By Emily GlazerThe Daily Northwestern
The Freshman Urban Program is ready to expand beyond New Student Week.
Joseph Moore, an alderman in Chicago’s 49th Ward, spoke at FUP’s first colloquium to 44 Northwestern students Friday night about his role as an alderman in Rogers Park and the neighborhood’s progress. The event was held at Norris University Center.
Harris Sockel, a former FUP counselor and one of the event’s organizers, said the goal was to spread FUP enthusiasm after New Student Week, when incoming freshmen in the program volunteer throughout the Chicago area.
“We still (want to) keep people excited about volunteering – to reflect and digest on sites,” said the Music and Weinberg sophomore.
FUP brought Moore to speak because students in the program have been interested in volunteering in Rogers Park, which is part of Moore’s ward.
Rogers Park – a community Moore called a “microcosm of the United States of America” – is about 30 percent each white, Hispanic and African American and 10 percent Asian, Moore said.
“You can go to any door in Rogers Park, and unless you cheat by looking at the doorbell and reading the name, you would not know (that person’s) racial group or ethnic makeup or religion,” he said.
Moore said diversity can sometimes cause tension.
“We’re not exactly hugging each other and singing ‘Kumbaya,’ ” he said.
But Rogers Park has been a stable environment because community members agree that crime and quality of life are primary areas of concern.
He said the community has discussed its primary concerns with police, and their proactive involvement has led to successful community policing.
SESP freshman Danielle McLean said she came to the event to learn about volunteering and community development in different areas of Chicago.
“I wanted to find out what he does to make things work for such a diverse population,” said McLean, a former FUP participant.
One of Rogers Park’s main goals was to put infrastructure dollars into the community, Moore said. This led to newly paved streets and alleys, a community center and a library.
After his speech, Moore left ample time for a question-and-answer session. Students jumped at the opportunity to ask Moore about public schools in Rogers Park and about the relationship between the community and Loyola University Chicago.
Moore said the public schools do not reflect the diversity of the neighborhood because the wealthier residents usually send their children to magnet schools.
Ronak Dixit, a Weinberg freshman, said he related to Moore’s comments because he mentors students at Sullivan High School in Rogers Park.
“I was interested in seeing what the alderman had to say and (to) see what FUP was all about,” he said.
Moore said there is an ongoing “inevitable and unavoidable” tension between Loyola University and Rogers Park. Some of the friction can be attributed to residents’ resentment that they cannot use the school’s library or gym.
“But (the tensions are) not quite as great as they are here in Evanston,” he said.
At the end of the event, a number of students said they were interested in volunteering in Rogers Park. Event organizers handed out folders to all attendees with information on how to get involved through other student volunteer organizations at NU.
Some NU student groups already volunteer in the Rogers Park area, such as Northwestern Community Development Corps and Organized Action by Students Invested in Society.
Reach Emily Glazer at [email protected].
