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The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, October 2, 2024

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The Daily’s editors discuss University policies and homelessness on new installment of The Weekly

NU to take on Indiana at Martin Stadium

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Three vie for 7th Ward seat Evanston’s 7th Ward covers Revelle not seeking Northwestern Ryan Field, reelection in April the University’sandcontroversial football stadium which City Council race new is currently under construcBy ISAIAH STEINBERG

daily senior staffer @isaiahstei27

As Illinois’ 2025 consolidated general election approaches, mayoral, City Council and school board hopefuls have one month remaining before the deadline to file nomination petitions. In the 7th Ward, the race for an open seat has already begun. Three candidates are currently vying to fill an empty 7th Ward City Council position following Ald. Eleanor Revelle’s decision not to seek a third term. Public Safety Civil Service Commission Acting Chair Kerry Mundy, real estate broker and community activist Mary Rosinski and attorney Parielle Davis have announced their candidacy to be the 7th Ward’s alderperson. The city’s consolidated election will take place on April 1. A primary to narrow the field would only occur if five or more candidates qualify for a councilmember race, and would take place Feb. 25.

tion. Of the three candidates, Mundy is alone in his support of the Rebuild Ryan Field project, which has faced criticism from residents due to noise, traffic and environmental concerns. “The reason I support the stadium is because it has good benefits for Evanston, as long as the needs of the residents are met,” Mundy said. Rosinski, a member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Board, opposes the commercial rezoning of Ryan Field for its potential to decrease nearby property values, she said. In an interview with The Daily, Rosinski called the plan to host concerts and the zoning negotiation process “a disservice to all the residents.” She proposed changing the city’s spending rules, which currently allows city officials to spend up to $25,000 without Council approval, so that the city can only spend that money on necessary purchases. Davis, meanwhile, opposes aspects of the Ryan Field plan due to local disruptions such

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Lily Ogburn/The Daily Northwestern

The new guidance comes after a tumultuous year for Schill, who has shared several of his own messages with the University community pertaining to free expression and institutional neutrality.

Schill shares free speech statement NU inches toward institutional neutrality, joining nationwide shift By JERRY WU

daily senior staffer @jerrwu

Northwestern announced it will begin to limit official

statements on political matters except those that directly affect the University’s operations on Friday, joining a growing number of universities nationwide that have adopted similar policies.

The move came almost two months after the President’s Advisory Committee on Free Expression and Institutional Speech, convened by University President Michael Schill in February, submitted a statement

summarizing its examination of NU’s free speech policies. The original statement — a product of over six months of discussions — appears to

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Evanston Rides season rolls to a stop Postdocs seek Downtown Evanston program brings community to bicyclists By SHUN GRAVES

daily senior staffer @realshungraves

Like the others he’s steered this year, John Fervoy launched Tuesday’s Evanston Rides with a flamboyant dash of biker boosterism. “Welcome, sexy bikers!” he told the more than two dozen assembled at Fountain Square. The Evanston Transit Alliance founder then led the cyclists on a roughly hourlong course through northwest Evanston. For Evanston Rides, the route marked one last trip — at least for this year’s weekday

Recycle Me

adult program. The last Saturday family ride will take place on Oct. 26. Started earlier this year by the Downtown Evanston organization, the program aims to offer cyclists regular social rides around the city. Open to riders of all levels, Evanston Rides scheduled 12 events this year, with half led by the ETA and called the Adult Social Ride. “We aspire to have a massive presence here to let people know the power and the sexiness of cyclists,” Fervoy said. Evanston cyclist Mindy Ferber, meanwhile, brought a touch of the divine: “The Bike Goddesses,” her neon jacket

declared. It refers to a local bike group of 35 women who have cycled the Evanston area for decades, she said. Tuesday marked her fourth time at Evanston Rides, and she praised the program as “recreational” and not too fast. The program is sexy for downtown Evanston, too. Downtown Evanston Executive Director Andy Vick has collaborated closely with the cyclists to market and organize the program. Evanston Rides, he said, boosts downtown businesses. “People have to find their way to downtown,” Vick told The Daily. “For some people,

maybe they haven’t been in a while. So this is a new excuse to bring them downtown.” In addition to coordinating with the ETA, Downtown Evanston secured sponsors and registered riders. Anyone with a bicycle can participate, and Vick lauded the program’s appeal to riders of different speeds and skill levels. Yet Vick himself has yet to ride. He doesn’t have a bike. “I hope to get out at some point,” he said. For years the ETA has called for better cycling infrastructure. Fervoy previously told The

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unionization Students to launch card campaign in hopes of better pay By LEAH SCHROEDER

daily senior staffer @lmschroeder

Twenty-one months ago, Northwestern postdoctoral students began the long road toward forming a union. Despite University administrators refusing to voluntarily recognize the unionization effort on Sept. 3, the group refuses to lose steam, postdoctoral researcher Neto Canton said.

For nearly two years, postdocs have worked toward better salaries and conditions. Currently, postdocs at NU are paid a minimum salary of $56,484. “People are having a hard time making ends meet,” Canton said. “People have a hard time paying for expenses with a low postdoc salary here at Northwestern.” Over the summer, postdocs gathered more than 670 signatures campaigning for salary increases, over 50% of their bargaining pool of 1,300 people. This progress reflects their “ability to reach a lot of different

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