U’S FUNDING ASK LOWER THAN MINN. STATE’S P 2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019
LATE WEEK
MINN. STATE ASKED FOR NEARLY TRIPLE THAT OF UMN
MNDAILY.COM
CAMPUS
Ope, it’s cold: U adjusts to sub-zero chill Classes were canceled and campus was shut down as the U of M battled extreme cold. BY JORDAN WILLAUER jwillauer@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota students — many covered in scarves, face masks and even ski goggles — braved the harsh weather during a few of the state’s coldest days in more than 20 years. The extreme cold prompted the University to close its Twin Cities campus, as well as cancel classes for all of Wednesday and part of Tuesday and u See COLD Page 7
TUESDAY
-37°F WINDCHILL
HIGH -1°F LOW -25°F WIND 17MPH
WEDNESDAY
-42°F WINDCHILL
HIGH -13°F LOW -28°F WIND 11MPH
THURSDAY
-17°F WINDCHILL
HIGH -2°F LOW -5°F WIND 5-10MPH
SOURCE: WUNDERGROUND.COM AND WEATHER.GOV
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY
Electrical engineering sophomore Yilia Yang throws hot water into the air to watch it freeze on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in the East Bank Mall. Yang had the day off because classes were canceled due to extremely low temperatures.
STUDENT HEALTH
STATE LEG.
Boynton avoids waitlist amid demand increase
Govt. funds could tackle U’s backlog
Boynton Mental Health has eliminated its waitlist since 2016 in part by increasing staff. BY GWIWON JASON NAM gnam@mndaily.com
Although demand for its services continue to rise, the Boynton Mental Health clinic has been able to keep the number of students on its waitlist at zero. Consistent staff increases and the introduction of “brief consultation” meetings over two years ago have eliminated the clinic’s waitlist, which applies to students who would have to wait more than two weeks for service, since fall 2016.
They have achieved this despite rising student demand. In 2018, the clinic saw 800 more new patients apply for care than in 2014. “This fall, compared to fall of 2017, we had a 16 percent increase in the number of students seeking mental health care at Boynton,” said Carl Anderson, director and chief health officer of Boynton. In 2014, the waitlist sharply increased from previous years, topping at 72 students at one time in fall 2015, according to Boynton Mental Health data. In fall 2016, that number fell to zero. The increase of Boynton Mental Health staff has helped to eliminate the clinic’s wait list. Currently, the clinic staffs 30 therapists and prescribers, including four
psychiatrists. The number of full-time equivalent employees has approximately doubled since 2013. “The demand has not flattened down yet,” Anderson said. “It still continues to go up and we are assuming it’s going to still go up until next fall.” Boynton Mental Health added brief consultation meetings in fall 2016, offering a new method to help students find appropriate care. During this meeting, students discuss their needs with a therapist to connect them with resources on and off campus. “One of our brief consultation therapists [will] determine if the students’ needs will be best met at Boynton or with the community
love how he plays.” McLaughlin’s step brother, Jake Bischoff, and stepfather, Grant Bischoff, are Gophers hockey alumni. McLaughlin’s u See HOCKEY Page 6
u See HEAPR Page 2
u See BOYNTON Page 7
McLaughlin finding offensive footing after cold start The Gophers freshman has seven points in last six games, including a game-winning goal. BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com
JACK RODGERS, DAILY
Freshman Blake McLaughlin plays with the puck after practice at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Walker (18 pts) and Nathan Burke (10 pts). “His play, though, was very good in the first half,” said head coach Bob Motzko about McLaughlin. “Very aggressive, very confident. He just needed that first one to go in to know that there it is, he can do it. So I
BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota is seeking support from the Legislature to begin chipping away at its $4.5 billion blacklog of infrastructure needs over the next 10 years. The University’s $200 million Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement request to update and restore the University’s current infrastructure is part of its $232.3 million 2019 capital request. Without funding the full HEAPR request, the school’s backlog will continue to grow. Officials say a full HEAPR request is unlikely, meaning the University needs to prioritize campus needs depending on the eventual allocation. “Now, we never actually are going to get that much money,” said Assistant Vice President of University Services Brian Swanson. “And then we do smaller scale projects, where you go in and you fix the roof, or you put in a fire sprinkler or you upgrade the fire alarm. That’s a lot of what HEAPR really does are these little projects.” Swanson said allocated funds will be distributed across system campuses by using a formula based on size and conditions of the campus. Each campus then determines their own priorities. Project priorities shift based on the severity of a building’s condition and the size of the state allocation. Certain projects can only be completed when a large amount of money is allotted, while smaller initiatives take priority with less funding. “Our priorities sort of shift. If we got the full $200 million, on the Twin Cities campus, we would tackle some fairly large projects,” Swanson said. If all or the majority of $200 million is received, the third phase of a renovation to the Mechanical Engineering building would be high on the priority list on the Twin Cities
HOCKEY
Freshman Blake McLaughlin scored 23 goals with the Chicago Steel of the USHL before the Anaheim Ducks drafted him in the third round during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. But when he got to the University of Minnesota, he couldn’t get the puck in the net. For 16 games, he started goal-less with the Gophers. But against a ranked Notre Dame team on Jan. 11, McLaughlin scored to put his team up 2-0 in the third period. He has been on fire since then. “It was really frustrating the first half of the year, just not being able to play my game, and I was always kind of focused on getting the first one to open everything up,” McLaughlin said. “The term in hockey is, ‘kicking the monkey off your back.’ And that’s kind of what it felt like. You just play lighter and quicker.” McLaughlin has seven points in the last six games, including a game-winning goal with 7.8 seconds left against Notre Dame in the series finale. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native makes up one-third of the all-freshmen line of forwards with Sammy
A long list of infrastructure needs would be met pending state funding for HEAPR.
