Latest news with #Northwestern
The Hill
3 hours ago
- General
- The Hill
Northwestern study reveals a culture abandoning NPR
In Fall 2024, a media engagement study at Northwestern University revealed a stunning generational break: Only 2 percent of students reported listening to NPR at all, and of those, just 17 percent listened regularly. That's right: Fewer than one-half of one percent of students at one of America's most intellectually engaged universities still consider NPR a relevant part of their cultural experience. You might surmise that college students just don't go in for this sort of thing, but you would be wrong. In the 1990s and early 2000s, more than 40 percent of college students reported tuning in to NPR during a given semester, with nearly half of those listening regularly. The collapse in engagement is not the product of shifting dashboard technology or the rise of podcasts. NPR's decline, particularly in classical music programming, reflects something deeper: the breakdown of aesthetic trust in institutions that have exchanged excellence for ideology. For decades, NPR served as a gateway to the Western classical canon. It offered emotionally rich, intellectually accessible programming that invited listeners into music that transcended cultural boundaries. A Mahler symphony or a Debussy prelude didn't require a conservatory background — only the desire to feel something profound. What distinguished NPR wasn't just the music it played, but the curatorial intelligence behind it. That intelligence has since been compromised. Over the last decade, NPR's classical segments have become laboratories for performative inclusion, where programming is governed not by aesthetic judgment but by demographic optics. DEI ideology now functions as a selection criterion. Composers are elevated for what they represent — not for what they compose. The result is music introduced not through its structure, innovation, or affective power, but through the race, gender, or social positioning of its creators. This is not progress. It is reduction. No serious critic argues against expanding the canon. Marginalized composers have produced masterworks that deserve broader recognition. But NPR's current posture doesn't correct history — it merely flattens it. By featuring underrepresented composers primarily to satisfy institutional symbolism, it strips the music of its autonomy. The pieces become vehicles for moral instruction, not aesthetic encounter. And the listener — sensing the shift from invitation to indoctrination — quietly steps away. The Northwestern study makes this clear. Today's students, raised amid saturation-level virtue signaling, are no longer persuaded by it. They do not protest NPR — they simply ignore its existence. This is the most potent form of cultural judgment: not outrage, but indifference. Indeed, NPR's own data mirrors the trend. In 2023, the network reported a $30 million budget shortfall and laid off 10 percent of its staff. Digital music engagement is in steady decline, even as classical music consumption increases among young listeners on commercial platforms. The genre is thriving — it's just not thriving on NPR. Why? Because people don't turn to classical music for affirmation. They turn to it for transcendence. The canon was not constructed through quotas. It emerged across centuries through refinement, repetition, and resonance. Works by Bach, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky endure not because of who the composers were, but because their music continues to arrest the human spirit. The suggestion — increasingly implied by NPR — that love of the canon is itself suspicious, or in need of correction, is not only historically illiterate, but aesthetically toxic. And yet this is now the ambient message embedded in much of NPR's music programming: that to prefer Brahms over an obscure activist-composer from a recent MFA program may reflect some quiet prejudice. This is the logical endpoint of identity-first curation: the collapse of musical trust between broadcaster and audience. Listeners can feel this. They don't complain, they just tune out. That is the quiet tragedy of NPR's collapse — not scandal, but entropy. Not rebellion, but silence. To recover, NPR must recognize that artistic legitimacy cannot be conferred through ideology. It must be earned through beauty, complexity, and affective depth — qualities that exist independently of identity. Diversity matters. But without excellence, it becomes mere optics. And listeners know the difference. NPR is not the first institution to discover that DEI cannot sustain cultural relevance. It is merely the latest. And like many, it remains unwilling to admit what the evidence makes undeniable: the public is not rejecting inclusion. It is rejecting the substitution of ideology for merit. The Fall 2024 Northwestern study was not just a dataset. It was a verdict. A generation raised on curated empathy, language policing, and moral performance has turned away — not because they are closed-minded, but because they recognize when an institution has stopped respecting their intelligence. And the current silence — empirical, generational, and final — is not the result of reactionary resistance. Northwestern is not a reactionary place. Rather, it is the sound of trust lost, music misused, and a cultural authority that now exists largely in name. If NPR hopes to survive, it must return to what made it great: the unyielding belief that excellence, not messaging, is the highest form of inclusion. Until then, it will remain a case study in how great institutions disappear — not with the bang of a scandal, but with the whimper of disillusionment.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Rescue efforts underway at B.C. mine where three workers are trapped underground
Three workers are trapped underground at the Red Chris Gold and Copper Mine in northwestern B.C. and its unclear when rescue crews will get to them.
