When activist Jeremy Cuebas was working for the community development-focused Northwest Center, some of his students were diagnosed with asthma out of the blue.
A er reading about diesel pollution in the community, Cuebas, now the executive director of the Grassroots Empowerment Mission, decided he had no choice but to become involved in the climate movement.
“With that data and some of the stories that we’re hearing from our young people, I thought that it was our duty to be involved,” Cuebas said.
Wednesday, Cuebas joined about 400 community members in Springfield for the annual Climate Action Lobby Day, where advocates spoke with lawmakers and rallied in support of climate legislation.
Hannah Flath, the senior climate communications manager for the Illinois Environmental Council, said the day gave advocates a unique
opportunity to speak directly to elected representatives.
“Our lawmakers work for us,” Flath said. “And so lobby day gives constituents across the state the opportunity to voice their opinions with their lawmakers and urge them to take action.”
Flath added that even for those whose representatives support climate action, the lobby day was also a time to thank lawmakers for their work.
is year, a contingent from Climate Action Evanston participated in the lobby day for the rst time, CAE Executive Director Jack Jordan said.
While Climate Action Evanston doesn’t typically participate in lobbying activities for state bills, Jordan said he was excited to a end and interact with other advocates.
“It’s really a great place to meet our fellow advocates and to see how we can collaborate,” Jordan said.
roughout the day, a endees stressed the importance of three speci c bills: the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act, the Clean and Reliable Grid A ordability Act and the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act. e Clean and Healthy
» See CLIMATE , page 15
John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), sent letters to the presidents of six universities, requesting
NUGW backs Chinese students
Signed open le er aims to protect student data om federal government
By SIDDARTH SIVARAMAN the daily northwestern @sidvaraman
e Northwestern University Graduate Workers union signed
an open le er to universities Thursday calling on them to reject a congressional committee’s requests for information about Chinese nationals on their campuses.
e open le er responded
31-story Davis St. building proposed
e high-rise development has drawn mixed reactions om residents
By SOPHIE BAKER
A proposed 333 foot-tall apartment building in downtown Evanston could replace Orrington Plaza to become the city’s tallest building. e proposed residential development on 605 Davis St. would be one of the tallest buildings in the Chicago suburbs.
Chicago-based co-developers Vermilion Development and Campbell Coyle said the property, which is situated on a vacant grass lot and a defunct Chase Bank drive-through, would draw foot-traffic to downtown businesses and raise property tax revenue.
“ e rst thing that it will do is (bring) more people to live in Evanston,” said Jonathan Perman, a spokesperson representing the development. “Evanston hasn’t grown at all in half a century.”
Yet, at community meetings, some residents have expressed concerns about the 31-story building’s height.
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) told The Daily she was “deeply
concerned” about the scale of the proposal, especially as the city is in the midst of developing a comprehensive plan that would outline a 20-year roadmap for the city’s future.
Kelly added the “overwhelming majority” of feedback she’s received has been from community members opposed to the height and density of the proposed highrise.
“Any project seeking such drastic or substantial variances to our current zoning should be deferred until we get this plan done and completed,” Kelly said. “I’m completely supportive of the development of our downtown, but I think it has to be guided by a clear community-driven vision.”
Still, Perman said these dissenting voices are limited to a small subsection of the population.
Some residents, including Jean Cunningham, are excited about the proposal.
“I think something needs to be done with that location — it’s not usable,” Cunningham said. “I went to the input meeting, and I thought it was good that they were ge ing
input from the community, and I liked the way the building looked.”
Cunningham added that she appreciated how the developers had considered pedestrians in their proposal.
to letters sent in March by the House of Representatives Select Commi ee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party to the presidents of Carnegie Mellon
University, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, the University of Maryland and the University of
» See CHINA , page 15
NU construction projects near end
By ALEXIA SEXTOU the daily northwestern
From a lakeside pub to a reimagined Deering Library interior, Northwestern’s campus is undergoing a construction transformation — with key projects nearing completion as early as Fall Quarter, said Corbin Smyth, executive director of Norris University Center.
is nearing completion and will be open next academic year, Smyth said. Students will be welcomed back to an updated plaza space equipped for programming, lounging and largescale campus events by the start of Fall Quarter, he said.
Funded by a series of donations, the Cohen Lawn redevelopment includes a new performance pavilion, an open-air plaza and a pub, which Smyth said will feature a small indoor stage and late-night food options.
“It really is completely transforming what was just a grassy lawn area into a space that has multiple functions,” Smyth said.
The proposed residential development on 605 Davis St. would be situated on a vacant grass lot and a defunct Chase Bank drive-through. » See 605 DAVIS , page 15
Downtown Evanston
Executive Director Andy Vick, meanwhile, echoed Perman’s sentiments about increasing foot tra c in the area. He said there is a “direct correlation” between having more density
e University currently has more than 180 active renovation and construction projects underway, totaling over $2 billion, according to Larry Blouin, senior director of capital programs for facilities. Many of them are intended to enhance student life, improve building performance and promote sustainable infrastructure, he said.
Cohen Lawn
Construction on Cohen Lawn on the east side of Norris
“It’s going to provide this new opportunity for gathering, for hanging out, for formal programs and events — and just as a space to feel be er.” e pub will operate as an allages restaurant and host student group programming like karaoke and trivia nights. It will also serve beer and wine to those of legal age, Smyth said. While the plaza and lawn are
» See CONSTRUCTION, page 15
Illustration by Cayla Labgold-Carroll
In March, the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, chaired by Rep.
information about students’ ties to China.
Sophie Baker/The Daily Northwestern
City Council approves contract shifts, labor regulations
By AUDREY PACHUTA and RUBY DOWLING the daily northwestern @audreypachuta / @rubywright0
As the lingering scent of Memorial Day barbecues still wafted through the air on a dreary Tuesday evening, City Council eased into summer’s unofficial start with an uncontentious meeting.
Shifted from its typical Monday slot after the holiday weekend, the session lasted just over an hour as the council approved the transfer of ownership for a 60-unit affordable housing complex, the hiring of a new contractor for a park expansion project and a slate of other measures bundled into the consent agenda.
With Alds. Clare Kelly (1st) and Tom Suffredin (6th) voting no, the council approved a $3.6 million contract to improve the 5th Ward’s Beck Park, extending it from Lyons Street to Church Street.
Kelly cited concerns about the unknown costs of subsequent phases of the expansion before voting against the measure.
“I know the history of this area, so I do want to support it,” Kelly said. “But I’m concerned that we’re proceeding with a higher cost than we would necessarily have to.”
In addition to the expansion contract, councilmembers also voted unanimously to allow the Housing Authority of Cook County to assume complete ownership and management of a South Boulevard affordable housing unit upon its development.
The current developer intended to retain ownership, but the project’s primary investor requested the HACC take over to mitigate financial risks associated with changes in the economic climate.
Before voting, the council considered the possibility of joint partnership with a representative for the developer, as well as possible ownership collaboration with local organizations for affordable housing.
Evanston Community Development Director Sarah Flax argued that the project was too far underway to allow for a shift in ownership.
“This is not a case where somebody else can come in and take over the project,” Flax said. “There’s been an incredible investment on the part of the
organizations already involved.”
Among an array of additional items passed without discussion, the council quietly approved a measure that could change the way businesses vie for public works contracts with the city.
Aimed at creating safeguards for publicly-funded construction sites, the Responsible Bidders Ordinance requires bidders and subcontractors on contracts of at least $25,000 to certify compliance with state and federal labor laws and show proof of participation in a registered apprenticeship program.
The ordinance was first introduced by Kelly in March 2024, but was a hot topic among residents
long beforehand. In October 2023, local labor organizers — accompanied by a fleet of inflatable rats — gathered on Sherman Avenue and called on the city to pass an RBO.
Though the existing verbiage of the bill was amiable to councilmembers, one public commenter voiced his concerns ahead of the measure’s consentagenda passing.
Jeremy Esparza, a business agent with Laborers Local One, a union representing skilled workers, voiced his support for what he called a “common sense policy,” but he urged the council to reconsider the portion that would allow contractors to circumvent required apprenticeship programs with 1,800
hours of “relevant work experience.”
He said the stipulation would create an “enormous burden” shared between businesses and the city staff, which would be responsible for verifying that documentation.
“The ordinance already includes a provision for City Council to waive any provision of the requirement, including the apprenticeship rule for local businesses,” Esparza said. “Adding another layer of red tape creates confusion and only weakens the ordinance’s impact.”
For McCormick sophomore Nicholas Rose, climbing three times a week with the Rock Climbing Club at Northwestern has provided him a break from the demanding college atmosphere.
“Climbing is the way at this school that I can just make my mind quiet,” Rose, a co-president of the club, said. “Nothing else has that e ect.” is sentiment has resonated with many Northwestern students, as the club has grown exponentially since it was founded in 2022 by McCormick junior Hunter Lee and Ethan Singer (Weinberg ’23). Even though the club started as a group of fewer than 20 friends who wanted to get discounts at climbing gyms, the club has since grown to hundreds of students who have signed up to climb — with an average practice a endance of about 60. e club o cially became a club sport this year, with regular competitions — open to all skill levels — against universities in the Heartland region of the USA Climbing Collegiate Series.
Along with the increased competitive nature, the club still hosts weekly social climbing events and quarterly outdoor trips.
ese initiatives have provided a space for new friendships to blossom, according to club member and McCormick sophomore Grant Putnam.
“ ere is a social aspect born from the sport itself,” Putnam said. “You can climb super intensely for 30 seconds to a minute, then you’re si ing around and in that time, you’re looking at the climbs, you’re puzzling it together, you’re watching other people climb and you’re helping each other improve.”
To accommodate the growing number of members, the club has created at least seven new executive board member roles in the past year. is includes a social chair to organize social events, workout coordinators who work with inexperienced climbers and managers for outdoor trips and competitive practices.
Creating the workout coordinator position was a focus for the club this past quarter, according to workout coordinator and McCormick freshman
Tommy Birge.
“We are trying to make it as open to newcomers as possible because it’s a growing sport and a growing community,” Birge said.
To make climbs more accessible, the club is currently searching for sponsors to provide free day passes for climbing gyms, Weinberg sophomore and club co-President Lleyton Gunter said.
For the upcoming year, the club is working with Evanston Athletic Club to get climbing usage rights three times a week for two and a half hours, free of charge. e Evanston Athletic Club is located in downtown Evanston. Previously, the club hosted climbs at Movement Wrigleyville, a climbing gym one hour away from Evanston by public transportation.
“ e inclusion (and) accessibility front — that’s always going to be our main focus,” Gunter said. “We want our club to be completely barrier-free. We want
anyone interested in climbing to be able to join.” e club’s biggest current initiative is to expand climbing facilities onto campus. e club worked with Northwestern Recreation over this past year to add a hangboard, a training device to increase nger and hand strength, to the stretching room of Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, according to Gunter.
e club also sent a proposal to NU Recreation two weeks ago to bring a climbing wall to campus, Gunter added.
“We need all the help we can get in convincing Northwestern recreation that some sort of climbing wall is necessary to provide an experience for people interested in rock climbing,” Gunter said. “Because that is the goal at the end of the day — to provide recreational services for everybody.”
nataliekim2027@u.northwestern.edu
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Natalie Kim/The Daily Northwestern
Northwestern Rock Climbing Club members climb at Movement Wrigleyville.
Evanston arts organizations pivot a er NEA cuts A&E arts & entertainment
By EMILY LICHTY daily senior staffer @emilymlichty
Evanston-based art therapy nonprofit Open Studio Project was about one year into its collaboration with Douglas Taylor Elementary School when the organization learned it had lost the $20,000 promised in grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
OSP’s two-year grant was one of many NEA grants terminated by the Trump administration on May 2 and comes after the administration proposed eliminating the agency, which is the largest funder of arts and arts education in the U.S.
For many arts organizations in Evanston, the loss of NEA support could mean canceling projects, pivoting to ask for more donations and struggling to stay afloat.
NEA did not respond to multiple requests for comment by the time of publication.
OSP Executive Director Rob Lentz said the organization will now be unable to complete its work with Douglas Taylor Elementary, which consisted of bringing art programming to third through eighth grade students to promote interest, support socioemotional needs and build community.
“It’s really disheartening because the NEA has always been a champion for every kind of art,” Lentz said. “From huge organizations that do really big, splashy productions to just little local organizations like ours … we see that it makes a real difference in people’s lives, and that’s all we want to do. ”
Another Evanston organization impacted by NEA grant cancellations is ARTSiE, a nonprofit that promotes literacy through arts education programming. The organization applied for multiple grants this year, some of which were funded by the NEA, according to Robyn Hurtig, development and fundraiser manager at ARTSiE.
One of these grants was the Cultural Fund Grant Program, which is partially funded by an NEA grant and distributed annually by the Evanston Arts Council.
ARTSiE was one of the grant’s top applicants, according to Hurtig. In past years, she said, this meant the organization would likely have received all $8,000 it applied for — the maximum amount allowed.
Hurtig said ARTSiE planned to use part of the grant money for a community mural project they are working on. But, due to paused funds from the NEA, even top applicants are expected to receive less than 50% of the funds applied
for, according to Chair of the Arts Council Richard Cándida Smith.
While Hurtig said ARTSiE still plans to go forward with the project, the loss of funds means strategizing and finding alternative funding sources to keep it going.
“It’s devastating, because you feel like you’re doing really important work,” Hurtig said. “There’s a huge percentage of kids in our district that are falling below state levels in reading, and our work helps boost that. And now, it’s at risk.”
ARTSiE was one of 32 Evanston arts organizations allotted funding through the Evanston Cultural Fund for 2025. According to Cándida Smith, the council expected to have between $150,000 and $160,000 to distribute through the fund — about half of which typically comes from the NEA. Evanston Cultural Fund distributed $110,000 for 2024, Cándida Smith said.
The Arts Council submitted its proposal for funding this year in January but has yet to hear from the NEA if they have received the funding. Typically, the council would have been notified in the first week of April, Cándida Smith said.
