Thumbs down to limited options at Northwestern for anonymous HIV testing:
NU Health Services offers just six free, anonymous HIV tests each month. While confidential testing is available at a cost, results are attached to names and health records. More students should have the chance to take advantage of free testing and immediate results. The Howard Brown Health Center, the organization that offers the anonymous testing, might not consider NU a high-risk area, so it is up to the University to make promoting sexual health a priority on campus.
Thumbs up to the NU-Evanston Business Exchange for taking advantage of cultivating University and city relations:
This developing program will forge much-needed relationships between Evanston businesses and the University, starting a dialogue between business leaders and students. The program will not just benefit the local economy, but it will provide students with more hands-on opportunities, too. NU students will have greater access to internships. Allowing students to take an active role in Evanston businesses could improve the local economy and more importantly, town-gown relations.
Thumbs up to the Feinberg School of Medicine for earning Congressional recognition:
Feinberg was recognized Monday in the U.S. House and Senate for 150 years of contributions to the medical community. The recognition sheds light on Feinberg's successes in science and health, and it also brings credibility to NU alums and students. With Feinberg ranked 19th in the nation for medical school research by U.S. News and World Report, the House and Senate resolutions this week could make Feinberg a greater competitor against top-tier institutions.
Thumbs up to former Evanston alderman Steve Bernstein taking his City Council
experience to compete for Ninth District Subcircuit judge.
Bernstein drew upon a broad base of support from Evanston officials and residents who were familiar with his commitment to public service. Though the judicial position is "substantially different" from his former place on the City Council, Bernstein benefitted from his Evanston ties and experiences to win the Democratic primary on his way to a higher elected seat.
Thumbs down to low student turnout at the Illinois state primary elections:
About 120 students cast votes in the election Tuesday, a mere fraction of a campus that supports 8,000 undergraduates. NU students may feel they are only crash-landing in Evanston for four years, but we should try to get involved in deciding the state's officials. Politics trickle down into many parts of our college experiences, including financial aid funding. In many races, particularly the one for 18th District state representative, a higher student turnout would have made a noticeable difference, and we would be able to see our votes count.
Thumbs up to an easy end to the regular season:
The men's basketball team has won less than half of its Big Ten games so far this season, going 4-6. Fortunately for the Wildcats, the road gets significantly easier. Aside from a tough road test at Wisconsin, NU has six games against the bottom three teams in the Big Ten: Indiana, Iowa and Penn State. Those three bottom-dwellers have a combined conference record of 5-24. The Cats also have a home game against Minnesota, a team NU played close in Minneapolis. The final game on the schedule is a home matchup with Chicago State, which is 6-16 and last in the Great West Conference. If the Cats finish 8-1 and end with a 23-8 record, it would be hard to leave NU out of the NCAA Tournament.
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