The sun beat down on Northwestern University’s lakefront campus Friday, as students hurried to classes in the first week of the academic year.

Though the Evanston school has grappled with a flurry of challenges in recent months — including a $790 million federal funding freeze and the sudden resignation of President Michael Schill — the mood was light on campus ahead of the weekend.

Most students were unfazed by the mounting federal pressures, and knew little of Schill’s interim successor.

“I think outside looking in, I know a lot of people are probably like, ‘Oh, Northwestern is going through so much, it’s probably ruining the atmosphere,’” said Chelsea Robinson, a 19-year-old journalism major, as she scrolled through her laptop. “Honestly, I think we all just do our part to stay focu

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