Chicago Tribune
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Big Ten media days: Northwestern ready for a second season with lakefront vibes
LAS VEGAS — As Northwestern football awaits the renovation of Ryan Field, being upgraded to a state-of-the-art venue in time for the 2026 campaign, the Wildcats return to the 12,000-seat Martin Stadium for a second straight season. 'Who else gets to play on a lake in college football?' asked incoming quarterback Preston Stone, who transferred in from SMU. 'It's unbelievable, it's an incredible opportunity for us to get to play in a unique environment.' Ticket prices on the school's website range from $94 to $413 for the home opener against Western Illinois on Sept. 5. One week later, against Big Ten foe Oregon and with Fox Sports' Big Noon Kickoff in town, ticket prices trickle upward in the range of $156 to $670. 'I think where we landed was the perfect solution and perfect bridge,' Northwestern coach David Braun said on Wednesday, the second of three Big Ten media days. 'It's unique, it's intimate. It allows our guys to have a level of consistency in terms of where they're playing for all their home games. Allows for our students to engage. And then you bring the element of, I mean, you are on one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the entire country, right on Lake Michigan. Beautiful fall day, Big Ten football, it's pretty special.' New year, new slate, no outside noise. That's the mantra in Happy Valley, despite James Franklin being saddled with a 4-20 mark as coach at Penn State against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. 'Coming to Penn State, I came here to win Big Ten championships and win a national championship,' Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley said Wednesday. 'The beginning of every year, that's expectations. Whatever happens, happens. But that's how I go into the season every year. 'Coach Franklin does a great job of making sure we're laser focused on the task at hand.' Right now, the task is to open camp with a fresh mindset and zero in on the season opener against Nevada on Aug. 30. Forget his collective 101-42 mark at the helm or the two College Football Playoff victories before falling to Notre Dame in last year's national semifinal. As Franklin enters his 12th season leading the Lions, with 10 trips to the postseason in 11 years, the 53-year-old never seems to escape the narrative of losing big games. Nittany Lions fans might be happy to know Franklin feels he has the best combined personnel he's ever had at Penn State, from players and staff, to depth, to talent and experience. 'We're very excited about that,' Franklin said. 'There's a ton of conversations that are happening nationally. We embrace that. We've earned that based on what we've been able to do and what we've got coming back. 'We were a game away from playing for the National Championship, and you could actually make the argument a drive away from playing for the National Championship, but it didn't feel that way, right? Because the expectations at Penn State are really high. We embrace that.' Wheatley, a fifth-year senior, agreed, saying it's the best atmosphere he's been around since landing on campus. 'The amount of film work and amount of extra work being put in, the energy around the building right now is electric,' said Wheatley, whose 16 tackles in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame tied for the third-most recorded by a Penn State player in a postseason game. 'With the amount of veteran guys we got coming back and leadership we got going on, it kind of flows from freshmen to seniors. Everyone feels good right now.' Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell wasn't sure what could be tougher: the Badgers' upcoming schedule or the ride-along in an F-16 fighter jet at Nellis Air Force Base he's scheduled to take Thursday. 'The immediacy of the now, the ride-along is going to put more pressure on my body,' Fickell said, laughing. 'But in the long run, the schedule is going to take more years off my life.' In a friend-of-a-friend situation involving a former player, Fickell's butterflies were aflutter as he talked about taking to the skies over southern Nevada with a fighter pilot. 'I know what my body's going to feel like when I'm all said and done,' Fickell said. Among those on Wisconsin's schedule this year are Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. 'There's nothing harder than what's in front of us,' he said. 'We understand that, but we're not going to shy away from it, either.' Maryland coach Michael Locksley displayed a bit of vulnerability, revealing he lost his locker room after the Terrapins finished 4-8 in his sixth full season with the program. It marked Locksley's first losing record since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He had navigated Maryland to three straight bowl appearances while winning at least seven games each of those season. He said the new world in which players get paid created divisions in the locker room. 'We had 'haves' and 'have-nots' for the first time in our locker room,' Locksley said. 'The landscape of college football taught me a valuable lesson: Continue to educate players on the importance of what playing for something bigger than yourself is all about.' The Terrapins open their season at home on Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic.