He said the only information the council has received from the NEA was a notice terminating its 2024 grant, telling the Arts Council to wrap up all of the grant’s activities by June 15
“I think most applicants would have received funding, and you would have had many of them at full levels,” Cándida Smith said. “You would have seen an immeasurable impact on the arts, life and public programming in the City of Evanston this coming year.”
The Evanston Cultural Fund is not the only grant impacted by paused or canceled NEA funds.
On May 3, Evanston arts education nonprofit Art Encounter posted on Instagram that its $28,000 NEA grant for this year had been withdrawn. Art Encounter provides arts programming for students in Chicago Public Schools through hands-on projects and visits to the Chicago Art Institute, some of which is now at risk of cancellation, according to the post.
“It’s just disappointing, and it’s a waste of people’s time and energy,” Art Encounter member Sarah Kaiser said. “But not only that, these kids get their hopes up because the program has been around for a really long time.”
On Feb. 6, the NEA updated its website to announce it would be cutting its Challenge America funding program, which supports arts projects targeting underserved communities. The NEA also announced that all grant applicants must not run programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, claiming such programs violate federal antidiscrimination laws.
According to an Instagram post from the nonprofit, the NEA told Crossing Borders the funding was “reviewed in light of Trump administration executive orders including anti-DEI, anti-transgender, and/or other executive orders.”
The organization still plans to continue their work to support multicultural communities as much as possible. However, Strong said the organization might need to cut some planned programming due to the loss of NEA funding.
“It’s not just a suppression of our organization and our organization’s voices and our collaborators,” Strong said. “It’s very widespread. And that loss of the storytelling and the passing along of traditions and cultural pride and heritage — it’s really an unfortunate space to see in our society in the year 2025.”
For many Evanston arts nonprofits, the loss of funds feels like a loss of support as well as an added inconvenience.
While other donors and organizations might be willing to step in to help, the increased need for fundraising efforts takes up valuable time, Lentz said.
“It’s really disheartening because the NEA has always been a champion for every kind of art”
- ROB LENTZ, osp executive director ”
and return any unspent money.
But the money was already received and spent, according to Cándida Smith.
The other half of the grant is funded by the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Evanston, Cándida Smith said, and both organizations have increased their financial support over the last few years.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding the NEA funding and the fact that Illinois Arts Council funds have a June distribution deadline, the Arts Council decided to allocate the funds they had, Cándida Smith said. He said the EAC distributed $75,000 to 32 of the about 40 groups who applied, with no organizations receiving the full amount they applied for.
Some Evanston arts organizations said that while it’s disheartening, the new anti-DEI initiatives in the arts will not change the “ethos” of their organizations.
One such organization is Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, a performing arts non-profit in Evanston that has also been impacted by NEA grant cuts. Wilfredo Rivera, the theater’s co-founder and artistic director, said the grant money the organization usually receives only makes up a small amount of their annual budget, and the theatre is not compelled to change its approach to DEI.
“It’s just part of the DNA of the organization that we celebrate and we unpack the complexities of American identity,” Rivera said. “So we will continue to move on our pathway. We have been doing this kind of immersive and inclusive, explorative work about identity, even before it was popular.”
Similarly, Evanston-based classical music organization Crossing Borders Music applied for and received NEA grant funding to support its inclusive chamber music series. According to Crossing Borders co-Executive Director Marschnee Strong, the series would highlight underrepresented voices through different venues in the Chicago area. The NEA grant, though, was withdrawn on May 2, Strong said.
“It’s a major distraction,” Lentz said. “It takes a lot of staff time. It takes a lot of brain space that I would much rather use conceptualizing programs, and how we’re going to work with students and teachers. But, instead, it’s a lot of paperwork, and it’s just a stultifying process of trying to recapture something that we already had.”
Additionally, with many arts organizations facing similar situations, some — like Rivera — expressed concern that support from corporate and individual donors is finite, especially as some contributors are also prioritizing efforts outside of the arts, such as policymaking and research.
Rivera said this means “celebrating” all contributions, including donations as small as $5, and continuing to grow the donor base the organization focused on during the COVID19 pandemic.
“Artists are resilient, and we are forward thinkers,” Rivera said. “We’re trying to figure it out and how to build strength in numbers.”
Like Rivera, representatives of many Evanston arts organizations said some comfort lies in the support of the Evanston community and their appreciation of the arts.
“I feel very lucky to be in this Evanston ecosystem, because there’s such a robust network of nonprofits and huge and social service agencies, and there’s a very collegial, collaborative sense to that,” Lentz said. ”But this is really, you know, this is really testing it.”
e.lichty@dailynorthwestern.com
Illustration by Cayla Labgold-Carroll
Freshman Musical ‘Head Over Heels’ brings energy
By LYDIA PLAHN daily senior staffer @lydiaplahn13
The nature of the Freshman Musical is making do with what you’ve got.
Freshmen put on the show every year in Harris Hall Room 107, a room that has a stage but is clearly not a theater. Compared to the often glitzy shows put on by the The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts or even NU’s largest student-run musical, The Dolphin Show, the Freshman Musical may seem to pale in comparison.
The fun of the tradition lies in capturing the joy and magic of theater without all the money, resources and experience that other shows have.
This year’s musical, “Head Over Heels,” which ran this weekend, did exactly that. While not the sharpest production, the Freshman Musical brought energy with its cast and an upbeat show choice.
The show takes a 16th century story, “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia,” and adds in the rock discography of The Go-Go’s, adapting the show into a musical comedy centered around the royal family of Arcadia.
The King of Arcadia (Communication freshman Jack Shadden) hears from an oracle that the kingdom will lose its “beat,” a mysterious force that keeps the peace in Arcadia. He sets off with his family to try and prevent four prophecies from coming true.
At its core, “Head Over Heels” is a rom-com
adventure highlighting the relationships of the daughters, Pamela (Communication freshman Izzy Ornstein) and Philoclea (Communication freshman Orlagh Reardon). These relationships bring some of the best duets in the show and supply a sweet contrast to the mostly zany, sometimes raunchy, style of comedy.
Pamela, after spending her entire life chased by shallow male suitors, ends up with her loyal lady in waiting, Mopsa (Communication freshman Annika Raj) after finally seeing what she wanted has been right in front of her. Her younger sister, Philoclea finds love at the beginning of the show with a shepherd her family does not approve of, Musidorus (Communication freshman Eli Hoffer), who will go to the ends of the Earth to be with her.
The musical shines when it is truly laugh-out-loud funny, and a leader of the show’s humor was Hoffer as Musidorus. As Philoclea leaves town with her family, he follows her, disguising himself as an Amazon woman so her parents will allow him to travel with them.
Hoffer uses every inch of the stage and the academic hall to his advantage as he runs about in a long blonde wig and short cropped chest plate, stealing scenes with his unbridled charisma and joy.
At one point in the show, Musidorus draws the attention of both the King and Queen of Arcadia. Musidorus runs back and forth across the stage, reenacting “feminine” gestures to attract the king and “masculine” ones to attract the queen. The show attempts to make a statement about rigid gender structures, and Hoffer has the crowd in the palm of his hand laughing
at every progressively sillier gesture.
Knowing at least some of the audience has sat through a lecture in the same room they are now watching people dance, sing and sword fight on stage, the set is simple and casual. The Go-Go’s music feels like a blank canvas, allowing the cast to make it into something stunning or something that sounds like it’s from a “Best of the 80s” CD. Nobody seems to paint this blank canvas quite as well as Communication freshman Ava Chen as Pythio. Playing the Oracle who predicted the demise of the kingdom, Chen’s voice commanded
the stage and turned radio songs into unforgettable performances.
At some moments, the show clunks along with dance sequences that felt under rehearsed. The costuming was a little rough around the edges, but being polished is not really what the Freshman Musical is about.
Even with limited resources, “Head over Heels” captured the excitement and joy of the freshman class and gave laughter and entertainment to everyone in the audience.
lydiaplahn2027@u.northwestern.edu
‘Honeypot’ tells stories of queer Black Southern women
By REGAN HUIZENGA
After numerous interviews, hours of field research and three books, Communication Dean E. Patrick Johnson had the honor of his longtime mentor adapting his book “Honeypot: Black Southern Women Who Love Women” for the stage.
The book, which explores the lives of queer Black women in the South, was adapted into a play by Communication Prof. D. Soyini Madison. Johnson was one of Madison’s undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and she was the one to introduce him to oral history and performance, he said.
Madison said she read the manuscripts of “Honeypot” before the book was published.
After field research in the South, Johnson originally planned on writing two books: one about men and one about women. He published “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South” in 2008, and then ultimately wrote two books about the women he talked to. One, “Black. Queer. Southern. Women.,” was an oral history, whereas the other, “Honeypot,” was a creative nonfiction.
Johnson said he was excited for his first attempt at creative nonfiction and knew the book would suit a performance well, but that he couldn’t be the one to stage it.
“He had faith that I would do it right,” Madison said. “And he knew that I would put everything I had into it.”
Madison said that she feels ever present in the work since she is not only the adaptor but also a co-director.
“Honeypot” was a joint production between Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and the Wirtz Center
for the Performing Arts. The cast was made up of both Northwestern students and actors from Evanston and Chicago. It opened with a preview May 17 and currently runs on Saturdays and Sundays through June 1 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center.
The show follows Dr. EPJ (Jelani Julyus) as he is taken to the mythical world of Hymen by Miss B (Tuesdai B. Perry) to hear the stories of the women there. The stories are real-life experiences of queer Black women that Johnson talked to across the South. The ensemble is made up of six Black actresses who each play several of these women, sharing their stories of coming out, falling in love, navigating spirituality, political activism and sexual violence.
“There’s something really cool about these being real stories and some of these words being actual quotes from women who are still alive,” said Communication senior Angelena Browne, a member of the ensemble.
Browne said reenacting true stories on stage was truly rewarding since the stories are ones that are not often represented in theatre.
Although many of the topics discussed in the show are heavy, the team was still able to enjoy high-energy moments with each other, according to Weinberg junior Sadie Stickler, another member of the ensemble. She said they all connected with each other right away and even got distracted telling jokes to each other sometimes.
“It makes this great balance where you can hit those emotional scenes and also know that you’re in a safe, loving environment,” Stickler said.
Ensemble member and Communication senior Kaitlyn Fields also appreciated the team’s environment, she said. It was her first time working with an all-Black production room.
She felt supported by the people at FleetwoodJourdain in a way she said she hasn’t felt supported
before at Northwestern.
Fields said “Honeypot” is also different for her because she is not just playing a character. Instead, she is playing women that really exist.
Some of these women attended the show’s performance on May 25 for a post-show discussion with Johnson. Johnson said several of the women participated in events while he toured the book after it was published.
It is important that the audience sees “these women’s humanity,” particularly in “a moment where the
LGBT community at large is under attack,” Johnson said.
“I think part of why people ‘other’ people is because they don’t understand,” Johnson said. “And so, through storytelling, through performance, I think we can bridge that gap of informing people about the lives of these women and helping them understand that they go through the same experiences that many of us go through, as well.”
r.huizenga@dailynorthwestern.com
Alex Warren visits Chicago for Cheaper Than Therapy Tour
By SYDNEY GAW daily senior staffer
Singer-songwriter and influencer Alex Warren performed for a packed room at House of Blues as part of his Cheaper Than Therapy Tour on Thursday. Despite concerns that he wouldn’t be able to make it to his show after guest performing at Jelly Roll’s Big Ass Stadium Tour stop at Wrigley Field earlier that night, Warren made his way on stage in front of a packed audience around 9 p.m., roughly an hour and a half after the show’s intended start time.
Before Warren’s arrival, opener Michael Sanzone led the crowd through a set of original songs and covers. Sanzone, who is one of Warren’s best friends and opened at Warren’s previous tours, played his popular songs “HOME” and “Going, Going, Gone.” Following Sanzone’s thirty-minute set, Warren entered the stage wearing a custom Cubs jersey and riding a toy horse.
Audience members filled the standing-room-only venue, with many overflowing into walkways. After enthusiastically greeting attendees, Warren kicked off his set with his 2024 hit “Burning Down.”
The Cheaper Than Therapy Tour revolves around the notion of being able to persevere and find joy
and love in the face of adversity, according to Warren. Throughout his career, Warren has shared many vulnerable moments with his social media following of over 18 million — including the death of his father when Warren was nine years old, enduring the emotional and physical abuse he suffered from his mother and living out of his friends’ cars as a new adult. These experiences inspired much of Warren’s songwriting, which centers around themes of loss and breaking generational cycles of trauma.
During songs like “Troubled Waters” and “Yard Sale,” Warren fed off the crowd’s energy as attendees passionately belted out his lyrics. Warren showcased his musical range and emotional depth with songs such as “You’ll Be Alright Kid,” “Catch My Breath” and “Save You a Seat,” which took the audience through his journey of overcoming life’s challenges and persevering in darker moments of youth.
The recently married singer-songwriter is also celebrating the transformative power of relationships, namely his longtime friendship and romance with his wife, Kouvr Annon. Both Warren and Annon rose to fame as members of Hype House, a content creation hub for young TikTok personalities. Annon was the inspiration for his latest hit song, “Ordinary,” which has since earned him the No. 2 position among Billboard’s Top 100.
His live performance of “Ordinary” as the penultimate number of the set was perhaps the pinnacle of the night, with confetti bursting into the air at the song’s emotional climax. Warren captured his song’s emotional depth, which focuses on finding extraordinary love amongst the mundanities of life — transitioning from the song’s more delicate beginning to its powerful finale. While belting lyrics like “You’re takin’ me out of the ordinary / I want you layin’ me down ‘til we’re dead and buried,” Warren captivated listeners with a rendition that thoroughly embodied his musical talent and sonic progression.
