NUGW stages campus work-in
By YONG-YU HUANG daily senior staffer @yong_yuhuang
e doors to the Technological Institute opened Friday to Northwestern University Graduate Workers members in bright yellow shirts on their laptops, as they staged a campus-wide work-in from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
e work-in was the nal day of NUGW’s “Workers Over Deals” Week of Action, which included events like walk-throughs, yering and phonebanking. e week was a response to the Trump administration’s recently pro ered “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” according to thirdyear art history Ph.D. candidate Amanda Alvarez.
e compact asks universities to comply with various points, such as limiting international student enrollment and fostering “a vibrant marketplace of ideas on campus” in exchange for preferential access to federal funds.
Initially o ered to nine universities on Oct. 1, the administration extended the compact to all higher education institutions less than two weeks later. As of Oct. 23, at least 11 universities across the country have refused to sign the current version of the compact, according to Inside Higher Ed.
At a faculty meeting earlier this month, interim President Bienen said he would not take a deal that would sign away the University’s autonomy or First Amendment rights.
Fifth-year chemistry Ph.D. candidate Kristen Becke said she joined the work-in to urge NU to reject the compact, pointing to peer universities that have already done so. She added that she was concerned that Bienen has expressed interest in some sort of deal to facilitate the return of Northwestern’s federal funding.
Becke has seen the loss of funding in the chemistry department, noting that although her group’s grants have not been canceled, some of them have been agged because of DEI statements.
Protestors’ chants projected hopes for a united front against closing schools.
Two-school closure on the table
D65 Board changes course in light of new financial projections
By SIDDARTH SIVARAMAN and JACK BAKER daily senior staffers @sidvaraman / @jdowb2005
“ ese are such vast overreaches of government power,” Alvarez said. “We are basically trying to get people to be aware that if the University signs this, they are signing away their rights.”
“But signing a deal, we’ve already seen, doesn’t really do anything, and it basically just brings the federal government into our university,” Becke said. “Just because we sign this, it doesn’t mean they’re gonna stay away.”
At least 20 NUGW members
model staggered shu erings at its Monday night meeting.
Members call on NU to reject Trump compact » See SCHOOLS , page 9
» See ACTION, page 9
e Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education reached a consensus to explore a two-school closure plan and
The board switched course a er focusing on a three-school closure plan since district administration rst announced closure scenarios at the board’s Sept. 29 meeting. Outlining potential options to reduce the district’s need for $12.1 million in cuts by Fiscal Year 2027, the district’s Structural De cit Reduction Plan consultant, Susan Harkin, recommended the board close two schools to balance enrollment across the district while maintaining exibility for the future. She encouraged the board to continue its commitment to transparency and communication following feedback sessions on the board’s previously preferred three-school scenarios in October. e board is slated to choose one option at its Nov. 17 meeting.
Fountain Square water still shut o
Councilmembers, residents debate repairing the namesake feature
By KAMRAN NIA daily senior staffer @kamran_nia
When Fountain Square was renovated in 2018, the installation of a zero-depth fountain promised to invigorate Evanston’s downtown, as then-Mayor Stephen Hagerty and then-Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) oversaw a festive opening, with dozens of children playing in the heart of the city. But about six years later, the fountain has been shut o longer than it was on. As residents use the space to gather for events, protests and relaxation, some councilmembers and residents are debating the need for a x. Repairs amounting to $2.5 million to x the fountain are part of the city’s proposed 2025 Capital Improvement Plan.
Ald. Shawn Iles (3rd) told e Daily he wants the city to take a closer look at its costs, echoing what he said at an Oct. 13 City Council meeting. At the meeting, Iles suggested that the restoration is unnecessary and costly for taxpayers.
Meanwhile, Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) told e Daily the city should not neglect the project, which she said would improve downtown
vibrancy and quality of life. At the meeting, she said the city owes it to residents to maintain the fountain that cost over $6 million to install.
According to a city spokesperson, the Fountain Square Improvement project’s original contractor, Copenhaver Construction, installed the wrong waterstop, leading to concrete failure in underground channels that collect the fountain’s water. Since then, the city hasn’t been able to operate the fountain due to “excessive water loss.” In 2024, Evanston se led with Copenhaver Construction and Christopher B. Burke Engineering for a total of $800,000. At a September 2024 Council meeting, city engineer Lara Biggs offered several options ranging from $1.4 to $2.5 million to address the waterstop issues, with higherpriced choices presenting as more comprehensive solutions.
Kelly said she impartially surveyed residents about di erent types of fountains in the square — including above-ground options — and heard many positive sentiments, including about seeing children play in the zero-depth fountain.
“ e fountain is at the core of our downtown,” Kelly said. “It’s
The
a symbol of our city’s core of our downtown vitality, and we should be protecting this investment.”
Iles noted that Fountain Square has a racted residents to gather regardless of the water feature, including events like the No Kings protest on Oct. 18, which he a ended. He said new or renovated police and re headquarters are higher on his priority list than other projects in the CIP, like the fountain.
e previous fountain in the plaza was above ground, limiting the area for people to assemble. Iles said it is vital to maintain the space’s ability to act as a gathering place, so
since 2021.
any renovation would have to preserve the zero-depth feature, which is usually more costly than standard water features.
“ e square is really important,” Iles said. “It’s an important gathering place for the community. It serves the community well… Whether the water feature works or not, in a perfect world, if we had an unlimited budget, sure it would be nice if it sprayed water.”
If the city were proposing an entirely new fountain, Kelly said she might not have supported it. Still, given how much it cost to
» See FOUNTAIN, page 7
Clubs regain a erhours shop access
Summer layoffs resulted in loss of 24/7 entry
By NATALIE KIM the daily northwestern
When Baja SAE members tried to access the Ford Prototyping Lab a er hours at the end of the second week of Fall Quarter, their card access was denied, McCormick senior Ryan Kelly said.
Last academic year, the shop was open to any NU student from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, trained students were granted 24/7 a erhours key-card access to speci c spaces, according to Kelly, a Segal Design Institute shop manager and manufacturing lead of Baja SAE.
e change came a er Joe Kuechel, the former operations director of the shop, was laid o in July. He was responsible for handling a er-hours access for club members, according to Kelly.
A er talks between engineering clubs and NU administration, a er-hours shop access was
reinstated Oct. 17, McCormick Prof. Greg Holder eld, the executive director of the Segal Design Institute, con rmed in an email to the Daily.
On July 29, Northwestern announced that NU would reduce the budget a ributable to sta , resulting in layo s — including Kuechel.
“The reaction was pretty immediate,” said Ezra Danzig, a McCormick senior and Segal shop manager. “Why is this suddenly implemented? When will we have access back? Will we have access back? All of these questions were shared among a lot of the clubs. I think the thing to know is, these clubs are a huge part of why people come to McCormick.”
In an email to The Daily, Senior Associate Dean Richard Lueptow wrote that the restructuring of the shop’s support team led to a review of a er-hour access policies by the leadership team. Lueptow wrote the policies were reassessed to ensure student safety, a er which conversations were held with engineering teams
Siddarth Sivaraman/The Daily Northwestern
Kamran Nia/The Daily Northwestern
fountain in Fountain Square has not been turned on
AROUND TOWN
605 Davis secures initial City Council approval
By RUBY DOWLING the daily northwestern @rubywrighto
The development proposal for the building at 605 Davis St. cleared its first hurdle at City Council Monday night.
Introduced with a 5-4 vote, the ordinance would allow for construction of the proposed 29-story, 419-unit mixed-use building, of which 84 residential units — 20% of the total — would qualify as affordable housing under the city’s Inclusionary Housing Program.
The construction proposal came two stories shorter than its previous iteration at the council’s Sept. 29 meeting, after Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) asked for the building to be cut down to “20-something floors.” Monday, Nieuwsma voted yes on the new proposal.
After the narrow vote, the development remains a contentious issue, sparking debate over how effective affordability ordinances are at meeting community needs. Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) and Ald. Matt Rodgers (8th), who opposed the introduction, expressed concern over the proposed number of single-bedroom units. In the approved proposal, 28% of units will have three bedrooms, while 48% will have only one bedroom — a ratio Kelly, Rodgers and some public commenters said could make it harder for families to find affordable housing.
Proponents of the development disagreed, citing the importance of the affordable housing initiative.
“This is something that’s transformative for families, and a family can be one person, two people, a couple,” said Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th), who voted to pass the motion.
Kelly put forth concerns about the tax incentives associated with the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. Because the proposed 605 Davis building meets the limited-time third-tier 20% affordability incentive requirement set by the city’s Affordable Housing Assessment Program, the city would collect reduced property taxes until 30 years after construction.
During discussion, Kelly and Ald. Bobby
Burns (5th) traded arguments over the realworld applications of the inclusionary housing principles in the 605 Davis project. Burns called Kelly’s claim that families larger than two people might occupy studio or one-bedroom units under the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance “really inappropriate.”
“For somebody who claims to understand affordable housing, you should know we need it all,” Burns said. “We don’t just need housing for families — although we need that as well — we need housing for seniors, we need housing for families, we need one bedrooms,
we need studios.”
Kelly proposed amendments to the ordinance to remedy her concerns, initially suggesting an adjustment to the proportion of affordable units so the development only receives a 25% property tax reduction. Her proposed amendment, requiring developers to increase the percentage of affordable units to 30%, failed 7-2, with only Ald. Parielle Davis (7th) offering support.
With the motion to introduce the ordinance passing without amendments, the council will move on to discuss and vote to approve the
development in the following weeks. This is the furthest a proposal for a development on the 605 Davis site has gotten after the city previously considered projects in 2018 and 2020.
“This has been a vacant property for 50 years, but there is some urgency to it, and it’s not just the urgency of the developers,” Ald. Shawn Iles (3rd) said. “There’s a direct correlation between the supply of housing in the community and the number of unhoused in the community.”
rubydowling2028@u.northwestern.edu
Liam Barrett/The Daily Northwestern
Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) expressed strong support for the 605 Davis project, which Council voted to introduce in a 5-4 vote Monday night.
Alum scores with wheelchair basketball
By NASH PHILLIPS the daily northwestern @nash_phillips2
Wheelchair basketball at Northwestern has been a long time in the making, according to Alec Cabacungan (Medill ’24), who recently realized a longtime dream of bringing the sport to his alma mater and is now in the process of starting his own nonpro t. e rst ever wheelchair basketball event was held this past Saturday. Sam Milgrom, who is the director and co-founder of the wheelchair basketball team, has been working to make this team a reality since he rst met Cabacungan ve years ago.
“When (Cabacungan) was a freshman here, I was his advisor for academic accommodations in the classroom at AccessibleNU,” Milgrom said. “I found out that my middle school friend is the head coach at Michigan for the wheelchair basketball program, and I was like, ‘I need to start one,’ so through rec sports and connecting with Alec, we were able to do this.”
e event was one of what the pair hopes will be quarterly pickup games this year. Sta from the Title IX o ce, members of the NU Women’s Club Basketball Team and various other students and community members, many of whom — other than Cabacungan and Milgrom — had no prior experience with the sport, a ended the event.
Despite being traditionally recognized as a sport for those with physical disabilities, the games were open to all. Prior skills and experience with traditional basketball were not needed and largely failed to translate to the new format.
“It’s a lot di erent. I think it takes more skill, honestly, to be able to move in the wheelchair and also shoot, but it’s a lot of fun,” said McCormick senior and member of the Women’s Club Basketball team Amanda Benjamin.
e addition of the wheelchairs seemed to serve as an equalizer for all levels of basketball talent, Milgrom said, aside from Cabacungan, who has been playing the sport since he was 12 years old.
Cabacungan taught everyone in a endance the basic rules of the game as well as how to e ectively maneuver in the wheelchairs. All wheelchairs were donated to NU by the Chicago Skyhawks, a youth wheelchair basketball organization run by the Shirley
Ryan AbilityLab and Chicago Park District.
Cabacungan’s quest to play youth sports years ago propelled him into the wheelchair basketball space.
“(Growing up), I was one of the only students in a wheelchair. I could never play sports, so my mom and I looked everywhere in Chicago for a wheelchair basketball team, and we found that the Chicago Park District had their own wheelchair basketball team,” Cabacungan said. “When I went to Northwestern, there wasn’t an opportunity to continue playing, so it’s really fun to be able to come back as an alumnus and introduce the game to more students.”
As Cabacungan had hoped, more than enough students showed up to stir some competition, most of whom had no prior experience in a wheelchair.
Despite the University’s best e orts, Medill graduate student Kevin Lu said administrators have a ways to go to make NU a fully inclusive and accommodating campus.
“If you think about the school’s accessibility, it’s been doing well, but there’s always room to improve,” Lu said.
“I think this is a really good event for ge ing people without disabled backgrounds to know how hard it is.”
For Benjamin, accessibility in practice has a far greater impact than it does in theory or conversation.
Understanding what can be done to improve accessibility throughout di erent spaces is far di erent than being an active part of the solution, Benjamin explained.
“Being able to try this out gives people who are ablebodied like myself a di erent perspective,” Benjamin said. “I’ve taken classes about it before, so I think I have a general understanding of how to make the world more accessible, but it’s cool to actually be in it and get to try it out.”
For Milgrom and Cabacungan, the end goal is to have a full- edged adaptive sports program. Many schools, like the University of Michigan, have welldeveloped programs that the two are looking to model NU’s a er.
Cabacungan’s work toward accessibility goes much further. He is widely involved in nonpro t advocacy work for those with disabilities.
“I hope to be more of an advocate for wheelchair accessibility,” Cabacungan said. “While I was a student at Northwestern, there were a lot of academic buildings that weren’t wheelchair accessible, but I hope to make a lot of changes not only to Northwestern, but to other people who need more assistance.”
nashphillips2029@u.northwestern.edu
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We are living in extraordinary times for the history of Black people. In these first two and a half decades of the millennium we have seen an unprecedented growth in Black economic power, we have witnessed Black people occupying positions of prestige and influence from national politics to board of corporations to directorships of academic and cultural spaces. These accomplishments have been matched by symbolic and institutional commitments from states and private agencies such as the creation of museums and the launching of new prestigious awards. But these last two and a half decades have also seen the largest wave of Black migration across the globe, mostly from places where conflicts and famine are destroying communities (places like Sudan, Eritrea and Haiti). We have witnessed a surge of Black women mortality during childbirth, a raise of Black women unemployment, an increase on violence against Black women, particularly trans Black women, and a growth in Black women poverty rate across continents. For all that is new about this genocidal violent antiblack moment we find ourselves in, one thing that remains across time and space is the systematic violence and oppression of poor, trans and immigrant Black women by everyone around them, which is only matched in magnitude and awe by their radical resilience. Black women across the globe continuously teach us how survive disaster; how to not fall in the abyss and how to imagine otherwise. In this lecture, Professor García Peña focuses on the lives and work of Black women from across Latin America and Europe, bringing attention to the ways in which migration and anti-immigrant violence affect Black women as well as the multiple movements of resistance they have created and inspired.