AGRICULTURE
New online webinar aims to help women in agriculture deal with field’s unique stressors The series, created by UMN alumni, detects early signs of mental illness in farmers. BY NORAH KLEVEN nkleven@mndaily.com
Two University of Minnesota alumni created a web-based seminar series designed to help women in agriculture cope with stressors that frequently occur in the industry. The webinar series, Cultivating
Resiliency for Women in Agriculture, is a research project that surveys women to provide early detection of depression and other mental illnesses caused by stressors common in the agricultural industry. With experts noticing escalating stress levels in agricultural workers, the webinar series was designed for the needs of farm women — an underserved demographic. “Stress has been building in agriculture, farming and ranching communities,” said Doris Mold, a University alumna and co-leader of the project alongside Megan Roberts, another alumna. The project was
funded by a grant through the University’s Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center and supported by Extension and other entities that support women in agriculture. Mold said stress has always been present in the agriculture industry because of uncertainties about weather and economic markets. But an increase in anxiety among those in agriculture has caused alarm for Mold and others professionals in the sector. “Megan and I have both seen quite a lot of stress with the people that we work with and that we care about,” Mold said. “There
was an opportunity rather than just wringing [our] hands and saying, ‘oh my, oh my, what do we do,’ we decided that we wanted to actually do something.” The project was launched in mid-December and will be completed in April. Facilitators will use findings from questionnaire responses to gauge the amount of stress among women working in agriculture. Roberts said she hopes the questionnaire provides a way for participants to reflect on their own stresses and needs. u See WEBINAR Page 7
VOLUME 119 ISSUE 34
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019
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Thursday, January 31, 2019 Vol. 119 No. 34
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Cooper Patch dances outside Northrop as his friend Jon Taffe records him for a skating video on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in Minneapolis.
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY
MN biennial ask nearly triples U’s The Minnesota State system has received more support than the U in past years.
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BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota’s biennial budget request is around one-third that of its state system counterpart, which may help the school make its case to lawmakers this session. In recent years, the Minnesota State system has received increased support from the Capitol while the University has seen funding lag behind their budget requests. The Minnesota State system’s request for a $246 million increase in state funding for fiscal years 2020-21 compared to the University’s $87 million may lead legislators to question recent trends. “I think Minnesota State asking for $246 million is really just out of hand and it kind of destroys their credibility,” said Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka. “Any institution can spend any amount of money.” State funding for the Minnesota State system, which has around 60,000 more students than the University, was less than or equal to that of the University until around 2015. Last biennium, Minnesota State requested $178 million in increased state support and was allocated $106 million. The University saw $54.62 million of their $147.2 million request for the same years. “I’m very aware of what our results have been relative to Minnesota State’s,” said Board of Regents Chair David McMillan. “We’d sure
HEAPR u from Page 1
campus. The project is currently priced at around $13 million. The Food Science and Nutrition building, with $15 million in estimated repairs, could also see improvements with a larger fulfillment of the request. Since 2000, the state has provide the University more than $400 million in
EDITORIAL BOARD Ellen Schneider Editorials & Opinions Editor eschneider@mndaily.com Ariana Wilson Editorial Board Member awilson@mndaily.com Hailey Almstead Editorial Board Member halmstead@mndaily.com Kelly Busche Editor-in-Chief kbusche@mndaily.com
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The Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2018.
like to do better on a relative basis than we have in the past years, and we think putting this reasonable and thoughtful, balanced approach to making sure our budget balances in front of the Legislature was the right way to go.” The House higher education finance committee chair, Rep. Connie Bernardy, DFL-New Brighton, said she hopes the Minnesota State system doesn’t compete with the University over funds. Instead, she said the fulfillment of both systems’ requests are dependent on state appropriations to the higher education committees.
