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News at 6 on WNUR News – October 22, 2021 Talk with Reform CAPS, SPAC 9, and Radio Roulette WNUR News broadcasts live at 6 pm CST on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on WNUR 89.3 FM
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Speaker 1 00:00:18 Live from w Nur news. I'm Alex Harris. You're listening to the six o'clock news on w N U R 89.3, FM HD one Evanston Chicago it's Friday, October 22nd, 2021 tonight on w N R news an interview with organizers from the reform caps movement back nine shakes campus before the homecoming game and the results of a ran them phone call spree, those stories, and more coming up tonight on w N R news. Thanks for tuning in to w N R news in campus local tonight on Monday, October 11th, the reform caps advocacy group sat down with the director of caps and the Dean of students to share student experiences and discuss their demands. Speaking with the leaders of the at reform caps. You Instagram Ali Bianco has the story
Speaker 2 00:01:10 Content warning. The following story contains discussion of mental illness for crisis support texts home to 7 4 1 7 4 1.
Speaker 3 00:01:22 I was seen as a liability for four. I was seen as a human
Speaker 2 00:01:25 Literally face every mental health concern you've ever had
Speaker 3 00:01:28 Threatened to put me on forced medical leave. Instead of trying to help me,
Speaker 2 00:01:31 I told them I felt all alone on the phone with a complete stranger. Maybe you should schedule another phone call. Next week caps was incapable of providing any support. Last spring, a new page popped up on Instagram with the handle at reform caps and you, the advocacy group started publishing personal testimonies of Northwestern students who felt that Northwestern's counseling and psychological services caps had been unable to help students on campus months after the page launched on Monday, October 11th, reform caps sat down with the director of caps and the Dean of students to share student experiences and discuss their demands. Today, I spoke with reform caps leaders, Jenny Bich, Katherine Zung, and ZZA hubs my to talk about their meeting other next steps. So, one week ago today you had a meeting with the director of caps. How did that get organized
Speaker 3 00:02:37 At the end of spring over summer, we were still continuing to talk a lot about like how we want to go forward as an organization and group on campus caps students actually reached out to us before we did, they were willing to open up like an open relationship.
Speaker 2 00:02:52 So you're preparing for this meeting and you make this magazine with these statistics and these student experiences. Why did you decide to put all your information into this magazine?
Speaker 3 00:03:02 I think for me personally, like, um, zines are a great way of just like storytelling. I have a lot of experience with just design and storytelling that context.
Speaker 2 00:03:13 Yeah. I think also there's a political history behind making zines. So it's Monday and you're in Scott Hall and you're waiting for the caps director to show up. How do you all feel in the moments just before this meeting? I felt ready after we had the forum, after we made the Zen, I was like, I'm ready.
Speaker 3 00:03:34 It was very impactful just being in like being at the meeting and even before it that just like the fact of like, we're actually gonna somehow like get at least accountability.
Speaker 2 00:03:45 And Jenny, what was their reaction when you gave them the magazine? I think they were a little shocked. I think that was at least for me, part of the reason for bringing the Zen and for making it, and for having a really concrete culmination of the work that we've been doing was to hand that to them and be like, we're serious. And so you have this list of demands that you separat into sections. You have releasing caps, data, releasing policies and procedures, reducing wait times, creating an accountability board and hiring more diverse staff. Did you talk about all of these demands with caps? We go into more detail about a few things in our scene, which is wait times, crisis situations and referrals. So we really focused on those three because I think they really flow into each other and they really illustrate a lot of the, kind of the foundation of why caps is failing to serve students.
Speaker 2 00:04:35 So that's the fact that students can't get an appointment. I mean, they have to wait right now. You two weeks mm-hmm <affirmative> and artificially shortened wait time, because you can't book out past two weeks, students are struggling to even get an initial appointment and then students who are in crisis, the crisis line is unpredictable. Um, their policies are unclear. They're not transparent about what happens when you're in a crisis situation. And they've, as you've seen in student experiences has been very invalidating to students about what constitutes a crisis. There have been students told that they're not in crisis when they feel that they are. Um, and then going into referrals, um, since caps has a short term therapy model, it really relies heavily on outside referrals. And if you look at caps referral database, it's 70% white, which means that it, it fundamentally cannot serve its students and cannot serve BI students.
