since March. Her research, which studies proteins that could guide new drug designs, has stopped receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health, she said.
NU has continued to pay her salary without federal reimbursement, but she said it was unclear how sustainable that practice would be. She added that she would be likely able to work for around three months without pay before being forced to drop out.
Si er said work like hers must be federally funded because privately backed research leads to companies raising drug prices and keeping ndings private.
“The only way to ensure that anything ethical happens in biomedical research is to do it through the federal government,” Si er said. “ at’s why the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation exist.”
As a chief steward representing union members in Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences STEM programs, Si er said individuals can’t do much about the federal
» See NUGW, page 11
10 PHOTO/Kaibigan
e Pinoy Show captures the magic of Filipino mythical creatures, music and dance
7 A&E/Dillo Day Out ts Students curate carnival out ts ahead of Dillo Day
53 years of Dillo Day performers
A look at the careers of artists after they perform at the festival
By DANNY O’GRADY daily senior staffer @dannymogrady04
Although the origins of Dillo Day are unclear, the most commonly known start to what is now
the nation’s biggest student-run music festival is that Donald Stout (Weinberg ’73) and George Krause (Weinberg ’73) founded the event their senior year.
ey named it Armadillo Day because they are both from Texas, where armadillos are the state
ETHS teacher disciplined for poster e reprimand for his ‘Jewish acts of dissent’ poster caused backlash
By JACK BAKER the daily northwestern
Community members at Monday’s Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education meeting decried school administrators’ reprimand of an ETHS teacher for displaying a “Jewish acts of dissent” poster in his classroom.
Andrew Ginsberg, a social studies teacher who has taught at ETHS for nine years, said a er a complaint alleged the poster was o ensive, school administrators asked him to take it down. In response, Ginsberg replaced the poster with a letter to his students claiming it had been “censored at the insistence of the administration.”
“ is treatment came at the
urging of a small group of parents who are trying to censor speech, both in the broader Evanton community and within the Jewish community, my community,” Ginsberg said during public comment at the meeting. “By siding with a small group of litigious and aggressive parents, the school has taken a position which endorses and imposes on everyone else the Zionist view that political support of Israel is central to being Jewish.” e poster depicts a menorah displaying the word “dissent.”
Additional messages on the poster describe an “absence of assets that make creative dissent possible” and claim that Judaism “came into being as an act of dissent.” Ginsberg said school administrators discovered the le er replacing the poster in early March, pulled him out of class, gave him a wri en warning and asked him
animal, and there is a concert venue located in Austin, Texas, named a er the animal.
Northwestern held its first Armadillo Day on May 13, 1973, and the event was called e First Annual “I Don’t ink We’re In Kansas Anymore” Festival and Fair.
to review policies on teaching controversial topics and maintaining appropriate contact with students.
Ginsberg’s prepared remarks were nished by another speaker during public comment. They
concluded with a list of demands that included the district remove the written warning from Ginsberg’s personal le, issue
» See COUNCIL , page 11
Since the 1970s, the tradition has signi cantly grown in scope and has been headlined by world-famous artists. ere is a belief that Mayfest Productions, the organizing body » See DILLO, page 11
Reza’s closed ‘until further notice’
e restaurant has not announced if they will reopen
By HANNAH WEBSTER daily senior staffer
Reza’s Restaurant on Sherman Avenue appears to have closed its doors. A pop up on the Mediterranean and Persian restaurant’s website reads, “Closed until further notice.”
e storefront contains a sign announcing the restaurant is closed and encouraging patrons to order on UberEats. It does not indicate whether the restaurant will reopen.
e Daily visited the restaurant during typical business hours on
Sunday and Monday. In each case, the restaurant was not open to customers.
Reza’s, which rst opened in Evanston in 2021, did not immediately respond to questions about whether the restaurant plans to reopen or if the connected lounge is also closed.
e restaurant also has a delivery-only location in downtown Chicago. e phone numbers for both locations are out of service. Online ordering options are also unavailable.
A Reza’s Restaurant location shu ered in Andersonville in 2023. Another in Oak Brook recently changed to operate under new management.
Ben Shapiro contributed reporting. h.webster@dailynorthwestern.com
Illustration by Danny O’Grady
Briston Maroney, Swae Lee and Maude Latour stand out as some notable recent Dillo Day performers whose popularity has grown significantly in recent years.
Jack Baker/The Daily Northwestern
The poster depicts a menorah and displays the word “dissent” along with various statements about the role of dissent in Judaism.
City Council confirms contentious LUC appointee
By ISAAC SPEYER and NOLA WILLIAMS the daily northwestern @nola__williams
With a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Daniel Biss, City Council confirmed Luke Harris-Ferree, the pastor at Evanston’s Grace Lutheran Church, to serve on the Land Use Commission late Monday night.
The confirmation put an end to weeks of contentious discussion over who will fill the seat previously held by architect George Halik after Biss decided against reappointing Halik to another term.
More than 30 residents signed up to offer public comment, the majority of whom discussed HarrisFerree’s nomination.
During public comment, Jack Jordan, executive director of Climate Action Evanston, said HarrisFerree would prove “invaluable.”
Jordan said that Harris-Ferree’s age, renter-status, and experience in affordable housing would be applicable in Evanston, where nearly half of all residents are renters. All members of the Land Use Commission are homeowners, Jordan said, and HarrisFerree’s experience as a renter would diversify the commission.
But some residents compared Harris-Ferree’s experience to Halik. Multiple accused Biss of filling the seat with a proponent of Envision Evanston 2045, a sweeping overhaul of city policy boosted by the mayor because Halik had pushed back on blanket upzoning.
“Welcome to the Trump Administration: Evanston Edition,” Bruce Enenbach said. “Nominate ideological alignment rather than knowledge. Nominate loyalty rather than expertise. Nominate fealty to the man rather than to the people.”
Several others amplified claims that the mayor wielded his selection to further his agenda.
Ald. Parielle Davis (7th) began the discussion advocating against the appointment. Prior to the meeting, she sent a campaign email explaining why she opposed the decision.
“I have never had the privilege of being able to be underqualified for a position,” Davis said Monday. “I’ve never gotten a position over someone else who had higher credentials, and so I’ll say that this is a soft spot for me. I am one of the first Black people to represent the 7th Ward, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) supported Davis in her opposition of the appointee. Kelly questioned the reasoning behind the new appointment, referencing Halik’s commitment to and experience on the Land Use Commission and crediting him for the recent advances on the comprehensive plan.
Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) ranked among four councilmembers who voted in favor of Harris-Ferree.
Expertise does matter, he said, but “common ground, dialogue and values-based discussion” will be more important as the commission plods through Envision Evanston.
Alongside Nieuwsma, Alds. Bobby Burns (5th), Juan Geracaris (9th) and Shawn Iles (3rd) voted to confirm Harris-Ferree.