Warren rounded out the night by playing his song “Carry You Home,” which commemorated his wedding last June. Though the night ended relatively early — the set lasted just past an hour – Warren’s performance proved his talent extends beyond the millions of views and followers has online. In fact, the TikTok sensation might be ready for the next step in his music career, whether that be another album or a larger tour. What sets Warren apart from other artists is his ability to connect with audiences both online and on stage. Throughout the show, Warren took frequent breaks between songs to interact with audience members, reading fan signs and collecting friendship bracelets.
Warren demonstrated a strong grasp of his music
style and audience expectations during the show. He certainly knows how to take advantage of a small venue.
s.gaw@dailynorthwestern.com
Design
Photo courtesy of Justin Barbin
“Honeypot: Black Southern Women Who Love Women” is a joint production between Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts.
Kate Pollot/The Daily Northwestern
Northwestern’s freshman musical, “Head Over Heels,” began and completed its run this weekend.
Q&A: Outgoing ETHS principal re ects
By JACK BAKER the daily northwestern
Taya Kinzie, the outgoing principal of Evanston Township High School and assistant superintendent of ETHS District 202, said she has always bled blue and orange.
Her children, sisters, mother, grandmother and great grandmother all attended ETHS, Kinzie explained, establishing a unique connection to the city’s lone high school.
A social worker by profession, Kinzie has worked at ETHS for over two decades and has served as its principal since 2022. She will officially exit her role June 30 and will be replaced by Quiana McNeal, the director of curriculum and equitable practices at nearby Township High School District 214.
Following the conclusion of District 202’s academic year, The Daily sat down with Kinzie to learn more about her experience at ETHS and future plans.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
The Daily: You’ve been at ETHS for a while now. What about this particular moment made you decide to step down as principal?
Kinzie: Yes, it’s been a while — 21 years officially, plus one year as an intern in 1997. It’s truly been an honor to be at ETHS for as long as I have.
In my heart, I’ve always been a social worker, and I came into ETHS as a social worker. In every role I’ve held since then, I always begin by announcing “I support” — I support ETHS, I support student services, I support the dean’s office. The position is really not my focus.
The Daily: Reflecting on your time as principal, what are your biggest accomplishments?
Kinzie: At ETHS, we do things together. We never make unilateral decisions — we always gather input from students, staff and families, and we have increasingly focused on considering social emotional learning as a fundamental part of the school’s academic environment.
I’m very proud of how we’ve worked to
ensure people’s physical safety while promoting a culturally responsive SEL curriculum that includes all identities and centers racial equity. I know that as we continue to focus on these things, we will help students both engage further in the classroom and feel a greater sense of belonging.
I do believe that students learn in every space in our building — in the classrooms and in the hallways, too. You can’t extricate SEL from the learning process. These are lifelong skills that we all have to have.
So I’m proud of how we’ve embraced that fact in our post-high school planning, racial equity work and strategic goals. We’ve implemented new security badges, the “Bell-to-Bell No Cell” policy and continued to expand SEL professional development opportunities.
The Daily: What are the biggest challenges facing ETHS moving forward?
Kinzie: One thing that’s so important is how administrators pay attention to what students need. How are we engaging students and creating that sense of belonging?
It’s easy to say, but how are we building connections in the hallway? I have believed forever — and the research bears out — that every single connection really does count, whether it’s a quick, “Hey, how are you?” or a deeper conversation or relationship.
We need that warmth and love, but adolescents benefit from structure and consistency as well, so it’s important and incumbent upon us to remain committed to those principles while getting creative with new interventions.
The Daily: A lot of our coverage this year has focused on the implications of national politics on school policies, including executive orders regarding diversity, equity and inclusion programs and debates that took place at this month’s ETHS District Board of Education meeting.
The superintendent has delivered the district’s official response to these developments, but how do they impact the principal’s day-today work?
Kinzie: Even from that larger perspective, the important work is paying attention to our students’ needs. How are they showing up? How are they shifting?
career
How are we being responsive to our students’ identities and really problem solving together?
Gathering student input is so critical, and that’s something I’ve been committed to over the past few years and well before that. I stand by our values, and we will continue to problem solve together because that’s what we do as a community.
The Daily: Is there anything else you want to add?
Kinzie: It’s fun to think back to my
grandmother, who was a teacher’s aide at ETHS for two decades. Right now, I feel like I’m honoring my ancestor who has already passed, and that makes my heart full.
I showed up every day with my whole heart committed to problem solving and building connections because I believe ETHS is the center of our community, and I’m really excited that I’m going to continue to support the school as a social worker in private practice.
j.baker@dailynorthwestern.com
Illustration by Siri Reddy
Taya Kinzie, the outgoing principal of Evanston Township High School, said she has always bled blue and orange.
Longtime Evanston community establishment Mudlark eater Company recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary April 11, marking two decades of providing a creative outlet for students across the city and beyond.
Pu ing on around eight shows a year with participants from elementary to high school, Mudlark serves as a space for young people to explore the intersection of performing arts, creativity and social expression.
Founded in 2005, Mudlark eater is a nonpro t organization where children act, write and immerse themselves into the performing arts. Local Evanston resident Karen Van Ausdal, who dabbled in theater and stage crew growing up, has involved her children with Mudlark for ve years.
when she halted her larger-than-life performance to sing “Li Every Voice and Sing,” a formidable tune of Black resistance commonly labeled the Black national anthem. ese performances took a brilliant stab at the status quo. Whereas 2013 marked the second term of America’s rst Black president, Beyoncé’s 2025 stadium performance caps a seminal album reclaiming Black contributions to country music. roughout all the phases of her career, Beyoncé has channeled Black empowerment, and “Cowboy Carter” is no exception. e American iconography throughout the show championed Black artistry as a pillar of patriotism and United States history while calling out the country’s anti-Blackness.
the album’s release. “I always would hear her singing in our shared room. But hearing all the work that she’s been pu ing in, hearing it all in one product is just amazing.”
e album’s title track, “Ripples,” opens with the faint sound of running water and a child’s voice, which she discovered from a family video recorded from when she was a child. At one point, her father prompts her to sing a song about a fountain, to which she responds, “Maybe a song about water?”
Kabillio said the discovery felt oddly serendipitous. Without intending it, she had named the album “Ripples” and built it around imagery of water.
Still, the ending lands with grandeur. Paul’s nal transformation into a bird and his a empt to y feels both literal and metaphorical: A ight from childhood into the vast, unknowable sky of adulthood.
In its powerful silk-curtain drop, the ending leaves us hovering between two readings: One where Paul breaks free, li ed by hope and new beginnings, and another where he surrenders to something darker, perhaps even fatal.
“I have a son and a daughter who have both done Mudlark eater and just had incredible experiences,” Van Ausdal said. “ ey accept everyone and put on amazing productions and do it with such artistry.”
Mudlark provides students with the opportunity to write and collaborate on their own pieces, whether those be poems, free-writes or personal essays. eir recent production, “Mudpie,” which had its closing night on Sunday, featured a collection of original pieces from children in the Chicagoland area.
At one point in the show, the screen read, “Never ask permission for something that already belongs to you.” Beyoncé’s performance seamlessly intertwined messages of resistance, activism and self-empowerment within the show’s primary thematic focus of breaking boundaries as a Black woman.
In her frenetic interludes, the pixelated screen refracted images of Beyoncé through the ages along with videos and artwork featuring Black artists who have contributed to the country genre.
“I think it’s really important to hear what the next generation has to say,” Mudlark Marketing and Engagement Manager Sarah Kinn said. “ ey say some really important stu , and not to sound cheesy, but they are our future. It’s just really important to have friends, schoolmates and the community hear what’s going on in the lives of the young people around them.”
e interludes showed Beyoncé at her most political, confronting the erasure of Black country artists and reclaiming Black Americans’ place in the musical canon.
“I’m like, ‘How weird is that?’’ Kabillio said. “ is is bizarre.”
When asked to describe her sound, Kabillio said it’s a mix.
“It can’t t into a genre,” Kabillio said. “If I said pop, that would be inaccurate. If I said folk, that would be inaccurate.”
Instead, she leans on terms like “indie,” “alternative” and “singer-songwriter” to describe her work, though none of them feel like a perfect t, she said.
She said the inspiration for her music mostly comes from her relationships. While romantic relationships can be a source of material, she o en nds that friendship plays a more central role in her songwriting.
e Cowboy Carter Tour was as much a visual spectacle as an instructive history lesson. Beyoncé’s stunning visuals and sharp choreography further cemented her showmanship as an unrivaled force in the industry.
“Friendship is something that I have much more experience with in my life,” Kabillio said. “A lot of people, especially our age, have more experience with friendship and long term friends that have been there, supporting you or disap-
Mudlark o en relies on peer-to-peer and family-to-family networks because its impact is strongest in those who have experienced it rsthand. Having recently installed new risers to expand audience space in its Hinman Ave. building, Mudlark continues to grow as a space to enrich its current students and give alumni a chance to support the next generation.
is past fall, Mudlark had its rst alum come back and direct a show. An event that is only possible because of their tight knit community, Mudlark Artistic Producer and Resident Director Rebecca Schilsky said.
“Mudlark is so resilient and has withstood so much,” Schilsky said. “We have completely ourished and grown because of how much love we build here.”
Executive Director Ian Frank said much of why Mudlark has lasted so long is its unconditional scholarships, which works to eliminate nancial barriers keeping students from participating in Mudlark programs. is initiative has been rooted in Mudlark’s values since its founding: being a welcoming, safe space and honoring all youth identities and stories, according to the Mudlark eater website.
roughout the show, Beyoncé mounted a larger-than-life mechanical bull, soared ethereally above the crowd in an elevated horseshoe (and later, a red convertible) and entered and exited the stage through elaborate trap doors. Flanked by an all-star ensemble of dancers, she pulled out all the stops, underscoring her versatility.
Beyoncé was joined by her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. A force of nature in her own right, Carter served as a backup dancer for many of the tracks on the setlist. Beyoncé’s younger daughter, Rumi Carter, also made an appearance during an adorable rendition of “PROTECTOR.”
With its insurmountable energy and thematic complexity, the Cowboy Carter Tour managed to eclipse Beyoncé’s record-sha ering Renaissance Tour in 2023 — proving the superstar is in a league entirely of her own.
Communication junior Ani Kabillio’s introduction to songwriting came early. By age 4, she was cra ing simple melodies accompanied by her dad, who would strum along on the guitar. She performed her rst original song, “Spring is in the Air,” at her pre-K graduation.
Now 21 years old, Kabillio is making waves with her debut album “Ripples.” Released on April 4, the introspective, self-produced project captures years of songwriting shaped by her upbringing and deep emotional connection to friendship and memory.
Mudlark’s diverse environment includes students from across communities and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, as the world changes, Mudlark’s commitment to ending all nancial barriers for their students only gets harder, Frank said.
“I think what’s really important for people to understand is that if we don’t talk about the good things and we don’t take action to support the good things, they will go away,” Frank said. “I would urge people to donate, to volunteer, or at the very least, if they know somebody that Mudlark has positively impacted, to share that…we are the best place they could possibly be.”
Born and raised in the Lower East Side of New York City to lmmaker parents, Kabillio was surrounded by creativity from a young age. Her grandfather, a Juilliard-trained percussionist, noticed her musical talent early on.
“He always recognized me as musical,” Kabillio said. “He was like, ‘ at one is going to be the musician one.’”
His prediction held true, and by age 7, she started regularly performing in school musicals and talent shows.
e spring of her sophomore year at NU, Kabillio set out to record her rst album. e idea for the album didn’t emerge all at once. Kabillio had recorded music before but never released any of it, o en caught in a cycle of perfectionism.
“I’d listen to things too much and drive myself insane,” Kabillio said.
Beyoncé took Soldier Field by storm a er a three-hour weather delay during her Chicago stop on the Cowboy Carter Tour on ursday. Braving a National Weather Service tornado watch and a torrential downpour, audience members sheltered inside the stadium for nearly three hours waiting for the international superstar to take the stage. Patrons with oor seats were not allowed to enter until well a er 9 p.m., two hours a er the show was set to start.
Dissatis ed with its sound and direction, she
For Kabillio, “Ripples” is just the rst wave. She is back at her notebook hoping to record a deluxe version of the album, which will include a few additional songs.
In the end, Mancub is a play that bites, barks and sometimes dri s into the bizarre — but it never loses its heart. And if you’re willing to follow Paul down the rabbit hole (or into the forest, desert or sky), it’s a ride worth taking.
“It’s more about what makes more of an impact. Like, one big wave that crashes or like a steady ripple that just keeps going,” Kabillio said. “It’s the beginning of something that will hopefully continue for a while.”
A er a Dillo Day lled with carnival festivities and hours of live music by the Lake ll, pop singer Natasha Beding eld called on the crowd to do one last thing: feel the rain on their skin. e skies may have cleared, but Beding eld’s performance of her 2004 hit “Unwri en” capped o the festival’s 53rd rendition.
Thousands of Northwestern students and guests a ended Dillo Day on Saturday, participating in festival programming and listening to the lineup of artists, who performed setlists spanning electronic, indie, rap, R&B and pop music.
Dillo Day’s musical lineup kicked o with performances by student artists who earned their spots through Mayfest Productions’ Ba le of the Artists competition. Inertia, an all-female indierock band, opened the main stage. ey were quickly followed by student DJ Perl mixing tracks live on stage.
Originally scheduled to perform as Dillo’s daytime headliner, BigXthaPlug was unable to a end due to a scheduling con ict, as his agency double-booked him for another festival in Alabama. Mayfest Productions announced the latehour cancellation on the morning of the festival. In response, the booking team secured rapper and hip-hop artist iann dior as a replacement headliner.
Adolescence is hard. Growing into adulthood is even harder — especially for the young protagonist in the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts’ production of “Mancub.” e 2005 play by Sco ish playwright Douglas Maxwell is a story about a boy who turns into animals. Caught between a trance of imagination and reality, 16-year-old Paul (Communication sophomore Casey Bond) is obsessed with biology and struggles with the life of a teenager: ghting with his dad, irting and soccer practice. More importantly, though, Paul struggles with his identity as an emerging adult.
