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Thursday, February 16, 2023

SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW

PAGE 5

Students talk early graduation, benefits

over twenty thousand Quarter system’s students dollars. flexible framework Xie, who is graduating with a major in economics and allows head start double journalism with a business instiBy KATIE JAHNS

daily senior staffer @katie_m_jahns

The American college experience is often idealized as “the best four years of your life.” But, out of those who choose to attend four-year institutions, some consider graduating early. Those who take this road say that graduating early from a four-year institution can be a chance to get an early start on their careers, save on tuition or free up extra time to pursue passions. At Northwestern, where the quarter system can offer flexibility and opportunities to take more classes than a school on the semester system, it is not uncommon for students to finish their graduation requirements early. Some students unintentionally finish their credits early, as was the case for Medill senior Elbert Xie, who came to NU with several AP credits. Xie said cost was a big factor in his decision to graduate after Winter Quarter. Given the University’s current $249,564 cost for tuition over four years, graduating one quarter early can save some

tutions program certificate, said he is excited to have a break from classes in the spring. “There are just a lot more things in your life than school,” he said. “When I started to check out (junior year), I realized maybe it’s healthier for me to also graduate a quarter early … I really wanted to take a break.” With six months between now and when he plans on starting his job, Xie said he intends to ease into the transition between college and career. An avid dancer, Xie said he wants to devote himself to his hobby by taking hip-hop classes downtown and rehearsing with the Refresh Dance Crew. Also, after four years of academic prioritization and limited social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, Xie said he wants to maximize his time with friends. Graduating early can also allow for an early start to students’ careers. Emily Makedon (McCormick ’22), who graduated within three years, began her job as a product manager at Microsoft in January.

» See GRADUATE, page 10

Illustration by Ziye Wang

More than 300 students houseless Local resources struggle to meet demand as D65 housing insecurity surges By SKYE GARCIA and BEATRICE VILLAFLOR

the daily northwestern @skyeagarcia, @beatricedvilla

More than 300 students in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 are houseless this academic year, according to District 65 social worker Allison Harned. In the current 2022-23 academic year, the district registered more than 60 additional students as houseless compared to the

previous academic year. This was the highest surge since the 20122013 school year, according to District 65 data, even though overall enrollment has lowered since then. “Our numbers are definitely increasing,” said Harned, who connects families experiencing housing instability with local agencies. “We have people coming in every day.” She said a variety of factors contribute to this growth, such as rising housing costs and the

lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research shows a lack of housing disrupts students’ education, mental health and social life. A report from the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness found that even after being rehoused for six years, formerly unhoused students continue to struggle academically compared to classmates with permanent housing. “Many students at Northwestern

benefited from having educational stability throughout their life,” said Jen Feuer-Crystal, director of housing and youth programs at Connections for the Homeless. “We want to have those same outcomes for all of our District 65 kids and make sure they get what they need to be amazing students and amazing community members in Evanston.”

» See HOUSELESSNESS, page 10

Students charged for ‘free’ Starbucks NorthShore grants Connectivity issues with the right-side register revealed retroactive fees

for Safe Communities, Recipients venture Alternatives two organizations receiving grants, to promote, expand both focus on providing Northern County residents with treatcommunity health Cook ment and recovery services for drug

By FIONA ROACH

daily senior staffer @fionaroach03

Bing Crosby once sang “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” But, unfortunately for Northwestern students, free Starbucks at the Norris University Center did not last forever. For a few weeks of Winter Quarter, it appeared the Starbucks register on the right side of the counter in Norris was not charging students who paid for items with dining dollars. News of the malfunction spread quickly through the student body. But, with the issue now resolved, some students are seeing new, retroactive deductions from their meal plan accounts. Weinberg sophomore Caitlyn Hill said she heard about the malfunctioning register from her friends and decided to test it out. “I didn’t get charged and I was like ‘Oh my gosh,’ so I came back to spread the good word,” Hill said. “My other friends (were) like, ‘We need to go load up. We need to go take full advantage of this moment.’”

Recycle Me

$4 million in funds By ELLA JEFFRIES

daily senior staffer @ellajeffriess

Illustration by Ziye Wang

Students noticed longer lines and overflowing trash bins at the Starbucks in Norris University Center during the time the register was not working properly, providing seemingly “free” food and coffee.

She wouldn’t have minded being charged on purchase, she said, but was disappointed to be charged retroactively. She said she began with $80.86 in dining dollars prior to learning about the malfunction but now has $27. Like her, she said many of her friends spent a majority of their dining dollars.

Those who overdrew on their dining dollars have not faced any penalties or seen “negative” dining dollars in their GET Mobile accounts, though, according to Hill. Assistant Vice President of Communications Jon Yates described the malfunctioning register as a delay in the charging

of dining dollars, but did not comment on when or how the issue arose. “Northwestern University and its dining partner Compass Group are aware of a network connectivity issue that may have created a lag in processing

» See NORBUCKS, page 10

Nine Chicago and Evanston health organizations received a total of $4 million in funding from NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Community Investment Fund. The fund, which was formed last year, has awarded about $6 million to seven initially selected organizations, which will continue to receive funding in 2023 in addition to the nine new groups. The goal of the fund is to create or expand programming that promotes overall community health needs, such as access to health care, behavioral health care and prevention and management of chronic conditions and diseases. This year’s recipients include groups that serve the LGBTQ+ and Latine communities, as well as ones that provide mental and behavioral health services. PEER Services and Treatment

and alcohol addictions. With a $1 million grant, distributed over the next three years, PEER and TASC will partner to create a program connecting individuals within the criminal justice system to substance use prevention and treatment services, according to Anne Brown, development director for PEER services. “PEER and TASC have been working to identify what’s needed in the community,” Brown said. “We just haven’t been able to meet that need before due to the pandemic when the court system was closed.” She said the new program will allow TASC to have a full-time case manager at the Skokie courthouse who can connect clients to PEER and other substance use treatment resources in the community. TASC operates primarily in Chicago, but Brown said the grant will help bring its work to Northern Cook County. Bradley Bullock, director of operations for TASC’s adult criminal justice and treatment services division,

» See NORTHSHORE, page 10