Some community members agreed. Third Ward
resident Scott Roberts said that including candidates with professional experience beyond architecture, planning and real estate “reflects the full diversity of Evanston’s residents and addresses Land Use decisions in a holistic manner.”
Iles faced some criticism for his decision not to recuse himself from voting on the nominee, as he and Harris-Ferree are both involved with Interfaith Action of Evanston, a local nonprofit that operates soup kitchens, a warming center and an overnight shelter, as well as facilitating dialogues between faiths. Iles works as the overnight shelter director for the organization that relies heavily on church donations and membership to pay its employees, including Iles. Kelly voiced these concerns, saying that it would be “awkward and not even fair” for Iles to participate
in the vote.
Nonetheless, Iles voted in favor of Harris-Ferree. He emphasized his experience working on the library board for 10 years.
“The best versions of those boards were (ones) with a variety of viewpoints and a diversity of experience,” Iles said.
After Biss broke the 4-4 council deadlock, with Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) absent, some remaining Halik supporters booed the decision. The next Land Use Commission meeting is Wednesday, and the agenda contains only commissioner training as an item for discussion.
isaacspeyer2028@u.northwestern.edu nolawilliams2028@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file photo by Shun Graves
Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) was one of four councilmembers to vote in favor of the appointment.
Record amount spent on lobbying by Northwestern
By JERRY WU daily senior staffer @jerrwu
While the Trump administration has sought to punish Northwestern over concerns about antisemitism on campus, the University has been busy trying to quell flames on Capitol Hill.
During the first quarter of 2025, from January through March, NU’s lobbying spending surged to over $600,000. That figure represents the highest quarterly lobbying expenditure by the University in the last decade. This year’s uptick also follows NU’s 2024 lobbying expenditures swelling to more than $1 million, a historic high, according to federal filings.
Many of the issues NU lobbied for in the past quarter mirrored those the Trump administration is focusing on, including an endowment tax, federal research funding and measures combating antisemitism.
The continued rise in spending this year underpins NU’s efforts to alleviate further financial duress as it weathers strong opposition from the Trump administration.
A University spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Since March, the Trump administration has frozen $790 million in federal funding, terminated dozens of research grants and issued about 100 stop-work orders at NU.
Similar to last year, NU also enlisted several lobbyists from Harbinger Strategies, many of whom served as advisers to former House Republican leaders, this past quarter. In total, NU ponied up about $150,000 to the lobbyist group.
Two bids announced for state Senate as Laura Fine launches U.S. campaign
Two new candidates have announced bids for the state Senate seat currently held by State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), who recently launched a Congressional campaign.
Evanston resident Rachel Ru enberg, the former
So far, NU’s 2025 lobbying expenditure is one of the highest among universities who have seen similar funding freezes. In this year’s first quarter, Harvard University and Columbia University both recorded $230,000 and $510,000 in lobbying respectively.
Federal filings also indicated that NU recently lobbied on issues pertaining to college
deputy chief of sta for policy in the Cook County Board President o ce, is running to be a “champion for the progressive values,” according to her campaign website.
“Our state and our communities face real obstacles, unlike any we have seen in our country’s history,” Ruttenberg said in a May 8 Facebook post. “We must work toward making our communities more a ordable, strengthening our schools and healthcare systems, and protecting our constitutional and civil rights.”
Ru enberg is also the deputy commi eeperson for
athletics and name, image, likeness rights. Those expenses come at a time when a seismic court decision could upend how collegiate athletics compensate players for their NIL rights.
Currently, a $2.8 billion antitrust case settlement against the NCAA and the Power Five conferences hangs in the balance. If approved, Division I schools would be able to start paying athletes directly for their NIL use starting
the Democratic Party of Evanston. In another Facebook post, she boasted endorsements from Illinois House Majority Leader and State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) and other state politicians.
Winnetka environmental activist Patrick Hanley, meanwhile, said in a May 8 news release that he is running on a platform of sustainability and economic growth.
“At a time when the nation is broken and led by breakers, we in Illinois should be builders,” Hanley
July 1.
The settlement would require athletic departments to share over $20.5 million in revenue with their players.
The Trump administration reportedly floated the idea of passing an executive order dealing with NIL deals in college.
j.wu@dailynorthwestern.com
said in the news release. “As a dad of two small boys and as the husband of an immigrant small business owner, I’m running to make sure families like mine see a bright future in our state.” Hanley, the president of the New Trier Democrats, has been backed by outgoing U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston).
e primary election will take place March 17, 2026.
Sophie Baker
WANTED Syllabus Yearbook 2026 Editor in Chief & Staff
Students Publishing Company of Northwestern University is seeking a current undergraduate student to manage the creation of the 2026 Northwestern Yearbook. The editor in chief will be responsible for the visual and verbal content of the yearbook and will work with a student staff of writers, designers and photographers. This paid position begins in Spring Quarter 2025, with the largest time commitment in Fall Quarter 2025 through Winter Quarter 2026
The best candidate should display:
•Strong writing and editing skills (journalism experience a plus)
•Creativity and graphic design skills
•A keen interest in activities and life at Northwestern
Interested in leaving your mark on NU?
Request an application NOW by contacting syllabus@northwestern.edu or call 847-491-7206
A&E
arts & entertainment
UNITY celebrates diversity, culture and philanthropy
By TROIS FRANCOISE ONO and JENNY JANG the daily northwestern @troisono
Student-run UNITY Charity Fashion Show
hosted its annual fashion show at Artifact Events in Chicago Thursday. Attendees witnessed a wide range of looks that not only showcased emerging talent from their peers and alumni, but also sparked conversations around cultural identity.
Known for highlighting diversity and philanthropy at Northwestern, the fashion show transformed its venue into a lively runway celebrating the intersection of fashion, art and community engagement centering around the theme of myths.
McCormick senior Cate Mathews said the theme was chosen because it encourages people to look at different cultures or look at mythology from an abstract lens
“We always want to strive for something that has sort of specificity and inspiration for
designers, but we also want to be able to capture a broad array of different perspectives and designs,” Mathews said.
Every UNITY fashion show highlights a local charity. According to Mathews, the chosen charities should focus on the arts and should be doing similar work to UNITY, encouraging students who lack a creative outlet to enter the arts.
Snow City Arts, this year’s beneficiary, offers art education programs in four Chicago-area hospitals, helping young patients express themselves creatively despite challenging circumstances. UNITY’s partnership aimed to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit’s mission.
Preparation for this year’s UNITY event began in Fall Quarter. Student roles include finding venues, deciding the order of collections and picking models and designers.
This year, the fashion show featured pieces from designers in the Chicago area as well as students in the clothing committee.