“My goal is that there’s not going to be a versus, that we’re all in this together,” Bernardy said. “And if we focus on making the pie as big as possible, we don’t get into the versus.” McMillan said the University’s request was not made with any consideration of the State system’s potential ask or strategy. “I don’t know what Minnesota State did,” McMillan said. “There wasn’t any thinking to my knowledge that our ask would change relative to their ask; we developed ours independently, and as far as I know, nobody in the administration ever had a conversation about ‘we
asked for this, maybe they’ll ask for that,’” McMillan said. The Senate higher education committee chair, Sen. Paul Anderson, R-Plymouth, said he hopes the University’s request will ensure holding in-state tuition on the Twin Cities campus to a two percent increase and freeze tuition on the other campuses. “Our jobs as legislators is to really take these proposals and scrutinize them and ask the tough questions and hold the University accountable for the amount of money we give them,” Anderson said. “In my mind, we have to do everything we can to make sure those tuitions are
held at zero or reduced.” But Anderson noted the University’s 2019 capital request, which totals $232.3 million, is more than the state system’s $150 million ask. “When you look at it from the bonding request, you get a situation where the requests are flipped, so the U’s actually asking for more bonding money and MN State’s asking for less,” Anderson said. “When we come out with our budget, I’m guessing people won’t be thrilled if we don’t fully fund all of them, but at the same time I hope they feel it’s a fair process and it will all work out.”
HEAPR funds. The Andrew C. Boss Laboratory of Meat Science on the St. Paul campus recently benefited from HEAPR allocations. The entire renovation project will total $12.6 million, with over $8 million coming from bonding bills in 2016 and 2018. Ben Fink, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences manager of facilities and capital planning, said he
hopes to finish the lab with a third phase of improvements if this year’s HEAPR request is fulfilled. “The ultimate goal for the faculty in there is they want to be able to do modern research,” Fink said. “There’s all this modern science they want to be doing, and they just need reliable, robust infrastructure that can support that for decades to come.” These kinds of needs are not unique to the Andrew
Boss lab, Andrew Chan, a University Services portfolio manager, said. “Fifty percent of our buildings are over 50 years old,” Chan said. “Typical major building systems on average have a 30-year lifespan. The reliability is diminishing, so many of these systems, we physically can’t get the parts anymore. There are anecdotes about having to procure parts on eBay.” While lawmakers say
HEAPR is a good investment for the state, a bonding bill is not guaranteed this legislative session. Bonding bills are traditionally produced in even-numbered years, while odd-numbered years are dedicated to putting together the state’s biennial budget. “Nobody is committing to the fact that there will be a bonding bill yet,” said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, who sits on the House capital investment committee.
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Thursday, January 31, 2019
3
U launches new research collaborative New hub SPARC is intended to connect U of M resources with researchers. BY NATALIE RADEMACHER nrademacher@mndaily.com
Despite the below-zero temperatures and canceled classes, around 60 faculty and staff braved the cold and headed to the McNamara Alumni Center Tuesday afternoon to learn about the University of Minnesota’s new research hub. The Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative is a new tool for University faculty and staff across all system campuses to seek support and resources needed to do larger research projects. SPARC connects researchers with people at the University who have experience in areas like writing grant proposals and collaborating with people across different disciplines. It is sometimes hard for just one person to pursue large research projects, said
Amy Kircher, a co-leader for SPARC and director of the University’s Food Protection and Defense Institute. Katey Pelican, an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, is also co-leading the collaborative. As leaders, they’re working as a source of support for users. Kircher said some of their plans include working with faculty to help craft grant proposals and bringing researchers together for bigger projects. “Really big challenging research problems often require the coordination of a lot of different entities,” said Vice President for Research Chris Cramer. “That level of complexity often exceeds the ability of any one or small number of researchers to put together a competitive proposal,” he said, Some of the resources SPARC offers are help with formatting grant proposals and red teaming, which involves reviewing a proposal before it is sent off