Directed by graduate student Christopher Michael Richardson and set as a ve-cast-member story, Wirtz’s rendition of “Mancub” was both a pleasant surprise and an eyebrow raise because of the play’s slightly bizarre plot. While all actors were exceptionally funny in the delivery of their lines, their switch between the multiple characters they played was what felt most entertaining.
Communication junior Nastia Goddard sharply transformed between angsty soccer coach Mr. Sisskind and teddy bear-loving brother Luke. In all its theatricity, her performance was refreshing, fun and loud for both parts.
But nothing stole the show quite like Ken, the talking dog next door. Played by Communication junior Liam Jeninga, the character is all wagging limbs, darling head tilts and hilarious faux-aristocratic diction. Jeninga’s performance was uncanny yet still comedic — tapping into a cartoonish but tender representation of dog-ness. Ultimately, Jeninga made it clear: If dogs did talk, this is exactly
Weinberg senior Defne Deda and SESP senior Alex Kahn, co-chairs of Mayfest Productions, said that they had discovered the double-booking on Friday, just 24 hours prior to the festival’s commencement.
“ is has never happened before, so a lot of our exec board was up until 2 a.m. working on the issue,” Kahn said. “We know how important BigX was to the student body, so we really wanted to get someone that students would also enjoy, given the constraints.”
Mayfest Productions began planning Dillo Day last summer, working directly with artist agencies and navigating complex scheduling. e nal lineup is determined by budget, artist availability, student preferences and other factors. at planning prowess came into play as soon as BigXthaPlug pulled out.
“We know that a lot of the audience are rap fans, so bringing iann dior really saved us within those last 24 hours,” Deda said. “We didn’t actually have a fully executed contract until about 10 minutes until he went on stage, but I think, despite the circumstances, we were able to navigate the di culties.”
Subsequent a ernoon performances consisted of DJs, electronic artist nimino, indie rock band Slow Pulp and Chicago-based R&B singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae on the main stage.
Beding eld’s one-hour set as the Dillo Day headliner featured hits such as “Pocketful of Sunshine” and “ ese Words,” as well as covers of other artists’ songs, including a special rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
Despite the delays, the artist needed no introduction. When the lights dimmed, a endees waited with bated breath for her to bring the beat in.
kept her work to herself. at changed a er what she described as an “intense aging crisis” during her sophomore year.
“I was like, ‘I’m turning 20. What have I done?’”
Kabillio said. “I haven’t done anything of impor-
thrashed adolescently between laughter and rage; confused, lost, overwhelmed — all emotions transmi ed to the audience seats.
Yet not everything moved so smoothly. e actors’ a empted Sco ish accents were a tough
ough Mayfest’s “Carnival Dillo” theme was announced prior to the artist lineup release, their a empts to transform the Lake ll with themed programming did not go unheeded. With the presence of minigames, photo booths, food trucks, face-painting and a carousel overseeing Lake Michigan, the activities and decorations stayed true to the carnival vision. In addition, many a endees dressed in fair-inspired a ire. Many popular clothing choices included red- and whitestriped clothing and clown costumes.
When Beyoncé nally took to the stage at around 10:15 p.m., she was met with thunderous applause. Emerging from a triangular cutout in the stage, the superstar launched into her anthemic “AMERIICAN REQUIEM,” calling on the crowd to “stand for something” and “face the wind.” e song is a rallying cry and a call to arms to defend the legacy of Black musicians in the country genre, which Beyoncé conveyed ercely through her powerful vocals.
A moodboard of this year’s
and creativity on college campuses. It is an art form that students use to define their personal identities – not only through clothes, but also through shoes, haircuts and tattoos.
fashion inspiration
Sporting custom denim ensembles and sequinembellished bell-bo oms, Beyoncé traversed her Grammy-winning 2024 album “Cowboy Carter” while interspersing early hits like “Crazy in Love,” “Formation” and “If I Were a Boy” and deeper cuts like “THIQUE” and “Why Don’t You Love Me.” She also broke into a rendition of “ e StarSpangled Banner,” reprising her 2013 performance at former President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. is performance was reminiscent of her groundbreaking Coachella headlining gig in 2018,
Evanston community. While The Daily North-
cate a special issue solely to this creative genre, centered on the upcoming summer months.
assistant A&E editors, reporters and I have
fashion of this current moment to life.
“I just was so blown away,” said Kabillio’s room-
compiles recommendations for dressing for
It’s murky. And maybe that’s the point — growing
As actors ran up and down the stage whenever Paul decided it was animal go-time, the choreography felt seamless and representative of the chaos within the young teenage protagonist’s mind. Paul up is messy — but it leaves a few questions for
For upperclassmen with prior Dillo Day experience, a highlight of the day was reminiscing on previous years’ festivals and admiring Mayfest’s continuous endeavors to improve.
McCormick junior Haneen Awadelsayed said she was satis ed with the organization and programming for the festival’s 53rd iteration.
“I feel like this year is a lot more chill, especially compared to my freshman year, which was really hectic,” Awadelsayed said. “ is Dillo’s lineup is a lot more relaxed so the vibe is quite chill, which I like a lot.”
Weinberg sophomore Maddox Short said that a ending Dillo Day for the rst time exceeded her expectations.
“I’m a transfer, and my previous school didn’t have anything like Dillo, so this is really fun for me,” Short said. “Out of the artist lineup, I only knew Natasha, but I was not expecting the performance she put on. Her vocals and charisma on stage just blew me away, and I think others would agree.”
Kahn and Deda said their promotional team,
mate Communication junior Veronica Silvosa a er
What’s trending at NU for summer fashion
especially for cute tops.
Y2K, Fashion, SummerGolden hour cocktails, sun-drenched yacht glam and parties on the Aegean Sea — for Weinberg freshman Cisco Hernandez, these aren’t just a vacation dream. ey’re part of his summer 2025 fashion inspiration board.
As Northwestern students begin to pack their bags for the end of the school year, they’re looking at what clothes to bring, throw away or even add to their wardrobe.
Hernandez said when choosing how to dress for this summer, he’s channeling a vibe that is “Dolce Vita escapades-only.”
“ e Dolce Vita lifestyle is a jet se ing o to Mykonos with Celine sunglasses,” he said. “Not so many layers, just collar
When shopping for summer, Hernandez said he looks for established brands that emphasize quality and comfort as well as breathability and aesthetics. He said he recommends brands such as Brunello Cucinelli, Loro Piana and Zimmermann to channel this year’s “summer
Above all, however, Hernandez said he is a year-round Ralph Laurenfanatic. He takes inspiration from the brand because it’s “versatile,” and he
In terms of accessorizing, Hernandez said “less is more,” but said bandanas are de nitely making a comeback this year.
“You can wear them in so many di erent ways, as a hat, as a scarf, as a belt, and they’re very chic,” he said.
Yet not every student shops from commercial brands. Weinberg freshman Megan Freemon said she loves thri ing both back home in Tennessee and in
A frequent shopper at Crossroads Trading, a resale fashion store on Sherman Avenue, Freemon said she likes to thri as much as possible,
“I really love bu on up shirts. I feel like they’re really nice and airy,” Freemon said. “Sometimes I just get sick of tank tops and short sleeve shirts.”
By SUPRIYA AKELLA the daily northwestern
As the school year comes to an end, many organizations in Evanston and Chicago are set to host camps this summer for kids focusing on sewing and fashion.
Open Studio Project: Fashion Forward
From Monday, Aug. 11 to Friday, Aug. 15, Evanston’s Open Studio Project will run a class teaching students to hand and machine stitch. e camp is open to kids ages 6 through 12 and runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. e total cost is $295 and extended hours of open studio time are available from 1-3 p.m. for an additional $30 per day.
Making It SewFun
is Chicago sewing school will host sewing camps running from July 7 to 11 and July 14 to 18, along with Saturday classes from June 21 to July 26. Materials are
included in the camp’s $275 fee, and projects are available for all skill levels. Kids ages 7 through 16 are eligible to enroll and can choose to a end morning sessions from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a ernoon sessions from 1:30-4 p.m., or both. ose interested can register on the Making It SewFun website.
One River School of Art + Design
For students in third through h grade, this local arts school will o er a week-long course on fashion illustration. Classes take place from June 16 through 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from Aug. 18 through Aug. 22 from 12:30-to 3 p.m. Students will work with ink and brayers to create a fashion illustration of their own. e camp costs $365, and registration is on the One River School website.
Additionally, students in grades six through 12 can take One River School’s summer camp on fashion design. A endees will learn to paint fabrics and create cohesive looks and garments using students’ textiles. is camp runs July 28 to Aug. 1 from 12:30-3 p.m., and will cost $365. Register on the One River School website.
e thri craze re ects a sense of nostalgia, Freemon said, especially for late ’90s and Y2K fashion.
Characters from late ’90s and early 2000s shows she loves, such as “Gossip Girl” and “Charmed,” are what inspire her fashion, Freemon said.
By KATE POLLOT
e iconic TLC makeover show “What Not to Wear” has died and reincarnated as “Wear Whatever the F You Want.” is reboot sees the return of Stacy London and Clinton Kelly (Medill ’93) as they develop their clients’ personal styles. e new show is a awed but much improved format in comparison to its predecessor.
In “What Not to Wear” (which aired from 20032013), participants were o ered $5,000 to shop for a new wardrobe on the condition that they threw away their old clothes. London and Kelly were brutal in their critiques, ge ing rid of the majority of clients’ closets and replacing them with a basic early-2000s o ce casual wardrobe. It didn’t ma er if someone already had or enjoyed their own personal style; if London and Kelly didn’t approve, it had to go.
In “Wear Whatever the F You Want,” which
premiered April 29 on Amazon Prime video, London and Kelly are simultaneously much less critical and more eager to please, taking into account each client’s preferences to ensure they end the episode in the out t of their dreams.
Clients are not asked to get rid of their old clothes or put their personal style on the backburner. Instead, London and Kelly base their wardrobe selections around ideas given by the show’s participants. Clients named fashion icons from Dolly Parton to Billie Joe Armstrong as their style inspirations, and the stylist duo adapted to them all.
While the new show’s format is a bit rushed (clients only work with London and Kelly for two days), “Wear Whatever the F You Want” simply cannot be bad because of its incredible casting. e strong personalities featured on the show are loveable and bright; I couldn’t pick a favorite episode. Everyone seemed enthusiastic about the process, making them much more fun to watch than the o en reluctant participants on “What Not to Wear.”
However, I couldn’t help but wonder how the clients
“ ings are just more complicated now than they were when we were younger,” she said. “I feel like for a lot of people, that kind of era represents a simpler time.”
Freemon said she has noticed stripes and colorful pa erns like gingham have become more popular lately.
For Communication freshman Patricia Liu, who hails from California, shorts are a summer fashion staple. She said jorts — knee-long shorts made of denim — are also a returning trend. ough Evanston temperatures have not been as high as back home, Liu said she’s noticed several people on campus wearing jorts — and they’re growing on her.
“A lot of people just thought they were ugly, but now I’m like, ‘Wow, they’re kind of cute,’” Liu said.
Bienen freshman Elizabeth Palumbo said she prefers owy clothes and skirts, but also animal prints, in uenced by her Italian heritage and New Jersey upbringing.
Palumbo said she plans to incorporate a blue, yellow and white color pale e into her wardrobe. She also anticipates wearing fun jewelry and the late-trending ower claw clips, she said.
But trends will not determine all of Palumbo’s style this summer.
“As a kid, I was always kind of stuck in what everyone was doing,” she said. “Now that I’m an adult, I realize you only live once. So just explore what you love.”.
a.sextou@dailynorthwestern.com
6 local summer fashion camps for children
Sew on Central is Evanston sewing boutique will o er a camp for kids ages 7 through 13 of all skill levels. ese half-day camps will run every week, Monday through Friday, from June 16 to Aug. 15, excluding the week of July 4. e morning session is 9-11:30 a.m., and the a ernoon session is 1-3:30 p.m. For young sewists, ages 5 and 6, Sew on Central will host specialized hand-sewing classes from 1-3:30 p.m. the weeks of June 23 and July 21. Each half-day camp will cost $280, and payment plans are available. You can register on the Sew on Central website.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
SAIC will host two-week-long on-campus summer programs for middle schoolers aged 10 to 13. Courses run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fashion Camp is o ered July 7 through 18 and July 21 through Aug. 1. A camp on accessories and embellishments is o ered from Aug. 4 through 15. e total cost is $1,260. Registration should be completed on the SAIC website. For high school students, SAIC o ers early college
programs on fashion design and construction. ese programs grant college credit and cost $3,696 each, not including housing costs, with merit scholarships and nancial aid also available. Courses run for two weeks each, during three di erent sessions. e registration deadline is noon on Monday, June 2. You can register using the SAIC website.
Evanston Art Center
Evanston Art Center will host camps on fashion illustration and fashion construction for students ages 12 to 14. Both camps cost $385 for non-EAC members and run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. e fashion illustration camp is July 14 to 18 and will teach the art of drawing fashion gures using markers, watercolors and more. Students will complete the camp with a lookbook of their designs. e fashion construction camp is July 21 to 25, and will teach fundamental skills for hand sewing and using a sewing machine. Registration can be done on the EAC website.
supriyaakella2028@u.northwestern.edu
New TLC show reimagines ‘What Not to Wear’
would dress when they returned home. Most of the out ts London and Kelly selected were clearly intended for date nights or events; what were these people supposed to wear on a daily basis?
While “Wear Whatever the F You Want” isn’t perfect, it’s a huge step up from its successor, as the nal episode proves.
When the nal client, Selena, walked on set, I felt my heart drop; what were they going to do to her? Her style was already absolutely gorgeous: hair streaked with green, a black coat with neon green fur lining, a watering can purse. It was the neon-goth look of my dreams.
What she wanted? A professional, ’90s-preppy transformation.
I sat in anticipation, waiting for the blazers, pencil skirts and other business-casual fare “What Not to Wear” was infamous for. When she asked the hairstylist for a bob, I gasped in horror.
