Background Checks Work p. 7 … A Dozen Wildcats in the NFL p. 14 … “There’s no greater gift that you can PedalCell Powers Up p. 19 … Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey p. 40 … give your children than the tools to Seattle Gentrification p. 46 … Jayne Atkinson on Stage and Screen p. 59 navigate their future lives.” p. 8 FALL 2019 150 Years of Women Northwestern honors alumnae, students and faculty, including poet Natasha Trethewey P. 24 MOMENT Space Bubbles Using South African Radio Astronomy Observatory’s MeerKAT telescope, professor Farhad Yusef-Zadeh and an international team of researchers discovered a gigantic, balloon- like structure in the center of the Milky Way. The newly spotted pair of radio- emitting bubbles spans hundreds of light-years. In this composite view, the sky to the left of the second-nearest antenna is the night sky visible to the unaided eye, and the radio image to the right has been enlarged to highlight its features. NORTHWESTERN FALL 2019 PHOTO: SARAO/OXFORD/NRAO FALL 2019 NORTHWESTERN 2 3 FALL 2019 Contents Vol. 22 Issue 1 FRONT 1 Moment 40 4 President’s Letter Soul Restoration 6 Talk Back Northwestern professor Natasha Trethewey believes in the healing power of VOICES poetry as she confronts 7 Lori Post Background checks work a family tragedy and the misapprehensions of 9 Louise Kiernan Discovering the power American history. of social justice By Adrienne Samuels Gibbs journalism NEWS 15 Student Life Doctoral students hunt down 24 earthquake anecdotes 150 Years of Women 16 Discovery Economic Northwestern celebrates the uncertainty costs remarkable alumnae — like female candidates up-and-coming comedian 18 Innovation Kellogg Ashley Nicole Black — who alum creates a better breast pump for new have faced obstacles, broken mothers in East Africa barriers and forged ahead to make a difference in the “WE WILL” UPDATE University community and the 20 Scholarships The world at large. 11A Modern Home University receives for Discovery its largest gift ever Northwestern opens for financial aid the nation’s largest biomedical academic ALUMNI research building. 49 Creation Former Wildcat QB Todd Somers creates a new game-day condiment combo 50 Class Notes 68 Deaths 19 BACK STORY 72 Mike Stanton Veteran newspaperman brings ← Engineering senior colorful characters Vishaal Mali launched to life PedalCell with the goal of creating a reliable onboard power source for cyclists. Future Founders 47 46 named it one of its 2018 An Artful Harvest Five Questions with Jeffrey Shulman Outstanding Student Visual artist Beth Reitmeyer’s In his documentary On the Brink, the University of Washington creations spice up East business professor evokes the human impact of gentrification Startups of the Year. KORNYLAK; ANDREW TRETHEWEY: KEAY; MALI: NATHAN PRATT/TBS BLACK: JESSICA SHULMAN: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Nashville’s Tomato Art Fest. in Seattle’s Central District. NORTHWESTERN FALL 2019 FALL 2019 NORTHWESTERN 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT 5 our newest undergraduates how she made people to change if you treat them in a differences, treat each other with respect, ambitions, and your ability to help bring The Next Generation the point that advocates for social and civil manner, she argued; and second, learn from one another and be examples those talents into full blossom, I believe institutional change have a choice to make. even if you are unsuccessful in changing for others to emulate. you will be hearing from this entering of Catalysts They can be content in simply expressing minds, treating them as humans rather I believe our incredibly accomplished class for years to come. their moral outrage and being consumed by than as symbols embodying all that you and supportive network of alumni their anger, or they can invest in the hard hate is quite simply the right thing to do. provides a model for the manner of Best wishes, work that results in lasting change. I am not saying that there are always community we seek to build on campus. That work, she argued, means treating good people on all sides or that all sides And I’m grateful especially for the many your opponents with a modicum of respect, are equally good — I believe that is ways in which you help Northwestern n 1869 the Northwestern by other Northwestern graduates teaching even when it is tempting to resort to pure absolutely not the case. But Ms. Nash students to become the next generation I University Board of Trustees at high schools in the area and across the vilification. “But why do that?” one might offered our Northwestern community of catalysts — as they develop deep and voted to admit women as globe, by current students, by faculty and ask. “Aren’t our enemies the personification words to live by, even if they are easy to enduring friendships, gain the ability to students. This academic year we are staff and by many