Monday, November 3, 2025 • 5:00 p.m.
Harris Hall Room 107 1881 Sheridan Road Northwestern University Reception to follow Free and open to the public No tickets or reservations required For more information, contact Suzette Denose at 847.491.5122 • s-denose@northwestern.edu
Dr. Lorgia García-Peña is a writer, activist and scholar who specializes in Latinx Studies with a focus on Black Latinidades. Her work is concerned with the ways in which antiblackness and xenophobia intersect the Global North producing categories of exclusion that lead to violence and erasure. Through her writing and teaching, Dr. García Peña insists on highlighting the knowledge, cultural, social and political contributions of people who have been silenced from traditional archives.
The Allison Davis Lecture Series is sponsored by Weinberg College and the Edith Kreeger Wolf Endowment.
Photo courtesy of Julie Lucas
Alec Cabacungan, co-founder of Northwestern Wheelchair Basketball, playfully taunts another player at NU’s inaugural wheelchair basketball event.
A&E
arts and entertainment
‘Twelve Angry Jurors’ showcases tense, intimate energy
By YANA JOHNSON daily senior staffer
The Wirtz Center’s Black Box Theater was transformed into a fiercely emotional jury deliberation room Friday and Saturday for the Student Performance Project series’ stellar production of “Twelve Angry Jurors.”
The teleplay, written by Reginald Rose as a television program in 1954, was adapted for the stage in the same year by Sherman L. Sergel. In 1957, it was again adapted for the critically acclaimed film “12 Angry Men.” For this dramatic 65-minute production, the switch from “men” to “jurors” is meant to indicate the casting’s gender flexibility.
This production of “12 Angry Jurors” follows exactly that: 12 jurors positioned around a long wooden table beneath a draped American flag, burdened by the duty of deciding a young man’s fate. The young man, an unseen defendant, infiltrates the show in all ways but physically — the debate over his cultural background, uncertain future and accused crime of patricide defines the
show’s movements and characters.
However, despite the title, the 12 jurors are far more than merely angry. At various points throughout the show, they are self-righteous, despondent and utterly confused. They come close to tears, as Weinberg freshman Josslyn Grover’s elderly Juror #9 does when forced to reckon with her fears of irrelevance.
They debate, often less than civilly, spraying the stage with the spittle of impassioned shouts. Whether they are vulnerable, volatile, bigoted or forgiving, the production’s actors hit each emotional checkpoint flawlessly, balancing intense individual workloads while never competing for depth or attention.
Of the tight ensemble, perhaps the standout is Communication sophomore Eli Hoffer. His performance as the proudly bigoted Juror #10 simmers with loosely contained disdain for almost the play’s entirety.
Hoffer’s third act outburst, in which he affronts nearly every other juror with a tirade of the most vitriolic rhetoric imaginable, was nothing less than incredible. He has either been waiting to spew such language for years or was
able to channel a prejudicial spirit so convincingly, even the most fervent bigots would shudder to watch.
Helming the disgruntled jury is protagonist Juror #8, played by Communication junior Ethan Diaz. While nearly all of the jury begins the play ready to convict the young defendant, Juror #8 acts as the lone voice of dissent towards the young man’s guilt.
When his fellow jurors attempt to sway him with pieces of courtroom evidence, Juror #8 provides, with a Christlike, teetering on smug composition, counter after counter until reasonable doubt finally spreads through the room.
Diaz, who said he hoped to perform “12 Angry Jurors” for years, said Juror #8 was one of the characters he most wanted to play.
“At his core, (Juror #8) is a really calm, goodcentered person who wants to make a difference in the world that he’s in,” Diaz said. “I think I relate to that.”
Diaz captured the pure-hearted, solid gold empathy and understanding of Juror #8. His ferocious intent on compassion anchors both the on-stage performances and the messages the
performances are meant to leave others with. Communication junior Hillary Altes directed the production after seeing it in a class on the importance and methods of negotiation. “12 Angry Jurors” stuck with her, and she elected to bring the production to life due to its “topical” subject matter of criminal justice and implicit biases.
“I’m really hoping that audiences think more about the power dynamics in their lives and maybe how they interact with people around them,” Altes said. “So many people don’t vote, so many people find excuses to get out of jury duty. I feel like we take for granted that these civil liberties exist, and I want to encourage people to take advantage of them.”
“12 Angry Jurors” manages to be both a timeless classic played out on stage and a timely reflection of criminal justice’s deep flaws. While the performances are undeniably strong, it is the messages on honesty, bigotry and anger that will resonate with audiences long after they have exited the theater.
yanajohnson2028@u.northwestern.edu
Wirtz Center’s ‘Doctor De Soto’ inspires new theater talent
By HELENA JOHANNPETER
The Wirtz Center debuted its rendition of “Doctor De Soto” on Thursday as part of Imagine U, the center’s theater for young audiences series. The play showcased humorous rhymes, a 12-foot-tall fox puppet operated by three puppeteers and a heartwarming story.
Based on the book “Doctor De Soto” by William Steig, the play brings familiar illustrations from the picture book to life.
Similar to its source material, the show tells the story of mice dentists — but with the addition of young De Soto, who helps his parents navigate whether or not to treat predator patients.
“(Theater for young audiences) teaches us how to empathize, how to understand other people’s experiences,” said Jamal Howard, the play’s director. “Those things that we need in society, they’re learned even more when we’re younger, as opposed to when we’re older.”
“Doctor De Soto” grapples with themes of discrimination and fear of the unknown in a way that children watching can understand and sympathize with.
Although the young De Soto seems small beside the huge, sassy predator fox and largerthan-life backdrop, he still manages to advocate for change.
Communication sophomore Dylan Mak played young De Soto.
“I hope the kids can take away (the message) ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,’” Mak said. “But
also don’t discriminate off one bad experience. The whole point is, my (character’s) family, my parents, they don’t treat predators (differently) because they’re scared.”
When the fox tries to attack De Soto and his family, De Soto decides to pretend to help the fox — but glues his mouth shut, showcasing his bravery.
For the show’s weekday afternoon performances, students from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 elementary schools take field trips to the Wirtz Center to watch the show and speak with the actors afterward.
Communication senior Nastia Goddard plays one of the fox puppeteers in the show.
“Since you’re performing for children, you can’t have an ego. You have to be able to be silly, and you also have to have a passion for making
a difference for kids,” Goddard said. “It’s a lot less about being the star and a lot more about being a good human.”
From laughing along with their parents as the sneaky fox screams in pain when he realizes his mouth is glued shut, to covering their eyes in some slightly scary moments — the energy of “Doctor De Soto” captivated children. The play ends on an uplifting note as the dentist family chooses to help all animals no matter what they look like, showing children that they, too, can make a difference.
“I honestly believe that theater for young audiences will save the world,” Howard said.
“Doctor De Soto” will run in the Wirtz Center until Nov. 2.
helenajohannpeter2029@u.northwestern.edu
Liam Barrett/The Daily Northwestern
Good Neighbours brings grand flare to backyard show
By JOSIE BELFER the daily northwestern
Under string lights and October drizzle, students crowded into a Maple Street backyard Saturday afternoon to dance and sing along to indie rock band Good Neighbours. Local Mojo organized an intimate concert by the band with over 7 million Spotify listeners, which was followed by a student DJ set by Perl. In the corner of an off-campus backyard provided by Lambda Chi Alpha, Local Mojo set up a wooden stage shaded by fall foliage. Onstage, Good Neighbours’ two vocalists were accompanied by a small band featuring a guitarist, drummer and pianist. Some students watched the performance from the house behind, leaning out of balconies and windows.
Local Mojo co-President and Weinberg senior Max Garon called the event a total success. Much communication went into Saturday’s performance, and the concert was mutually beneficial for the British duo, he said.
“Good Neighbours was eager to play a school like Northwestern, where they knew people would bring the energy and show up for a set like theirs,” Garon said. “We were able to put something special together.”
Local Mojo has been hosting events almost every week this quarter, but Garon said it was especially exciting to see the turnout for Good Neighbours with a packed backyard.
From sitting in on Zoom calls and making posters, to hauling equipment and building a stage setup — Garon said the concert required all hands on deck from Local Mojo members.
“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time here at Northwestern,” he said.
Communication junior Audrey Sy, the marketing director for Local Mojo,said she felt more pressure than usual to make the marketing efforts successful, since she was promoting a bigger artist.
Sy echoed Garon, saying it was nice to see people come together for an event she had worked so hard for.
“It was the first time we were working with this really huge international band,” Sy said. “The promotion was honestly fairly simple in the end; the event kind of promoted itself.”
First-year computer science PhD student Zoie Zhao said that while she was waiting for the band to come onstage, she was skeptical of how much she would enjoy the show.
But, Zhao said she quickly lost herself in the music as Good Neighbours encouraged students to squat, jump and wave their hands.
“I like how they had audience engagement activity, and they had us stand up and sit down at different points during the performance,” Zhao said.
Garon said he wanted students to take away that “the sky is the limit” when it comes to putting on music-centered events at NU.
“There’s no end to the possibilities,” Garon said.
“Any artist can come here if you say the right words to them. We need to make sure there is a community around music and people show up to both big artists and to student bands, so that sense of community we felt on Saturday will continue to grow and grow.”
josiebelfer2029@u.northwestern.edu
From Matchas to Labubus: What makes a perfomative NU
By CHELSEA LIM
You can easily recognize one: his shoulder is usually seen with a tote bag that has a Labubu securely attached. In one of his hands, a book on feminist literature — in his other, a matcha. The performative male is making his mark in the world of fashion, one graphic tee at a time.
The style has become nothing short of an iconic look in male fashion — including at Northwestern, where a performative male competition was hosted in Cornelia Lunt Park on Saturday.
There has been a shift in male clothing over the past few years, Weinberg sophomore Jackie Le said. Male clothing used to be about presenting one’s masculinity through clothing like skinny jeans and fitted t-shirts, she said. Now, people’s opinions on what they want men to wear have changed.
“What girl doesn’t want to have a partner that has similar interests to them? We want someone who is well-read in feminist literature and listens to Clairo,”
she said.
Performative male clothing is geared towards appeasing and attracting girls of this generation, focusing on what a straight cis man would wear to seem sensitive, Le said.
For Weinberg senior Jeremy Lee, clothing is considered performative when people are “wearing things that appeal to other people.” Two people can wear the same outfit, but only one of them may be performative depending on the intentions behind it.
Medill sophomore (and five-star Depop user) Carter Chau said he has often been labeled a performative male because of his style, but his intentions of dressing are different from what many people may assume. Fashion is a form of self-expression and a hobby to invest in, Chau said.
“Everything I wear is intentional,” he said. “I wear clothes I like, and if I’m performative, so be it.”
Similarly, Weinberg sophomore Yuri Stahl grew up listening to rock music and was inspired by many band members’ loose clothes. He is often seen with tattoos, baggy jeans, rings, band t-shirts and a pair of Converse shoes, he said.
As a Florida native, tighter clothing never appealed to Stahl in the hot weather. He said he naturally preferred baggier jeans and comfortable t-shirts based on the environment surrounding him.
“I started dressing like this before performative male became a term, and then it became a term,” said Stahl. “I just happened to fall under it.”
The baggy look has transformed into more than a fashion trend. It has also grown into a pop culture and internet sensation that has resulted in many performative male competitions on college campuses and cities around the nation.
These competitions have gained social media traction, further expanding the influence of performative male fashion.
“It’s almost as if they’re isolating a certain type of masculinity in these contests,” said fifth-year performance studies Ph.D. candidate Daisy Matias. “In a lot of ways, they remind me of drag.”
The contests are a way of dramatizing and exaggerating social norms of gender, Matias said.
Often, women are expected to care about fashion and to dress for the male gaze, but the opposite is true
for men, she said. Instead, if a man thinks about fashion, he is considered not masculine, she said.
“To say that men can’t think about aesthetics in this way, or men can’t read feminist theory — it’s kind of policing from an anti-intellectual approach,” Matias said.
Chau has been called out for being a performative male, even when it doesn’t relate to his style. Once, he was called performative by a friend for reading a book for a homework assignment in the library.
Performative is not just about clothes anymore; instead, it’s being used to describe hobbies, he said. Chau said the label does not affect him because he dresses for himself.
Stahl said he never takes the performative male accusations seriously, because his style is authentically him. Young men and boys who are interested in fashion amidst this performative male epidemic shouldn’t feel limited by the labels that other people put, Lee said. “(They should) wear things that (they) want to wear and not care what other people think,” said Lee. chelsealim2028@u.northwestern.edu
‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 2 disappoints, lacks growth
By EMERSON LEGER the daily northwestern
This review contains spoilers.
Season 2 of Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This,” released Thursday, builds on the previous season’s humor while adding new growth and insight to its characters. But the show’s original charm is lost in the latest episode’s twists and turns.
The show picks up a few months after the ending of Season 1, which ends with Noah Roklov’s (Adam Brody) niece Miriam’s (Shiloh Bearman) bat mitzvah party. His love interest, protagonist Joanne (Kristen Bell), tells Noah she cannot convert to Judaism because she doesn’t feel ready to take that next step in their relationship. She leaves the event, but Noah runs after her, and the episode ends with him saying that he wants to be with her no matter what.
Season 2 picks up with Joanne and her sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe), on their relationship podcast, raving about the rabbi and podcast co-host.
But problems quickly arise at a dinner party. Esther Roklov, Noah’s sister-in-law (Jackie Tohn) is jealous of the closeness of her husband, Sasha Roklov, Noah’s brother (Timothy Simons), and Morgan’s relationship, solidifying cracks in the couple’s relationship that were introduced in the first season.
Yet, the writers undermine the development of this plot line by introducing a new love interest for Morgan: her therapist, Dr. Andy (Arian Moayed). It seems a little too on-brand given her insecurities in finding love.
The writers portray a Noah that the audience will not recognize. Rather than confronting his commitment to Judaism and how it affects his relationship, it is frustratingly obvious that the writers ran out of ideas and simplified the plot by taking him out of the running for Head Rabbi, further delaying the conversation about religion.
It also seems like the show writers forgot that Noah initiated the restart to the relationship, knowing Joanne’s uncertainty of converting. In Season 2, he is painted as lacking in communication or investment. Either the writers need to make them break up for good
or have him accept reality.