“What Not to Wear” hair stylist Nick Arrojo (who parted ways with the show a er six seasons and did not return for the reboot) had given every woman who sat
in his chair the same awkward, chin-length cut that was devoid of personality. He’d motivated my elementary school-aged self to cut my own hair into a bob that now haunts my childhood photos — I didn’t want Selena to su er as I had.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. Selena spoke about how she had simply outgrown her goth style and wanted to dress in a way that would allow her to be taken seriously as a businesswoman. London and Kelly accommodated this beautifully, giving her colorful two piece sets and dresses that showed her personality while still allowing her to look professional; there wasn’t a pencil skirt in sight. Even the bob, a shaggy cut with an adorable set of bangs, worked out in the end.
In “Wear Whatever the F You Want,” London and Kelly are more accommodating, kind and, dare I say, fashionable. ey’ve clearly grown over the years, and they’re the perfect people to help their clients do the same.
ALEXIA SEXTOU
Illustration by Lillian Ali
Evanston fashion brand is ‘subtly spectacular’
By EMILY LICHTY
daily senior staffer @emilymlichty
Fashion designer Leen Gundogdu’s business started with her love for hats.
The artist began her career studying archeology, but said her love for designing unique hats inspired her to attend fashion shows dedicated to them. From there, she started creating readyto-wear pieces to accompany her designs — and soon, her business was born.
That business is Kivanci, a luxury fashion boutique located on Maple Avenue. The studio sells both ready-to-wear pieces and custommade designs, including ball gowns and bridal looks.
The entrepreneur said she tailors a customer’s experience based on what they need — whether it is a complete closet redesign, a black tie outfit or a simple summer sundress. Kivanci also offers photoshoot styling and alterations.
“Kivanci is about wearing your confidence,” Gundogdu said. “It’s not just about fashion, it’s about a story. It’s about being confident in who you are, giving you that power.”
Gundogdu started her business in 2019 in Niles but moved her storefront to Evanston last year.
Kivanci boasts over 13,000 followers on its Instagram account, which features colorful dresses, bold photoshoots and videos of the founder herself sporting her custom designs on the streets of Evanston.
Gundogdu’s partner, Leo Gundogdu, said he helps bring Leen’s creative vision to life by running the business side of Kivanci.
“She has her own style but she integrates it with her artistic creativity, and to me, it’s spontaneous,” Leo Gundogdu said. “The beauty of fashion is you’re like an artist, so you could be as bold as you want.”
Some of Leen Gundogdu’s current projects include her work with Chicago artist Heidi Scheleski. Recently, the two gathered a
production team of around ten people to photograph outfits inspired by the movie “Funny Face” in downtown Chicago.
Scheleski said that after she met Leen Gundogdu, she immediately knew she wanted to work with her on an Audrey Hepburn-inspired project.
“It’s very clear upon meeting her that she not only has a knack for fashion, but she also has really good connections with people,” Scheleski said. “She really easily connects to people, and she makes you feel seen, feel beautiful, and that’s why I really love working with her.”
Leen Gundogdu also collaborated with Scheleski and Chicago painter Barrett Keithly on a piece that hangs in the Kivanci storefront: an oversized jacket with the words “THIS IS ART” painted on it in hot pink.
Scheleski said the pair hopes to continue working to “bridge the gap between art and fashion” with their work.
For Leen and Leo Gundogdu, future goals for Kivanci include growing the brand’s social
media presence and building a collection of ready-to-wear clothes to sell on the store’s website.
Leen Gundogdu said she hopes to make Kivanci a “trailblazer” for the Chicago fashion scene. She plans to turn Chicago into a “fashion city” like New York or Paris, she said, by connecting with other artists to make use of the city’s talent.
Scheleski said Leen Gundogdu continues to “amaze” her with her talent.
“She is so subtly spectacular,” Scheleski said. “I love to see where her designs are going and I think, in no time, people will become so familiar with not only her name, but the name of her brand, Kivanci, that it will be easily a Chicago staple, that you’ll be able to recognize it immediately.”
For the summer season, Leen Gundogdu said she plans on continuing her work with other artists for fun projects, including photographing the rest of the “Funny Face” collaboration. She also said she hopes to design painted denim jackets to sell to Evanston’s student community. Whenever she needs inspiration for new projects, the designer said she goes to the fabric store and sees what calls to her. She also said she is inspired by her 8-year-old daughter, who likes to design clothes herself, or often returns to her old practice of using a hat for ideas.
In the summer especially, Leen Gundogdu said she gains inspiration from accessories to elevate her work.
“The trend for summer is a lot of soft colors,” she said. “My big thing is I love to pair my pieces with a lot of jewelry that elevates a lot of my looks. … Even if you’re not a fan of jewelry, maybe one belt can change the whole look.”
But the heart of Kivanci, Leen Gundogdu said, is using creativity to make other people feel confident to show off their “true self.”
In line with this mission, she said she wants to work with kids interested in fashion design to teach them the basics of the industry. Her advice for younger artists looking to follow her path is to work hard to bring your vision into reality.
By ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ daily senior staffer @alexbespeakin
Carly Witteman (Medill ’24) always knew that she wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
However, as she was going through her undergraduate experience at Northwestern, her love and passion for fashion journalism grew and eventually solidified. Now, a year after graduating, Witteman has paved her path in the fashion industry as a journalist.
“I originally really wanted to go to NU because I loved the theater scene and how you could do theater and not necessarily be a theater major,” Witteman said. “But, I always wanted to do journalism.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Witteman has always enjoyed and appreciated the arts. From being a screenwriter and actress during high school to walking down the runway as a teenage model, Witteman did it all and took these experiences to NU under a special circumstance: the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, the global pandemic caused many universities, including NU, to move to online schooling. Social interactions were cut down significantly. Witteman’s freshman year roommate decided to apply to STITCH Magazine, NU’s premier fashion magazine, to bond and socialize with other students. Inspired by her roommate, Witteman also decided to apply and got into the editorial team.
“When I was on editorial, I really think it strengthened my pitching and writing skills about fashion because it’s very hard to find a class that’s more aimed at fashion reporting,” Witteman said. “STITCH gave me an option to do that when I was associate editor and editor in chief.”
Leah Ryzenman (SESP ’24) first met Witteman behind a Zoom screen while she was rushing NU’s chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. She recalls Witteman’s presence and energy as a “ray of sunshine” that made her feel
“Never be afraid,” Leen Gundogdu said. “Try even if you think it’s not possible. Everything is possible, just do it and go for it. Whatever you dream of, it’s going to happen. Fashion is a big industry, just use your imagination.”
e.lichty@dailynorthwestern.com
Medill alum re ects on her fashion career
welcome.
After students were able to return to campus during Fall 2021, Ryzenman was fascinated by Witteman’s personality, style and dedication to showcasing the best parts of a person. With each moment spent together, Ryzenman said she became a kinder person under Witteman’s influence.
“She’s the kind of person where she’ll walk into a room and instantly make it better,” Ryzenman said. “Spending time with her makes you feel like you want to be a better person and spread that positive energy and kindness to others as well.”
During her junior year at NU, Witteman interned at CR Fashion Book, fashion’s “Bible of inspiration,” and she went to New York Fashion Week in her senior year. Since graduating, she has interviewed greats such as Kristin Chenoweth, gotten her makeup done by Pat McGrath and just recently held Princess Diana’s Black Lady Dior bag.
Now, Witteman resides in the Manhattan area while she attends press events across the city, edits stories for CR’s website and promotes the latest fashion news on social media platforms such as Instagram. Just this past weekend, she attended the Indianapolis 500 with Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer and is preparing for CR’s next print issue.
Caitlin Carr-Smith (Communication ’24) met Witteman when she was rushing AXO during their sophomore year through the COB process. With a first impression at AXO’s dining area, Carr-Smith recalls Witteman’s style and distinct aesthetic.
The pair became close friends while at NU, went on a couple of trips together and now live in the same apartment in New York City. CarrSmith says that Witteman woke up at 6 a.m. to get tickets to “The Outsiders” on Broadway for her birthday, a core memory that defined her relationship with Witteman.
“I don’t think she gives herself enough credit for her kindness and her work ethic,” said Carr-Smith. “Everything she touches, she makes better.”
Witteman says that her career is heavily influenced by Medill Prof. Karen Springen and STITCH alums such as Samuel
and Yola Mzizi. With their support and guidance, Wit-
As Witteman prepares for a summer full of exciting pop culture opportunities, she wants those who are interested in a career in the
fashion industry to keep three things in mind: intern, be involved and get your foot in the
in any way you can.
“It can all seem very glamorous on social media and whatnot, but like any job, it has its ups and downs,” said Witteman. “But I’m very grateful to be where I am.
a.hernandez.gonzalez@u.northwestern.edu
Maude
teman believed that she could have a career in fashion journalism.
door
Photo courtesy of Carly Witteman
Medill alum Carly Witteman is taking the fashion journalism industry by storm one look at a time.
Illustration by Emily Lichty
Leen Gundogdu moved her store, Kivanci, to Evanston in 2024. Photos courtesy of Leen Gundogdu.
Fun fashion events shape Chicago summer
By VALENTINA VALARCE the daily northwestern @valenpvalcarce
From citywide cultural events like the 54th annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 29 to Millennium Park’s free summer concerts and lm series spread from June to August, local and visitor fashionistas have a packed summer to show up and show out in Chicago. Touching a range of tastes and styles — whether you’re hoping to immerse yourself in global fashion traditions, laugh through a themed comedy show or walk the runway in a handmade monochrome t, here are some of the standout fashion events shaping the scene this summer in Chicago.
See a bold fashion showcase where Chicago design meets art and music.
We Are M-A-T-E-R-I-A-L Fashion Showcase is a gallery-style showcase that brings together Chicago designers with distinct, boundary-pushing aesthetics scheduled for June 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Alma Gallery. e one-night exhibition highlights the work of innovative Chicago designers including Katrin Schnabl, Gillion Carrara and Isaac Couch. With live music performances by Sam Atkins and Armand Donegan, the event combines art, music and fashion in a gallery setting. Admission is free.
A end a live podcast recording.
Celebrate LGBTQA+ Pride Month with a DIY queer runaway.
11, July 9 and Aug. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Lodge. Each month, this comedy-meets-fashion show brings a new theme, and the comics dress accordingly. June’s show is all about graphic tees — so expect cartoons, slogans and band merch. Tickets range from $12 to $20. If you like irreverent takes on style or just want to laugh with people who understand the power of a good out t, this one’s worth a visit.
Learn about African self-expression and culture.
Fans of fashion history can a end a live recording of the podcast “Dressed: e History of Fashion” at the Chicago History Museum on June 10. Hosted by Cassidy Zachary with guest Jessica Pushor, the museum’s costume collection manager, the event will explore the museum’s current exhibition “Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective.” Expect thoughtful conversation and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the top costume collections in the country, according to the Fashion and Textile Museums organization. Tickets cost $80 for the general public and include access to the exhibit and the recording.
“Rainbow Runway: A Celebration of Queer Fashion and Flair” blends fashion, activism and community. Organized by Chicago mutual aid group e Artistic Alphabet Ma a, the event takes place all a ernoon on June 14 from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Chicago Athletic Association.
e event includes a monochrome-themed DIY fashion runway, textile workshops, a clothing and binder swap and a collaborative pride quilt project. Vendors and artists from Chicago’s queer community will be selling handmade textiles and wearable art. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, from $5 to $100, with proceeds bene ting Trans Chicago, a BIPOC-led nonpro t serving transgender communities.
Watch a comedy show themed fashion wearing graphic tees.
The Funny Funny Fashion Comedy Show, a monthly mash-up of stand-up and style, returns June
Taking over the lakefront for one day only, Taste of Africa 2025: Afro-Fusion on the Beach turns Ohio Street Beach into a cross-cultural celebration of food, music and style on Aug. 16, from 12 to 8 p.m. e city’s largest African-inspired cultural event brings together modern interpretations of traditional dresses and curated market stalls showcasing designers and brands from across the African diaspora and continent. From Ankara prints and dashikis to festival-ready out ts, a endees can expect a colorful celebration of identity and expression along the lakefront. Admission is free. Explore an outdoor market and uncover vintage gems.
Running every Sunday from May 18 through Oct. 5, Maxwell Street Market — one of the oldest cultural institutions in Chicago — blends streetwear with street food and live music with bargain hunting. Located on Maxwell Street this free-entry event features a lively mix of secondhand fashion, handmade accessories, multicultural streetwear and live blues performances. Known for its immigrant roots, the market is a destination for vintage jackets, jewelry and unexpected fashion nds. Admission is free.
v.valcarce@dailynorthwestern.com
Students nd their way into fashion industry
By ISABEL SU daily senior staffer @isabelsu_
Medill junior and former editor-in-chief of Northwestern’s fashion publication Stitch Magazine Austin Kim has been interested in fashion since middle school, when he began reselling Supreme and other streetwear brands.
roughout high school, he read a lot of fashion criticism, which led him to apply to Medill. ough there is no fashion design major on campus, NU students interested in fashion pursue a range of opportunities in the eld over the summer. Some students engage in fashion opportunities on campus, through Stitch or UNITY Charity Fashion Show.
“I thought fashion journalism was my pathway,” Kim said. “But since coming here and writing more, but also double majoring in economics … I’ve pivoted and realized that there’s other careers in fashion that allow me to use more of my (analytical)
capabilities, which is how I ended up on the more corporate side with buying.”
As a buying intern for luxury brand Coach this summer, Kim will help track fashion trends through data and determine what to buy for next season.
Medill junior Jade Garcia started out writing for Stitch but soon gravitated towards working on UNITY’s event production team.
“(UNITY) is a li le bit more about breaking down the barriers of the fashion industry, and teaching people at Northwestern that (fashion) can be a career path, even though it’s not always the most obvious,” she said. “Especially because here, we don’t really have a lot of opportunities to learn formally about that route.”
is summer, Garcia is bringing the skills developed at UNITY to a start-up called MusicAid, which provides free music services to local communities.