others. I read enough of all evil?” Perhaps not, she suggested. Give forget in the heat of the moment. educate themselves over a lifetime and commemorating 150 years of women at files to realize that finding 10 applicants them some benefit of the doubt. I told our new undergraduates that prepare to repair a broken world. Morton Schapiro Northwestern, to celebrate the individuals to reject for each one that we accept is a First of all, it is a lot easier to convince we need to understand and celebrate our Because of our students’ talents and President and Professor who have taken risks, charted their own daunting task, given that many of those course and inspired great change. we passed on would surely have thrived At the end of September we welcomed here if presented the opportunity. 2,200 first-year and transfer students I informed the outstanding few who at the President’s Convocation in Ryan beat those formidable odds that, now Fieldhouse. This entering cohort is that they are here, our goal is for them our most diverse ever, with students to think of Northwestern as their home, hailing from 67 nations; with more their community and their family — not than 20% of students coming from low- just for the next few years, but for a income, Pell Grant–eligible families; with lifetime. 13% representing the first generation of One of the concerns I shared with their families to attend college; and with our entering undergraduates has to do 6% coming from Chicago Public Schools. with what many experts see as a national And apropos of our commemoration, issue — stress and anxiety among college 51% of our entering students are women. students at a time when the competition In short, the incoming class is filled to outdo one another in academics and with the next generation of catalysts activities is more intense than ever. At — and I can’t wait to see what they will Northwestern, we are always looking for accomplish here on our campus. I shared ways to improve student well-being. We my hopes for them, as individuals and as want our students to never be afraid to future leaders, and touched on how they ask for help, to care for themselves and to might be able to carry on a tradition of watch out for one another. progress within their academic careers Our new students reported to action and lives, like those bold and brave within a particular context — a time, women in the past 150 years who have alas, of growing tensions and incivility opened doors, creating greater access in the world. With our recognition of and opportunity for all who followed. 150 years of women at Northwestern, It’s easy for me to appreciate how we’re reminded of the call to succeed not exceptional our incoming students are, simply at a personal level but in a way having reviewed a sample of the 43,000 that lifts up others. That is not easy, given applications we received for this year’s what is going on in our larger world. first-year and transfer class. The 500 or so During the darkest of times, I recall files I selected were suggested by alumni, perhaps the most memorable talk I have attended during my decade at Northwestern. The speaker was on “I told our new campus in 2016 as part of our Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. She was undergraduates Diane Nash, a civil rights legend who still that we need to stays active in her hometown of Chicago. She put her life on the line as she fought understand and for voting rights, for desegregation and celebrate our for dignity for all. Ms. Nash’s talk was about effective differences.” activism, and this fall I recounted to NORTHWESTERN FALL 2019 FALL 2019 NORTHWESTERN 6 TALK BACK VOICES 7 Northwestern INVENTION administrators in anonymous surveys. Magazine The creation of a federal universal VICE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF Talk Back Scoots Footwear [Innovation, background check is imperative to stop GLOBAL MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS News, page 21, summer 2019] mass shootings because a patchwork Jeri Ward ’01 MEM, MBA is a brilliant invention and of federal and state laws has created EXECUTIVE EDITOR SOLUTIONS FOR thoughtful solution to our loopholes. Background checks will only Stephanie Russell TROUBLED WATERS horrendously overflowing work if the same rules apply within each SENIOR EDITOR landfills. I’m a vegetarian CURBING GUN VIOLENCE While this has successfully stopped state to both licensed and unlicensed or Sean Hargadon I read “Solutions for Troubled always looking for good- dangerous individuals from being hired private vendors. ART DIRECTOR Waters” [summer 2019] looking, well-made shoes. as direct care providers for vulnerable In the end, U.S. Senate Majority Christina Senese with great interest but was Ann Jarmusch ’73 Background patients, firearm background checks will Leader Mitch McConnell earlier this year ASSISTANT ALUMNI NEWS EDITORS dismayed to see the No.