The hype of Joanne’s middle school friend, Abby (Leighton Meester), entering the show was much larger than her airtime on Episode 5. For how much social media was buzzing, you’d think her character would have added more depth to the show. In actuality, it was cute to see real-life couple Brody and Meester on screen — but that is where the cuteness stops.
One of the season’s better moments is exploring the relationship between Esther and Sasha in depth. It is sad to see them go through hardships and family drama,
but the conflict left me excited to see Esther’s character development if a Season 3 is released.
The final episode is a whirlwind. Instead of spreading out the drama through the previous episodes, viewers are bombarded with breakup after breakup, leaving them wondering where the warm vibes of Season 1 went.
What is ultimately disappointing is the show’s writer’s level of uncreativity at the end. It concludes in the same way as the first season — Noah and Joanne find each other and get back together. The conversion issue is somewhat answered with Joanne’s revelation,
but it is unclear whether she is fully committed. The ending was simply too predictable. Season 2 of “Nobody Wants This” somewhat captured the same humor, charm and irresistible chemistry that made it a hit in the first place. Yet, while there is more depth, the drama feels slow as the season progresses and then rushed in the last episode. With that said, Season 2 proves once again that love conquers all. And, that everybody is rooting for the hot rabbi and relationship podcaster.
emersonleger2029@u.northwestern.edu
Josie Belfer/The Daily Northwestern
Just one year after their debut, Good Neighbours topped rock-alternative charts in 2024.
Illustration by Siri Reddy
The second season of “Nobody Wants This” premiered on Netflix Thursday.
NU alumni unite MENASA through culture event
By ERENY TANIOUS
northwestern
Abu Hoque (SESP and Weinberg ’25) said he recalls struggling to remember the languages he grew up with. After moving to Atlanta from Bangladesh at age seven, his Bengali, Hindi and Urdu stopped growing with him.
“In terms of community in the U.S., I had no one to speak to,” he said.
Feinberg student Ramzy Issa (Weinberg ’23) said that during the pandemic, he felt isolated and missed being around the Palestinian and Chaldean communities that had always surrounded him.
Distance from that community felt heavier, said Issa, when Israel escalated its violence against Palestinians during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the “medical apartheid” in the West Bank through limited access to vaccines, the displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah and settler attacks in farming and rural villages, including Issa’s home village, Taybeh.
To preserve and nurture their communities in Chicago, Hoque and Issa launched Masira this month. Masira is a Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian space that connects people from the MENASA region through periodic cultural events while donating proceeds to the spotlighted region, combining activism and solidarity in an effort to address community-based issues. The organization isn’t confined to a physical location but is people-centered, constantly switching locations for its endeavors.
“In Masira’s core, it’s to bridge people and bring them together to meet in the city of Chicago,” Hoque said. “It’s having dope people meet other dope people.”
Issa said their partnership thrives because of a balance of his “type A” and Hoque’s “type B” skills. Issa’s understanding of organization from his medical background and Hoque’s financial literacy from his investment banking experience create a well-rounded duo that is united in creativity and friendship, they said. Hoque came up with the idea of Masira over a year ago while studying with Issa at the Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center at Northwestern Medicine.
Issa started a dabke dance team, Harakat, at NU in 2022. Dabke is a style of traditional Levantine folk dance. Hoque said he wanted to create a space around the Arabic word “harakat,” meaning movement, and was inspired by Issa’s dance team.
But the name “Harakat,” though personally meaningful to them, did not fully capture their vision, they
said. After studying more than 50 Arabic words, Hoque landed on “Masira,” which means “journey.” They said the name represents not only movement, but people connecting, growing and finding meaning wherever they are, as well.
Masira evolved again after Issa received an espresso machine from Hoque and two mutual friends for his birthday. He refined his recipes and eventually hosted a coffee pop-up in August. Issa and Hoque came to see coffee as a “social lubricant” that could spark community, creativity and connection, as well as an alternative to alcohol, which most people in their community don’t drink.
Coffee brewing, however, wasn’t the only endeavor that shaped Masira.
Hoque also brought fashion to the space. His childhood friend, Faith Kumi, recalled Hoque’s early passion, saying he has been interested in fashion “for as long as she’s known him.”
For Masira’s launch, Hoque designed “Pray for Gaza” T-shirts and Masira tote bags. He said he plans to design more clothing for Masira events.
In early October, at 1278 N. Milwaukee Ave., more than 160 guests across Chicago drank Issa’s Palestinian coffee, listened to an Arabic DJ set and browsed Hoque’s designs.
For future events, they said they plan to spotlight other regions, starting with Sudan. Each spotlight, they said, is a chance to learn about a new culture and create unity and impact across borders.
The initial launch raised $4,025 for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Raising funds is not the only form of activism Hoque and Issa said they aim for.
“Regardless of how educated a person is, bias and ignorance when it comes to human rights come from a lack of friendship,” Hoque said. “If people had a Muslim friend, there would be less Islamophobia. If people had a Jewish friend, there would be less antisemitism. If people had a gay friend, there would be less homophobia. Aspects of friendship and community bridge hatred and gaps within the broader places we live in.”
Issa simplified the duo’s activism further and said cultural practices and community are a way to actively defy oppressors.
He said celebrating culture and being “joyful and smiling amidst the hardship” that they experience is important.
“It’s defying the colonizer who wants us to always be oppressed and sad by taking our life away,” Issa said.
Showcasing cultures accurately in a way that respects and uplifts culture itself, Hoque said, is the
most difficult part for him. He said he strives to get a crowd to genuinely care and learn about the culture being highlighted.
“Those things are the parts that I struggle with because we only represent two identities within this region,” Hoque said.
Issa said bringing their “amazing” ideas to life is another challenge.
“What is feasible? What is realistic? How do we tackle it?” Issa said.
Sudanese American Faris Haghmad (SESP and Weinberg ’25) attended the launch event as both a friend and spectator.
He said it is difficult to make connections as a postgrad without an easily accessible campus community and appreciates the atmosphere Masira provides.
“I appreciate providing people a space to be their outlet of cultural expression, where they might not have it elsewhere in their life,” Haghmad said. “I appreciate the fact that it’s such a broad range of cultures with so many intricacies and details being uplifted. That safe space for culture and our everyday life is just really, really important.”
Issa and Hoque said Masira is special because the space prioritizes people who share their cultures and backgrounds over profits and brands. The founders said they wanted to prioritize people who value MENASA culture and community the way they do.
They said Masira felt selfish, in a way, with it being a space for them to explore their evolving identity while connecting with “cool people.”
“In terms of branding, I’m trying to solidify who we are. I’m always changing who we are to be and who I am to be, and this is something that evolves with me,” Hoque said. “Masira was meant for me to experiment (with) what I love doing and see what sticks with me, and with Ramzy (Issa) and the community.”
In the future, Hoque and Issa said they hope to expand their journey even more, possibly through a MENASA publication, unique fashion, insightful art, a coffee clubbing scene and more. They imagine Masira evolving into a lasting network with endeavors that grow with the community, they said.
“I just want to continue to be a safe space for people to continue to grow, a safe space where we continue to foster a way for people to come together,” Issa said. Issa and Hoque reflected that what began as two friends searching for connection became a living reminder of the culture and tradition that can be created in relation to others.
To them, the connection Masira provides is important on a personal level and for society.
“Existence is resistance,” Issa said. “Joy amidst hardship is resistance. Remembrance is resistance.”
erenytanious@u.northwestern.edu
Photo courtesy of Laila Yakubu
At Masira, a new Chicago cultural space, attendees connected over homemade coffee and MENASA culture.
The Daily Northwestern
Welsh madness is upon us
Northwestern basketball is back! With the men’s and women’s programs each nearing the start of their regular seasons, The Daily’s sports desk got together to preview the next five months of hardwood action. In addition to two prediction roundtables, our staff gathered new insights from coaches Chris Collins and Joe McKeown — with Collins embarking on a fresh era after inking a new contract and
McKeown entering his final season of a historic tenure. I am grateful to all the writers who contributed and extend a special thanks to former NU basketball player Keenan Fitzmorris who provided his thoughts for the men’s roundtable. It won’t be long before WelshRyan Arena is buzzing again.
-Eli Kronenberg, Sports Editor
With fresh blood in the facility, ’Cats usher in new era
What is the biggest storyline of the upcoming season?
Anna Watson: Which new pieces will support Nick Martinelli?
Martinelli, a senior forward, is more than talented enough to lead this team. But relying only on him is not a sustainable recipe for success — as we saw last season when the ’Cats lost both Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach to season-ending injuries. There are plenty of pieces on the roster to provide a spark, whether it be freshmen, transfers or returning players. Who will provide the bulk of that remains to be seen. Coach Chris Collins and his staff have to be encouraged by what they saw from Singleton, but a hefty conference schedule could put the freshman through the wringer.
Audrey Pachuta: Is K.J. Windham really Agent Zero’s second coming?
Midway through the second half of a close game against Iowa last season, then-freshman guard K.J. Windham was on a roll. He’d shown off his ball-handing prowess in the first half and had been shooting the three like his life depended on it. While the comparisons between Windham and NU’s dearly departed all-time scoring leader Boo Buie had long circulated on X, the freshman’s form against Iowa was uncanny. He even employed Buie’s famous “ice in my veins” celebration, pointing to his left arm after one of the threes. After Barnhizer and Leach’s injuries, Windham stepped into the limelight, supplying moments of greatness in the process. To me, despite fresh talent in transfer junior Jayden Reid and gritty performances by now-junior Jordan Clayton to close NU’s previous campaign, Windham is Collins’ pre-ordained point guard. Can he fit the bill?
Eli Kronenberg: A new phase of the Chris Collins era begins Future observers may well look back at this offseason as an inflection point for Collins’ tenure at the helm of ’Cats basketball. With the graduation of program cornerstones Barnhizer, Ty Berry and Matthew Nicholson — in addition to his own son — some wondered whether Collins’ time in Evanston had reached its natural conclusion. Rumors swirled around the vacant Villanova job. Instead, Collins inked a new contract, brought in the most highly-touted transfer haul in program history and cited his “legacy” as a key motivation for staying. With eight new additions giving this team an entirely fresh look, Collins will begin the work of setting up a new era of NU basketball to reach uncharted territory.
Jonah McClure: Can the ’Cats play with the upper echelon of the Big Ten?
Seven teams from the Big Ten are listed in the top 20 of 247Sports’s 2025 Transfer Team Rankings. Michigan, Iowa and UCLA boast five-star transfers. We are living in the era of the transfer portal, where touted programs grow stronger and the rest of the country, NU included, is forced to get crafty with its rosters, as Kamran will touch on. The ’Cats brought in transfers at three positions, but in order to keep up with the top programs in the conference, these players will have to surpass expectations. The question will be if Collins can utilize the strengths of his players and outcoach his talented opposition.
Kamran Nia: How NU will play with a deeper rotation In recent years, NU has focused on slowing the game down, relying on its stars to thrive in half-court offense. But with eight new additions, the ’Cats have plenty of depth to mix up their lineups depending on their opponent, extending their rotation to 10 players. How Collins manages the nuances of a deeper team and how the players mesh together is a storyline to follow.
Keenan Fitzmorris: Bringing the team together in a new era of college basketball In a time in which roster turnover is at an all-time high across college basketball, togetherness and cohesion have become more rare. Yet, they’re fully within reach for teams that choose to play with joy and a genuine desire to lift one another up. This year’s team has lots of talented players who can contribute in different ways. Talent matters, but how you play together matters most. Playing with enthusiasm, unselfishness and care for one’s teammates is a choice, which can be committed to every day. In an era in which every team has many new players each year, you just have to be more cohesive than the other team. Last year, Nick Martinelli’s encouragement and genuine care for his teammates uplifted myself and our team. My biggest storyline is how this group can tap into that same teamfirst, enthusiastic energy that Nick exemplifies in order to achieve success.
Which of NU’s eight new additions are you most excited to watch?
Anna: Jayden Reid
The addition of Reid means that NU has its point guard. His passing ability coupled with his shooting prowess from beyond the arc can add a lot to the ’Cats’ offense. Reid played his first two seasons of college ball at South Florida, where he made the AAC All-Freshman Team in his first season. Last season, Reid attempted 5.1 three-point shots per game and converted at a 35.8% clip, a better mark than any of the ’Cats’ returners. Reid should also be effective in opening up the offense and getting the ball in Martinelli’s hands. Collins told reporters that he expects Reid to see action in an NU uniform for the first time in the exhibition against Illinois State.
Audrey: Tre Singleton
Coming to NU as Collins’ highest-ranked grab in the modern recruiting era, it would be hard not to talk about what Singleton could bring to the table. Ranked the No. 4 player in Indiana, Singleton led his high school team to its first state championship since 1993, tallying 26 points, five rebounds and four assists in the title game. One of three newcomers to contribute double-digit scoring in NU’s exhibition loss to Iowa State, the freshman forward made his presence immediately felt. Collins wasn’t shy about his early confidence in Singleton, slotting him among the starting five for his first appearance in purple.
Eli: Max Green
With the loss of his three-point specialist Berry, Collins moved quickly to address NU’s shooting needs by bringing in Green. The transfer from Holy Cross is unafraid to pull up from way behind the three-point line, already showing off his impressive range with two deep triples in the ’Cats’ exhibition defeat to Iowa State. Green won Patriot League Freshman of the Year last season, shooting 38% from beyond the arc on 5.9 attempts per game. The most exciting part? Green has three years of eligibility remaining, meaning NU fans can look forward to his long-range sniping for seasons to come.
Jonah: Jake West
West, a freshman recruit from Philadelphia, is a three-star prospect who was ranked as the No. 5 player in his class from the state of Pennsylvania. He is a 6’3, 170-lb combo guard, and recruiters highlight his dribbling abilities and versatility as an off-the-dribble and stand-still shooter. For a roster that lacked consistency at the guard position in Year 1 post-Boo Buie, West provides another rotational option for Collins. His smaller build serves him well as a part of this roster’s taller core, and West’s consistent fundamentals could help him carve out a role in a guard room with no clear leader.
Kamran: Arrinten Page
Page, a junior transfer from Cincinnati, is joining his third school in as many seasons, having failed to crack the rotation at either of his previous stops. But the 6-foot-11 center and former four-star prospect offers intrigue because of his motor and versatility, which Collins praised when NU announced his commitment. Page flashed his talents when he logged six rebounds and five blocks in 15 minutes against Nicholls early last season, but he averaged just nine
minutes the entire year. With the departures of Nicholson, Fitzmorris and Luke Hunger, frontcourt space should be open for the transfer to make an impact.