“I decided, ‘Why not try something new and
learn new skills along the way?’” Weinberg freshman and UNITY designer Ally Song said. “It was a creative and fun process because we got to buy all the fabrics and shop as a team.”
The event showcased a vibrant blend of local creativity, embracing culture and community spirit.
Song’s design, for instance, drew inspiration from her Korean heritage and the Gumiho, a ninetailed, shapeshifting fox from Korean mythology.
“The impact I want to make is to share what I’m passionate about with other people,” Song said.
To attend the show, attendees paid a $10 ticket fee for Snow City Arts. All proceeds, including the fundraisers hosted by UNITY throughout the year, go to Snow City Arts.
Weinberg freshman Ainee Wittayathawornwong attended UNITY to support her friend as a designer. However, she also mentioned that the charitable aspect of the show made her even more eager to attend.
“I felt good coming here,” Wittayathawornwong
said. “I didn’t feel like I was just attending a show. I felt like I’m here for a cause.”
The show aims to spotlight designers and models who may lack traditional industry access or conventional looks but are still creating fashion. It demonstrates that runways don’t require stereotypical body types or skin tones to make an impact.
Students interested in fashion have the opportunity to gain insights through speaker events hosted by UNITY throughout the year.
The student organization provides an unforgettable experience for the audience and for club members who are interested in pursuing a career in fashion down the line, Mathews said.
“I hope that attendees got to appreciate how incredible the sort of diversity of not only models and clothes, but of the different voices in the room,” Mathews said.
troisono2028@u.northwestern.edu
jennyjang2028@u.northwestern.edu
Students outwit, outplay and outlast in ‘Survivor NU’
By SARAH SEROTA daily senior staffer @sarahserota
Students gathered in University Hall on Wednesday night, cheering as their favorite “Survivor” players popped up on the screen. Yet, these players are not the classic castaways, like Boston Rob or Parvati; they are current and recently graduated Northwestern students.
“Survivor Northwestern” premiered its fifth season Wednesday night — its first full season to air since 2021. The season, which was filmed during the 2022-23 school year, will now be released in full over the coming weeks.
The season, titled “Into the Gauntlet,” holds a new twist revealed during the first episode. One player was sent to “The Gauntlet,” where there was
a choice between two boxes, either containing an advantage or a disadvantage.
For season five player and Communication senior Drew Slager, the season can best be described as “intense.”
“Everyone who’s on the season came to play,” Slager said. “We’re all college students, but it’s very apparent how much people were like, ‘I’m going to play Survivor, and I’m going to put my all into this.’”
Not only are the castaways students, but the show itself is entirely student-run. Student competitors participate in regular competitions, such as capture the flag and tribal councils. Most parts of “Survivor NU” replicate the show it’s based on, aside from being stranded in a jungle. And everything from the challenges down to the editing is run by students.
“Survivor NU” president and McCormick senior Ryan Kessler worked on the production
of season five. He said the editing process after filming is incredibly lengthy, given the amount of footage and work that goes into producing nearly hour-long episodes.
Every Fall Quarter, the club plans the upcoming challenges and the twists for the season, Kessler said. Filming this season took place from the Winter to Spring quarters.
While the club has fully filmed seven seasons and the eighth is currently in the works, this season will mark the second season to be edited and aired in full, due to the amount of editing that goes into putting together a completed season.
Kessler said that usually, students only get to play as a contestant once. He said he started working on the production side of the club for season five to stay involved in the club after competing in season four.
“I made such good friends with some of my other players and production on season four,”
Kessler said. “It was a pretty easy decision for me to stay in the club and be involved with production for future seasons.
Students like Kessler and Slager said they both joined the club out of their love for the show “Survivor.” Others, like season five contestant and NU alum North Hinze (Communication ‘24) discovered the show through the club.
After finishing filming season five, Hinze said he started watching the show and is now a superfan. The club not only brought Hinze a new bingeable TV series, but he said it also brought him a new community.
“Over the course of that summer, every season I watched, I kept texting friends about it,” Hinze said. “By the time we came back the next year, I ended up talking to them pretty much every day.” s.serota@dailynorthwestern.com
Trois Francoise Ono/The Daily Northwestern
Rauw Alejandro brings telenovela theatrics to Chicago
By ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ daily senior staffer @alexbespeakin
Elegant attire, an excellent storyline and spontaneous moments of perreo were some of the key features of Rauw Alejandro’s first Cosa Nuestra World Tour performance in Chicago Friday night. Fresh from his stop in Houston, the Puerto Rican singer sold-out three nights at United Center and brought the sazón to Chicago’s West Side.
Released in November 2024, Alejandro’s fifth studio album “Cosa Nuestra” is primarily salsa and reggaeton, with fusions of other genres such as jazz, bolero, electronic and rock. For this album, Alejandro wanted to create an entirely new vision heavily influenced by “West Side Story” and telenovelas.
The two-and-a-half hour show was separated into four acts: “Trust No One, Love Anyway,” “Leap of Faith,” “When the Lights Go Down” and “Between Love and War.” In the Broadwayinspired performance, Alejandro adopts the persona of “Raúl Alejandro,” the leading man that falls in love with Maria, a mysterious and effortlessly stunning woman who ultimately tricks Raúl into a trap.
Attendees’ dresswear was inspired by 1960s evening attire such as gowns and finely tailored suits, fitting with the album’s aesthetic appeal. As dapper attendees started filing into the stadium, a QR code with a Playbill-inspired digital program displayed the show’s rundown along with messages from the artist.
“To whoever reads this…this is not just a show. It’s our story — of those who left chasing a dream, carrying the island in their hearts and nostalgia in their suitcases,” Alejandro said in the digital program. “This show is Cosa Nuestra,
even if not everyone understands.”
Before the show commenced, concert host and master of ceremonies “Mr. Gomez,” played by artist Gilberto Gomez, , popped up across the venue to get the crowd excited. Once it was time for the show to begin, the yellow curtain was raised and a high-speed car chase was projected on a LED backdrop.
After some dialogue with the audience, the chase came to an end when the two vehicles crashed into each other. Suddenly, the two injured drivers — one of them Alejandro — rose from the stage floor. Alejandro shot the other driver, leading into the singer’s 2022 hit single “Punto 40.”
With the introduction of almost every song, the stage transformed into everything from a nightclub to a park to even Alejandro’s bedroom. Songs such as “Santa” and “Carita Linda” created a lively atmosphere. The live musicians’ and dancers’ talents shined through and made it feel like the audience was a part of the story.
During transitions into the next act, Mr. Gomez provided foreshadowing and recaps of what had just occurred. Decked out in a rhinestone top hat, a pair of timely sunglasses and a three-piece suit with rhinestone adornments, Mr. Gomez’s energy, style and comedic relief transformed the way hosts interact with audiences.