for a formal review, Cramer said. Having a good grant proposal could determine if researchers get project funding. Jeff Standish, manager for corporate sustainability in the University’s Institute on the Environment, attended the launch event Tuesday because he wanted to learn how IonE could collaborate with SPARC. “It is great to think about how the support services that SPARC is going to offer could be utilized,” he said. While the collaboration was launched Tuesday, the idea for SPARC is not new to the University. “There have certainly been a lot of people who have refined this idea over time. … It was a culmination of all these efforts and a real willingness and support from leadership to make it a go,” Kircher said. Penny Norquist, program manager for SPARC and the Food Protection and Defense Institute, said she plans to use her experience to help users
with things like budgeting and creating timelines for their research. Funding for SPARC is coming from the Office of the Vice President of Research and the Global Program and Strategy Alliance. “I wanted to be part of this as well to make it clear to faculty that this was designed to cross all areas of the University,” Cramer said. To Cramer, SPARC will be a way to help the University go after grand challenge problems, which are problems hard to solve without interdisciplinary collaboration. “One of the reasons to do this is to try to go after grand challenge problems that we have not been as successful in the past at attracting funding for,” Cramer said. JACK RODGERS, DAILY
Amy Kircher poses for a portrait at the launch of the Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative at the McNamara Alumni Center on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Research breakthrough for diastolic heart failure New experimental research might mean treatment for the heart condition. BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com
Diastolic heart failure currently has no effective treatment, but that could change, thanks to a University of Minnesota researcher’s recent findings. Research by Samuel Dudley, academic chief of cardiology in the University’s Medical School, found that magnesium may help treat the heart condition. There are two types of heart failure: systolic and diastolic, Dudley said. With systolic heart failure, the heart doesn’t contract well, which limits its ability to pump blood effectively. In diastolic heart failure, the heart fails to relax properly. In Dudley’s experiment, mice were fed high-fat diets to induce diabetes. All of those diabetic mice ended up developing diastolic dysfunction, a condition in which the heart fails to relax but heart failure
has yet to fully develop. Half of the mice were then fed magnesium-infused water. Magnesium can deoxidize the heart cells, which could ease the effects of the condition. “If you had a therapy [treatment] and identify [those with diastolic dysfunction] … you can prevent the disease from ever coming on in the first place, rather than waiting until you have it and then treating it,” Dudley said. Diastolic dysfunction is estimated to be found in up to 50 percent of people over 70. But with no proven effective treatments on the market, a large portion of the population has to suffer with little to no relief, said Mayo Clinic cardiologist Barry Borlaug. “Most other cardiac diseases we have treatments for, but unfortunately we’ve got nothing for these patients with diastolic heart failure,” Borlaug said. “We have literally millions of Americans and people worldwide suffering every day with severe symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue, and we don’t have anything to give them.”
“We have literally millions of Americans and people worldwide suffering every day with severe symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue, and we don’t have anything to give them.” BARRY BOURLAUG Mayo Clinic cardiologist
The new treatment c o u l d s a v e m a n y f ro m experiencing the extensive medical procedures currently associated with heart failure. Patrick Sullivan was 38 years old and working as an executive for a computer business when he was diagnosed with heart failure in 1993. Though he was in denial and maintained his high-stress lifestyle, a change in health led to a change in heart: he realized that he may leave his wife a widow and his young son fatherless.
Art department’s virtual reality studio sees new uses at UMN Students, faculty find innovative uses for the new VR technology. BY KAIT ECKER kecker@mndaily.com
An innovation grant awarded to the University of Minnesota’s art department last summer is reaping benefits as students and faculty grow accustomed to the virtual reality studio. The University’s art department received an $18,000 Innovation Grant from Liberal Arts Technologies and Innovation Services in July to develop a space for virtual reality technology. LATIS and the art department spent the first half of fall semester setting up the VR studio and the last half troubleshooting and experimenting with the technology. With the grant, the department purchased three VR headsets and three computers capable of running VR and 3D software. Art-based uses for the VR technology may include virtually conceptualizing a sculpture before using costly materials, building VR galleries of personal art and creating immersive worlds to explore. “Actually using VR to sculpt, it’s as intuitive as you can get,” said Tristan Klancke, a mechanical engineering student. “It’s your hands, it’s your body; you move your head where you want to look, you move your hands where you want to be.”