Keenan: Phoenix Gill
Gill is one of the newcomers I’m most excited about. He averaged nearly 20 points per game last year and can score at all three levels, but what stands out is his hunger and humility. Following the example of his father, former NBA veteran Kendall Gill, he competes on both ends and defends with pride. I can see him making an immediate impact defensively and bringing toughness and confidence to the team, especially as he continues to work hard and bring a hunger to practice each day.
Which returning player is most likely to break out?
Anna: Angelo Ciaravino
Collins raved about Ciaravino after the Iowa State exhibition, and it’s not hard to see why. Collins said that the sophomore guard was one of two players that had the best preseason and that he has put a lot of time in the weight room to battle through physical situations, putting on 15 pounds of muscle. Last season, Ciaravino appeared in 31 games and had a seven-game stretch of starts beginning in mid-January, but his production and usage tailed off at the end of the season. If Sunday is a sign of things to come, Ciaravino has a chance to play even more impactful minutes in his second year. He shot 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, somewhere the ’Cats struggled last year, and looked sound on defense.
Audrey: Jordan Clayton
If you would have told me at any point during the 2023-24 season that I’d be predicting Clayton to make a positive dent in NU’s rotation, I would have laughed. In fact, I would have bet good money he would’ve transferred by now. But I’m not ashamed to say: I was wrong. When Barnhizer and Leach went down with season-ending injuries, Clayton stepped up, sacrificing what was meant to be a redshirt campaign. Once an unreliable position player who shot just 17.4% from the field during his first year at NU, Clayton has come into his own. Look no further than his two gutsy double-digit scoring performances during the Big Ten Tournament last season. The junior played 34 minutes and led the team in assists in its exhibition against Iowa State. Presumably he won’t be starting this season, but expect his recent ascension to carry into a fresh slate.
Eli: K.J. Windham
Windham struggled to adapt to the pace of Big Ten basketball early last season, but after Leach exited the fold, Collins had no choice but to give Windham the keys. The Indianapolis native answered the call, embarking on a dominant stretch late on which gave ’Cats fans reason to believe. Windham has some of the best handles in the conference, can knock down threes with ease and even demonstrated some trickery in NU’s Big Ten Tournament win over Minnesota by sinking a shot while hovering on the wrong side of the baseline. This could be his year.
Jonah: Clayton
Clayton chose to burn his redshirt after Leach went down for the year with a torn ACL. He played and started in 10 games last season, averaging a modest 4.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20.7 minutes per game. Two of his best performances came in the Big Ten Tournament, when he tallied 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals across two games. Clayton will look to carve out a role alongside Jayden Reid and K.J. Windham.
Kamran: Windham
Windham emerged late last season after playing a modest role early in the season, flashing impressive two-way play in statement performances. Stepping up after seasonending injuries to Barnhizer and Leach, Windham broke onto the scene with a 20-point performance in a February 81-75 loss to Oregon. He averaged 11.6 points at a 42% clip in 25.9 minutes per game in the final nine contests of the season. After offering a glimpse of his talents last winter, Windham could emerge this fall following an offseason of development.
Keenan: Justin Mullins
I’m very excited to watch Justin Mullins this year. Last season, I saw firsthand how he embodies qualities every player should strive for: humility, work ethic, toughness, consistency and a team-first mentality. Justin doesn’t seek attention. Instead, he just works, stays ready and makes winning plays. His ability to defend multiple positions and finish at the rim at an elite level reflects his strong work ethic. His mindset uplifts the team and sets a standard for others. Get your popcorn ready when Justin’s on the court.
» See ROUNDTABLE , page 10
Daily file photo by Henry Frieman
This roundtable features a guest contribution from former NU center Keenan Fitzmorris.
McKeown optimistic ahead of his final season at Northwestern
By AUDREY PACHUTA daily senior staffer @audreypachuta
A week out from the final seasonopener of a coaching career that has spanned more than four decades, coach Joe McKeown is relishing in the mundane.
As his team finished up a Tuesday practice, he fist-bumped every player he passed, cracked jokes about how tired they looked after a conditioning session and cheered on some of his assistant coaches as they fired off shots on an empty court.
But aside from an added sense of nostalgia as his tenure nears its end, McKeown said he’s focused on one thing and one thing only: righting his program’s ship.
“I think we’ve paid our dues,” McKeown said Tuesday. “The last couple years have been hard, but I feel like this team is ready.”
Though the Wildcats have won less than a third of their contests over their last three seasons, McKeown said he’s still not used to losing. Before coming to NU in 2008, he’d never coached a team to a sub-.500 season.
Now, excited by both fresh talent and
the offseason progression of some of his returning players, McKeown is confident that his final year in Evanston could bring back his historically winning ways.
Among NU’s newcomers is graduate student transfer guard Tate Lash (formerly Walters), who previously spent five years at Furman. While Lash arrived on campus for the first time back in June, McKeown said it feels like she’s been with the program for years since she’s gelled with the team so well.
“She’s been everything advertised plus,” he said.
Last season, Lash averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists with the Paladins, but said she was looking for a “new chapter” as she entered her final year of collegiate eligibility.
For her, the choice to come to NU was an easy one, given the University’s high academic standards and the fact that members of her inner circle called it “the Furman of the Big Ten.”
Plus, as a veteran player, she liked the idea of playing for a longtime coach in his final season.
“He’s got a few white hairs to show for that wisdom,” Lash said. “It’s a blessing and an honor to be around someone who has taken in so much of the game like
What is the biggest storyline of the upcoming season?
Andrew Little: Replacing Caileigh Walsh and Melannie Daley’s production
In recent seasons, the Wildcats leaned on Walsh and Daley as the team’s top scorers, as their veteran presence provided stability on offense. Senior forward Grace Sullivan is expected to assume a larger role after scoring 10.1 points per game in her first year with the ’Cats. Graduate student guard Tate Lash led Furman with 12.5 points per game last year and is another candidate to anchor the offense. Can her scoring translate to the Big Ten? This team could benefit from a fresh start after last year’s 9-18 record, but it remains to be seen who can lead the charge in a new-look lineup.
Audrey Pachuta: Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? Over the last three seasons, the ’Cats have won just eight of their 54 total Big Ten contests. Of those 46 conference losses, 34 have come by double-digit margins. While McKeown’s roster includes six new faces, there’s been no sweeping reform to make the case that this year will be any different. In the wake of the “Caitlin Clark effect” and the addition of powerhouses UCLA and USC last season, the Big Ten has consistently grown into the epitome of collegiate women’s basketball’s renaissance. In recent history, NU has shown that it doesn’t have what it takes to keep up.
Eli Kronenberg: Sammy White’s sport switch
The graduate student spent the previous four years as a mainstay of NU’s powerhouse lacrosse program, winning a national championship in 2023 and reaching the NCAA Tournament final the subsequent two years. White was key to that squad’s success, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors twice. Now, she is trading the Lake Show for the hardwood, joining McKeown’s squad for a final season in Evanston. The 5-foot-6 guard is the ultimate wildcard, having not played high-level basketball for four years, but it would be a remarkable story if she can carve out a role for an NU team in need of a spark.
Maya Heyman: Coach McKeown’s final season
It will be interesting to see how Coach Joe McKeown will fare in his last year coaching at NU. Despite being named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2020 after his team posted a program-record 26 wins that season, McKeown’s squad has struggled the past few years, going under .500 the previous three. The team hopes to snap its streak of losing seasons, and McKeown hopes to cement his legacy as the greatest coach in NU women’s basketball history.
Which player is most likely to have a breakout season?
Andrew: Tayla Thomas
The sophomore forward appeared in 20 games in her first season with the ’Cats, backing up Walsh and Taylor Williams. With those two graduating, Thomas is poised for an increased role in NU’s frontcourt. The 2024 top-60 recruit flashed potential as a freshman in limited minutes, logging at least three rebounds in six games. At Big Ten Media Day, McKeown said he expects Thomas to be a “mainstay” in the post alongside Sullivan, a returning starter. It should not be a surprise if Thomas emerges as a staple of the starting lineup.
Audrey: Kat Righeimer
“I don’t know what’s so dang funny to you guys, but one thing I gotta say: I am now gonna give Kat her scholarship,” McKeown told his team on Jan. 27 as the locker room erupted with cheers. At the time, Righeimer had scored her first collegiate points just four days prior, shooting a
that, and I’m just here to soak it all up.”
At 24 years old, Lash has some of her own wisdom to share. She acknowledged that ushering in new leadership during what will be just one season at NU is difficult, but she’s worked to teach her younger teammates by example and allow her actions to speak for themselves.
With large chunks of NU’s previous scoring output — Caileigh Walsh, Taylor Williams and Melannie Daley — having departed the team, Lash would look to take on a greater shooting responsibility as she slots into a new rotation.
In addition to Lash, McKeown said he’s particularly excited about former NU lacrosse player Sammy White and TCU forward DaiJa Turner, who both bring winning experiences to the program.
Though Turner saw limited playing time before transferring, she was rostered on a team that reached the Elite Eight round of March Madness last season, while White won an NCAA National Lacrosse Championship.
“Everyone who’s coming in just exudes winning,” McKeown said.
In addition to his new pieces, McKeown said he’s looking forward to how returners like junior guard Casey Harter and senior forward Grace Sullivan step
up this season.
A key leader on NU’s young roster, Sullivan is the only returning player who averaged double-digit scoring last season.
Last year, the ’Cats were the worst long-range scorers in the Big Ten, prompting McKeown to call his assistant coaches the “best three-point shooters in the gym” in a moment of frustration following a blowout loss to Illinois in January.
On Tuesday, as he watched assistant coach Brittany Johnson sink shot upon shot after practice, he doubled down on the claim, immediately correcting himself and consulting assistant coach Maggie Lyon on his squad’s improvement from beyond the arc.
“It’s changing in a good way, “ Lyon said.
As practice started to wrap up, Athletic Director Mark Jackson wandered in the Trienens Performance Center side door and McKeown was quick to sing his praises.
As a self-proclaimed football enthusiast who stood on the sideline during the ’Cats’ most recent home game against Purdue, McKeown said he’s glad to see the work Jackson has done across all
Another dreary campaign on the horizon?
perfect 3-of-3 from the field when her number was called against Illinois. She hit her season-highs in minutes, points, rebounds and assists in that contest, and she saw little action through the remainder of the season. But as I watched her in practice Tuesday, it seemed to me like she’s found her form in the offseason. The sophomore guard exuded confidence, guiding and cheering on some of her freshman counterparts as the team scrimmaged. I’m willing to hedge my bets on anyone formerly coached by Kobe Bryant, which Righeimer was until his death in 2020.
Eli: Casey Harter
It might seem silly to categorize NU’s minutes leader last season as a breakout contender, but the ’Cats will need Harter to turn her early-career promise into consistent scoring this season. The Harleysville, Pennsylvania native averaged 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season in 34.4 minutes. Harter was NU’s most reliable three-point shooter, connecting on 35.9% of her threes on 2.9 attempts per game. With the team’s top scorers, Walsh and Daley both moving on, it’s Harter’s time to take up a larger role in the offense and increase her shooting volume.
Maya: Xamiya Walton
As a freshman, Walton made a statement. Now, with a year of experience under her belt, she has the opportunity to make even more of an impact. Appearing in all 27 games her first season, Walton showed flashes as a three-point shooter. With the graduation of Daley and Kyla Jones, Walton will likely see more playing time this season, and with her ability to shoot from beyond the arc, she could be a game-changer on the court this season.
Which x-factor quality will make or break NU’s season?
Andrew: Can the ’Cats improve their shooting efficiency? The three-point line has never been a key component of McKeown’s recipe for success, but NU cannot afford to be the Big Ten’s worst shooting team again. At 28.6%, the ’Cats were the only team in the conference below a 30% threepoint percentage last year. They also shot 66.9% from the free-throw line, the second-lowest rate in the Big Ten. If McKeown’s squad cannot lean on its post play as much as recent years without two of last season’s top scorers, Walsh and Williams, it has to pose a larger threat beyond the arc. Returners in the backcourt like Harter and Walton could provide just that.
Audrey: Will transfers make a dent for the second year in a row?
Amid a near repetition of a dismal 2023-24 campaign, transfer forwards Williams and Sullivan provided flashes of hope for an NU squad that struggled to find its footing last season. McKeown added former Furman guard Tate Lash and TCU forward DaiJa Turner this offseason. He’s excited about them. Last year, Lash averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in her fifth campaign with the Paladins. While Turner saw significantly less playing time on a TCU squad that competed in the Elite Eight round of March Madness, McKeown said he’s excited for the wisdom
facets of NU Athletics.
While McKeown said he’s been thrilled to see the success coach David Braun has had this year, his support of the football program didn’t start there. He used to joke with former coach Pat Fitzgerald that he’d like to be his offensive coordinator.
But, aside from his own football fandom, McKeown said he’s been impressed by Jackson’s handling of both men’s and women’s basketball. Having come from what’s historically been a basketball-focused school in Villanova, Jackson has exceeded the veteran coach’s expectations. McKeown said both he and coach Chris Collins have reaped the benefits of Jackson’s presence at NU.
While McKeown is grateful for the administrative support for his program, to him, the biggest factor in leading a successful team is simple: loyalty.
“You just gotta trust each other,” McKeown said. “You gotta trust each other as players, you gotta trust each other as staff and we’re just really excited about the way this group has responded to the challenges we’re putting out there.”
audreypachuta2027@u.northwestern.edu
she brings to NU, having experienced a winning culture at her former school.
Eli: Can the freshman class hit the ground running? McKeown turned overseas for his recruitment this cycle, bringing in an intriguing pair of Spaniards — freshman guard Amparo López and freshman forward Sandra Moreno. The international duo joins Staten Island native, freshman guard Angelina Hodgens in NU’s 2025 recruiting class, which will need to contribute early if the ’Cats hope to arrest their three-year malaise. The returning talent on this roster has largely yet to make a winning impact in the Big Ten, meaning there should be ample opportunities for any of the three to carve out significant minutes if they make an impression in practice.
Maya: Can the ’Cats maintain a lead and stay strong defensively in the fourth quarter?
The ability to perform in critical moments could make all the difference for the ’Cats this year. Their lack of ability to capitalize on leads cost the team significantly last year. The game against Michigan was a key example where the ’Cats had a lead going into the fourth quarter but were unable to pull out the win. Figuring out that fourth quarter could turn the tide this year, as NU needs to remain consistent with its strong defense throughout the entirety of the game.