As the acts came and went, Alejandro’s effortless humor and charm along with his flawless execution of complex choreography made him one-of-a-kind. From dancing to the rhythm of bomba barrels to moving suavecito with Maria during a salsa number, Alejandro showed he can dance — and no one can say otherwise.
The 18-track set also included some of Alejandro’s previous works. “Desesperados,” “No Me Sueltes” and “Todo De Ti” revived the nostalgic
feeling of discovering Alejandro as an artist during the pandemic.
With this album, Alejandro wanted to try something new that many male artists are afraid to touch: Exploring the depths of genres, creating a world that captivates audiences across the nation and embracing acting and fashion as a key element of storytelling is what we need from artists like Alejandro.
The concept and in-depth storyline that
makes up the Cosa Nuestra World Tour was not just excellent, it was daring and empowering. Only a few stars are able to achieve this vision, and Alejandro is the perfect example of how to blend culturally important sounds with futuristic tendencies. This concert is not just Alejandro’s thing, it is “Cosa Nuestra,” “our thing” in Spanish.
a.hernandez.gonzalez@dailynorthwestern.com
Students scramble to curate outfits for Carnival Dillo
By DALTON HANNA the daily northwestern @daltonhanna06
Dillo Day is just a few days away, but Northwestern students are still scrambling to find their outfits. While many look forward to Dillo for the music, the annual event is a fashion show for others. Some start to plan their outfits months in advance, curating every detail from shoes to jewelry.
This year’s theme, Carnival Dillo, is proving to be difficult for some students compared to previous Dillo themes such as 2024’s “Camp Dillo” or 2023’s “Planet Dillo.” There are many ways one can interpret a carnival: This freedom results in a myriad of possible ways to dress.
Weinberg freshman Ella Yun said she started planning her Dillo outfit minutes after the theme was announced Feb. 17.
“I didn’t want to go too costumey, but I didn’t want to go too ‘this isn’t a carnival’ outfit,” Yun said. “I’m feeling good about (my outfit) right now. I’m happy everything fit, and it looked good together.”
Yun opted for patterns and bright colors for her outfit: a striped dress and cowboy boots that have electric blue accents.
Yun is not the only one taking a patterned route. Director of Marketing and Public Relations at NU fashion magazine STITCH, Weinberg junior Jeremy Lee, provided advice for students who still don’t know what to wear this weekend.
He recommended sticking to patterns if one is lost with the theme. He advocated for going to a thrift store or using already-owned pieces instead of turning to Amazon for last minute outfits.
“The carnival theme is a little challenging depending on the clothes that you have in your
wardrobe, but that doesn’t mean it’s an inaccessible thing for people that don’t want to go out and buy a lot of things,” Lee said. “Go for red, white, black, multi-colored, dimensions or patterns.”
Mayfest Productions will host Mayflea on Tuesday at the Foster-Walker Complex Lawn, giving students the opportunity to thrift outfits before Saturday’s event.
All students who have not yet decided on a Dillo outfit are encouraged to attend, as the secondhand shopping of clothes at Mayflea serves as a more sustainable option for outfit sourcing.
Weinberg freshman Theo Strelecky said he and his friends have continued to hold off on deciding their outfits.
“We have to pull the trigger on something, and it’s a little stressful because we’re running out of time,” Strelecky said. “I will definitely not use anything I already have, because none of it is carnivalesque at all.”
Strelecky said he plans to turn to Amazon and most likely order a pair of red overalls.
For additional outfit inspiration, Mayfest and STITCH collaborated and created a Dillo Instagram lookbook featuring animal print, gingham and polka dots. The inspiration outfits included fewer elaborate costumes and focused more on combining everyday pieces.
Lee said the lookbook reiterates that it is unnecessary to buy a whole new outfit exclusively for Dillo Day and students can work with pieces they already have. Lee plans on wearing a combination of pieces from second hand stores and items from his closet to curate his Dillo look.
“Carnival can be a lot of different things,” Lee said. “So look for fun patterns, fun colors. Carnival is about loud expressionist clothing, so, there’s a lot of ways you can go about it.”
d.hanna@dailynorthwestern.com
Newberry Consort showcases Ottoman Empire music, art
By JAIMIE CHUN
The resonant sounds of The Newberry Consort filled the halls of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston and transported the audience across centuries of the Ottoman Empire on Sunday.
The Newberry Consort is a Chicago-based vocal and instrumental concert group that performs music from various historical time periods. The ensemble’s most recent and final program of their season, “In the Realm of Osman,” showcased Ottoman Empire music and art from the 17th to
19th centuries.
“It’s been an extraordinarily wonderful and fruitful week of history, creativity and camaraderie,” Newberry Consort Executive Director Ben David Aronson said in his opening remarks.
The program’s theme focused on the idea of finding harmony within cultural, regional and political differences within the diverse music and art scene of the Ottoman Empire since the 13th century.
Chicago resident Maryam Faridani attended the sold-out show and said she felt a nostalgic connection to the performance because she is from Iran.
She said her favorite piece was the Üsküdar, an Arab-Balkan-Greek-Turkish traditional piece.
“It was a melody that is shared between different cultures — it was really nice,” Faridani said.
Throughout the nearly two-hour long performance, the eight musicians on stage wove different musical traditions and sounds.
Traditional instruments such as the ud, a pearshaped, plucked string instrument prominent in Middle Eastern and North African classical music and the kanun, brought the Ottoman music to life.
Artistic Director Liza Malamut plays the sackbut, a predecessor to the modern trombone. She said joining the ensemble was a very meaningful experience because she originally specialized in Western classical music.
“Being able to learn this music, which has its own incredibly complex music theory, a sound that I never encountered before and then finding out how wonderful it was and how fun to play meant the most to me,” Malamut said.
In addition to performing music, the consort provided historical and cultural context about the Ottoman Empire. Photos and captions from the “Tarih-i Yeni Dünya,” a 17th-century manuscript that inspired the program, were projected behind the musicians to accompany specific compositions.
Curator and ud player Ronnie Malley was at the forefront of selecting which musical traditions and sounds the consort wanted to convey. Malamut said she hopes the piece selections reflected the melting pot of cultures the time period and region embraced.
The final piece the consort performed had the audience singing along to its Turkish lyrics and led to a standing ovation.
A recording of the “In the Realm of Osman” program will be available in June on the Newberry Consort’s website.
“Music has survived for hundreds of years with rises and falls of empires,” Malamut said. “We still have instruments. We still play the music.”
jaimiechun2028@u.northwestern.edu
arts & entertainment
Editor Emily Lichty
Assistant
Editors
Desiree Luo
Maya Wong
Design
Editors Henry Frieman
Rachel Schlueter
Matt Wasilewski
“There was just so much cultural exchange, so many different groups of people learning from each other, so it’s not just one thing,” Malamut said. “Each piece really was quite different from the piece that came before it because it had a different origin.”