A er graduation, she hopes to work in fashion.
“I de nitely hope to stick in the event production, creative directing realm,” Garcia said. “I love planning the fashion shows. And I think that I would like to take on a more creative role as well, and kind of
have a say in the clothes that models are wearing.”
Medill sophomore Milan Hawk also pursues her interest in fashion through extracurriculars at NU, currently working as a print managing editor for Stitch.
Her minor in art history is another way for her to explore fashion through an artistic lens.
“I think fashion is art, and so it’s just a way to express myself,” Hawk said. “I think they’re very interconnected.”
is summer, she is balancing two part-time internships — one for talent agency Walter Schupfer Management and one for fashion magazine CR Fashion Book.
Carly Wi eman (Medill ’24), a former editorin-chief of Stitch who now works as a digital editor and executive assistant at CR Fashion Book, helped connect Hawk to the role.
“(I’m excited) for just nally being able to work in an industry that I’ve always wanted to break into, which I feel like is a tough industry to get into,” she said. “And to really see if this is exactly what I want to do, which, for now, I think it is, but you never
know until you start.”
Despite the di culty of breaking into the fashion industry, all three students emphasized the importance of pursuing their passions.
Kim said that he found the internship hunt to be more structured on the corporate side of fashion compared to the creative side.
“I know when I was looking at careers in fashion journalism or any sort of more creative job,” Kim said, “I had no idea what to grab onto or I would just cold email some people and Zoom with them, but not really get an edge in terms of ge ing a job.” Garcia agreed, emphasizing the value of persistence.
“I think sometimes it’s intimidating, especially if you feel like maybe you don’t t a certain style that you see in the media,” she said. “I think the rst step is de nitely ge ing over all of that doubt that you won’t t in among those people. … If you’re passionate about it, then you know the community will help guide you to what you want to do.”
isabelsu2027.1@u.northwestern.edu
Six stylish tips for NU’s spring formal season
By MAYA WONG daily senior staffer @mayaw0ng
Formal season is upon us. Whether it be for a student club, a nity group, sorority or fraternity, students are likely a ending at least one spring formal to celebrate the end of the school year. But with spring formals come fashion dilemmas. For many students, formal season is the time to show o both at the event and in an Instagram post. If there is any time to do so, now is the time to dress one’s best. Here are some of e Daily’s tips for what to wear this year for your spring formal.
Don’t shy away from orals.
Spring is the season of colorful blooms, so it’s only natural to embrace orals in your spring formal a ire. Try a maxi dress with a smaller oral pa ern, or make a statement with a dress that has one or two large owers on the bodice. Hibiscuses, peonies and lilacs are sure to bring your out t to the next level. Either way, orals t the occasion, and the dress you purchase can also double as a gorgeous vacation out t.
Polos are okay!
For all of those who prefer to wear dress shirts and pants — ditch the collared dress shirts that you’d typically wear in Fall or Winter Quarter and
opt for a polo. Spring promises warmer weather and whether you’re a ending a beach, boat or indoor formal, you don’t want to end up sweaty and gross. Polos are casual, yet formal enough, and are probably more comfortable anyways.
Try pa erned dress shirts.
If polos aren’t your style, try a lightly pa erned dress shirt. Many options are subtle enough to not be too noticeable but add a bit of air to the typical collared top. Spring is the time to explore pa erns and colors. Even if you prefer to stick to traditional formal a ire, a so grid or geometric print will really tie your out t together.
A pop of color never hurt anyone.
You had all winter to wear dark colors. Choosing more vibrant or pastel colors is the perfect way to play into a spring theme. Embrace the colorful scenery in your a ire, even if you’re not one to usually wear colorful clothing. It’s only right to do so.
Sheer and lace details are in.
A lot of formal or vacation dresses that are currently popular online have sheer and lace details, whether it be as a drapery overlay or to ll in cutouts. ese add a unique pizazz to your out t, making it stand out or feel more distinctive. Even if your dress has a very traditional cut to it, additional detailing will be the cherry on top.
Remember to accessorize.
A formal outfit is nothing without accessories. Aside from the typical necklace, chain, bracelets or rings, there are many accessories in style right now that aren’t necessarily jewelry. If you’re wearing a strapless dress, pair it with a thin, sheer scarf. Match the color of your heels with a useful clutch. Glue some rhinestones in your hair. The beauty’s in the details. No matter how you look at your formal, the most important things to do are to relax, have fun and celebrate all of this school year’s accomplishments. Even still, looking your best will equate to a good photo session and a fun night out. m.wong@dailynorthwestern.com
Illustration by Emily Lichty
Illustration by Siri Reddy
Across many events around the city, Maxwell Street Market blends vintage clothing, street food, live music and bargain hunting every Sunday from spring through early fall.
Undergrads present at Research and Arts Exposition
By NATALIE KIM the daily northwestern
Northwestern’s Office of Undergraduate Research hosted its annual Undergraduate Research & Arts Exposition at Norris University Center on Friday.
The exposition, co-sponsored by the Northwestern Undergraduate Research Journal, was an opportunity for students across research disciplines to share their work, according to Weinberg sophomore and incoming NURJ Editor in Chief Aparnaa Ananthakrishnan.
The event featured more than 200 presentations, featuring topics such as American history, neuropsychiatric diseases and marine life.
“(When I was presenting), the person next to me had done research on music history in the United States,” Ananthakrishnan said. “Mine was in STEM … It’s really, really cool — the fact that you can have so many people who are interested in such different things to show their findings.”
Friday’s event was divided into four hour-anda-half sessions of oral and poster presentations. During poster presentation sessions, undergraduates stood by their poster as attendees walked around. Researchers delivered oral presentations for 8 to 10 minutes to a larger audience.
Ananthakrishnan presented her poster in the morning on the role of macrophages — white blood cells that kill microorganisms — in mediating chronic rejection of heart transplantation.
“I’m very proud of the work I’ve put in with my research, and it’s amazing to present my findings with faculty and other students on campus,” Ananthakrishnan said.
NU undergraduates could submit presentations under many project types, including senior theses, classwork and extracurricular activities.
Weinberg senior Neha Gupta studied national protocols for psychiatric care for emergency medical services. The topic was inspired by her experience as an emergency medical technician.
Gupta began her research project independently and a lab she works at paired her with a mentor.
“My biggest takeaway from doing research is: If you take initiative and really care about
a topic and you show up, someone’s going to want to help you,” Gupta said.
By participating in the exposition, undergraduates not only received feedback on their presentations and findings but also cultivated their future career paths.
Gupta said her research experience and preparation for the exposition contributed to her decision to work at the National Institutes of Health after graduating.
NU undergraduates and the presenters’
friends and families — many possessing no research background — attended the exposition.
Weinberg sophomore Zach Long, who focused his research on improving the sustainability of propylene production, said he presented at another symposium months ago where he had an audience of mostly judges. In contrast, at Friday’s exposition, he spoke to many more students, one of his professors and even a patent lawyer.
Long said he enjoyed the opportunity to talk
to both professionals in the field and educate peers less familiar with the complexities of research.
“(Presenting at the exposition) has been really fulfilling,” Long said. “When I’m in the lab, it’s hard to realize the bigger picture. … When I hear people that are excited about what I’ve done and want to ask questions about it, it makes it all worth it.”
nataliekim2027@u.northwestern.edu
Avantika Singh/The Daily Northwestern
Students individually presented their research to attendees Friday morning at Norris University Center.
OPINION
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Editorial: The Daily’s new opinion policy and standards
On May 15, The Daily posted an updated Opinion Policy to our website. It provides a concise overview of our approach to the four types of content that fall under the scope of the Opinion Desk: op-eds, columns, letters to the editor and editorials.
In addition to the newly available policy, The Daily has crafted a set of internal guidelines that cover our approach to subjects such as criteria for accepting op-ed submissions and policies for listing signatories to articles with multiple authors.
There are three central reasons we have chosen to update our policies and write this editorial.
First, our previous standards contained ambiguities that have been tested throughout the year. We thought it important to address these ambiguities and give editors as much guidance as possible to make decisions that fall under their discretion.
Second, The Daily has come under criticism for publishing op-eds some readers felt did not meet journalistic standards. We want to make clear exactly what goes into a decision over whether or not to publish a piece and demonstrate a more intentional decision-making process.
Third, it is no secret that the state of freedom of expression in America is in an unusually uncertain position. For Northwestern and Evanston community members considering contributing to The Daily, there may be a heightened fear of repression. While it isn’t in The Daily’s remit to protect contributors from consequences in the outside world, we believe it imperative that each writer understand the conditions of their name being attached to an article.
The new policies are the result of a quarter-long collaborative process undertaken by members of The Daily’s current Editorial Board in consultation with former editors in chief and opinion editors. Below are six important areas of our guidelines to note, both established and new:
1. Anonymity
The Daily will require that each opinion piece be signed by at least one named individual. Anonymous submissions and pieces on behalf of student groups will not be accepted barring extraordinary circumstances.
As a venue for civil public discourse, the Opinion Desk has a responsibility to foster connection among
community members in a way that is distinct from the perks offered by social media platforms, such as the ability to remain anonymous or advertise for an organization.
Any decision to grant anonymity will not be taken lightly and will be accompanied by a public explanation.
2. Signatories
In the past, The Daily has published opinion articles listing as many as 922 authors. Going forward, we will no longer publish pieces that act as petitions, instead only including the names of authors who meaningfully contributed to writing the article.
On a basic level, it is atypical for newspapers to act as platforms for mass petitions. The vast majority of individuals appearing below pieces with that many authors have likely only signed their name to a list and would not meet any reasonable criteria for authorship.
More practically, it is unfeasible for The Daily to verify that each one of hundreds of authors has actually agreed to be listed within the regular time frame for editing an op-ed. Given the tense political climate surrounding student speech, it is imperative that such a process occurs when a group of people would like to sign onto a piece. In the future, we will require verbal or written confirmation from each author that they agree to the contents of the op-ed before publishing.
Petitions like those which we have published in the past may still be circulated and reported on by our news desks. At the beginning of the month, we put this policy into action by reporting on a letter sent by a group of Jewish faculty to a congressional committee.
3. Publication criteria
In order to write an op-ed for The Daily, you must meet a series of basic criteria. First, you must be part of the Northwestern or Evanston community — students, faculty, staff, alumni and Evanston residents are all neatly included within this category.
The submission itself must also satisfy certain standards. It must be written in a decipherable and compelling manner. It must address an issue relevant
to the Northwestern or Evanston community. Its factual basis must be grounded in reality. It must not engage in ad hominem personal attacks. It must not be hateful — submissions containing slurs or language that clearly aims to humiliate a group of people based on identity or immutable characteristics will be rejected.
The Daily also has an interest in platforming unpopular opinions in furtherance of ideological diversity within the opinion pages. We hope to foster informed discourse and allow readers to come to a better place of understanding with those with whom they stridently disagree.
Inevitably, these directives may come into conflict when the topic of an op-ed is politically charged and subject to widespread debate over whether a view should be considered hateful. In such situations, editors will be tasked with carefully weighing our obligations to each respective value given the context of the piece at hand.
4. Improving accuracy and inclusion
The Daily fact-checks opinion pieces using largely the same process as we use to fact-check news articles. Contributors are responsible for backing up each factual claim they make with accurate and reliable sourcing.
When editing responses to op-eds, editors will be required to read the original op-ed in full. They must ensure that the response does not misrepresent the original piece’s argument and that the two op-eds do not contain directly contradictory statements of fact. We acknowledge that we have erred in this area previously and are committed to a more rigorous opinion fact-checking process.
The Daily also acknowledges that it has published opinion pieces that included inaccuracies and language deviating from AP and Daily Style standards, and these errors have upset some in our community. We are committed to improving the standard of the pieces that we publish.
We have elevated the role of our Diversity & Inclusion Chairs to include editing stories consistently, including opinion pieces. Our D&I Chairs are consulting several stylebooks to update The Daily’s style guide, including but not limited to the AP Stylebook, the Asian American Journalists Association
Style Guide and the Trans Journalists Association Stylebook and Coverage Guide. These editors have also compiled topical guides with input from community members to consult for opinion pieces and reported coverage.
While we acknowledge that these changes aren’t foolproof, we hope our improvements will allow us to flag more areas of concern in regards to inaccuracies and inconsistent style.
5. Letters to the Editor
In the past, The Daily has published a variety of articles under the banner of “Letters to the Editor.” In line with industry standards, we are now narrowing the scope of LTEs to only refer to responses to content published in The Daily. All opinion pieces that we no longer classify as LTEs may still be published as traditional op-eds.
This change is largely administrative, but we note it because we would like to strongly encourage readers to respond to The Daily’s content through LTEs. Our coverage should ideally be a starting point for larger dialogues surrounding the issues that most acutely affect our community. If you have any thoughts about a topic we covered, an op-ed we published or the strength of our reporting, please do not hesitate to send in a letter to the email listed below.
6. Removing old op-eds
The Daily will not remove published content from our website, barring extraordinary circumstances. Anyone considering contributing to the Opinion Desk should expect that the piece will live in perpetuity on the internet.
Signed,
The Daily Northwestern Editorial Board
This piece represents the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of The Daily Northwestern. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members or Editorial Board members of The Daily Northwestern. If you would like to respond publicly to this editorial, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com.
Winiarsky: Sarah, Yaron and the slippery slope of rhetoric
diaspora is our close connections – I’m convinced we’re all a degree of separation away from each other. To illustrate this concept, a friend of mine sang karaoke with Sarah in New York City just last month. My cousin’s roommate is Sarah’s cousin.
On the first day of my internship at the American Jewish Committee two summers ago, I met my boss, discussed what I’d be working on for the summer and received an elaborate security briefing.
I was used to it, and therefore expecting it. Each year on the High Holidays, security personnel rummage through my bag before I can enter my synagogue. I walk through the metal detector each time I use the gym at my Jewish community center. I wait to be buzzed in at Hillel before Shabbat dinner on Friday nights. This is the cost of feeling safe in a Jewish space.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim — victims of the tragic antisemitic shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last week — were likely used to it, too, being staffers at the Israeli Embassy in Washington and active members of the Jewish community.