Record prediction
Andrew: 11-18 (4-14 Big Ten)
The ’Cats hope to conjure up some farewell tour magic in McKeown’s 40th and final season. They open the year with a manageable non-conference schedule. Missouri, Kansas, DePaul and Utah are vulnerable Power Five opponents, while frisky mid-majors Cleveland State and Abilene Christian also present early-season tests. NU’s Big Ten schedule gets challenging right away, facing Ohio State, Washington and No. 25 Iowa early, along with home bouts with No. 3 UCLA, No. 13 Michigan and No. 18 USC. Reliable scoring from Sullivan and a veteran backcourt raise this team’s floor, but a challenging Big Ten field makes an overall .500 record difficult to reach.
Audrey: 8-21 (2-16 Big Ten)
The ’Cats ended their 2024-25 campaign with a 9-20 record, including two forfeits incurred after they didn’t travel to Los Angeles to face UCLA and USC amid wildfires. Having spent two years as one of The Daily’s women’s basketball beat writers, I’m not convinced that this team is on any sort of upward trajectory. At the tail end of an illustrious coaching career that has spanned more than four decades and featured 777 wins, I’d be unbelievably surprised if McKeown retires with a winning record in his final season.
Eli: 9-20 (3-15 Big Ten)
NU has compiled an abysmal 8-46 record in Big Ten play over the last three seasons. And that was with Daley’s midrange prowess keeping the team afloat. While I hate to be the purveyor of doom, it’s difficult to see a path out of this rock-bottom era in McKeown’s final season. Sullivan and Lash will provide enough veteran savvy to avoid an even further downhill slump, but the Big Ten is only becoming more daunting as stars flock to the conference. Expect more of the same.
Maya: 10-19 (3-15 Big Ten)
Losing key players in Daley, Walsh and Williams will pose a scoring challenge for the ’Cats as they hope to improve their .310 record from last season. Combined with facing difficult Big Ten opponents like UCLA, who reached the Final Four last season, this year’s schedule will prove a difficult test for McKeown’s coaching prowess in his final season.
Collins expects faster play, deeper rotation in 2025-26 season
By ELI KRONENBERG and KAMRAN NIA the daily northwestern @elikronenberg / @kamran_nia
As Northwestern’s class of eight new faces focuses on learning each other’s tendencies ahead of the 2025-26 season, their veteran teacher on the sidelines is rewriting his syllabus.
After season-ending injuries to their highvolume stars plagued the Wildcats’ previous two seasons, coach Chris Collins told reporters Tuesday he expects to spread the wealth around the squad and lighten the load for his top talents in pursuit of a program-fourth NCAA Tournament appearance.
“I’m a big proponent of, every team is new,” Collins said. “There’s a certain way that I’d love to play, but sometimes your team doesn’t fit that.”
For the past two years, Collins has built an identity around a deliberate half-court offense and imposing defense executed by a shallow, veteran-led rotation. But contrary to popular wisdom, the 13th-year coach dreams of a squad that can open the floor, score quickly in transition and be more unpredictable to opponents in the half-court offense.
While recent squad profiles forced Collins to deviate from that vision, this team appears primed to carry it out.
Collins said he plans to play with roughly a 10-player rotation this season, a deviation from the around eight-man depth that he has relied on in recent years. That shift will come with a learning curve as Collins grapples with the reality of his newfound depth.
“It’s trial and error,” Collins said. “Even subbing the other day, I came into the game kind of thinking, ‘Okay, what am I going to do? How many guys am I going to bring in early, and how
ROUNDTABLE
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does that work when I take the first guys out?’”
Collins referenced last year’s Big Ten regularseason champions, Michigan State, as a model for his squad. The Spartans ran a fluid 10-man rotation that evolved night to night, with seven players averaging 7-to-13 points per game.
While NU might carry similar depth, it also comes into the season with a clear No. 1 option in Martinelli, who led the Big Ten in scoring last season with 20.5 points per game. However, he also topped the conference in minutes with 37.6 per game, rarely leaving the floor in the critical home stretch of NU’s schedule.
This season, Collins wants to give Martinelli more time to breathe.
“I really would want him in the low 30s,” Collins said of his talisman’s minute share. “He was in the high 30s last year. I think Nick in the low 30s is going to be at his best to be able to finish games.”
Surrounding Martinelli is a motley crew of new additions, including five freshmen and three players from the transfer portal.
Perhaps the prized possession among Collins’ recruits is freshman forward Tre Singleton, who debuted in Sunday’s exhibition defeat to Iowa State, flashing lethal inside-the-arc scoring in a 14-point effort.
After the contest, Collins mentioned the Jeffersonville, Indiana, native in the same breath as the prolific Martinelli as he discussed his rotation plans.
“I know Nick’s gonna be out there a lot, and I know Tre is probably gonna be out there a lot, but those other guys, it depends who’s playing well,” Collins said.
NU’s three transfer additions — junior center Arrinten Page, junior guard Jayden Reid and sophomore guard Max Green — could each play crucial roles in executing Collins’ refreshed playing style.
Which x-factor quality will make or break NU’s season?
Anna: Staying healthy down the stretch
Last year, it was Leach and Barnhizer. The year before it was Nicholson and Berry. The season-ending injury bug has dug its roots deep into the Wildcat basketball program and done its damage. Inevitably, any team will have its problems with injuries during a long and strenuous season. NU’s deeper rotation this season could provide some relief and break the trend. The ’Cats will need any shred of consistency they can get with their fresh look, but an injury to a key player for another season can throw a wrench in those plans.
Audrey: Owning the glass
Though former center Nicholson showed flashes of greatness throughout his career, he, alongside the ’Cats’ other recently departed bigs in Fitzmorris and Hunger, left much to be desired on the glass. With all three players no longer with the team, NU’s play in the paint will see a dramatic shift. Collins has proved his ability to recruit dominant guards, both out of high school and in the transfer portal. This season, as Page and freshman center Cade Bennerman enter the fray, ’Cats fans will get a glimpse of how the team carves a new identity without Nicholson. Though Collins lacks depth at center, he hopes to make up for it in the size of his power forwards: Martinelli, Singleton and freshman forward Tyler Kropp.
Eli: Arrinten Page’s defensive motor Page’s physical style of play, rim-protection and ability to space the floor make him an intriguing prospect. With Bennerman not featuring at all in NU’s exhibition at Iowa State, Page appears to own sole possession of the starting five role. Yet, in his two seasons at USC and Cincinnati, Page never averaged more than 10.7 minutes per game. Page’s role will far exceed that this season, and Collins will need him to maintain his intensity level late in games and stay out of foul trouble. If he can’t, NU might falter as its small-ball lineups fail to contain the Big Ten’s punishing frontcourts.
Jonah: Consistency from beyond the arc Last season, the ’Cats went 7-1 when shooting over 40% on three-pointers, and 10-15 when shooting 40% or worse. Though this goal isn’t necessarily attainable on a game-bygame basis, NU will need to improve from downtown if it plans on establishing itself as a threat in the conference. The ’Cats will likely lean on Green (38% on 5.9 attempts per game) and Reid (35.8% on 5.1 attempts) to take over the Ty Berry role in this offense. Windham could complement this duo after progressing throughout his freshman year, as he shot 39.5% from three on 4.8 attempts in his final nine games.
Page, filling the void left behind by the departure of five-year stalwart Matt Nicholson, figures to provide improved versatility to NU’s frontcourt. The 6-foot-11 Cincinnati transfer scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and swatted two blocks, displaying feistiness in the paint as he got to the free throw line on four occasions.
“He can make a three, he can handle the ball, he can drive it from the perimeter (and) he’s a pretty good passer,” Collins said of Page. “We felt like his skill set was really going to complement Nick well.”
Reid arrived from South Florida after two seasons as the Bulls’ floor general, standing at just 5-foot-10, but bringing electrifying pace to the backcourt. Reid and freshman guard Jake West each missed out on the Iowa State contest with injury, but Collins said during Big Ten Basketball Media Days that he would rely on each to press the ball up the floor at the point guard position.
According to Collins, Reid is probable to play in Wednesday’s exhibition against Illinois State, while West’s timeline is expected to be longer.
Green is a sharpshooter by trade, taking nearly half of his attempts in his freshman season at Holy Cross from beyond the arc and shooting 38%. The La Grange, Kentucky native showed off his range with a deep running three to beat the first-half buzzer against Iowa State.
Green took 11 shots in the exhibition — more than any other Wildcat — and Collins touted his ability to supplement Martinelli’s scoring.
“The preseason has shown we have more players that can get out there (than last year), but I think as we get in the game, the biggest thing that I’ve stressed to our team is that (on any) night, we’ve got to be okay with the group that’s playing well,” Collins said.
Arguably, NU’s biggest positional concern comes at center, which only Page and freshman
Kamran: Offensive production
With a deeper rotation and possibly a faster-than-usual style of play, the ’Cats will need more from their offense to match many Big Ten teams. Previously, NU might have been able to rely on top-notch defense to edge past opponents. But in 2025, it likely won’t be able to rely primarily on Martinelli’s production to outlast the opposition.
Keenan: Adaptability
The best teams find different ways to win when adversity hits, especially when opponents counter the game plan effectively. NU has a deep roster with many players who can contribute, led by Nick, whose resilience and crafty hook shot set the tone. With immense depth, this team can adjust to opponent game plans, share the ball and create offense in multiple ways. This gives me a lot of confidence in the team this year. If the group leans into playing connected, creative basketball, it becomes tough for opponents to stop. NU has the pieces to succeed, and that adaptability can be the team’s X-factor.
Cade Bennerman — who didn’t feature against Iowa State — can claim as their natural position. Collins said he plans to counter this weakness by playing small-ball lineups featuring freshman forward Tyler Kropp, Martinelli or Singleton at the five.
Kropp impressed when representing Argentina at the FIBA U19 World Cup over the summer, leading the competition in scoring with 21.7 points per game. Standing at 6-foot-9, he came in at center early on at Iowa State and notched four quick points.
Martinelli, meanwhile, said he would have no issues adjusting to a positional change if called upon.
“You’re either a person who can be adaptable, or a person (who) can’t be,” Martinelli said. “Part of being coachable is doing what is asked… If I’m asked to play the center, if I’m asked to sit on the bench, if I’m asked to pass the ball more, which I probably should, then I’m gonna do it.”
Two players who seldom saw the floor Sunday were senior guard Justin Mullins and sophomore guard K.J. Windham, two mainstays of the ’Cats’ late-season starting lineup last year after Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach each suffered season-ending injuries.
Mullins played 12 minutes, while Windham only saw six as junior guard Jordan Clayton ran the point. Yet, Collins said that the minutes distribution in the team’s opening exhibition was not a template for the regular season.
“Tomorrow it could be their night, and some of those other guys that played heavy minutes might be playing 12 minutes or 10 minutes,” Collins said. “We (have) to be okay with that, and we have to use that to our advantage.” elikronenberg2027@u.northwestern.edu kamrannia2027@u.northwestern.edu
Record prediction
Anna: 15-16 (8-12 Big Ten)
This season will show off a new brand of Wildcat basketball. Inevitably, there will be kinks to work through with the loss of key players and the number of new faces expected to contribute. The chunk of nonconference play will provide a forum for the team to really come together and develop, but the Big Ten is a different beast. NU has to go on the road and play in a few very tough environments while hosting games against some of the best teams in the nation. I would expect ups and downs to start in year one of a new era.
Audrey: 20-11 (10-10 Big Ten)
Though I believe NU will struggle to find its new identity and fill the enormously large shoes that Barnhizer left behind, I know better than to doubt the magic of WelshRyan Arena. The way I see it, the ’Cats will reap the benefits of a relatively unchallenging non-conference slate and continue to get the job done in home matchups when Big Ten foes come to town.
Eli: 19-12 (11-9 Big Ten)
Last season, NU sat at 4-11 in Big Ten play with two starters out for the season. When it could have folded, Martinelli canonically guaranteed to the team it would have a winning season, and so it came true. Windham, Clayton and Mullins were thrown into the fire and came out hardened leaders. That experience of facing exceptional adversity will count for a lot when the going gets tough. Add in a jolt of fresh talent, and the ’Cats have plenty going for them. This program has made a habit of defying conventional expert wisdom under Collins’ stewardship. Don’t be surprised if history repeats itself.
Jonah: 20-11 (11-9 Big Ten)
The ’Cats are returning less than half of their scoring from last season, so look for Collins to experiment with the lineup surrounding Martinelli. Significant newcomers and the rise of returning players will lift this team. Singleton and Page will provide the scoring from bigs that NU was lacking last season. Reid, along with year two of Windham, will propel the ’Cats with shooting across the floor. Along with a strong home-court advantage at Welsh-Ryan Arena, be ready for NU to take some names during conference play once this squad develops chemistry.
Kamran: 15-16 (7-13 Big Ten)
With Barnhizer, Leach, Berry and Nicholson all gone, NU has lost a significant chunk of its rotation. Martinelli, the Big Ten’s scoring leader last season, might have to do heavy lifting offensively while hoping the refreshed roster meshes by the time Big Ten play comes around. Six of the ’Cats’ conference opponents are ranked to start the year, including No. 1 Purdue and No. 7 Michigan, so they face a tough road ahead.
Keenan: 31-0 (20-0 Big Ten)
Go ’Cats!
Daily file photo by Henry Frieman
The final Fall Fest
In its last year, Bessie Rhodes community rallies as district faces disarray
By YONG-YU HUANG and CLAIRE COFFEY the daily northwestern @yong_yuhuang
Children darted around the gymnasium, hula hoops in hand, while families ate together in the cafeteria across the hall at Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies’ annual Fall Fest on Saturday. Outside, 5th Ward resident Taylor Carpenter watched her two daughters shout with glee on an inflatable bouncy house. Her eldest just started kindergarten at Bessie Rhodes in August, she said. But, come June, her daughter’s time at the wallto-wall two-way immersion school will come to a close.
Following several community protests to save the school in the spring of 2024, the Evanston/ Skokie School District 65 School Board voted 5-2 to close the school after the 2025-26 school year. Just six months earlier, the district first voted to begin the closure process in a 4-2 vote in January 2024. The district resolution stated that the opening of the new Foster School in the 5th Ward and District 65’s financial constraints made operating Bessie Rhodes “unnecessary, unsuitable, and/or inconvenient.”
Last October, families protested again to keep the seventh and eighth grades open after the district announced their plans to close those classrooms in November of the same school year. The district then reversed its decision in early November, allowing the two grades to remain open under a modified staffing plan. For families who chose to stay at Bessie Rhodes, students are taught by various educators, including the principal and the volleyball coach.
Despite the uncertainty, families, like Carpenter’s, have tried to focus on the present.
Even though her daughter is just two months into the school year, Carpenter has already seen the impact of the school and its TWI program. Since school started in August, she said that her daughter has been conversing more with her grandmother, who exclusively speaks Spanish.