Jaimie Chun/The Daily Northwestern
The Newberry Consort performed a selection from “In the Realm of Osman,” which is inspired by the music, art and poetry of the Ottoman Empire.
Shreya Srinivasan/The Daily Northwestern Rauw Alejandro performed at the United Center Friday for the Cosa Nuestra World Tour.
OPINION
Whitney: Dear Congress, don’t abandon researchers
Every morning, anxiety and dread take over as I open my phone. Doomscrolling takes on a whole new meaning when every headline announces what latest aspect of science and research the Trump administration is targeting. Without fail, I cannot make it through emails, LinkedIn updates and text messages without discovering a colleague whose grant has been terminated, a connection seeking a new job and a list of websites and data that have been erased from federal agencies. The list goes on and on and, to put it bluntly, I am exhausted.
To family and friends, it was no surprise that I studied biology in college, and even less surprising that I decided to work in wildlife conservation. My childhood heroes included Jane Goodall and Steve Irwin; growing up in the mountains of Colorado instilled a deep love for the environment and the animals that call it home. Spending my days exploring the outdoors fostered a lasting belief that humans must learn to coexist with wildlife and protect the natural resources that our shared livelihoods depend on.
Now, I am in the last months of my Ph.D. program in the anthropology department at Northwestern. My dissertation research focuses on developing conservation tools for endangered wildlife at risk of extinction.
To say I am passionate about my research is an understatement; my desire to protect this planet, its forests and wildlife gets me out of bed every morning. This is also why I pursued a doctorate from NU, a university at the
forefront of scientific research nationally and globally.
Last week, President Trump released his discretionary budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which proposed major cuts to science.
Some highlights include a 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health, a 56% cut to the National Science Foundation, a 55% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency and a 25% cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Perhaps the most personal attack by the FY 2026 budget is President Trump’s commitment to eliminating
To say I am passionate about my research is an understatement; my desire to protect this planet, its forests and wildlife gets me out of bed every morning.
- TABOR WHITNEY, op-ed contributor
funding for the “Green New Scam”— his disheartening nickname for the Green New Deal.
While Trump’s discretionary budget is a suggestion, the proposed reductions undermine the United States’ scientific operations, and Congress must now decide whether to support or reject these suggestions. Disguised as savings for the taxpayer, I see them as a failure to invest in the future. These suggested cuts will weaken the next generation of early career researchers and jeopardize the United States’ ability to lead scientific discovery and
innovation worldwide.
Northwestern has so far received 98 stopwork orders, 51 grant terminations as well as no payments for NIH grants since March. What these numbers do not highlight is the magnitude of graduate students whose funding has been stripped from underneath them, and whose aspirations of making a difference in this world are deemed unworthy by our country’s leaders.
While I am grateful to have finished my research — research that would have been impossible without federal funding — now what? How can I stay in a country that discredits science? Even if I wanted to stay, where could I continue to do research? Without reliable federal funding, job stability is impossible.
Many of my fellow graduating colleagues and I are now applying to jobs abroad where scientific inquiry and innovation are not only supported, but valued. Meanwhile, universities and advisors are exercising caution about admitting new graduate students, uncertain whether they can promise the funding needed for students to succeed.
For those in their first or second year, the situation is just as bleak: without federal investment, most labs cannot function, and neither can the careers of the graduate students they support. Without meaningful change, the United States risks losing an entire generation of scientists, as early-career researchers find themselves with no place to go.
I recently shared these sentiments with Illinois Congressional staffers when I went to Washington D.C. for the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering Workshop.
Testimonials, like the one I shared here, are what legislators want to hear. Congress loves to use personal stories during debates to
highlight why continued investment in scientific research — and the graduate students who are its backbone — is necessary. Losing an entire generation of American researchers will be catastrophic for this nation, no matter what side of the aisle your elected official is on.
How can I stay in a country that discredits science? Even if I wanted to stay, where could I continue to do research?
- TABOR WHITNEY, op-ed contributor ”
It is imperative to advocate for higher education and research right now. I encourage faculty, graduate and undergraduate students to speak up and share why federally funded research is important. I urge readers to contact Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jan Schakowsky, or your home state representatives, to ask for their continued support of scientific research and share your stories.
Tabor Whitney is a Northwestern University 6th year graduate student in the Ph.D. program for anthropology. She can be contacted at taborw@u. northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
Hawkins: Will Pope Leo XIV support LGBTQ+ visibility?
GABE
Pope Francis’ death marked the end of an era. Or perhaps the era was just beginning.
The pope’s sympathy for gay marriage — a blueprint I hope incoming Pope Leo XIV will carry forward — is one of many distinguishing factors that enshrined Pope Francis as a champion of equality.
Despite the Catholic Church’s long-standing opposition toward queer expression, Pope Francis stood up for queer rights — notably in allowing gay couples to be blessed — though he fell short of changing the Catholic teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman. Francis also championed equality through promoting interfaith dialogue, stood up for climate justice and called for the abolition of capital punishment.
In criticizing Donald Trump throughout both terms of his presidency, Pope Francis placed himself squarely on the right side of history. As the Vatican prepares to crown a new pope, I am
optimistic about his potential.
Pope Leo XIV is a long-time critic of Trump and his cronies. Just last week the New York Post published the fiery headline, “New Pope Leo XIV spent years retweeting criticism of Trump policies.” Among his retweets are posts about JD Vance’s Catholicism and outrage over the Trump administration’s harsh border policies.
I’m heartened that the new leader of the Vatican will stand up to a president as corrupt as Trump. However, as I did some sleuthing about the new pope, I read about comments he had made about gay people in 2012, which are now drawing mainstream attention.
In 2012, he gave an address where he bemoaned the growing “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel” in the Catholic Church. He went on to mention “homosexual lifestyle(s)” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.”
Perhaps he was referring to Pope Francis allowing blessings of same-sex couples. Or maybe it was just a homophobic talking point. Either way, his disparaging language toward queer Catholics is deeply concerning.
Even Pope Francis was not immune to
homophobia in the Catholic Church. In 2024, it was reported that the former pope referred to a gay man with a derogatory slur. However, given that Leo XIV’s remarks were over a decade ago, I’m willing to hold grace for the potential that his thinking has evolved. While Trump has expressed triumph that the new pope is an American, his base is rushing to condemn the religious leader, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the president.
If Marxism means standing up for human rights and speaking out against political cruelty, I’m all for stuffing the Vatican with Marxists.
- GABE HAWKINS, assistant opinion editor
According to conservative activist Laura Loomer, Leo XIV is “anti-Trump, anti-MAGA,
Communal Shower Thoughts: Wristband Rage
I am so excited for Dillo Day, of course — a free music festival with all my friends when it’s finally nice in Evanston — how could I not be? With that being said, if I hear the word wristband one more time, I am going to scream. Forget the fact that there is a rule in my sorority that I must wear a wristband to enter and exit the house that I live in. I’m done questioning the shenanigans that occur in the name of the sisterhood.