Klancke took a virtual project into the physical realm by 3D-printing a model of art he created in VR, a process that is new to the art department. Klancke said he enjoyed using the technology so much that he bought his own VR setup. He was introduced to the VR technology through Mark Schoening’s Introduction to Digital Drawing class. Since Schoening integrated the technology into the course, he encourages students to explore the technology outside of class. “We’re all learning together, and that also creates an excitement about this space,” Schoening said. Clarence Morgan, an art department professor, said he makes a point of introducing his students to all the tools available to them through the department, which now includes the VR studio. But as a more tactile, hands-on artist, Morgan wants to touch and feel the art he creates, and VR technology does not allow for that, he said. “I don’t see an application personally as an artist, as a creative person, for myself. But that doesn’t mean I should deny that to the students that I work with,” Morgan said. The VR studio is frequently used for class work and projects now that the technology is set up and students and faculty are learning how to use it, said Pearl Davis, the VR student support technician for the studio. “Brandon, the grad student, he’s in here all the time, and you can tell that the work’s
“We’re all learning together, and that also creates an excitement about this space.” MARK SCHOENING UMN art professor
improving,” Davis said. “It’s a new technology, and we’re all kind of starting from the exact same point of a lack of knowledge and building that knowledge.” Brandon Chambers, a printmaker in the art department’s graduate program, said he’s focused on bringing “various different forms of technology into more traditional practices.” This semester, he said he is turning virtual art into something tangible, like 2D screen printing a design that was a 3D virtual art piece. Schoening said the technology can empower students in his class, and he hopes to use it to challenge notions of their capabilities. “What’s so exciting about bringing people into VR is that there is a fullbody engagement with the work,” Schoening said. “It’s incredibly gratifying as a teacher to watch someone who’s maybe hesitant to put on the headset ... make their first gesture. And suddenly, their whole body moves around it, and it becomes this wonderful dance to watch.”
JASMIN KEMP, DAILY
Assistant professor Dr. Hong Liu performs an in vivo cardiac electrophysiology test on Friday, Jan. 25. The test is conducted to examine the inducibility of arrhythmia.
For years, he grappled with the reality of living with heart failure. According to one study, approximately 50 percent of people die within five years of their diagnosis. However, Sullivan survived with the help of three pacemakers, eight stents, more than 20 cardioversions, 14 different
types of medication taken daily and, eventually, a heart transplant. When his health recovered, Sullivan and a friend started a foundation that aims to help provide financial assistance for families affected by heart failure and heart transplants. Though there are
no cures, experimental treatments like Dudley’s may help provide a second chance for Sullivan and others who experience heart failure. “Research is so important,” Sullivan said. “[Treatments] would help people not just experience life, but actually live it.”
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019
ART
Local artist fires up unique glass artwork CULTURE TO CONSUME BY SAMIR FERDOWSI
Experience this: Chinese New Year With the Chinese New Year sparkling on the horizon, check out a slew of ways to experience this dazzling holiday throughout next week. From lunch specials to outstanding performances, the Twin Cities hosts a large population of celebrators — try breaking out of your comfort zone and join the fun!
Stay this: Cozy Fall-asleep-before-you-leavethe-house cozy is what you should be on these cold winter days. Take advice from A$AP Mob and bust out your grooviest of sweaters, jiggiest of warm-up pants and baggiest of sweatshirts to stay warm and drip with heat for these next few months. Take some time off, throw on Cozy Tapes: Vol. 1 and 2 and vibe out — know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout?
CULTURE COMPASS BY SAMIR FERDOWSI
Friday: G Herbo at Skyway Theatre The self-proclaimed “nondrill rapper” (debatable) heads to Skyway Theatre this Friday for a show that will undoubtedly trap. Coming from Chicago, the rapper is used to getting rowdy crowds going and mosh pits forming. Having recently released his new single “Up It,” you can be ready for new slaps like this one, and old tracks like “Lord Knows” to charge the night with super sounds.
Where: Skyway Theatre, 711 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Hours: 8:00 p.m. Cost: $25
Saturday: Bauhaus Brew Labs Pupper Bowl It’s kind of Super Bowl related but — let’s be real — not really. Head to Bauhaus Brew Labs on Saturday for some good drinks and a lot of puppies. With their second annual Pupper Bowl, the establishment invites everyone to come in and partake in puppy-centric activities. Broken down by weight class, enter your “pupper” to win different “bowls” throughout the day. Entering your “doggo” gets you two beers and your contestant a bandana. Don’t have a player of your own? Stop by early for an adoption event to draft your newest addition to the family. Down, set, bark!
Where: Bauhaus Brew Labs, 1315 Tyler St. NE., Minneapolis Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $16 to participate (21+, all ages can watch)
Sunday: Minneapolis Motorcycle Show Dreaming of cruising into the sunset without getting frostbite? Same. On Sunday, fantasize a little more and head to the Minneapolis Motorcycle show downtown to take a look at some sweet bikes. From classics that you can picture James Dean hopping on, to Shibuyaworthy crotch rockets, this international show takes a pit stop here in the cities. With simulations, the show will leave you ready to pack up and head for the open road.
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave. S., Minneapolis Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $16
Chris Ahalt shatters expectations of refined glass blowing art — one $1,000 pipe at a time.