Speaker 3 00:05:25 Uh, the feedback that we gave, um, to administration was a lot about like, um, yes, you started like the same day virtual appointments. Now that caps started recently, as well as like, um, just this whole thing, like counselors are available for you to talk if you're in a crisis. Well, that a good initiative. I think it is very important to recognize how crisis line or just like casts is dealt with crisis situations in the past and how students feel impacted by that. And, um, disproportionately by park and marginalized students where it just creates a very, um, different like, um, level of safety checking that they're, um, historically used to.
Speaker 2 00:06:03 I think also it's important to look at the data that they have given us on crisis situations. Um, and on our page about crisis situations, we pulled this directly from their annual report from 2017 to 2018, which <affirmative> is the last one that they've published. Um, 55% of what they called severe and urgent students were transported to the ER. And Northwestern's number of ER, transports was almost four times the national average compared to similarly size schools. So by the end of this meeting, you'd set up weekly meetings. You're meeting with them again tomorrow. What are you hoping to see change, change? I think we're first coming at it from this approach of transparency. If we don't know what's going on, we don't know what to fix. Mm-hmm <affirmative> that includes like their data releasing annual reports every year. Those should be coming out. They haven't come out. As Jenny said, since 20 17, 20 18, right. That's unacceptable. I think also on that transparency piece, um, and crisis situations are a good example of why this is so important is making it clear to students, basic information about how to access cap services mm-hmm <affirmative> and what goes on with caps. And a lot of that is making their FAQ page, for example, a lot more accessible to students.
Speaker 3 00:07:17 And I think like some immediate next steps that we have in mind are definitely talking about referrals, why that database is just insufficient, but like immediately we want like student experience form. If a student goes to cast, they should have feedback forms and that should be taken into account.
Speaker 2 00:07:31 So I also wanna ask about project lets, which is the mental health advocacy and resource organization that Katherine and Jenny, you guys have been trying to bring on campus. Um, are you all officially a campus organization what's going on with your application? They still have not given us any reply. We were supposed to get a response May 25th, like a yes or no response. And shortly after that we got no response. So I emailed them asking where is our response? And they, they were like, oh, we need to talk to caps. And what would project let's do uniquely that would kind of be like separated from reform caps. Yeah. So we are currently working on support groups and support study spaces, sort of those are coming out next week, actually. Awesome. Um, we are also, we're working on a peer mental health advocacy program. That's common to all chapters of project lets if project lets doesn't get approved, what happens then?
Speaker 2 00:08:28 So that is something that's pretty common actually that happens with project, lets chapters on campuses. Um, for example, at brown university where it first started, it took them a year and a half to get approved. Finally, what what's next for reform caps? Do you have other events and forums planned? How do you see the rest of the quarter painting out? Um, first of all, working with caps consistently, as we've talked about, um, focusing on transparency for the next month or so, but also keeping up all the other stuff that we do as an advocacy group. One of the things we wanna do in the next couple weeks is paint the rock and that will be publicized when we're gonna do that. Um, another thing we wanna do is continue having feedback forums because we really are rooted in student experiences and the three of us, the four of us, however many people are in that meeting.
Speaker 2 00:09:14 We can't represent Northwestern without really centering those student experiences and hearing their feedback. Yeah. And if you could say something to the students that have been contributing to reform caps, what would you tell them? I think first and foremost, thank you. Thank you for being brave enough to share what you have shared. <affirmative> a lot of the Google farm responses that we get are really in depth and very personal. And we see that and we are really, really working hard to do justice to those stories. Yes. And represent your stories and your experiences and make real lasting change for students For w Nur news. I'm Ali Bianco.
Speaker 1 00:10:09 After the break, the well kept secret of spa nine and a game of phone call roulette w Nur news will be back after these messages.
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Speaker 1 00:11:52 Welcome back to w N R news at six it's, six, 12:00 PM. Central time. I'm Alex Harrison Northwestern's marching band kept many details of its annual spec nine event. Secret ahead of homecoming weekend. On the night of Friday, October 15th, over 100 students went to spec to continue this homecoming tradition, Madison Bradley story
Speaker 15 00:12:18 That's from back nine, a homecoming tradition Northwestern's marching band puts on each year, the night before the homecoming football game, Northwestern students advertise Backman, ominous, social media posts, group tag announcements <affirmative> and by painting, Northwestern's famous rock telling people to wear and the when, but not the who, what or why?
