In case you were busy frightening churchgoing eight-year-olds, here’s a recap of some news you may have missed this week.
Medill to go on Judge Joe Brown next
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Hank Skinner, who was convicted in 1994 of the murders of his girlfriend and her two sons. Skinner was sentenced to death in 1995. The Medill Innocence Project, led by David Protess, believes that DNA evidence may exonerate Skinner — the case relies on evidence produced by over ten years of work by Protess’ students. We’ve got much, much more on the story here.
Officials say lack of cootie vaccinations to blame
After years of work by Northwestern students, the university began gender-open housing this fall. The issue, however, is that there’s only one set of co-ed roommates in the whole project. Head over to our friends with benefits at The Daily Northwestern for more.
And Professor Bailey wins Nobel for giggle-inducing PowerPoints
Northwestern economics professor Dale Mortensen, along with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Peter Diamond and London School of Economics’ Christopher Pissarides, won a Nobel Prize for their work studying unemployment. Mortensen is the second Northwestern faculty member — and the first sitting professor — to win the award. We’ve got the whole story here.
Plans for oil derrick in Shakespeare Garden, however, will move forward
Evanston aldermen heard from two potential wind farm developers Monday night about their plans to generate renewable energy in Lake Michigan. In a move meant to highlight efficiency and avoid bureaucracy, the aldermen voted to decide later on the makeup of a special committee to further research the idea. Check out Evanston Now for more.
Meanwhile, Hyde Park residents complain after U Chicago poetry reading gets too rowdy
You stay classy, Northwestern. After an off-campus party got a little wild Saturday night, one virtuous neighbor alerted Dean of Students Burgwell Howard to the deplorable conduct of kids these days. The letter described how frightened the writer’s eight-year-old daughter was when riding her bike back from church the night — students were apparently urinating, fornicating and “hollering about Bl** J*bs.” (We’re currently trying to figure out exactly what that spells; expect more news as it breaks.) Even Gawker picked up on the story. We’ve got Burgie’s full email here.