I’ve attended several events hosted by the American Jewish Committee in Washington similar to the one they were at last Wednesday night. I know firsthand that there were ample security measures in place. The security measures couldn’t save them. Neither could the fact that Sarah, an American Jew, actively worked to build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. It wasn’t even enough that Yaron wasn’t Jewish, but a Christian.
All that mattered was that they were two people attending a Jewish event at a Jewish museum in a metropolitan area with the third-highest Jewish population in the country. To a deranged gunman, this was their fundamental crime.
Like so many Jews before her, Sarah Milgrim paid for her religion with her life.
The tragedy is multifold. The United States is built on the principle that everyone can freely practice their own religion. It should upset all Americans, therefore, that Sarah was murdered for her religion; Yaron, for his assumed one.
But to the Jewish community, it cuts deeply. One of the many things I love about the Jewish American
The closeness of the Jewish community around the world makes it feel small, and in this case, terribly small.
What’s most unsettling to me is, if Sarah was murdered for being Jewish, then couldn’t the rest of us?
Fear sets in. My mom, usually not the type to be afraid, had no qualms with me going to Europe for four months wearing a Magen David (a Star of David) necklace. But last week, things were different. She asked me if I really wanted to put in writing that I’m a Zionist. I decided that I did.
In that piece, I wrote that I want the war to end and that condemning atrocities in Gaza isn’t antisemitic. It is also noteworthy that I wrote this piece in May 2025 — a long time after October 2023 — when it has become much clearer that the war will not lead to the defeat of Hamas. I stand by what I wrote.
Yet, the way that I framed my writing — as a criticism of the Israeli government and specific policies, rather than a condemnation of Israelis and Zionists as a whole — is exceedingly rare in discussions about the topic.
Sarah and Yaron’s murder makes it clearer than ever that the slope between offensive rhetoric and violent rhetoric is dangerously slippery. As Yaron and Sarah’s murderer was dragged out of the Capital Jewish Museum by law enforcement, he yelled, “Free Palestine.”
On its face, “Free Palestine” is an innocuous phrase. Yet, it often isn’t used in isolation, but along with violent terms and ideologies.
“Free Palestine” was a common chant at the encampment on Deering Meadow last year, along with outright antisemitic attacks, like cries of “Settlers, settlers, go back home.” I say this latter phrase is antisemitic because Jews fled to Israel — whether it be from Poland, Iraq or Egypt — to escape their deaths. To call for Jews to “go back home” is therefore a call for Jews to die.
“Free Palestine” was also chanted in a Oct. 2023 protest at the Rock, along with “Resistance
is justified when people are occupied.” This latter statement rationalized Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel just a few weeks prior, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took over 250 civilians hostage. In yet another instance, the phrase was spray-painted onto the Donald P. Jacobs Center last April along with “Death 2 Israel.”
In these specific examples, then, “Free Palestine” is more about Jewish erasure than Gazan liberation, very much like the murders of Sarah and Yaron.
The gunman’s choice of words illuminates the ties between the protests against the war and violence against Jewish people. While the vast majority of people who use these words don’t have murderous intentions, in the most radical of minds, these chants became a literal call to action, resulting in the assassination of a Jewish person. Words themselves aren’t weapons, but it doesn’t take much sharpening to make them so.
Unsurprisingly, I’ve seen people on social media unaffiliated with NU celebrate Sarah and Yaron’s death as an act of resistance. To that I say, war is not a zero-sum game. More death isn’t a sign of victory, but of moral failing.
As I wrote last week, the death of any innocent person should be upsetting. Last week, I applied that principle to how it should be apolitical to mourn Palestinian children. This week, I’m invoking the same message about an American Jew and a German-born Israeli citizen.
No one, no matter their background, should have to live in fear because of where they were born or what religion they practice.
Sarah and Yaron were at an event that night with the aim of “turning pain into purpose.” It was a humanitarian effort that included efforts to aid Gazan civilians.
Last week was full of pain. Sarah and Yaron were two ambitious young people in love, ripped from this Earth too soon.
The way that I will turn my pain into purpose is trying to fill Sarah’s vision of making the world a better place.
While fear threatens to silence us, we must not let it. I will continue to call out antisemitism when I see it, including in my work with the American Jewish
Committee. And we must continue to stand for the humanity of all people. It isn’t the easy way forward, but I hope it’s the one we take.
Talia Winiarsky is a Weinberg junior. She can be contacted at taliawiniarsky2026@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.
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Evanston receives $100,000 Love Your Block grant
By BEN SHAPIRO
the daily northwestern @benshapiromedia
Evanston is one of 16 U.S. cities to receive a $100,000 Love Your Block grant. The 20242026 Love Your Block Program, established and supported by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, has provided the city with funds to allocate to residents for “neighborhood revitalization projects.”
The city funded around 29 projects across the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th wards, with the goal of bringing the community together and improving neighborhoods, Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) said. She added that Evanston allocated between $1,000 and $2,000 per project to fund as many projects as possible.
“I hope that what this is doing is encouraging people to know each other and figuring out how to help each other without somebody having to ask for help,” Harris said.
Evanston has awarded roughly half of the $100,000 in grant money it received this year. Harris said in a few months, once the majority of the projects are underway or completed, council members and the grant committees will regroup to allocate the remaining $55,000.
The majority of the grants were devoted to projects aiming to beautify lawns, provide upkeep around homes and other buildings and host community events. Community members submitted 116 requests for grants, and wardspecific committees made up of residents decided which projects to fund.
The 9th Ward received $2,000 in grant money for its one project, the 8th Ward received $11,000 for its nine projects, and the 2nd and 5th wards received $16,000 each for their 9 and 10 projects, respectively. Harris said Evanston chose these wards to allocate money because they “needed some extra attention and love.”
The Greater St. Peter Fire Baptized Holiness Church in the 5th Ward received a grant for its annual toy donation drive for children in Evanston hospitals. Sherry Gregory, who is a member of the church, said the grant will help the church “tremendously” as it will help
The 29 community projects that won awards received a total of $45,000.
bringing in more toys for sick children.
“We’re in a neighborhood where there’s a lot of kids (and) low-income families that need the help and sometimes don’t want to ask for it,” Sherry Gregory said. “We’re there to provide it.”
Eighth Ward resident Tiffany Gregory, the youth department co-coordinator at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, received a similar grant for her church. Also located in the 5th Ward, Faith Temple is using its Love Your Block funds to offset some of the costs of its “Youth Explosion Conference” this summer.
Tiffany Gregory said the conference serves
as a space for kids to come together and develop community. The weekend consists of games, a worship night and a “real talk session,” during which kids can submit anonymous questions and receive advice as a group, she said.
Tiffany Gregory added that the church aims to make the conference a “safe space” by bringing in mental health professionals and educators. Without the grant, it would be difficult for Faith Temple to run a program of the same caliber, she said.
“We’re very excited about (the grant), the city of Evanston and just being able to do
something for our community and for our young people in our current ministry and the entire Evanston and Chicagoland area,” Tiffany Gregory said.
As a fifth-generation Evanston resident, Harris said projects like these help forge community connections and bring neighbors together in meaningful, hands-on ways.
“We’re excited about people being excited about doing this work in the community,” Harris said. “It’s about people loving their block.”. b.shapiro@dailynorthwestern.com
Illustration by Cayla Labgold-Carroll
Nathaniel Foster is a student at the School of Professional Studies and writer of Ducks Dan and Dave. He can be contacted at nathanielfoster2027@u.northwestern.edu. Lia Kim is the illustrator for Ducks Dan and Dave and is not associated with Northwestern. e views expressed in this piece do not necessarily re ect the views of all sta members of e Daily Northwestern.
The Daily Northwestern
Weekly Word Search
Perk up, Evanston!
By Sejal Mehta
crossword & games Editor Sejal Mehta
Assistant Editor Kate Pollot
From page 1
Southern California.
Requests included a list of all university programs with Chinese nationals, questions about student and faculty ties to China, sources of tuition funding for Chinese students and questions about Chinese students’ involvement in federally funded research. Most of the schools said they would cooperate with the committee’s inquiries — and none explicitly refused, according to a report by The Intercept.
Third-year Ph.D. candidate in political science and NUGW Area Steward Daniel Loebell said the federal government has targeted Chinese nationals based on national security concerns since at least the Obama administration. Loebell said scrutiny intensified under the first Trump administration with the China Initiative, which investigated researchers in the U.S. and their ties to China. The Biden administration ended the China Initiative but continued to investigate alleged Chinese threats to U.S. national security.
CLIMATE
From page 1
Buildings Act aims to phase out gas burners and stoves so buildings run on clean energy. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act attempts to modernize the state’s power grid, making it more reliable and affordable while prioritizing clean energy.
The Clean and Equitable Transportation Act looks to transform the state’s transportation system through three bills. Most notably, the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act aims to reform what Flath
605 DAVIS
From page 1
and more people in the downtown area. “This property alone is not going to solve the need for more people on its own, but it’s part of the solution,” Vick said. “As we add more properties in a thoughtful way, hopefully we will get to a point where we have the critical mass of people that we need to support all the businesses that operate in our downtown.”
In addition to the population boost it might provide, Perman said the building would include around 90 affordable units. The project would almost double the number of new
CONSTRUCTION
From page 1
expected to open by Wildcat Welcome, Smyth said the pub and stage will remain under construction throughout Fall Quarter. Smyth said the team is aiming for a “soft opening” of the pub by late November, with a grand opening planned for Winter Quarter.
Made of mass timber — a more environmentally sustainable construction material — the pub will be “the first of its kind” as a campus building made of this material, Blouin said.
Senior Associate Vice President for Facilities Angel Dizon said the design reflects a broader emphasis on sustainability across NU’s capital projects.
“It was being thoughtful for both people and the planet,” Dizon said.
Kellogg Education Center
Also, the Kellogg School of Management will see the replacement of the lakeside Allen Center, which was demolished earlier this year, Dizon said. The new building will serve as an “extension” of the Kellogg Global Hub, he said.
“We’re really improving the functionality of the old building, increasing its performance pretty dramatically,” Dizon said. “You’re also seeing this sort of consistent architectural vocabulary between the Global Hub.”
The updated building that will replace the Allen Center will serve as a new home for Kellogg’s executive education programs, Blouin said, housing classrooms, office and meeting spaces. The building will also include 180 hospitality suites to accommodate foreign students and executives, he said.
Both Dizon and Blouin said the building’s updates will improve its overall performance while aligning with NU’s broader goals of sustainability and community-focused design.
Dizon said the project will essentially be a “collective” of buildings both literally and figuratively — as the Kellogg Education Center will connect to the Global Hub via tunnel.
“We’re slowly changing the face of the campus,” Dizon said. “The kinds of spaces that students and faculty need, not only in the buildings but around the buildings, are starting to get shaped by the work that we’re doing.”
The new Kellogg building is expected to reach completion in September 2027.
“What we have now is a Trump administration that is more emboldened to go after Chinese nationals and basically any foreign national that it finds,” Loebell said.
The nonprofit Justice Is Global launched the letter as a coordinated effort with unions representing academic workers at 22 institutions — including the six targeted by the select committee and NU — Valentina Dallona, the organization’s political director, told The Daily in an email.
The letter primarily calls on administrators and trustees of the 22 universities to refuse to accommodate the select committee’s requests unless legally bound to do so.
Loebell said international students come to NU because they believe the University has a good reputation and provides a safe environment for research. If NU received similar requests from the select committee, he said, compliance would not make sense because it would deter prospective international students from applying.
“If Northwestern decides to compromise (its) values, then they’re going to get a lot less international students,” he said. “Just in a soft
called an “inequitable” and “inaccessible” system and address the looming fiscal cliff by consolidating the state’s transit agencies.
Flath said that her organization hopes to see both the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act and the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act move by the end of the legislative session on May 31.
“The action that folks are taking next week to come down to Springfield or go up to Springfield and meet with their lawmakers and show the whole state how much people care about these climate bills is huge,” Flath said.
According to Flath, this legislation builds on
affordable units in Evanston since the expansion of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in 2015, Perman added.
Affordable units would make up 20% of the development, while Evanston’s current IHO stipulates only 15%. This makes the development eligible for a significant property tax break under a state statute initially called Affordable Illinois, which incentivizes incorporating affordable units in housing developments within certain parts of Cook County. Regardless, Perman said the development would still drastically increase the property tax revenue the city currently receives from the target lots. Kelly, on the other hand, said applying
Deering Library
This coming fall is the first quarter that both the Class of 2029 and the Class of 2028 will be able to experience the Deering Library space. The renovated interior will feature improved accessibility and infrastructure upgrades while maintaining the building’s classic look, Blouin said.
“A lot of the work that we’re looking at right now is really to improve the quality of those kinds of buildings in a variety of different kinds of ways,” Dizon said. “One of them is function.
Then the next step up from that is performance.”
In April, The Daily reported that the laylight glass on the interior ceiling was removed and is being restored, according to Deputy University Librarian D.J. Hoek. The exterior glass for the skylight was also to be removed and replaced with a new roof.
Until completion of the renovation, books and collection materials usually held in Deering have been available by request to pick up at Main Library’s circulation desk.
“We’re being sensitive to what the interior of the building looks like,” Dizon said. “It’s basically a refresh, so when you walk in there, it’s going to be more functional, but it’s also going to essentially look the same.”
Deering’s renovation is part of a broader push to improve how buildings perform, Dizon said.
Dizon added that the library renovation will address longstanding needs that may have gone previously unaddressed, such as adding ADA capabilities.
“Imagine all that stuff that probably hasn’t (had) the kind of attention that it needed over the last few years also getting a really kind of big facelift,” Dizon said.
Jacobs Center
Over on Sheridan Road, the Jacobs Center is also undergoing a significant renovation that ties into NU’s aim for sustainability, Dizon said.