Speaker 16 00:12:39 I heard through some mutual friends. So we heard throughout like different like social media that, um, that spa that there was going to be something at spec, but there was no like in, there was nothing about what it would be or who would be there.
Speaker 15 00:12:55 That was Weinberg freshman, a bra Luna. There was no official university communication about spa nine, leaving many with questions and some willing to seek answers. Weinberg freshman, Tyler Schreiber also attended, but she had some concerns.
Speaker 17 00:13:09 Everyone was texting in the Northwestern 25 roomie saying, Hey, come to spa at nine, they gave no explanation, which is a little mysterious.
Speaker 15 00:13:16 One thing was clear at 9:00 PM, Friday night, something was happening at spa.
Speaker 16 00:13:22 I didn't really know what to expect.
Speaker 15 00:13:24 At least 100 Northwestern community members did as they were told and gathered at spa. Also known as Henry crown sports pavilion by nine o'clock. But some people had eerie feelings before they there people who walked past the arch or tech on their route to back saw something unusual. Clumps of students wearing black hoods, staring at the ground silent
Speaker 16 00:13:44 At first <laugh> at first, the black hoods did kind of creep me out a little bit, but, uh, it was really cool. You know, it was
Speaker 15 00:13:50 When community members arrived at Spock, they didn't see much only other students. The, there were no banners, no stages, no lights, nothing. Even some freshman members of Northwestern's marching band outside of the drum line were there and had a little idea of what was going on. Then It began the hooded students, Northwestern drum line started playing their instruments, taking off the night's events. The drum line started at spa marched throughout campus, Stopping the play at tech, the Jacob center, foster Walker, Allison, the sorority quads and other locations while members of the marching band outside of the drum line, as well as other Northwestern being members cheered informed dance circles, Ben Smith, a first year graduate student who has played SUSE phone in the marching band for five years, says this event is a 30 year tradition.
Speaker 20 00:15:26 I love, I love back at nine. It's really fun. Everyone. We go around campus and you know, we spread some, uh, Wildcat spirit before homecoming.
Speaker 15 00:15:35 I approached members of the drum line in person after the event and reached out online. But each person declined or gave no response. Jones hall was the last stop of the night. The drum line didn't speak to the audience for the duration of the event. So onlookers never fully understood what was happening. This is Julie Paska, a Wineberg freshman.
Speaker 21 00:16:29 Well, it was a very culty evening, I'd say, but it has its charms. Um, I didn't think that the band had that much spirit, but they were yelling go cats like a hundred times. So it was kind of cute, weird, but cute in a good way.
Speaker 15 00:16:45 The marching band had to arrive at Longfield outside of Lincoln at six 30, the next morning to play at Northwestern homecoming game against Rutgers university, Northwestern 1 21 December
Speaker 19 00:17:19 For w
Speaker 15 00:17:20 Our news. I'm Madison Bradley.
Speaker 1 00:17:26 Here's a fun game to play. Step one, pull out your phone. Step two, open your contacts. Step three, close your eyes, swipe and call whoever you land on and step record the chaos and put it on the radio. W R news' Nick's song provides his results and a story originally aired on K W's, independent producer project.
Speaker 22 00:17:47 Hi, is this, uh, ed Edy? Okay. No worries. All right. Thanks so much. Bye. All right. Wrong number. <laugh>
Speaker 24 00:18:05 Hello?
Speaker 22 00:18:06 Hey, can hear me?
Speaker 24 00:18:07 Yeah,
Speaker 22 00:18:08 I can hear you. Okay. Oh my God.
Speaker 24 00:18:13 Hello.
Speaker 22 00:18:13 Hey, how are you doing?
Speaker 24 00:18:15 Good. How are you?
Speaker 22 00:18:16 I'm all right.
Speaker 25 00:18:18 You know, what's up?
Speaker 22 00:18:19 Yo near me? Yep. All right. Tight.
Speaker 24 00:18:24 Hey Nick. I can now are you? Yeah. Okay. What is this like being recorded
Speaker 22 00:18:30 Right now? Yeah. Is that cool?
Speaker 24 00:18:31 Yeah. Yeah, no, that's totally fine.
Speaker 22 00:18:34 Is it cool if I record, uh, our conversation?