“I sneezed the other day, and she was like,
‘Salud!’” Carpenter said. “It’s actually been a lot, but it’s not overwhelming. She seems to be catching it all, grasping it all and it’s been really cool.”
Carpenter said she’s happy that she made this choice for her daughter, particularly because of the language component, even if it’s just for a year.
Assistant Principal Sarah Antrim-Graf said the school’s focus is on “the excitement of the year” and keeping things positive for students.
“What I’m mostly seeing from parents and students is that they’re all coming together. We know that this is reality. The closings are reality,” AntrimGraf said. “But we also… just see people coming together to make it a really good last year.”
However, the school year has already seen instability. According to PTA Co-President and third grade parent Melissa Rosenzweig, the school experienced “last-minute losses of teachers,” including a “beloved” kindergarten teacher just before the school year started.
These disturbances have been especially concerning for parents, who still expect “a certain amount of stability and continuity” from the school environment, Rosenzweig said.
Eighth Ward resident David Salvador wanted a stable, long-term educational community for his second-grade daughter, making Bessie Rhodes’ then continuous K-8 structure appealing to him.
Salvador has been regularly reminding his daughter to accept that she will be going to the Foster School next year.
“We’re just trying to make it as easy as we can for them,” Salvador said. “Because I know if we were to say nothing and then, down the line, when it’s the end of the school year — tears, all that sadness.”
The Salvador’s have told their daughter to hang out with her friends and appreciate time with her teachers in this last year.
However, the community is now balancing that emotional preparation with new anxieties outside the classroom.
Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area has made some school events “difficult,” with priorities turning to keeping families safe, according to Rosenzweig.
With these considerations, Rosenzweig said,
discussions about Bessie Rhodes’ closure have become something of a privilege. According to her, the question for some families is no longer where their kids will go to school next year, but whether it’s safe to drop them off in the morning.
Saturday’s Fall Fest was no exception. PTA CoPresident Nancy Salvador — David Salvador’s wife — said the event is usually outdoors, but that it was held mostly indoors this year out of safety concerns due to crackdowns from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She added that this year’s event saw decreased attendance, as “not all families were comfortable coming out.”
Although these concerns weighed on attendees, they said they were still determined to hold onto the sense of community that has defined Bessie Rhodes.
For parent Heather Huddleston, that connection extends beyond the classroom, connecting parents as well. It’s rare to find that community as an adult — especially one shared with her children, she said.
Nancy Salvador added that the school’s multilingual resources allow Spanish-speaking families to overcome language barriers that may prevent them from fully engaging in their child’s education at a traditional public school.
Huddleston praised the teachers’ approach to this last year as being “a very positive thing to see.” Seeing that desire to continue teaching is very important for parents, she said. With two children in first and second grade, both of whom will go to the Foster School next year, she said that watching her children grow up in a diverse community was especially meaningful.
“They’re seeing these different cultures meld and where it comes from, and it’s just a beautiful thing that they will carry with them their entire life,” Huddleston said.
That diversity is what drew Huddleston and her family to Bessie Rhodes — and to Evanston.
However, Huddleston finds the current state of District 65 concerning, which makes moving to Evanston less enticing to families.
“If you don’t care about the schools, that’s just where things start to trickle and to fall apart, in my opinion, and make it less desirable overall,”
Huddleston said.
A common frustration among parents is the district’s lack of communication throughout their decision-making process.
“I felt like their minds had been made up from the beginning that they were going to close the school, that they weren’t really listening to us,”
Nancy Salvador said.
For parent Jo Ann Flores-Deter, the Bessie Rhodes closure has felt like a “tornado without a warning.”
Her eldest son was among the cohort of Bessie Rhodes eighth graders who transferred to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School mid-year in the wake of what Flores-Deter describes as the district’s “irresponsible” proposal to cut grade levels during the school year.
Now, she must prepare her kindergarten and fourth grade sons to make the same change.
District 65’s ongoing funding crisis makes preparing for the transition even more uncertain, Flores-Deter said.
Deter already knows which schools she would like to send her sons to next year. However, with schools slated to close during the 2026-2027 academic year, she doesn’t know which schools will be long-term options for her family.
Bessie Rhodes families have the option to continue their TWI education as a cohort at the new Foster School. Parents may also send their children to neighborhood or district magnet schools.
Rising sixth and eighth graders were only informed in March that the schools offering dual language immersion programs during the 2026-2027 school year would be Haven and Nichols Middle Schools.
In recent weeks, the district has seen families rallying to save their schools and the federal indictment of former Superintendent Devon Horton, raising more questions as to how the district has arrived at its current junction of turmoil.
“If all this money that just went away ended up putting this district in the red was under his watch, we should revisit having to close this school,” Salvador said.
y.huang@dailynorthwestern.com clairecoffey2029@u.northwestern.edu
OPINION
Editorial: The Daily stands with The Indiana Daily Student
Printed on the walls of Fisk Hall, home to the Medill School of Journalism, is a quote a ributed to its namesake and Chicago Tribune founder Joseph Medill: “Write boldly and tell the truth fearlessly.”
Last week, the Indiana Daily Student — Indiana University’s largest student publication — announced that former IU Director of Student Media Jim Rodenbush was red by the university and said it would cease distribution of its print paper. Rodenbush had refused to bar editors from running news stories in an upcoming homecoming issue. e planned issue never ran in print as a result.
“I had to make the decision that would allow me to live with myself,” Rodenbush said in the days following.
For adherence to ideals consistent with Joseph Medill’s philosophy and commitment to the spirit of the free press, our friends and colleagues at the IDS have come under a ack from the leaders and institutions they’ve covered for nearly 160 years. is re ects a dangerous trend of editorial pressure in recent years — one we feel threatens the very purpose of the free press in our republic.
It is with deep solemnity and profound sorrow for our industry that e Daily Northwestern Editorial Board condemns the decision to cease production of the IDS’s print issue. We stand with the IDS as it weathers intimidation from those who seek to discredit it and the purpose of the free press in the United States.
Furthermore, we commend our colleagues at Purdue University’s e Exponent, who stocked print boxes across Bloomington with a special edition of their paper last week; the issue carried stories by IDS reporters and editors. e Exponent experienced its
Correa:
My
own bouts with censorship earlier this year — Purdue o cials no longer assist in the distribution of the newspaper’s print issue.
Both universities claimed to be operating under budget constraints. So, too, did Paramount, when it cancelled “ e Late Show” with Stephen Colbert (Communication ’86) earlier this year. It is no secret that the ad revenue models that have supported traditional media for generations are failing us now. But that is precisely why universities must commit to preserving student publications as educational training grounds for the journalists of tomorrow. e Daily is nancially independent from Northwestern — not all student publications get this privilege.
Few get to see student journalists in action. Across this country, sta ers balance their studies with the high-pressure responsibilities that come along with being journalists in today’s fraught landscape. Our reporting sways elections, exposes corruption and makes national news. Somehow, we do so under time and sta constraints that would shock readers.
Highlighting the achievements of students and faculty on campus, college newspapers are reminders of our shared history, community and intellectual project. Likewise, opinion sections — which have piqued the interest of federal o cials over the last year — provide critical platforms for free speech, debate and civil discourse outside of the classroom.
But perhaps most importantly for the functioning of our democratic institutions and the endurance of the free press, these publications are some of the only places where future journalists can learn by doing.
As media evolves, student journalists are tasked with keeping up with and adapting platforms to
Dedication
ARLETTE
CORREA
COLUMNIST
Content warning: is column mentions suicide.
Last week, “Dancing with the Stars” had its Dedication Night. is is only the second season I’ve tuned in for, so I can’t claim to be an original fan of the show. Still, it seems like Dedication Night might be my favorite night every year.
Last fall, Danny Amendola brought me to tears, dedicating his dance to his former college football coach who had recently passed away, but led him to his success. Amendola delivered a breakthrough that night — it was by far his best performance of the season. e choreography, the focus and the song choice of “Unsteady” by X Ambassadors made it unforge able.
“Unsteady” will always be a tear-jerker for me. In my head, it belongs to “Me Before You,” my original heartbreak movie.
e rst time I watched it, I was not a huge fan. I found the lead woman to be too quirky for my liking and ultimately felt like there was not a beautiful romance story worth mourning. I thought their relationship lacked depth. But then I rewatched it
On the steps of Bryant Park, two friends and I gazed up at the 50- oor tower where I spent the majority of my summer and asked ourselves the same question I had asked every morning: at what point do we give up the novelty of our dream careers and se le for something reasonable and sustainable?
Some people preach that you should follow your passions — never do something you don’t enjoy. But some people also have hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt following them a er graduation. I have always been a writer, a creator, a story teller, but this summer the only story I told was that of the numbers being produced at the bank I was working at, Bank of America.
We sat together, our visions blurred from a multitude of factors we couldn’t quite piece together. We questioned whether it was smarter to just submit to corporate America. One of us began speaking.
best serve communities beyond campus. In some cases — take Bloomington, West Lafaye e or Evanston, for example — college newspapers compete with local publications as primary sources for information. While we cannot speak for the IDS and e Exponent, e Daily is privy to engagement from the Evanston community across all desk communications.
Undermining these organizations nancially — through loss in print advertising revenue — or calling into question the loyalties of their faculty advisers violates the essence of free press and democracy in this nation. If we want good journalism in this country, we cannot destroy the foundations upon which journalists build their careers.
e 2025 Medill State of Local News Report found that over 50 million people across this country live in “news deserts,” areas where access to credible news outlets and professional journalists is severely limited or nonexistent. Among the counties with one or fewer credible news outlets is Tippecanoe County, home of Purdue.
Many journalists begin their careers at student newspapers like the IDS, e Exponent and e Daily. ese organizations are where they discover their passions for reporting, pursuing the truth and make a lifelong commitment to telling the right stories — not because they seek fame or favor, but because they recognize journalism as an essential function of free societies.
Early career journalists tend to go where they are needed, starting in faraway places because the kinds of communities they serve do not alter their purpose. A journalist’s calling is absolute — to hold power to account and give voice to the voiceless, no ma er
where it’s needed.
IU administrators may feel con dent now that their nancial arguments will hold in court. But justifying the fact that by their own volition they have betrayed the values that once united Americans around their democratic purpose is a much harder moral case to argue.
When you take aim at student journalists, limit access of reputable news organizations to government facilities and place conditions on the dissemination of dissent, you forever join the ranks of those who show blatant disregard for our democratic institutions and undermine the principles this country was founded on.
e Daily Northwestern remains commi ed to supporting our peers and colleagues across the nation and the world. Future journalists’ commitments to serve the “governed, not the governors,” in the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, will provide the defenses necessary to shepherd our republic into its next 250 years.
e rst change our founders made to their country’s new Constitution was intentional. If they abridged the free press, they were no be er than the tyrants from whom they wrestled freedom. Living up to this is our choice as much as it is yours.
- e Daily Northwestern Editorial Board is piece represents the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of e Daily Northwestern. e views expressed in this piece do not necessarily re ect the views of all sta members or Editorial Board members of e Daily Northwestern. If you would like to respond publicly to this editorial, send a Le er to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com.
Night is more than just a dance
and felt everything the movie was about.
I think I was too young during my rst watch to understand the main character Will’s decision to take his own life through physician-assisted suicide. I didn’t see how much his love interest, Lou, was also su ering as she a empted to show him that life was still worth living. I didn’t understand what his injury stripped from him — his life a erwards was never the same. But I am ge ing sidetracked — “Me Before You” deserves a column of its own. is week, I want to talk about my love of Dedication Night.
Robert Irwin, Andy Richter and Dylan Efron earned this season’s highest praise for giving the audience the heartfelt dances we expect on the themed night.
I don’t even want to pick a favorite between them. Of course, I think Irwin is going to win. But Richter’s upbeat pinky dance with his daughter — as a daughter myself — was beyond sweet to see. And as a sister, Efron’s dance with his baby sister broke my heart.
I thought about these dances all week long, but really, I was thinking about the Stars’ dedications. ey have to be vulnerable and share a side that many have not seen before. ey discuss their family relationships, greatest fears and deepest loves in front of millions of viewers.
It prompted me to think of what I would do if I ever somehow became a star on the show. If I someday became famous by some miracle, I know I wouldn’t hesitate on an o er to join the show.
I can’t dance — as a Latina, it pains me to say that. I could use the lessons.
I also like to think I would get along with the pros and hopefully become best friends with them and any stars on my season, ideally Jake Shane. But most importantly, I would want to progress and dance on Dedication Night.
I have been thinking about what I would share on TV and imagined who I would dedicate my dance to. I’d like to say it’s a di cult decision, but it really isn’t. ere are two things I always say are integral to my being: being Latina and being a sister.
And while I love my heritage, I don’t think I’ll ever love something as much as I love my brothers. If you have siblings, you know they always stick with you. When you argue with your parents, you can rant to them. Even if they are the reason you got in trouble in the rst place, they will eventually feel guilty and apologize.
ey will randomly send you $20 while you are away at boarding school because they are worried you might not have enough money for a co ee. ey will travel across the world to go on your dream trip to Barcelona. While there, they will even do the
boring tours you are so fond of — they will always look a er you. ey will compromise. ey will protect you. ey will be with you every step of the way even when physically apart. Or at least that’s been my experience.
Choosing my brothers for Dedication Night would also mean I get to struggle through a week of dance practices with them. I know these practices would be my favorite of the season. If any of you happen to be the only girl with brothers, you might understand where I am coming from. I hope your brothers mean as much to you as mine mean to me.
I could never imagine a world without them. It would be far too dim and lonely, and that’s why I can answer in a heartbeat that my Dedication Night dance would be for them.
Arle e Correa is a Medill sophomore and author of “Rent Free.” She can be contacted at arle ecorrea2028@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Le er to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. e views expressed in this piece do not necessarily re ect the views of all sta members of e Daily Northwestern.
The Daily Northwestern Volume 146, Issue 7
Editor in Chief
Emily Lichty
Managing Editors Sydney Gaw Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez
We said we’d love to pay o our debts before doing what we’re passionate about. But it’s like we’re paying it o with our lives. Five years for our education. Half our twenties for the education we need to get us to our goals.
We looked up again, seeing o ce lights still ickering at midnight on a Saturday.
I imagine it as our very own g tree. Extending out in front of us were countless opportunities — too many, even. Each g a dream we’d had and a pivot we’d considered.
I remember saying, “Yeah, but think about it. I want to love work, but I also want to love the things I do outside of it — traveling, living well, eating out, visiting friends. It’s a trade o — a good 9-5 or a good 6-9.”
Looking at my friends, some of the smartest, most capable people I know, I grieved the quiet limitations placed on us. We are crushed by debt for wanting to learn, but part of that education is coming to understand that this is a reality we must live within.
