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Wednesday, February 25, 2026

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Residents debate housing Envision Evanston sparks heated discussions By SOPHIE BAKER

daily senior staffer

After two years of contentious debate, Evanston is turning toward a rezoning initiative that has already divided residents and defined an entire municipal election cycle. Last month, City Council narrowly passed its new comprehensive plan, the first step in the city’s broader Envision Evanston 2045 initiative, which looks to define the city’s development for years to come. Throughout the process, a select group of residents has attended meeting after meeting to express concerns over the plan’s timeline and intent, particularly around the language it uses to describe Evanston’s housing goals.

Impassioned residents resist zoning plans As the city begins reexamining its zoning code, which was adopted in 1993, these residents are pushing back on the scope and direction of the proposed rewrite, arguing the process has reflected predetermined outcomes rather than a consensus among community members. “The adopted plan emphasizes future density scenarios and regulatory changes, far more than it reflects what many residents consistently express, which is preservation of neighborhood character, scale and predictability,” said John Storey Williamson, a 3rd Ward resident, commercial property manager and realtor. “This plan reads more like a platform for housing production policy than a reflection of Evanson’s built reality.” Storey Williamson is part of the Evanston Action Coalition,

» See HOUSING, page 14

Illustration by Siri Reddy

The Daily confirmed that at least five graffitied antisemitic symbols have been found on various parts of campus throughout February.

Antisemitic graffiti found at NU

Jewish community reacts to hateful symbols, campus sentiments By NINETH KANIESKI KOSO

daily senior staffer @ninethkk

Over the past month, some students have spotted several antisemitic symbols graffitied around Northwestern’s

campus. In early February, a student posted a photo of one of the hate symbols, which resembled

a swastika, on the social media platform Fizz. The University

» See SYMBOLS, page 15

Scholars uplift Indigenous research Pantries brace for NU celebrates Indigenous knowledge at first academic presentation event By LUCAS KUBOVCHIK

the daily northwestern @lucaskubovchik

Scholars gathered at the first Indigenous research presentation event at Northwestern on Saturday, hosted by Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity and the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research. The six-hour event, “Celebrating Emerging Indigenous Research and Knowledge,” featured fifteen presentations on scholars’ academic research pertaining to Indigenous knowledge, history and heritage. Presentations were divided into four categories: “Systematic Injustices Facing Indigenous Communities;” “Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental and Scientific Advancement;” “Supporting Indigenous Sovereignty and Decolonization Efforts;” and “Indigenous Storywork, Language and Cultural Preservation.”

Recycle Me

Bienen lecturer Brandi Berry Benson also presented her research on “Boundaries in Native American Music Research” in the event’s faculty keynote presentation. CNAIR and RISE Director and psychology Prof. Stephanie Fryberg gave opening remarks. “This celebration is for all of us to learn from, provide encouragement, give feedback and feel inspired by all of you,” Fryberg said. Fryberg told The Daily the presence of Indigenous scholars at NU has “shifted immensely” and grown over the last decade. She added that events like these foster community between Indigenous scholars across disciplines. “Students need to know that this is a safe place to present, that we made them feel comfortable, that we honored their work and that there wasn’t judgement,” she said. As researchers shared their work, they also highlighted their desire to be recognized for their contributions separately from their heritage while still

SNAP changes Food aid efforts anticipate high demand By TIA BETHKE

daily senior staffer @bethketia

Lucas Kubovchik/The Daily Northwestern

Select speakers were awarded with specialized certificates for their presentations.

remaining connected to their cultural community. In her presentation, “Navigating Indigeneity in Engineering Research: Sustainability and Polymers,” McCormick sophomore

Abigail Buell described how she had struggled in the past to merge the worlds of her culture and STEM-focused academics.

» See RESEARCH, page 14

Organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository are working to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients understand the updated work requirements that took effect Feb. 1. “SNAP is our nation’s frontline defense against hunger,” said Camerin Mattson, GCFD’s communications manager. “It’s been widely successful in helping hundreds of thousands of families across Illinois stave off food insecurity and hunger.” According to Mattson, for

every meal GCFD and its partner food pantries provide, SNAP provides nine to Illinois residents. The new requirements passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July reclassified veterans, adults ages 55 to 64, homeless individuals and adults with at-home children ages 14 or older as “able-bodied adults without dependents.” This classification now mandates they work or volunteer 80 hours per month to qualify for SNAP benefits. Mattson said the community engagement efforts are working. The Illinois Department of Human Services estimated in August that 340,000 SNAP participants in the state could lose benefits. Mattson said this estimate has since declined. SNAP beneficiaries receive

» See SNAP, page 14