There is a much more pressing matter to focus mental energy on: collecting frat wristbands. That’s right. Long gone are the days of showing up and naming five brothers at the door. One must present a wristband.
How do you get a wristband? Well, it’s not enough to be in just any old sorority, apparently,
or I’d have wristbands for days. No, it’s every man for himself, for me and most of my peers.
That’s probably why all everyone I know is talking about is from whom they’re sourcing their respective wristbands. Everywhere I turn, someone is asking me or someone else what their plan is. “What darties are you planning on going to? Oh, really? How did you get your wristband?”
I swear, I have almost no social capital, and people are still asking me for help getting into specific frats. I can only imagine what my iPhone notifications would look like right now if I was dating someone in a frat.
I really don’t want to have to text people to ask for wristbands. In general, I loathe the indignity that comes with asking for things. I’m fun at parties, please just let me show up. I have a cute outfit to wear.
On a fundamental level, I find the culture of needing wristbands to enter spaces that don’t typically require wristbands a little odd. Wristbands are for hotels and clubs and waterparks.
See? When you put it that way, it’s kinda weird. Maybe they’re being marketed all wrong. If these were status boosting souvenir wristbands, I just might feel less perplexed by their existence and more compelled to gather them. Instead, I think I’m going to just hope I’m at the right place at the right time and things work out so that I can have an excellent time on Saturday. But, should anyone reading this be in a position to offer me a highly coveted wristband, I would gladly take it off your hands. And another few for my friends. Like, seven friends tops. And we’re all super cool and chill. Thank you so much, you’re seriously the best. I owe you one.
Sylvie Slotkin is a Medill sophomore. She can be contacted at sylvieslotkin2027@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
pro-open Borders and a total Marxist, like Pope Francis.”
If Marxism means standing up for human rights and speaking out against political cruelty, I’m all for stuffing the Vatican with Marxists. As Leo XIV begins his tenure, I am hoping that he will carry on Francis’ refreshing legacy of inclusivity.
Gabe Hawkins is a Medill freshman. He can be contacted at gabehawkins2028@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
The Daily Northwestern Volume 149, Issue 6
Editor in Chief
Lily Ogburn
Opinion Editor Eli Kronenberg
Assistant Opinion
Editor Gabe Hawkins
Managing Editors
Misha Manjuran Oberoi
Danny O’Grady
Anavi Prakash
David Samson
Leah Schroeder
Shreya Srinivasan Jerry Wu
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside The Daily office.
Letters have the following requirements:
• Should be typed and double-spaced
• Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number.
• Should be fewer than 300 words
They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.
Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group.
Editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily’s student editorial board and not the opinions of either Northwestern University or Students Publishing Co. Inc.
Northwestern University congratulates the winners of the 2025 University Teaching Awards
Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence
CAITLIN FITZ
Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence
MICHAEL HORN
Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction
JONATHAN EMERY
Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction
YUMI SHIOJIMA
Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Clinical Professor
PETER SLEVIN
Left to Right: Yumi Shiojima, Peter Slevin
Left to Right: Caitlin Fitz, Michael Horn, Jonathan Emery
From page 1
for Dillo, usually books artists before they reach
mainstream status. To put that belief to the test, e Daily dug into the accomplishments of Dillo performers since 2001 before and a er they took the stage at NU.
“Sun ower” by Swae Lee, who performed at Dillo in 2024, and Post Malone is the moststreamed song by a Dillo Day performer. Si ing at just over 3.8 billion streams, it leads the next highest song — “HUMBLE.” by Kendrick Lamar — by over a billion.
In total, Dillo performers have produced 81 songs that have accumulated over 500 million
streams on Spotify. Kendrick Lamar leads with the greatest number of songs in this category, with eight. e Black Eyed Peas trail closely behind with seven songs that exceed 500 million streams. Six of the top 10 total songs have been produced a er the artist’s Dillo performance, leaving four that came out a er.
In total, 42 albums created by Dillo performers have sold over one million units in the U.S. Nelly has produced ve such albums, the most of any Dillo performer.
However, “Legend” by e Wailers, who performed at Dillo in 2004, is the highest-selling
From page 1
government’s orders on their own, but she tells graduate workers in similar situations to engage in collective action.
Released in April, NUGW’s new four-pillar platform advocates for protecting noncitizen workers, restoring STEM research funding, defending transgender rights and maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. A pledge outlining the platform has received over 600 signatures, Si er said.
Leaders also polled rank-and- le members for their opinions on how NU should respond and detailed their responses in an email to university administrators, she said, which led to a direct meeting. NUGW supplemented dialogue behind closed doors with
COUNCIL
From page 1
a public apology and cease “its suppression of free speech about Palestine.”
District 202 did not immediately respond to questions about whether the district will respond to these demands or comment on the reprimand.
In total, 18 community members, including parents, students and Ginsberg himself, signed up to speak at Monday night’s meeting. Some speakers wore ke yehs, and many invoked their own Jewish identities to criticize the administrators’ decision.
“In this case, a teacher is being disciplined, not for causing harm, but for refusing to stay silent. To ght antisemitism, we might resist the systems that silence moral dissent,” Evanston resident Nadia Greenspan said. “Encouraging dissent is not a threat to Jewish safety — it is the heart of the Jewish ethical tradition.” Ginsberg said while he considers the board “more or less a rubber stamp for the administration,” he has led a “formal grievance” disputing his reprimand and wanted to address board members directly.
During public comment, Ginsberg also said the school’s support for the Black Lives Ma er movement
On Spotify, Lamar is a clear frontrunner with over 90 million listeners. He is almost 40 million listeners above the next most-listened-to artist, Playboi Carti.
e median number of monthly listeners for all Dillo performers since 2001 is slightly over 2.2 million listeners. e rst quartile of monthly listeners falls at about 350,000 and the third quartile
of slightly under 8.5 million.
Among the di erent genres, the R&B/soul Dillo performers have the highest median with over 9.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Meanwhile, the rock performers have the lowest median with less than 77,000 monthly listeners. However, this low gure is partially due to the lower number of performers in the rock genre.
album by far, selling over 18 million units — eight million more than the next highest-selling album. Out of these 42 albums, 26 were released before the artist performed at Dillo, while 16 albums followed their performance. e majority of these albums are hip-hop/rap with 24 being of the genre.
public speech, she added, exempli ed by the Day of Action and May Day protests.
ird-year Ph.D. candidate in biotechnology and fellow NUGW Chief Steward Maanasa Narayanamoorthy said over 250 graduate workers a ended the union’s general membership meeting for April, the most in a endance for a meeting since November 2023.