Fox Sports
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Who Wore It Best? Greatest College Football Players by Jersey Number, 51-75
Imagine this: You're at a sports bar with a group of friends when someone asks — who is the greatest college football player to ever wear No. 34? How do you decide between six Hall of Fame running backs — all of whom topped 3,500 yards and 40 touchdowns during their college careers? That's the debate our staff at FOX Sports faced when picking the greatest college football players by jersey number. This list is based on how players performed during their college careers. Factors taken into consideration include prestigious accolades, like the Heisman Trophy and All-American selections, as well as statistics and winning percentage. That said, we've already done Nos. 1-25 and Nos. 26-50 , and here's a look at the greatest players in college football history to wear Nos. 51-75. No. 51: Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern Fitzgerald starred at linebacker for Northwestern in the mid-1990s, helping lead the Wildcats to a combined 19-5 record during his junior and senior seasons. He finished with 299 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and three interceptions en route to being named a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Fitzgerald was also a two-time All-American and a two-time winner of both the Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Honorable mentions: Jim Ritcher (NC State), Brandon Spikes (Florida) No. 52: Ray Lewis, LB, Miami (Fla.) Fast, physical, intelligent, unmatched competitive nature. Those are the traits that made Lewis one of the greatest linebackers in college football history. He was the heart of one of the nation's most feared defenses during the 1990s. Lewis was a two-time All-American during his college career and finished as runner-up for the Butkus Award during his junior season after recording 160 tackles, which ranked second in program history. Honorable mentions: Harry Gilmer (Alabama) No. 53: Randy Gradishar, LB, Ohio State Another number, another Ohio State linebacker to appear on this list. Gradishar was a dominant force on the Buckeyes' defense during the early 1970s. He was a three-time all-conference performer and a two-time All-American. When he left OSU following the 1973 season, he ranked first all-time in total tackles (320). In addition to his jaw-dropping statistics, Gradishar was also a winner, posting a dominant 25-6-1 record in three seasons with OSU. Honorable mentions: Jerry Tubbs (Oklahoma), Clay Shiver (Florida State), Greg Jones (Michigan State) No. 54: Bruce Smith, HB, Minnesota Smith was the focal point for the back-to-back national champion Golden Gophers in 1940 and 1941. He was a dominant rusher, earning All-Big Ten honors both years while being named a consensus All-American in 1941 and winning the Heisman Trophy. Smith's No. 54 was the first to be officially retired by Minnesota in 1977. Honorable mentions: Lee Roy Jordan (Alabama), Dwight Freeney (Syracuse) No. 55: Derrick Thomas, LB, Alabama Thomas put together one of the greatest single seasons in college football history in 1988. That year, the Crimson Tide linebacker recorded an NCAA-record 27 sacks while being named a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Butkus Award. He finished his career with 58 total sacks, which is an unofficial school record. His combination of speed, strength and natural instincts made him one of the most dominant defensive players in college football. Honorable mentions: Junior Seau (USC), Marvin Jones (Florida State) No. 56: LaMarr Woodley, OLB/DE, Michigan Woodley was a dominant edge rusher during his time at Michigan. He totaled 24 sacks at Michigan, including 12 during his senior year, which led the Big Ten and ranked eighth nationally. Woodley was a unanimous All-American during the 2006 season, while also being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with 147 total tackles and 47 tackles for loss, ranking among Michigan's all-time leaders. Honorable mentions: Corey Moore (Virginia Tech), Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame), Michael Barrow (Miami) No. 57: Steve Kiner, LB, Tennessee Kiner's name isn't often mentioned among college football's best linebackers, but it certainly should be. A tackling machine for the Vols during the late 1960s, Kiner helped lead the Vols to an SEC title in 1967. During his tenure, Tennessee finished with a combined record of 26-6-1. Kiner was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1969 and a two-time All-American. Honorable mentions: Dwight Stephenson (Alabama) No. 58: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC Maualuga was a standout linebacker at USC from 2005-08, known for his hard-hitting and downfield playing style. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, the former Trojan was the ideal size for a middle linebacker and consistently used that size to his advantage. He finished his college career with 273 tackles, nine sacks and five interceptions. Maualuga was a three-time All-Pac-10 performer and a unanimous All-American in 2008. Honorable mentions: Peter Boulware (Florida State) No. 59: Alex Agase, G, Illinois/Purdue Agase enjoyed a unique but dominant college football playing career. He began his career at Illinois, where he was named an All-American during the 1942 season. He then entered the U.S. Military the following year at Purdue, while also playing for the Boilermakers and, once again, earning All-American honors. Agase served on active duty in the war for the next two years and then returned to Illinois in 1946, leading the Illini to an impressive 8-2 record. That season, Agase was once again named an All-American and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, which was awarded to the MVP of the Big Ten Conference. Honorable mentions: Gary Spani (Kansas State) No. 60: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, Penn Few players in college football history have been as dominant on both sides of the ball as Bednarik — a standout at center on the offensive side of the ball and as a linebacker on the defensive side of the ball during his time at Penn. He was a two-time consensus All-American in 1947 and 1948 and finished third in the 1948 Heisman Trophy vote. In his honor, the Bednarik Award is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football. Honorable mentions: Tommy Nobis (Texas) No. 61: Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota Eslinger was one of the most dominant interior linemen in college football history, starring for Minnesota from 2002-05. He was a four-year starter for the Gophers and a three-time All-Big Ten performer. Eslinger was also a three-time All-American and received the Jim Parker Trophy, the Rimington Trophy and the Outland Trophy during his senior year. Honorable mentions: Jim Lynch (Notre Dame), Joe Steffy (Army) No. 62: Jim Parker, G, Ohio State Parker was a star for the Buckeyes in the 1950s, starring as an offensive guard while also playing on the defensive line. During his sophomore season, he helped lead the Buckeyes to a perfect 10-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll. Parker finished his career at OSU as a two-time all-conference performer, a two-time All-American and the winner of the 1954 Outland Trophy Award. Honorable mentions: Terrence Cody (Alabama), Calvin Jones (Iowa) No. 63: Mike Singletary, LB, Baylor Singletary was a fierce competitor during his time at Baylor. He was known for his hard-hitting style and as an emotional leader for the Bears' defense. Singletary rewrote the school record books, holding the mark for most tackles in a season (232) and in a career (662). He was a two-time conference player of the year and a two-time All-American at Baylor. Honorable mentions: Justin Blalock (Texas) No. 64: Bob Brown, G, Nebraska Brown was a force on the interior of the Huskers' offensive line during the early 1960s. He was a two-time All-Big East performer and an All-American during the 1963 season after helping lead Nebraska to its first conference title since 1940. Honorable mentions: Jim Lachey (Ohio State) No. 65: Steve DeLong, DL, Tennessee DeLong was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in college football during the 1960s, starring for the Vols from 1962-64. He was a two-time all-conference performer, a two-time All-American and the winner of the 1964 Outland Trophy. Honorable mentions: Greg Roberts (Oklahoma), Pat Elflein (Ohio State) No. 66: George Gipp, RB, Notre Dame Gipp was a star at Notre Dame under Knute Rockne, who used Gipp's name in his legendary halftime speech of the 1928 Army game. The famous phrase "Win one for the Gipper" was later used by Ronald Reagan, who portrayed Gipp in "Knute Rockne, All American." The former Notre Dame standout led the Fighting Irish in passing and rushing in his final three seasons and his average of 8.1 yards per carry is still a program record. Honorable mentions: Granville Liggins (Oklahoma), Alan Faneca (LSU) No. 67: Les Richter, G/LB, Cal Richter was a two-way star for the Cal Golden Bears back in the early '50s. He was recognized as a two-time All-American in both 1951 and '52. He was known as one of the toughest players in college football during his time at Cal and was eventually selected with the No. 2 pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. Honorable mentions: Russell Maryland (Miami), Aaron Taylor (Nebraska) No. 68: Mike Reid, DT, Penn State A dominant defensive lineman for the Nittany Lions during the late 1960s, Reid was a two-time captain on both of Penn State's undefeated teams during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. During his senior season, Reid led the Nittany Lions with 89 tackles en route to being named a unanimous All-American and winning both the Outland Trophy and Maxwell Award. Honorable mentions: Tedy Bruschi (Arizona) No. 69: Jordan Gross, OT, Utah How good was Gross during his collegiate playing career? The former All-American offensive tackle was so dominant that he didn't allow a single sack in his final two seasons at Utah. His senior season was remarkable, being named first-team All-Mountain West, a consensus first-team All-American and finishing as a finalist for the Outland Trophy. Honorable mentions: Tom Brown (Minnesota) No. 70: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama Considered one of the best centers in recent memory, Kelly enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Alabama under the great Nick Saban. He was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide from 2013-15, earning first-team All-American honors and winning the Rimington Trophy in 2015 while helping lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship. Honorable mentions: Bob Gain (Kentucky) No. 71: Tony Boselli, OT, USC There are multiple USC standouts that appear on this list, and Boselli is among the best of the group. A massive offensive tackle, Boselli was a four-year starter for the Trojans from 1991-94. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection and a two-time first-team All-American. His senior season was among the greatest single seasons for an offensive lineman in program history as he was awarded the Morris Trophy, given to the Pac-10's best offensive lineman. Honorable mentions: Dean Steinkuhler (Nebraska), Merlin Olsen (Utah State) No. 72: Bronko Nagurski, DT/FB, Minnesota The Bronco Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the top defensive player in college football, so it should serve as no surprise that Nagurski himself appears on this list. The former Minnesota standout is considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in college football history. Not only did Nagurski star on the defensive line, but he also played fullback on offense, as well as spending some time at halfback and offensive guard. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a consensus All-American in 1929. Honorable mentions: Joe Thomas (Wisconsin), Bob Lilly (TCU), Glenn Dorsey (LSU) No. 73: John Hannah, OG, Alabama When legendary coach Bear Bryant refers to you as "the finest offensive lineman I have ever been around," you rightfully deserve a spot on this list. Hannah was an exceptional offensive guard at Alabama from 1970-72, earning first-team All-American honors in 1971 and 1972. In addition to starring on the gridiron, Hannah was also a member of the wrestling team and track and field team during his college career. Honorable mentions: Mark May (Pitt) No. 74: John Hicks, Ohio State Another great Ohio State offensive lineman, Hicks was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes from 1970-73. He missed half of the 1971 campaign due to injury, but during his three healthy seasons, he helped guide OSU to a combined 28-3-1 record, which included three Big Ten championships and three Rose Bowl appearances. He became the first Buckeye to play in three Rose Bowls while being named a two-time All-American and the winner of the Outland and Lombardi Awards in 1973. He was so dominant during his senior season that he finished runner-up in the 1973 Heisman Trophy voting, becoming just the second offensive lineman to do so. Honorable mentions: Tracy Rocker (Auburn), Michael Oher (Ole Miss) No. 75: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State The trend of dominant offensive tackles from Ohio State continues here with Pace, who is considered to be one of the greatest O-linemen in college football history. Pace started as a true freshman in 1994 and was named a two-time unanimous All-American and two-time Lombardi Award winner during his collegiate career. He was so dominant that the term "pancake block" gained popularity due to his play. Honorable mentions: Joe Greene (North Texas), Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame) * Our four-part series continues on Thursday, July 24, with the greatest players in college football history to wear Nos. 76-99. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Northwestern QB Jack Lausch leaves football team to focus on baseball career
Northwestern football has lost its starting quarterback from last season — not to graduation, injury or the transfer portal, but another sport. Jack Lausch, who started 10 games for the Wildcats at quarterback in 2024, has left the program to focus on his baseball career, Northwestern coach David Braun said on July 23 at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas. While balancing two sports last season, Lausch hit .268 with six home runs and nine doubles while starting 43 of a possible 44 games for the Wildcats' baseball team. He was fourth among all Wildcats players in batting average and tied for first in stolen bases, with five. REQUIRED READING: Big Ten college football power rankings start with Penn State, Ohio State Coming out of high school, Lausch had originally committed to play baseball at Notre Dame before changing his mind and accepting a football scholarship to Northwestern. He joined the Wildcats' baseball team ahead of last season after playing only football as a freshman. "He has the potential to be an every-day big league center fielder," Northwestern baseball coach Ben Greenspan said to ESPN in April. "He runs, he throws, he defends, there's power potential. His makeup is elite." Though he started most of last season for Northwestern, Lausch was unlikely to hold on to the role after the Wildcats brought in SMU transfer Preston Stone, who led the Mustangs to an American Athletic Conference championship in 2023 before losing his starting job in 2024 to Kevin Jennings. Last season, Lausch completed 53.7% of his passes for 1,714 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions for a Northwestern team that went 4-8. He also rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns. "We will miss his leadership," Braun said of Lausch. "Miss having him as a part of the team, but excited and so impressed with everything that he achieved." The Wildcats open their 2025 season at Tulane on August 30.