Speaker 24 00:18:39 What is it
Speaker 22 00:18:40 For? Okay. <laugh> Tonight. Explain adequately what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 25 00:18:47 No idea, but I don't really care.
Speaker 24 00:18:50 I mean, I mean, what,
Speaker 22 00:18:52 Going through the contacts on my phone, it's basically a museum of people I've known throughout my life. Friends. Who've moved away, former colleagues, regardless of the current relationship, they're still reflections of our past. The premise is simple enough. Close your eyes, swipe through the contacts on phone and whichever person you land on you call and catch up,
Speaker 24 00:19:15 Uh, I'm trip. And I know you from, uh, a winner semester chemistry class. Sure. My name is Kelly mahi. One of the jobs that I have is advised the student radio station, which is w P E a, um, I'm ed Graber, um, Nick song. And I went to mermaid together. Yes. For middle school.
Speaker 22 00:19:33 Fair warning. It's gonna be a little awkward starting out, but that's to be expected.
Speaker 24 00:19:38 Yeah, for sure. Is it have be scared? My heart was like beating really fast. I thought something terrible happen.
Speaker 22 00:19:45 No, it is just radio.
Speaker 25 00:19:47 So my name is hi Romero. I'm going to become an engineer. I don't really know which one yet, but you know,
Speaker 24 00:19:57 I'm Ivy tr and I was a student at ICU with Nick song, a good friend. Um, I don't actually know how we met. I just think about this. Hi, my name ISR just graduated from Columbia university class of 2020. Well, the last time we saw each other was like the first week of June or so of 2016. Damn. Which is insane. I'm Emma Serato. We have a, we share the same birthday, right? Our birthday is September 28th. And I remember my 16th birthday and it was your 18th birthday. And we took pictures together.
Speaker 22 00:20:37 Yeah, yeah, yeah. On the stairway.
Speaker 24 00:20:38 And I posted them. Yep. And I posted 'em on my Instagram and I remembered that.
Speaker 22 00:20:44 So since we last saw each other, what is the most significant thing that's happened to you?
Speaker 25 00:20:48 Definitely going to, uh, college and then coronavirus ruining it. <laugh> yeah. That's basically it.
Speaker 24 00:20:57 I don't know if, when I'm gonna go back to school and everything. It's just been a very chaotic, scary, uncertain time. <laugh> yeah. It, it does suck, but you know, I'm proud of you and I'm just so thankful that we have the opportunity to catch up. It's great to hear your voice, both the sound a bit and the content of what
Speaker 22 00:21:15 You say you as well.
Speaker 24 00:21:16 <laugh> yeah. I'm, I'm actually really glad you called. It was very unexpected and like, it's nice to hear from you anyway. Be in touch. I appreciate hearing from you and I'm super glad to hear you're still doing this. Yeah. So now explain to me what exactly is this, uh, project you think like more of a discussion about time, you're tying it into the idea of people you haven't spoken to in some time,
Speaker 22 00:21:38 Honestly, I'm not sure. Sometimes all you need is an excuse to call up an old friend. This piece was produced by Nick's song as part of the 24 hour radio race from kcrws independent producer project.
Speaker 1 00:21:53 After the break, a weather update to help plan your weekend, w N R news will return after these messages.
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Speaker 1 00:23:38 Welcome back to w N R news. It's 6:24 PM. Central time. I'm Alex Harrison taking a look at the weather right now. It's a cool 52 degrees in Evanston and that'll drop to a low of 40 tonight with some cloud coverage tomorrow, expect to bundle up, expect forties in the morning and a high of 54 in the afternoon, but nice and sunny with just a light breeze and on Sunday, expect a steady 54 degrees and lots of rain starting in the morning throughout it the whole day. You might wanna choose a raincoat over an umbrella because it'll be windy all day as well. Getting up to about 20 miles per hour, Sunday evening, that's all for w N R news at 6:00 PM. For more news updates and reports. Follow us on Twitter at w N R news. You can listen to these and other stories of the day on our Spotify, Google podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on our brand new website, w N U r.news again. That's w N U R dot N E Ws. Our producer today is Sarah Toora and our reporters are all Bianco Madison Bradley and Nick song special. Thanks to sea Greg for all of us here at w N R news. I'm Harrison. Thank you so much for us. Join us next time. On Monday, October 25th at 6:00 PM. Now at the.