Si er said NUGW held a “Know Your Rights” workshop Feb. 7 and compiled resources for members to reference and hold their own events. NUGW’s parent organization, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, also started a hotline for graduate students facing any immigration-related emergencies, she said.
Second-year Ph.D. candidate in art history and NUGW Local Steward Amanda Alvarez said they organized a town hall within the art history department
in 2020 was “diametrically opposed” to administrators’ recent treatment of student activists supporting Palestine. He criticized “Zionists in (the) community” for using ETHS to suppress “pro-human rights sentiments” and discussions of Palestinian deaths in the Israel-Hamas war, which he called a genocide.
“Too o en, leadership at this school has capitulated to the small group of people, marginalizing and punishing teachers at their request,” Ginsberg said.
According to Ginsberg, the poster in question was created by Jewish artist Liora Ostro and originally published in the magazine Jewish Currents, which describes its mission as centering the Jewish le ’s “rich tradition of thought, activism, and culture.”
ETHS parent Robin Brown expressed support for the school’s rebuke of recent executive orders targeting the use of federal funds to support diversity, equity and inclusion programs but criticized the school administration’s reprimand of Ginsberg.
“In the face of threats from our federal government and other outside forces, ETHS has been bold and brave,” Brown said. “ is recent move to censor a poster from the Jewish Currents magazine is neither bold nor brave. ere was nothing wrong with that poster, except that it made some people
Similar to the monthly listeners category, Lamar leads all Dillo performers in the number of Grammy wins and nominations. He has 57 wins and nominations combined. is is over double the number of Common’s nominations and wins, which sit at 22 combined. ere have been 20
about o ering aid to international workers, which could include cooking, childcare and rides to visa appointments.
Researchers like Alvarez o en study unknown artists with li le available information online, they explained, forcing them to travel abroad to nd physical archives.
Alvarez said this has become especially di cult for international graduate workers as experts now advise extreme caution for noncitizens when trying to leave the U.S. and come back. Without the ability to do that research, Alvarez said, graduate students lose their livelihoods and academic freedom.
Fi h-year Ph.D. candidate in molecular biosciences and NUGW Local Steward Caitlin Palmer said the union has supported graduate students facing not just nancial insecurity, but also emotional insecurity.
uncomfortable.”
Similarly, Ginsberg argued the district has been “very Trumpian” when responding to pro-Palestinian activism.
ETHS parent Annie Zirin urged the board to “hold the line” in support of free speech, even amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on antisemitic rhetoric in schools.
“I know these are big questions, but now is not the time to bend the knee to this arrogant, disgusting administration in Washington that wants to dismantle our schools and take away all kids’ rights,” Zirin said.
Ginsberg said he put up the le er because school administrators were “already violating (his) rights” and his students deserve to know why the poster was removed. He added that he plans to return to ETHS next school year.
One student, ETHS senior Isaac Lieb, compared the administration’s treatment of pro-Palestinian student activists to the censorship of high school students during the Vietnam War.
“When have the students ever been on the wrong side of this issue?” Lieb said. “ ey weren’t wrong in Vietnam. ey weren’t wrong during the Civil Rights
Grammy winners who have performed at Dillo Day, and together, they average 3.9 wins. Additionally, 20 Dillo performers have been nominated but have not won a Grammy.
d.ogrady@dailynorthwestern.com
“ e sense of community, of not knowing that I’m alone in this, has been really impactful,” Palmer said. “Anywhere from chemistry to molecular biosciences to art history, we’re all feeling the same stress and pain.”
Narayanamoorthy said NUGW emphasizes a spirit of collectivism, in which members who feel safer can use their voices to protect more vulnerable members. ey added that the union also tries to educate all members on how to keep themselves and others safe.
“It is a delicate line to walk,” Narayanamoorthy said. “We never ask our membership to take risks that would endanger themselves. But we also recognize that it feels like not saying anything at this point is not an option.”
s.sivaraman@dailynorthwestern.com
Movement. ey weren’t wrong during apartheid (in) South Africa. ey weren’t wrong in Iraq, and they are sure as hell are not wrong now.”
Later in the meeting, Pete Bavis, the school’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, swore in rst-term board member John Martin and incumbents Pat Savage-Williams, Pat Maunsell and Mirah Anti.
Martin replaced outgoing board member Gretchen Livingston, who served for 16 years. In her farewell speech, Livingston alluded to the concerns expressed during public comment while imploring the board to reduce opportunity gaps between students of color and their white counterparts, increase collaboration with Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and improve Latinx representation on the board.
“ e reason that ETHS has the reputation it does — one that is not perfect, as our public comment demonstrated tonight, but always striving for the best for its students — is that we have the trust and support of our community,” Livingston said. “ at trust is built and maintained by all who work in this building every day.”
j.baker@dailynorthwestern.com
NUGW
Taylor’s record 10 goals push ’Cats into quarter nals
By HENRY FRIEMAN daily senior staffer @henryfrieman
It only took 50 seconds of game time for junior a acker Madison Taylor to break the seal on No. 3 Northwestern’s NCAA Tournament second-round matchup with Michigan.
By hal ime, she’d already scored four goals, and by the end of the third quarter, nine of her shots had found the back of the net.
By converting a free-position goal with ve minutes le in the contest, Taylor cemented her place in NCAA history, se ing the record for most goals scored in an NCAA tournament game with her 10th goal.
e junior’s milestone mark — which outscored Michigan
— propelled the Wildcats (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten) to a 15-7 win over the Wolverines (13-7, 5-3 Big Ten), advancing NU to the NCAA tournament quarter nals. “I didn’t know I scored that many goals until I got o the eld,” Taylor said. “But I just feel really grateful to be here. … I just love this group, I love this team and I love playing this game.”
Taylor wasted no time ge ing going, charging toward the net and uncurling a shot past Michigan’s Erin O’Grady. A er the ‘Cats controlled the draw, she scored her second, wrapping around the goal to score.
Michigan responded with a goal courtesy of Emma Bradbury to trim the de cit to one before Taylor secured a hat trick less than seven minutes into the rst quarter. As time dwindled in the period,
ADMINISTRATION
Taylor secured a ground ball and passed to sprinting senior midelder Emerson Bohlig. Bohlig, with breakneck speed, stormed into the fan and connected with senior mid elder Sam Smith. Smith’s shot found nylon to put NU up 4-1.
Freshman defender Mary Carroll caused a turnover as the rst quarter expired, a resounding exclamation point on the ’Cats’ defensive domination. roughout the game, NU caused nine turnovers and snagged 16 ground balls.
Between the pipes, graduate student goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer stood rm all game, making eight saves and allowing just seven goals. Two Michigan goals came in garbage time.