One of us pointed to an o ce light le on, vague silhoue es passing through the window.
We guessed that they’re probably really rich up there. Maybe that makes it worth it.
Maybe, but if you’re rich for that long, surrounded
by wealth so much it feels normal — maybe you forget to look around and feel passion. Passion and happiness is learned, isn’t it? What if we dedicate ourselves to that life just to unlearn the passion we had before?
Another friend chimed in.
“It’s a Saturday night, and they’re still here. I bet they have families, passions and things they love. But they’re still here. at doesn’t feel worth it to me.”
We le the steps shortly a er, embarking on our separate journeys on the subway.
I wonder, though: to be or not to be? Is nancial stability worth trading passion? Would I rather be rich and lost or grounded but barely ge ing by?
I’m still writing, so I guess I have made the decision already. Or maybe I’m just stalling — trying to hold onto a version of me who believes she can have both.
Gabriela Hamburger Medailleu is a Medill junior and author of “O the Record.” She can be contacted at gabrielahamburgermedailleu2027@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Le er to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. e views expressed in this piece do not necessarily re ect the views of all sta members of e Daily Northwestern.
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“I have never seen a district engage with its public as much as (District 65) does,” she said. “By providing regular updates on corrective measures and long-term scal strategy, the district can cultivate public trust, safeguard its credit rating and safeguard for future opportunities such as a referendum.”
A capital referendum was one of several revenueraising and cost-cu ing options that community members suggested as alternatives to closing three additional schools with Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, which is set to shu er before the 202627 school year.
e board also received an update to Foster School construction, showing the project on track to return around $3.3 million in savings to the district, according to Kirby Callam, the district’s director of strategic project management. Board Vice President Nichole Pinkard said the board listened to community concerns and acknowledged that the district’s nancial outlook has changed since it last discussed a three-school plan at a special Oct. 14 meeting.
“We have to have the courage and humility to say that we might think di erently now — but not necessarily view that as kowtowing because some members of the community have raised their voices,” she said.
Opdycke, Salem, Pinkard push for staggered closures
Pinkard and board members Maria Opdycke and Omar Salem argued in favor of closing one school, with plans to potentially close another in the future. Pinkard backed the SDRP as a “strong foundation” and stood behind the district administration’s work.
“Because we say we want to slow down or something doesn’t mean that we don’t respect, trust and build on top of what’s there,” she said. “I can say that and also say I think we, as Evanston, can do more.”
With the extra time provided by staggering a second closure, she suggested working with the city, the Foster School community and other local organizations to build “a collective plan.” Pinkard said she felt comfortable focusing closures in the Haven Middle School feeder pa ern because it has the lowest utilization rate — or enrollment as a percentage of total capacity — of any feeder pa ern.
e board asked Assistant Superintendent of Performance Management and Accountability Stacy Beardsley to create a staggered model in which Kingsley Elementary School closes before the 2026-27 school year. District administrators will then evaluate all remaining schools in the Haven Middle School feeder pa ern
— Lincolnwood, Orrington and Willard Elementary Schools — based on the new parameters created by Kingsley’s closure.
Board President Patricia S. Anderson and board members Sergio Hernandez and Mya Wilkins expressed skepticism over staggering school closures. Anderson said a two-school closure plan would provide wiggle room for program placement and student assignments, but phasing closures out would jeopardize teachers’ long-term planning.
“I don’t want to lose the fabulous teachers we have here,” she said. “I also don’t want to move kids twice.”
In its initial scenario creation, district administrators were asked to consider all school closures simultaneously occurring next summer, Pinkard said. Based on scoring criteria created by an SDRP subcommi ee, closing Lincolnwood and Kingsley was judged to be the least impactful two-school closure, along with a scenario that would close Kingsley and Willard. District sta recommended both these scenarios to the board at its Sept. 29 meeting.
Before the board se led on a two-school closure plan, parents expressed concern and pitched alternative solutions to the district’s budget shortfall.
Parents protested outside the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center following a Sunday a ernoon rally in Ackerman Park, where hundreds rallied to “Save Our Schools.”
Despite representing di erent schools, protesters were united in their opposition to school closures, group organizer Katie Armistead said. Washington PTA secretary Lauren Greenwood agreed.
“ ere’s commonality in that everyone wants a neighborhood school that they can be proud of, and we don’t accept the notion that this has to be a zerosum game where we have to pit ourselves against each other,” she said.Beardsley said the administration would re ne the two scenarios, as well as one that would close Orrington and Lincolnwood, before the board’s next meeting on Nov. 3. Salem requested the Orrington and Lincolnwood model, which originally received the same score as the Kingsley and Willard plan, because of his concerns about closing two schools in close proximity to each other.
Senior Data and Research Analyst Chris Koutavas said the administration originally didn’t recommend the Orrington and Lincolnwood scenario because of complications with replacing the Orrington neighborhood school zone in the northeast corner of Evanston.
Pinkard emphasized there was space to nd a creative solution to the district’s problems, a platform she felt the four newest members of the board, herself included, ran on in April.
“I didn’t run just to say that my choice has to just be exactly what was presented in front of me,” Pinkard said.
“It doesn’t have to just be school closings.”
New direction puts Haven feeder pa ern under microscope
As the board moved to a two-school closure plan, schools like Washington, Dawes Elementary School and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School of Literary and Fine Arts largely dropped out of consideration. Parents a liated with those schools made up the bulk — but not all — of opposition to the district’s scenarios.
King Arts PTA President Aarti Desai said the distinction between neighborhood and magnet schools, drawn by some protesters and previous proposals, overlooks the magnet school’s unique strengths.
“What’s ge ing lost in translation is that King Arts is every single neighborhood of Evanston,” Desai said. “ e beauty of King Arts is that it is a choice — it provides an opportunity for a lot of families that need that K-8 se ing, want that K-8 se ing and also a ne arts magnet se ing.”
Desai highlighted the bene ts of the K-8 model, including opportunities for older students to mentor younger peers and reduced drop-o times for parents. While many King Arts families walk their children to school, she said focusing too heavily on walkability disregards the programs that a ract students from across the city.
Bevin Seifert, a parent of a third grader in the Willard TWI strand, said at the Sunday protest that she did not want to switch her child’s school for just two years.
“It’s a real shame because we’ve invested in the program. It’s one strand, but we’re all really close,” she said. “Everybody wants to stay that I’ve talked to, but some people will make the choice to follow it to Foster if that’s the only option.”
e district has not clearly communicated with Willard TWI parents about transportation to Foster, Seifert added.
Per the district’s transportation policy, Spanishspeaking students in TWI can be bused to the nearest TWI program for no cost while English-speaking students can pay up to $600 for busing. Foster would take on TWI programming currently at Bessie Rhodes and become the closest option to the Willard neighborhood zone.
Lincolnwood Structured Teaching Education Program teacher Diana Arreguin underscored the STEP program’s need for administrative support, especially as the board considers closing Lincolnwood, one of three District 65 schools with the specialized programming.
New STEP teachers receive insu cient training, and almost nine weeks into the school year, new educators in the program still haven’t received curriculum and
classroom materials, she added.
“Right now, we’re asking new sta to gure it out as they go, and they’re doing their absolute best, but that is not a sustainable or fair system,” she said. “As we talk about potential school closures, we need to make sure programs like STEP aren’t an a erthought.”
Harkin projects additional nancial levers
Harkin also suggested three methods for reducing the amount the district has to cut in scal year 2027: selling the Bessie Rhodes property, nancing the new Foster School through lease certi cates and investing $1 million or $2.7 million per year on capital expenditures.
Harkin said the suggestion to sell the Bessie Rhodes property came from an SDRP Facilities Commi ee member and was an option she had “forgo en all about.” Harkin projected 13 combinations of the three methods, showing the corresponding amounts the board would have to cut in each of the next ve years.
Lower reductions in Fiscal Year 2027 would force the board to cut more overall, Harkin cautioned — at an extreme, one combination that would cut $4.8 million for 2027 would result in $14.85 million in cuts by 2030.
Multiple board members said they were not comfortable with the district issuing lease certi cates, which would allow investors to receive interest in return for partially nancing Foster School construction. Temporarily reducing capital expenditures, on the other hand, would model discipline from the board, board member Andrew Wymer said.
“ ere’s a number of folk who will vote on a referendum who don’t have children in our district, for whom seeing that nancial discipline will be a very important sign that we’ve changed the board culture here in the district,” he said.
Wymer added that he felt it was very important to name the second school on the chopping block before the board chooses a school closure scenario at its Nov. 17 meeting.
Harkin stressed that the board’s lack of clear “lineitem” goals — as it stalls over big-picture decisions — makes it di cult for herself and district administrators to provide concrete recommendations.
“Part of why we don’t have speci c data is because the net is really wide right now,” she said. “I feel very con dent in modeling estimates, but again, if you change drastically what the parameters around that (are), I can’t do that for you.”
j.baker@dailynorthwestern.com
s.sivaraman@dailynorthwestern.com
Ducks Dan and Dave: Trick or Duck
By omas Hurley
ACTION
From page 1
signed up to participate in the work-in, scattered across campus in Kresge Centennial Hall, University Library, Pancoe Life Sciences Pavilion, Tech and the Chicago campus’ Lurie Atrium, although people also showed up without RSVPs, according to Alvarez.
In Pancoe, third-year interdisciplinary biological sciences Ph.D. student Genevieve Nemeth called the compact’s vague wording concerning.
“There’s so much leeway legally for how they could
FOUNTAIN
From page 1
build and the fact that they recouped settlement dollars, the councilmember is on board.
The cost is not much of an issue for Kelly because downtown businesses support the city through sales tax revenue, so she considers the repairs an investment with returns. Kelly said the fountain could encourage people to come downtown with their kids while also shopping and hanging out.
“We need to, in my opinion, support our small businesses downtown better,” Kelly said. “And I think that’s part of paying attention to our downtown and showing we care downtown and showing we care about it and the downtown vitality.”
Kheir Al-Kodmany, an urban planning and policy professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said
FORD
From page 1
regarding prototyping needs.
“Our student project teams are a critical part of our student life, and we are happy to have worked with them to update our after-hours policies to both meet the needs of our student teams and ensure that all work is done with sufficient safety measures in place,” Lueptow wrote.
By the third week of Fall Quarter, Baja SAE, Formula Racing, NUsolar, NUSTARS and NU Robotics Club sent statements to Holderfield, then to Lueptow. The statements stressed the importance of after-hours access for each club, explaining why it would be harmful to the shop, the school and the student population to take away around-the-clock access.
Danzig added that the shop becomes busier and more dangerous without after-hours access, as clubs must work while other students are using the machines.
“It means machining is going to happen faster, more
incriminate people for saying that you can’t attack conservative views,” Nemeth said. “There’s no real outlining of what that would entail about sharing all information you have about international workers, which obviously is a huge privacy concern.”
Nemeth added that the compact could also threaten the University’s union contract, specifically with regard to issues concerning non-citizen workers and gender identity expression.
Clauses in the union’s contract with the University specify that people can use restrooms “aligned with their gender identity” and that NU-SHIP, the
public spaces are valuable places and fountains make them more attractive. But, for Evanston, the utility of the zero-depth fountain might not outweigh the costs of the fixes.
The professor said that to assess the need for the fountain to operate fully, he would like to see the number of visitors per year, but noted that the fountain is largely unusable for half of the year due to the city’s cold climate.
Al-Kodmany also said that the fountain would only marginally stimulate the downtown economy and would likely be costly to maintain. Instead, scheduling frequent programming around the current setup would likely have a larger impact on the local economy, he said.
Al-Kodmany added that the city should add benches and minimal landscaping to fully convert the space into a fountain-less square at a low cost.
Iles said dozens of people have thanked him for
sloppily, with less care,” Danzig said.
During early October, Lueptow set up meetings with representatives from each of the five teams to understand the importance of the shop to engineering clubs.
A later meeting with Holderfield and the shop managers was held to discuss after-hours access, Kelly said.
McCormick and Segal administration determined that club teams now have after-hours extended access from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week to the lathes, milling machines, CNC machines and laser cutters.
“(The administration) decided to keep the existing solution with a little more oversight, a little bit more documentation, because none of (the administrators) knew what the current policies were because that had all been handled by (Kuechell) before he was laid off this summer, and so with (Kuechell’s) absence, none of administration really knew what the deal was with our team access, with late night access in the shop,” Kelly said.
NU insurance plan, will continue providing genderaffirming care. The union contract also states that the University cannot share student information with the Department of Homeland Security unless legally compelled to do so.
Alvarez warned that the compact could label proPalestinian protests as “pro-terrorism” — a possibility she called “extremely worrisome.”
NUGW is also organizing a letter-writing initiative through Action Network and encouraged all students, including undergraduates, to write to the administration and voice their concerns about the compact,
taking a more scrutinous look at the budget, whereas he has received minimal comments about restoring the fountain. He said it doesn’t make sense for the city to maintain certain taxes on residents — like the 1% municipal grocery tax — while using those funds towards relatively spare projects.
“I don’t want to maintain the 1% tax on groceries and then spend that on a fountain,” Iles said. “That’s just not okay with me.”
9th Ward resident Haris Sofradzija said a fix is “long overdue.” He mentioned that there has historically been a fountain in the center of downtown and that he has been waiting for years for the city to restore it.
Sofradzija said he likes how the fountain serves as a gathering space, especially on warm days when kids play around the water.
Alvarez said.
Third-year psychology Ph.D. student Erin Hugee said she doesn’t want to see this compact affect anyone at either the undergraduate or graduate level. In her opinion, much of the anger and worry stems from a place of care.
“We’re educators, right? We’re all in school. This is what universities are supposed to be for — sharing knowledge,” Hugee said. “We do not want to see the school ruined by this compact.”
y.huang@dailynorthwestern.com
“I see it sort of (as) fulfilling a past obligation to the residents,” Sofradzija said. “So, I think it’s a necessary expense.”
McCormick senior and Baja SAE project manager Lochlan McGinnis said he was satisfied with the hours and agreed with the midnight cut-off, noting that nothing productive would come out of being in the shop after midnight.
However, some students said they felt the effects of losing after-hours access the last few weeks.
“From my perspective, it felt very slow because four weeks is half of our training, usually,” said McCormick sophomore Jillian Tabak, the Baja SAE recruitment and training lead. “I understand in terms of Northwestern’s bureaucracy, that is pretty fast, but in terms of the club speed and how the clubs need to progress, that was slow because we wouldn’t hear an update for a whole week, and we wouldn’t know if we were going to be able to have a training this week.”
Danzig emphasized that Kuechel’s layoff left a communication vacuum between engineering teams, student trainers, shop professionals and NU administration.