BY SAMIR FERDOWSI sferdowsi@mndaily.com
When someone says street art, what comes to mind? Graffiti? Sculptures? How about glass? In 1998, Chris Ahalt, was taken under the wing (or kiln) of the Minnesota street art scene. Now, he is a pioneer in the Minneapolis flame-working scene, makes one-of-a-kind glass balloon pieces and showcases his talent across the world. “I’d always liked glass, but had no idea how to work with it ... but I thought I’d give it a shot,” said Ahalt at Legacy Glassworks during his showcase “FROZEN” on Friday night. “The thing is, if you were decent at it back in ‘98, you were making a living off it. There just weren’t many people doing it.” Brought up on the likes of graffiti and hooliganism, Ahalt graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2000 with a major in sculpture and furniture design. After graduating, Ahalt began to focus heavily on his glasswork and took an apprenticeship in Venice, Italy. Here, Ahalt says, he truly started to refine his style and niche narrative. “The whole idea was to stick with endangered animals, and then I quickly realized that everything was endangered,” said Ahalt. “But with that in mind, my pipes are all strung-up and bound — this makes it a much better narrative than a functional piece.” From hippos to elephants to iguanas, Ahalt’s work captures vivid emotion. “Glass balloon pipes” as he calls them, these pieces look like
ELLE MOULIN, DAILY
Mitchell Carlson works on a glass piece on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Legacy Glassworks in Minneapolis.
something out of a Dr. Seuss book ... with an air of seriousness. About one foot tall, gorgeously intricate and light as air, these translucent pastel shards reflect surrounding light and emanate struggle. Each animal is “tied” to a base piece that supports the sculpture. With its underbelly or
leg cinched with rope, the animals’ texture looks as though it’s made from a bed sheet. Remember, this is glass we’re talking about. But wait. What is glass blowing exactly? “You break it down and it’s like putting parts together. It’s a long process,” Ahalt said. “You have to use breath to create each
tube and then treat it like a sculpture.” With torches blazing and kiln firing, each piece can take weeks to complete. Molding, bending and finessing each glass rod into the desired product is a process Ahalt says can be exhausting, but always worth it. With some pieces ex-
ceeding the $1,000 mark at Legacy’s showcase on Friday, we’d say so, too. “The level of detail that he puts into it really makes Chris unique,” said Legacy Glasswork’s founder and curator Josh Wilken-Simon. “There are a lot of glassblowers out there, but he is just so, so unique. All of his pieces tell a story.” Starting with $200 from a grocery store gig and his cousin’s artwork, WilkenSimon opened up Legacy Glassworks in Duluth. Now with a gallery in Minneapolis as well, he regularly teams up with Ahalt for events in the Uptown showroom. This sort of “from the ground up” mentality is what keeps the glass blowing community alive in frigid Minnesota. “When I first started getting into this stuff, which was like six months ago, I kind of looked at Chris’s pieces and thought they were kinda goofy,” said “FROZEN” show attendee and Mankato State student Chris Bilech. “But now that I’m really into it, I get so much inspiration from these super awesome pieces.” F ro m y o u n g t o o l d , Ahalt has truly blown the way for artists to break into the niche art from. “Ahalt’s work is so much more intricate and detailed than what I normally see,” said show attendee Katie Sauer. “I really want to get into it, but I have two young kids and work.”’ Ahalt, on the other hand, makes sure to stay giddy every time he goes into work. “I like tedious things. It’s so satisfying to open the kiln and seeing how the shiny pieces turn out. It’s like Christmas,” said Ahalt. “Truthfully, though, I hate the heat. So yeah, that doesn’t make sense.” Well, your work is fire, Chris — so I’d get used to it.
ACTIVITIES
A&E explores: Top three adrenaline-fueled Twin Cities spots to get your stoke on BY SAMIR FERDOWSI sferdowsi@mndaily.com
The X Games just finished up over in Aspen. If you’re like A&E, something is now missing in life — while walking to class you wish you were skiing, getting some sweet air and having pine trees zip by. But, there is hope. Brave the Minnesota tundra and check out these three places that will satisfy the need for speed and get you yelling, “yeewww!” Buck Hill 15400 Buck Hill Rd., Burnsville, Minnesota No pow? No problem. The Twin Cities is rolling with plenty of slopes to carve or get some sick air on. We’re not Vail, but hey. There’s still plenty of stoke to go around. Buck Hill in particular is a place to go if you want some serious adrenaline running through your veins. These slopes raised Olympian and world champion Lindsey Vonn, so clearly it’s doing something right. In particular, hit Buck if you want to shred in the park. With sick rails and some awesome boxes, it can cater to the newest bunny rider or a full-on park rat. “We’re in an urban environment here, so we always make sure there is something here for everyone,” said Buck Hill Program Director Erik Moe. “We try hard so that the community can come and just shred,” he said. What makes the Burnsville “mountain” stand out, though? Driving past it on the highway will tell you. Buck boasts a fully-fledged halfpipe and X-Games style jumps. Straight gnar. “The rush you get from this stuff is so incredible,” said snowboarder Luke Allen.