“(Sweitzer has) a level of condence, charity, calm, positivity,” ’Cats coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “She really brings all those
Christian Sarkisian named Athletics’ general manager
By CHARLIE SPUNGIN daily senior staffer @charliespungin
Former Cincinnati Bengals scout Christian Sarkisian has been named general manager of Northwestern Athletics, the program announced Tuesday.
Sarkisian steps into a newly created position at Northwestern. His responsibilities will include overseeing salary cap management, developing the department’s revenue-sharing strategy and leading NIL evaluations and negotiations, among other things.
“Christian brings a wealth of experience from his time in the NFL and his previous work here in Evanston, particularly in areas such as student-athlete evaluation, recruitment and strategic resources,” Athletic Director Mark Jackson said in a press release.
The hire comes at a time when the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA se lement is pending formal approval from a California judge. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken has already signed onto the se lement component that allows schools to share up to $20.5 million directly with their athletes annually. e nal se lement hearing was originally set for April 7 but has since been delayed due to questions regarding scholarship restrictions. closely with NU’s coaches to assist with recruiting and budgetary concerns, per the release.
Evanston as the GM of Northwestern Athletics,” Sarkisian said in the release. “A er seven years learning from the greatest of football minds and leaders, I feel ready to help add to the legacy of Northwestern’s athletic programs.”
Sarkisian comes to Evanston after spending nearly seven years as a scout for the Cincin-
sian’s primary focus will be assisting with NU’s football program, according to the release. The Wildcats are coming o a 4-8 campaign in coach David Braun’s second season at the helm.
“Coupled with his extensive NFL experience in scouting and resource management, (Christian is) perfectly positioned to help us navigate the complexities
things to the table, and she li s up the (defense) in that way all the time.”
e Wolverines scratched a goal back before junior a acker Lucy Munro earned a free position. As she started her motion, Taylor blitzed into the fan, receiving the incoming feed and scoring her fourth goal.
Ahead of hal ime, Michigan scored another goal to decrease NU’s lead to 5-3. Sweitzer made a save with just seconds le in the half to keep the ’Cats’ lead at two.
Taylor then turned in one of the most dominant quarters in the history of the NCAA tournament. She ripped o ve consecutive goals in a li le more than 10 minutes, extending NU’s lead to 11-4, as she made mincemeat out of the Michigan defense. e Wolverines double-teamed her. ey tried a
face guard. It made no di erence for the Tewaaraton Award nalist.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Taylor said. “Having all that prep all week, and then actually being able to do it on the eld is a really good feeling.”
e ‘Cats widened their lead as the second half progressed. Graduate student a acker Niki Miles, redshirt junior a acker Abby LoCascio and sophomore a acker Taylor Lapointe tallied goals to enlarge NU’s control.
e running clock brie y began a er Taylor’s 10th goal, and Amonte Hiller slowly began to cycle in her bench players. Michigan’s Jill Smith scored a fourth-quarter hat trick to get the Wolverines to seven goals.
Taylor’s season tally now sits at 99 goals and is tied for the most in a season in Big Ten history with program legend Izzy Scane, who set the record in 2023. e NCAA
Division I record is 103, set by High Point’s Abby Hormes in 2022. A er being held to just two goals in the ’Cats’ Big Ten Championship game against Maryland, Taylor tied NU’s program record for goals in a game. “ e reason is because of her work ethic,” Amonte Hiller said. “She worked all week for two weeks and prepared herself for this moment.”
NU will take on Penn in the quarter nal round ursday, with a rst draw time set for 11 a.m.. On the line: a trip to the seminals in Foxborough, Massachuse s. “ is is a lot of fun, and this is really what we dream about when we’re li le,” Amonte Hiller said. “We all dreamed about being part of these types of moments.” h. ieman@dailynorthwestern.com
NU wins home nale, 12-4
By ANDREW LITTLE the daily northwestern @li le_andrew_3
In its nal home game of the season against Valparaiso on Tuesday, Northwestern picked up its 24th win in a 12-4 victory, already six more wins than last season.
Freshman right-hander Matthew Kouser started the game for the Wildcats (24-25, 12-15 Big Ten), pitching three perfect innings before heading to the dugout.
NU got o to a slow start o ensively, as junior out elder Jack Lausch was the lone NU ba er to reach base in the rst two innings. Lausch nished the game 4-for-4 with two extra-base hits, two RBIs and three runs.
The Beacons (8-39, 3-21 MVC) scored the game’s rst run on Kevin Denty’s leado home run in the fourth inning. A er giving up a homer to his rst ba er faced, junior righthander Amar Tsengeg pitched 2.1 innings without allowing another run.
e ’Cats entered the game one home run short of the program record for single-season home runs with 65. In the bo om of the fourth inning, sophomore out elder Jackson
part of the out eld, se ing a new single-season program home run record at 67 and extending the ’Cats’ lead to 3-1.
“We came out a li le bit at,” coach Ben Greenspan said. “I was proud that we turned it on a er those rst few innings.” Neither team scored again until the bo om of the sixth inning, as NU added three runs for a 6-1 lead. Valparaiso scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning on freshman righthander Jack Grunkemeyer to cut the de cit to 6-4. At that juncture, freshman le -hander Christian Forniss checked into the game, recording four strikeouts while allowing ve hits and no earned runs in three innings pitched.
Graduate student utility player Tyler Ganus and graduate student infielder Jacob Hand responded with RBIs for the ’Cats, pushing their lead to 8-4 entering the eighth inning.
Leading o in the bo om of the eighth, junior in elder Owen McElfatrick extended NU’s lead to 9-4 with his ninth home run of the season. Lausch and Ganus added RBIs, their second and third of the game, respectively, and the ’Cats closed out the inning with a 12-4 lead.
Forniss finished the game with a two-strikeout ninth
“I love this school, I love this place and I wanted to leave it in a be er spot than I found it,” Markinson said. “I’m so proud to be a part of the group that’s helping change the culture and the image of Northwestern baseball.”
NU travels to UCLA this weekend for its nal series of the regular season. Markinson, one of eight ’Cats players from Southern California, said the weekend will be a full circle moment as he returns to his home state of California a er growing up a ending camps and games at UCLA.
Greenspan said the team understands the stakes and excitement of the series, with postseason implications and as a homecoming for many. In Greenspan’s second season, the ’Cats have improved from four conference wins in 2024 to being in the Big Ten tournament race this year.
“We have a big challenge in front of us but the team hasn’t backed away from a challenge yet,” Greenspan said. “It’s been a resilient group.”
e ’Cats are currently in a three-way tie for 11th place in the Big Ten but sit in 13th place due to tiebreakers. Twelve teams make the Big Ten Tournament, and NU is ghting for its rst Big Ten Tournament
“We have a real good chance to do something this program hasn’t done in a while and make the Big Ten Tournament,” Markinson
Sarkisian is expected to work
Daily