Since Kuechel’s layoff was effective immediately,
Victor Pokorny, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern who lives in Chicago’s West Loop, said he would rather see the city spend the repair money elsewhere, noting that the fountain is impractical to use in winter. He also mentioned a desire for larger tables, saying only two people can fit at most of the current fixtures.
Pokorny added that he has seen significant turnover in downtown storefronts and wonders whether such an improvement could revitalize the area.
But he maintained his doubts about the marginal impact of restoring the fountain.
“If there were the fountain currently happening, I don’t know if that would improve my quality of life very much,” Pokorny said.
kamrannia2027@u.northwestern.edu
Kelly said there was no time for him to disseminate knowledge to anyone.
The rules and expectations on after-hours access sent to engineering clubs were nearly identical to the understanding clubs already had last year, Kelly said, but because this was previously handled by Kuechel, there were no official documents formally outlining procedures.
While the timeline for training new engineering club members has been affected by changing the hours and faculty at Segal, some students are empathetic. There were a lot of offices involved, and these processes take time, Danzig said.
“As much as the student body moves very quickly in terms of their responses to things, I think we can have a little bit of the grace for the fact that the directors were in a really tough position and honestly, four weeks is a pretty quick turnaround for anything to happen at the university scale,” Danzig said.
nataliekim2027@u.northwestern.edu
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VOLLEYBALL
NU falls twice in straight sets
By KATIE W HITAKER the daily northwestern
Although Northwestern sported jaunty pink bows in its matches against Nebraska and Indiana this weekend, the team’s mood as it returns to Evanston might be less sprightly after being defeated by both teams in straight sets.
The Wildcats (13-9, 3-7 Big Ten) took on the undefeated No. 1 Cornhuskers (20-0, 10-0 Big Ten) in Lincoln on Friday night.
Nebraska set the pace as middle blocker Rebekah Allick delivered a sharp kill to start the game. NU held its own with kills by junior middle blocker Campbell Paris and graduate student outside hitter Ayah Elnady. However, the Cornhuskers pulled away, led by Allick and opposite hitter Virginia Adriano, bringing the score to 20-10.
Freshman outside hitter Bella Bullington helped the ’Cats claw their way back from the 10-point deficit with three kills, but two scrappy setter dumps by Bergen Reilly gave Nebraska set point at 24-17. Allick and Adriano defended against graduate student outside hitter Buse Hazan’s attack to win the Cornhuskers the set 25-17.
The second set could be encapsulated in the tense, messy rally that occurred with Nebraska leading 6-5, which Hazan ended with a kill. However, the Cornhuskers began to climb, pushing the score to 16-9 before Hazan again shut them down with back-to-back kills.
Junior libero Drew Wright then delivered an ace and a service error, allowing Nebraska to take off again, led by middle blocker Andi Jackson. Jackson executed a slide kill to get the Huskers to set point, and a block with Reilly won it 25-13.
Middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie led the third set for the Cornhuskers as she clashed with Bullington at the net, and the points remained competitive until a kill to a hole in the defense by freshman Teraya Sigler at 13-10 kickstarted a four-point run. Despite a strong kill from freshman middle blocker Kayla Kauffman to end the run, the match began slipping away from the ’Cats as Sigler, Allick and outside hitter Harper Murray each delivered precise, powerful kills to drive the score to a 24-17 set point. Adriano’s serve for Nebraska rolled luckily and lazily over the tape to win her team the set 25-17, and the match 3-0, with an ace.
The ’Cats faced off with Indiana on Sunday, and the Hoosiers (16-4, 7-3 Big Ten) quickly established an eight-point lead at the beginning of set one. Bullington put a stop to the bleeding with three ferocious kills, punctuated by a Wright service error to bring the score from 11-3 to 12-6. Bullington continued to dominate the first set, notching six kills and a block to inch the score tighter. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop the aggressive Indiana serving and offense, and the Hoosiers sealed the first set 25-17 with an ace by outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles.
NU seemed more competitive in the second set, sticking within two or three points of its opponents, with key kills by Elnady and blocks by Paris evening the scores at times. The ’Cats fought valiantly through the set to take the lead, but were unsuccessful against blocks and kills by Indiana’s opposite hitter Avry Tatum and outside hitter Jaidyn Jager.
A lift call on redshirt junior setter Sienna Noordermeer and an ace by Indiana defensive specialist Avery Freeman brought the match to set point. Bullington fired one down the line to defend it, prompting an Indiana timeout with Indiana ahead 24-21. However, the Hoosiers came back swinging with a slide kill by freshman Victoria Gray to take the set 25-21. The third set began with NU inching ahead to a 5-2 advantage, until a kill by Alonso-Corcelles changed the tide for the Hoosiers. The tight, twopoint battle resumed, with aces from Carter, Hazan and junior libero Gigi Navarrete fueling the fight. Nearing the end of the set, with the score 23-22 Indiana, a kill and block by Bullington, assisted by junior middle blocker Gabrielle Gerry, brought the ’Cats to set point. However, a timeout by Indiana stalled the momentum and the Hoosiers came back with a deep, back-row kill and an ace, bringing them their own match point at 25-24. After an NU timeout, Jager won Indiana the set 26-24 with a decisive kill, defeating the ’Cats 3-0. NU returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend, hoping to redeem itself with matches against Iowa (12-10, 3-7 Big Ten) Friday at 7 p.m., and Maryland (8-12, 1-9 Big Ten) on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
katiewhitaker2029@u.northwestern.edu
Wildcats clinch Big Ten regular season title
By JONAH MCCLURE daily senior staffer @jemccl125
When junior forward Ashley Sessa deflected the ball off her stick, the stakes were already high in the third quarter of No. 2 Northwestern’s matchup against No. 13 Michigan.
But during halftime, No. 20 Indiana sealed an overtime victory over No. 18 Ohio State, opening the door for the Wildcats (15-1, 7-0 Big Ten) to clinch the Big Ten regular season title with a victory.
When the ball hit the back of the net, NU took a 2-1 lead and never looked back, claiming a 3-1 victory over the Wolverines. The ’Cats won their third straight regular season conference championship for the first time since 1983-85.
NU also defeated No. 18 Ohio State 7-0, marking the ’Cats’ highest-scoring performance of the year and sixth straight victory over their conference foe. NU has now won four straight ranked games since falling to then-No. 8 Princeton.
“Every game, even that game (against Princeton) was a great game,” coach Tracey Fuchs said postgame Sunday. “We just try to come out and get better every day. We’re really starting to click, and this is the time to do it.”
The ’Cats opened the weekend against Michigan on Friday at Lakeside Field and looked to avenge their loss from last year’s Big Ten Tournament.
The first quarter saw minimal action on the offensive end, with the squads combining for one total shot attempt.
In the second quarter, graduate student forward Grace Schulze took a penalty corner and slotted the ball to redshirt junior forward Aerin Krys. She left it waiting for sophomore midfielder Laura Salamanca,
who knocked it past the goalkeeper for the score.
“Selfless passing, selfless leading, that’s really what made the difference,” junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole said about the offense Sunday. “We have so many good players up front. I think just being able to lead off each other and play for each other is what has really helped us.”
It was Salamanca’s second career goal and first of the season. NU stayed on the attack for the remainder of the quarter, outshooting the Wolverines 8-0 but still held the same 1-0 lead into halftime.
Michigan stormed out in the third quarter, as defender Eva Bernardy scored after a penalty corner on the team’s first shot attempt of the game. With under six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Michigan forward Esmée de Willigen received a yellow card. NU took advantage of the short-handed Wolverine squad, and after Krys knocked the ball in the direction of the goal, Sessa tipped it in for the score and the lead.
The ’Cats looked to add some padding to their lead and found that insurance goal less than two minutes later when Bent-Cole knocked the ball off a defender’s foot and into the goal.
“(Bent-Cole and Sessa) are doing it from their defense, and with (Schulze, Krys and Piper Borz) they’re causing turnovers,” Fuchs said. “When those guys come up with the ball and we’re numbers up, they’re hard to stop.”
NU held strong on defense, and as the clock hit triple zeros at the end of the fourth quarter, the ’Cats’ bench stormed the field in celebration of the 3-1 win and the Big Ten title.
NU faced the Buckeyes (7-8, 3-4 Big Ten) in its final home game of the regular season Sunday. It was Senior Day for the ’Cats, and the team recognized its six graduating players before the game.
“We are such a family,” Bent-Cole said. “I feel
WOMEN’S SOCCER
like this was Senior Day, but also Family Day. We had so much fun in the locker room.”
NU got out to a hot start, nabbing two firstquarter goals by way of Schulze and Sessa. The latter came in unique fashion: As the goalkeeper deflected a shot from Bent-Cole, Sessa raised her stick to knock the ball in out of the air.
The ’Cats held a 2-0 lead through the first half before adding on three third-quarter goals. BentCole snuck the ball below the outstretched goalkeeper, Sessa buried a shot in the top of the goal and Bent-Cole fired the ball to the left of the goalkeeper. Heading into the fourth quarter with a 5-0 lead, NU wasn’t done yet. Zivojnovic found the back of the net off a penalty corner, and Krys made her way past defenders for an unassisted goal.
“She’s been amazing,” Fuchs said of Krys. “She’s one of those leaders where you might not notice her on the field, but she has control of the team.”
The clock wound down, and the ’Cats claimed a 7-0 victory. Schulze and Krys both took advantage of Senior Day by scoring their ninth and third goals of the season, respectively. Zivojnovic’s goal was her third in the last four games. Sessa and Bent-Cole each tallied two goals.
“We’re such a selfless team,” Bent-Cole said. “Our bench is probably one of the loudest benches I’ve ever heard in my life. Everyone just wants everyone to do well, and I feel like that’s why we’re able to perform.”
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Juliana Boon made two saves and allowed just one goal over the two games. NU is tied for first in the country with 10 shutouts this season.
The ’Cats wrap up the regular season against Michigan State on Friday. The game is set to start at 2 p.m. jonahmcclure2028@u.northwestern.edu
’Cats land a tie with No. 20 Wisconsin
By ELI KRONENBERG daily senior staffer @elikronenberg
Sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch’s 79thminute equalizer salvaged a point for Northwestern against No. 20 Wisconsin in its regular season finale, but the Wildcats (8-3-7, 4-2-5 Big Ten) couldn’t find the winner they needed to secure a Big Ten Tournament first-round bye.
The ’Cats finished the Big Ten season on 17 points in a four-way tie for sixth place, losing out on the final bye spot decided by a head-to-head tiebreaker.
“A little bit of a bummer,” coach Michael Moynihan said of having to play in the first round on Thursday. “We were hoping to get a bye, but it is what it is, and we’ve just got to go and take care of business.”
NU struggled to get out of its own half in the opening 10 minutes under pressure from a persistent Badger (12-4-2, 6-3-2 Big Ten) press, but turned its first sustained spell of possession into a shot on target. Freshman midfielder Keira Kemmerley took a sumptuous first touch which set her up in space on the edge of the penalty area, testing Badger goalkeeper Drew Stover with a low, right-footed drive across goal.
Junior winger Megan Norkett was lively early on, wreaking havoc on the left wing as she repeatedly beat her defender to get in behind.
“I thought (Norkett) was really threatening in the first half,” Moynihan said. “She’s a fantastic 1-v-1 player. She was also showing a little bit of power and pace to cause some problems.”
In the 24th minute, Wisconsin created its first shot when Badger forward Brooke Allen seized on a defensive error by junior center back Maddie Finnerty. Allen appeared to have a clear look at
goal with only senior center back Brooke Miller to beat, but Miller applied just enough pressure to put Allen off and her tame effort was easily gathered by freshman goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson.
The ’Cats fashioned the best chance of the half in the 31st minute when Norkett again ran into space down the left. Norkett crossed for Roesch, whose right-footed strike beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the line by Badger defender Kiara Gilmore.
It didn’t take long after halftime for the Badgers to strike first. In the 49th minute, Wisconsin winger Jenna Baumann clipped an inch-perfect cross from the left into the center of the box, where midfielder Erin Connolly was waiting to head it over the outstretched arms of Nelson.
That goal left NU with its back up against the wall, needing a comeback victory to earn a bye in the Big Ten Tournament. Yet, it was Wisconsin who remained on the front foot, pressing for a second.
Allen again got in behind on the left side of the area in the 64th minute, but sliced her left-footed strike into the side netting. A minute later, Badger left back Ella Ottey placed a side-footed effort from the edge of the area, but Nelson was down to her right to stop it.
“I don’t know what happened, but we started the second half pretty tough,” Moynihan said.
Yet, it was at the point when the Badgers looked most on top that Roesch decided to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
The ’Cats finally created their first shot of the half in the 69th minute when senior midfielder Caterina Regazzoni teed up Roesch in space on the edge of the area, but NU’s leading scorer sent a right-footed shot inches wide of the bottom left corner.
Roesch again found a sight at goal in the 74th minute — with her back to goal and the ball at
her feet, the San Diego, California native quickly turned and fired with her left foot, forcing an impressive reflex save from Stover that prevented the ball from nestling in the bottom left corner. After knocking on the door twice in quick succession, Roesch finally slammed it down at the third time of asking. In the 79th minute, Kemmerley floated an inswinging cross from the left half space, placing it perfectly for the onrushing Roesch to redirect into the net from five yards out. Roesch didn’t connect cleanly, only managing to get her left shoulder on the ball, but the goal was upheld after a lengthy VAR review for handball.
“When I look at who we’ve been playing in the Big Ten, I’d have to say she’s one of the most threatening forwards right now,” Moynihan said of Roesch. “And that’s a pretty powerful statement when you look at the quality we have in the Big Ten.”
Roesch’s ninth goal of the season set up a grandstand finish, with NU throwing the kitchen sink at Wisconsin in search of a winner. Roesch again hit the target in the 85th minute in a near carbon copy of her chance 11 minutes prior. She received the ball facing away from goal, turning and firing with her left foot right down the goalkeeper’s throat, but Stover stood firm to parry. It was NU’s fourth time avoiding defeat against a ranked opponent, after draws against Ohio State and Iowa and an away upset of then-No. 4 TCU. “Our kids love playing highly-ranked teams,” Moynihan said. “They’re not afraid of anything. They look forward to it. We’ve been in a lot of them this year, and we’ve shown well.” The seventh-seeded ’Cats will face 10th-seeded USC in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament this Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
elikronenberg2027@u.northwestern.edu
FIELD HOCKEY
Left: With the victory over Michigan, Northwestern field hockey earned the title of 2025 Big Ten Champions.
Right: Senior defender Maja Zivojnovic makes a pass to get the ball down the field.
Avantika Singh/The Daily Northwestern