“You can launch out and get big air, all around it’s just really fun.” Mute grabs, zudnicks and even spread eagles — it’s your choice, just hit ‘em hard. Ice Climbing in Robinson Park Old Wagon Rd., Sandstone, Minnesota Want more of an all-body workout? Grab your ice axes, helmet and crampons, and head to Sandstone, Minnesota for some real-deal ice climbing. One of only three ice climbing farms in the country, Sandstone has major climbing clout in both winter and summer. In the summer, the cliffs hold both top rope and lead options. It’s in the winter, though, where ‘scending gets a lot more unique. With a handful of routes to take, these cliffs are a perfect way to try the sport of ice climbing or get back into the groove. “Ice climbing has a super awesome, super niche community here in Minnesota,” said Minnesota Climbing Association board member Peter Lenz. “You just have to remember to be safe while doing this sport. Get a mentor and get out there!” Sound like fun? Check out the University of Minnesota’s Recreation and Wellness Center website for guided trips and weekend clinics on how to break into the sport — ‘scend it! 3rd Lair Skate Park 850 Florida Ave. S., Golden Valley, Minnesota On days where the polar vortex decides to act up, staying inside is probably the best move — no matter how much you want to go outside for that stoke. It’s on these days where
“The rush you get from this stuff is so incredible. You can launch out and get big air, alla round it’s just really fun.” LUKE ALLEN snowboarder
you should dust off your deck and hit 3rd Lair skate park in Golden Valley. 3rd Lair has fostered the Minneapolis skate community since its conception in February 1997. As the host of many competitions and even curating its own skate team, the park is up to the West Coast standards for sure. Big drop-ins, countless ramps and a giant pool are few of the sick options to try some routes on. The park is so massive, there are different levels only accessible by riding up different ramps. Seriously, this place is sick. “3rd is dope because of all the different features and people that go there,” said biology, society and environment senior Dinesh Dakshinamoorthy. “Plus, the vibes are just so right.” True. The park is littered with beautiful graffiti murals and stellar street art — all from local Twin Cities artists. If you’re feeling creative with your friends, bring an old VHS camera with a fish eye and film your combos — just never forget to keep the stoke on 10. Minnesota isn’t Colorado, California or British Columbia — but we don’t need it to be. Get out there and explore, there’s plenty to see.
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
UPPER: Ian George, 14, completes a large jump at Buck Hill on Saturday, Jan 26. LOWER: Jake Johnson, 15, grabs the tip of his skis after taking off from a large jump at Buck Hill on Saturday, Jan 26.
6
Sports MEN’S HOCKEY
Hockey u from Page 1
father died from a heart attack when Blake was 10, and Jake Bischoff’s mother died of cancer when Jake was in high school. Then, their parents got married and a giant hockey-playing family of seven siblings was formed. Jordan McLaughlin, Blake’s older sister, is currently a senior forward at Mankato State University. “We’ve gotten pretty close over the past few years with just him excelling in hockey, and he played in Chicago last year. That’s where I was,” said Jake Bischoff, who is a defenseman with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves, an affiliate of the Las Vegas Golden Knights. “He’s a great kid, hard worker in hockey and school, and sort of everything. He’s a gritty hockey player, and skilled too. It’s pretty fun to watch him, that’s for sure.” McLaughlin said the family never really talks about hockey at the dinner table, except on Christmas Day, when the whole family plays a game of pond hockey and McLaughlin plays the position he started out as: goalie. “It’s not what you’d expect. We just like to joke around, we’re more of a card family. We don’t really talk hockey at the house,” McLaughlin said. McLaughlin is the only Gophers men’s hockey player from the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. Most of the players come from the suburban cities around the metro area. For instance, seven players on the roster are from Edina, a city just southwest of Minneapolis. However, he said he takes pride in being the lone player from the northern part of the state. “Representing Grand Rapids and the Iron Range, that’s something you take seriously. You don’t want to screw up that reputation. Rapids has been great to me, and hopefully I can be great to them in the future,” said McLaughlin. He said that MondayWednesday practices were all outdoors from when he was in Peewees to Bantams (from about ages 11-15). They would just play 3-on-3 hockey, developing a style of play that he said might be a little bit more gritty than the “city kids.” Though he was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft before this season, McLaughlin said he didn’t dream about the NHL growing up. He dreamed about playing for the Gophers. “We saw it coming all along, but it’s starting to show up quite a bit. I think he’s starting to get his confidence a little bit, and starting to build his game and transitioning pretty well,” said Gophers captain Tyler Sheehy.
