THUMBS UP to One Voice for knowing how to welcome in the warm weather. Bringing Stars to Northwestern would have been enough (daiyenu for all you Passover celebrators out there), but the fact that it’s free and outside is bringing some long-overdue smiles to the thawed faces of NU students. It’s also nice to have a major concert on campus that does not involve sleeping in McCormick Auditorium to get tickets.
Frolickers on the Norris lawn this Sunday will even be able to enjoy finger painting, face painting and popcorn, in case any hungry attendants might show up. What could be better?
How about raising human trafficking awareness while basking in warm sunshine, chill music and general revelry? If there’s one thing NU students like, it’s gathering for human rights while getting back that tan that winter stole. For one precious Sunday afternoon, NU students, with their winter coats finally packed away, will be able to enjoy the beauty of the season and forget about that Econ midterm that’s probably in a few days.
THUMBS DOWN to Associated Student Government for postponing the debate on funding religious student groups. ASG had the opportunity to put this issue to rest as one of their final acts before the executive board transitions after the election, and they completely missed it. With all the talk of proving that ASG is effective, the old board lost their shot at avoiding a legacy of inefficiency. The issue of funding religious student groups has been contentious and ASG had the opportunity to make a decision that would affect many students’ lives. Hopefully the next ASG board will live up to their campaign promises and follow through with initiatives.
AN INDIFFERENT THUMB to the first Communiversity day at Northwestern. The day was a collaborative effort to work on relations between Evanston and NU. The motivations behind the event were excellent, and the 700-800 person turnout was admirable.
However, the event seems to be ignoring the larger issues. There is a lot of tension between the university and Evanston residents and it would be naive to think that a day filled with arts and panels could mend that. While this is a step in the right direction, both NU and Evanston have a long way to go to repair our relationship.
THUMBS UP to the end of the process of finding a new dean for Weinberg. The search has been on since August 2007, and President Bienen has now announced that they are in the final stages. The pool has been narrowed to six candidates who have interviewed with Bienen and University Provost and former Weinberg Dean Daniel Linzer.
Weinberg, the largest school at NU, has had an interim dean for much too long. We hope a new dean will bring some interesting insight to such an integral part of NU’s campus.
THUMBS UP to wrestler Jake Herbert, who won last weekend’s University National Freestyle Championship in the 185-pound division. With the victory, Herbert qualified for June’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he will have a chance to earn a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games.
Herbert, who is currently taking a redshirt year to train for the Summer Games in Beijing, was the 2007 NCAA champion at 184-pounds for the Wildcats. He is expected to return for his senior year at Northwestern this fall, when he would look to improve on his 32-match winning streak and probably make a few collegiate wrestlers cry.