“Even something as simple as reusing Jacobs, you’re eliminating a lot of carbon because you’re using an existing building that already has all that steel and concrete as part of it,” Dizon said.
The project will host the School of Education and Social Policy, several departments within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and the Institute for Policy Research. The Center for International and Area Studies
power sense, this is sort of a no-brainer, even if you are the least sympathetic to a graduate workers’ union.”
Loebell added that he believes compliance with the committee’s requests would violate a provision in NUGW’s contract with the University that bars discrimination based on national origin.
A University spokesperson wrote in an email that NU follows the law when faced with federal inquiries but did not respond to multiple requests for comment on what legal obligations the University has to protect students’ privacy when responding to government requests.
“Northwestern carefully reviews requests when they are submitted by federal agencies and adheres to the law in its responses,” the spokesperson wrote.
A Chinese international student and NUGW member, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from the government, said NU was one of their dream schools. They said they could see an argument for cutting ties between American universities and China, but asking universities to release data without researchers’ consent is unfair
the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which set Illinois on a path to 100% clean energy by 2050.
Later in the afternoon, activists rallied outside the state Capitol Building, where some lawmakers, including State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), voiced their support for the movement.
“It is more important now than ever to be loud and proud about what we are trying to accomplish for the future,” Fine said. “Illinois is leading the way with environmental advancements, and we’ve got to show the rest of the country we’re going to get it done here and everywhere across our country.”
Others, including Illinois Environmental
the state statute would essentially amount to a forfeiture on the part of the city.
“I think we could do much better to meet our housing and our fiscal goals without compromising the livability of our community,” Kelly said.
This is the third project Vermillion has proposed for the lot. The firm previously suggested a 353-foot apartment building the Planning and Development Committee rejected in 2018. Two years later, it gained City Council approval for a 220-foot office tower that was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perman said this proposal would be different as the developer now controls the former
and the Global Health Studies Program will also make use of the Jacobs Center, according to a March 2024 University press release.
“We obviously have a responsibility for doing the buildings, but our goal is to increase the performance of the people that use these buildings and their sense of belonging,” Blouin said.
NU plans to complete the project in 2026, the University wrote in the press release. The building will include classrooms, meeting and seminar rooms, labs, offices, dining areas and gathering spaces for students and faculty.
to students without judicial checks. The student said they came to the U.S. because of the research offered at American universities and to engage with people from different cultural backgrounds.
“It still holds true that the U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, and it has the most advanced technology,” they said. “Also, maybe based on my own imagination, it would be a very diverse and inclusive community to live in.” Now, they said, they are working to finish their degree as quickly as possible to avoid future immigration enforcement against Chinese nationals.
In the meantime, they said they have found support from non-Chinese friends at NU, who introduced them to Justice Is Global and to the letter.
“Just know (that) your Chinese friends — and if you know them, you know they are not spies — they’re not trying to make friends with you because they are trying to spy (on) you,” he said.
“We’re just good people who do our research and who care about people we love.”
s.sivaraman@dailynorthwestern.com
Council Executive Director Jennifer Walling, spoke to the necessity of combating the Trump administration’s attempt to “decimate historic climate progress.”
Throughout the rally, speakers were imbued with a sense of immediacy that Cuebas echoed.
“When we’re talking about the environment, we’re talking about the future, but we’re also talking about the now,” Cuebas said. “Transportation and environmental justice is urgent. It can’t wait.”
s.baker@dailynorthwestern.com
Chase drive-in.
“It’s a lot easier to do development over four parcels if all the owners are aligned on the same project,” Perman said.
While Kelly maintains her concerns, she said she was “pleased” with the developer’s responsiveness to her suggestions. The developers expect more feedback from the city in the coming weeks, Perman said. He expects the proposal to appear before the Land Use Commission in June, which will then hold public hearings and issue a recommendation to City Council.”
s.baker@dailynorthwestern.com
Future projects
Facilities will also begin renovations on Bobb and McCulloch Halls this summer, with construction scheduled to take place in two phases through 2027, Blouin said.
“We’re always in a planning phase,” Dizon said. “Those things are really about what is needed in the future to provide students what they need to be successful.”
a.sextou@dailynorthwestern.com
Dalton Hanna/The Daily Northwestern
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
SPORTS
Northwestern falls to UNC in national title game
By HENRY FRIEMAN daily senior staffer @henryfrieman
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Northwestern trudged off the turf Sunday as national runners-up for the second consecutive season after falling 12-8 to North Carolina at Gillette Stadium.
But as coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, graduate student defender Jane Hansen and graduate student goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer addressed the media following the Wildcats’ (19-3, 8-0 Big Ten) national championship loss, they didn’t seem inconsolable.
Yes, there were glum looks on their faces, their eyes downcast. Regardless, an underlying theme manifested within the press conference room: gratitude.
“I came into this game knowing I already won, no matter what the results were,” Sweitzer said. “I knew I was going to leave it all out there. … The results weren’t obviously what we wanted, but I know I won in the end.”
In her final collegiate game, the ’Cats’ netminder turned in one of the best performances of her career.
Sweitzer made a program-record 17 saves against the nation’s best scoring offense, which entered Sunday averaging 17.71 goals per game. The Tar Heels (22-0, 9-0 ACC) only tallied 12 goals on Sweitzer’s cage Sunday.
“It’s all about having fun,” Sweitzer said of how she maintains composure. “At the end of the day, it’s just a game, it’s not that deep. Believe in yourself and know that the results will come.”
For NU, the day began on the right foot. The ’Cats controlled the first draw, and North Carolina midfielder Eliza Osburn immediately picked up a yellow card. But Tar Heel goalkeeper Betty Nelson stood firm in net, making two saves, as NU’s offense failed to cash in on the power play.
Redshirt sophomore attacker Abby LoCascio opened the scoring, firing
home a feed from junior attacker Madison Taylor midway through the first quarter. North Carolina responded quickly with a goal by attacker Chloe Humphrey — her first of four — to tie the game, and took the lead two minutes later. After going up 2-1, the Tar Heels never relinquished their lead.
The North Carolina defense, which coach Jenny Levy described as a “sliding defense,” gave the NU attack fits all game, especially in the first and second quarters.
Taylor, the NCAA’s single-season goals record holder, failed to score in a game for just the third time in her career, though she led NU in points with four assists.
“They came out and just absolutely terrorized Northwestern,” Nelson said of her defense. “So it made it really easy for me to do my job.”
Sophomore attacker Taylor Lapointe finally broke through the North Carolina wall, whipping a sidearm shot past Nelson to snap a nearly-17-minute scoring drought.
Defensively, NU hunkered down, forcing five North Carolina turnovers in the first half. Hansen generated three of her five caused turnovers in the first half, a vintage performance in the final game of her storied six-year ’Cats career.
“Kudos to North Carolina, they’re an incredible offense,” Hansen said. “I’m really proud of our (defense) for stepping up. We made a lot of great plays.”
Still, the Tar Heels continued to pepper Sweitzer with shots. Though she made nine saves through the game’s first 30 minutes, five goals snuck through as the two teams headed into their locker rooms at halftime with North Carolina leading 5-2.
NU gave itself a glimmer of hope shortly into the third quarter. After Sweitzer saved a free-position shot, she connected with senior midfielder Sam Smith, who sprinted the length of the field and found herself on a breakaway. Smith powered a shot past Nelson to trim the deficit to 5-3.
North Carolina responded within a minute as Humphrey picked up her third
goal of the game before scoring again with eight minutes left in the quarter to reclaim a four-goal lead.
Hansen caused her fifth turnover midway through the third frame, setting up junior attacker Lucy Munro to score a goal in transition to make the game 7-4 as the quarter expired. Hansen finished with 49 caused turnovers this season, the nation’s seventh-highest mark.
“(This program) has meant everything to me,” Hansen said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much about myself and about life and I credit (Amonte Hiller) for that a ton. I’m just really grateful for my experience.”
However, a three-goal Tar Heels outburst extended their lead to 10-4 with half a quarter left to play.
Four minutes after Munro scored
WOMEN’S GOLF
her second goal of the game, Hansen punched in her second goal of the season, catching a pass from freshman defender Mary Carroll and finding the back of the net. Hansen, like Sweitzer, capped off her career with a stellar performance.
After missing her junior season with a torn ACL, Hansen rallied back and started every NU matchup in both 2024 and 2025 as a stalwart on the ’Cats’ shotstopping unit. She concluded her career at Gillette Stadium, 30 miles from where it began in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
“These girls and the coaching staff are just so incredibly special,” Hansen said.
“This is an experience that I’ll never forget and I’ll never take for granted.”
Smith and freshman attacker Aditi Foster added goals, but North Carolina pulled away in the final minutes to secure
its fourth national championship in program history.
NU took the field before a record crowd of 14,423 fans, the most to ever attend a women’s lacrosse national championship. Next year, the Final Four and national championship will be on its home turf at Martin Stadium.
The ’Cats made it to the championship game after a fourth-quarter, five-goal comeback and upset over No. 2 Boston College in the semifinal round. The team demonstrated resilience and determination as it found itself in its third straight national title game.
“Just really proud of my team this year,” Amonte Hiller said. “They played with a lot of togetherness, a lot of heart.” h.frieman@dailynorthwestern.com
Lee’s putt clinches ’Cats’ first national championship
By CHARLIE SPUNGIN daily senior staffer @charliespungin
It all came down to one final putt. No. 11-ranked Northwestern and No. 1-ranked Stanford fell deadlocked 2-2 in the national championship. With one hole remaining and the Wildcats one up, a short distance to the 18th hole of Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s golf course in
Carlsbad, California was all that separated NU from winning the program’s first national championship.
It was up to junior Dianna Lee. The San Diego native, who went to high school fewer than 20 miles away from the course, had friends and family watching behind the ropes, awaiting her attempt.
“I knew that making this putt would mean literally everything and would be the biggest accomplishment for our program,”
Lee said. “When I was making that putt, all
I could think was to not have regrets and hit it like I always do.”
With a smooth swing and slow roll, the ball clinked in.
Immediately, Lee fist pumped. She and her teammates ran toward each other to embrace on the green, celebrating their historic triumph. Women’s golf is now the third program in school history to win a national championship.
“It’s just such a blur,” senior Lauryn Nguyen said. “It’s something that you can kind of only dream about experiencing. We were so nervous, but we knew that her putting was amazing, and we knew that she could make it.”
One year earlier, Lee stood in a completely different spot in Carlsbad. She never stepped foot on the green, let alone just a few feet away from the hole, as she spectated her teammates from behind the ropes.
After winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023, Lee fell out of the lineup by the end of her sophomore year. She became the ’Cats’ substitute and sixth player in the lineup, but didn’t play a competitive round as her team finished 11th at the NCAA Championships.
“I think that really motivated her,” coach Emily Fletcher said.
Lee started the 2024-25 campaign blazing, registering three top-25 finishes in the opening month of the season — including a third-place finish with an even-144 at the St. Andrews Links Collegiate.
At the PING/ASU Invitational in March, Lee earned the first individual victory of her collegiate career with a 10-under 206. She shot a 4-under 68 in the latter two rounds.
“She’s an incredible ball-striker,”
Fletcher said. “What we’ve seen for her in relation to her golf game is how much her short game and putting have continued to improve, and that’s probably the biggest difference.”
Lee was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team for her play during the 2024-25 campaign.
Her improved game was on full display in her Southern Californian stomping grounds. In stroke play, the junior finished in 20th place with a 1-over 289.
In the second and third rounds, she shot one under par.
Her efforts helped NU finish third heading into match play, but Lee began feeling under the weather heading into the championship’s next stage.
“Sickness is the last thing you want to deal with in the national championship, but I kind of just really set that aside, kept my head down and told myself that if there’s anything that I need to do, it’s just play as hard as I can,” Lee said.
In the match play quarterfinals against No. 2-ranked Arkansas, Lee dropped her match after bogeying on three of the first four holes. After Nguyen’s heroic win in a 19th-hole play-off, however, the ’Cats advanced to face No. 5-ranked Oregon.
Against the Ducks, Lee moved to NU’s anchor, and ultimately, the contest came down to her. With the match at 2-2, Lee converted a putt on the 18th hole for par, sending the ’Cats to the national championship for the first time since 2017.
“Coming out today and finishing the last point is so special for everyone that’s in the Northwestern community,” an emotional Lee told Golf Channel after the match.
Next up for NU — Stanford, winners
of two of the previous three national championships. The Crimson’s five golfers all finished within the top 25 in stroke play, with four placing in the top 10.
As Lee walked toward the 16th hole, she was just one up on her opponent Andrea Revuelta, having lost each of the last two holes. In that moment, she said, she realized the match would fall into her hands for the second consecutive day.
“By the time I finished up on the 15th green, I could hear all my teammates cheering for me,” Lee said. “And I knew that then, cheering for me meant my match would be the final deciding point. Having their presence for me and rooting for me no matter how my shot went was really encouraging.”
Fletcher stuck by her side for the remainder of the match, and her lead stabilized. Lee and Revuelta both bogeyed on the 16th hole and shot par on the 17th. Lee just needed to tie her opponent one more time on hole 18 to clinch the national championship.
As Fletcher looked at her All-Big Ten golfer, she felt confident.
“She’s really level on the golf course,” Fletcher said. “She doesn’t get too high. She doesn’t get too low. She has great energy, great self-discipline, all of that stuff. Those pieces were already there.”
A year after Lee stood back and watched her teammates in the national championship, her friends told her that she had become “the hometown hero.” “I don’t think there’s anything more special, more extraordinary than having a national title in your own hometown,” Lee said.
c.spungin@dailynorthwestern.com
LACROSSE
Anna Watson/The Daily Northwestern
Graduate student goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer stands tall in the cage during No. 3 Northwestern’s national championship clash with No. 1 North Carolina.
Sweitzer made a program-record 17 saves Sunday, but the Wildcats lost 12-8.
Photo courtesy of Northwestern Athletics
Junior Dianna Lee celebrates with her teammates after sinking the national-championship-winning putt.