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
Ona Loper regains confidence after return from season-ending injury
Loper led the team in floor exercise and vault scoring prior to her injury. BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com
Ona Loper’s freshman year was more than anyone expected from the young gymnast. The Bluffton, South Carolina native was in the midst of a fantastic first few months, leading the team in floor exercise and vault scoring. She finished on the podium for both events four times each, including placing first in vault twice and on floor once. “I was pretty surprised with myself,” Loper said. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the pressure, especially in college, but ... I was really happy with how I was doing, especially on vault and floor.” However, her success was abruptly postponed when she suffered a torn Achilles tendon in late February, which ended her season and sidelined her until September. “We were so pleased with her development and how well she was doing, so the injury was pretty devastating to her and to us because she was definitely a bright spot for us on the team,” said head coach
Jenny Hansen. “We knew that for us to really reach our potential, we needed her to be healthy.” The team came in fourth in the Minneapolis Regional last spring, which is a finish Loper could have helped improve. Loper said she struggled with the idea that she was not able to help her teammates compete the rest of the season, but knew she would be able to make a strong return if she focused on rehab. “I think through the [rehab] process I learned to love the sport again because it made me realize how much I missed it,” Loper said. The torn Achilles was the first serious injury of Loper’s career and usually calls for a recovery time of 7-9 months. Loper returned to the mats after six. “She was so diligent with the rehab … she was so determined to have a great comeback. She came back ahead of schedule [and is] competing in all-around now,” Hansen said. “She exceeded our expectations in how quickly she’d come back.” After a speedy recovery and rehab, Loper has returned to the Gopher rotation. However, she has struggled to regain the consistency and form she had prior to her injury. In the first meet of the
COURTNEY DEUTZ, DAILY
ABOVE: Sophomore Ona Loper practices on the beam on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Peik Gymnasium on East Bank. BELOW: Sophomore Ona Loper cheers on a teammate as they dismount from the bar during practice on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Peik Gymnasium on East Bank.
season, she finished 18th on the floor exercise and 22nd on balance beam. However, she remained strong on vault, finishing in second. “I need confidence in all my landings, especially since the numbers haven’t been there,” she said. “Having confidence in myself that I am as good as I was before.” Head coach Jenny Hansen is not worried about Loper’s rough start. “I’m not surprised [she’s] not quite at that level yet because in the past she was
doing things she’d always done,” Hansen said. “We can see a difference [in] her now than even from the first meet.” Last week’s scores against Iowa show she may be regaining the consistency and confidence she has been searching for. She finished second on vault, fourth on bars, third on beam and fifth on floor. “I’m just trying to take it meet by meet, [I don’t] really have too high of expectations for myself. Putting pressure on myself just doesn’t work,” Loper said.
“I still have to rely on my mental training a lot more than I used to. Every week I’m starting to get back to where my confidence used to be.” The team will be relying on Loper even more than last year. She has taken on a bigger role as an all-around competitor. She also has been assigned a tougher vault routine than she is used to. “As soon as she gets her confidence there, she is going to be one of the best vaulters in the country,” Hansen said.
WRESTLING
Steve Bleise feels right at home in second year with the Gophers Bleise transferred to UMN last year after wrestling for Northern Illinois. BY DAVID MULLEN dmullen@mndaily.com
One year after arriving in Dinkytown from Illinois, Gophers wrestler Steve Bleise is starting to feel right at home. Bleise transferred to the University of Minnesota from Northern Illinois last season, which he said was a big transition. This year has been a lot easier. “This year was a lot smoother than last,” Bleise said. “After being here a full year, I can say that the transition was a lot easier after becoming acclimated to the guys and building a good relationship with the coaching staff.” Bleise said he ultimately chose Minnesota because of its rich history and traditions. “This is a winning team, they’ve been national champions multiple times,” Bleise said. He also added that he believed Minnesota gave him the best opportunity to reach his full potential.
Last season, Bleise wrestled in the 149-weight class. However, this year, head coach Brandon Eggum and his fellow coaching staff believed Bleise could move up and succeed. “Last year at 149, he was a big 149-pounder,” Eggum said. He added that he spoke to his fellow coaches last season about the move, coming to the conclusion it would be best for the team moving forward. Bleise said he was made aware of the change in his weight class at the end of last season. Since the switch, Bleise is 12-3 this season, earning him the No. 10 ranking in the 157-weight class as of Jan. 30. When asked about Bleise’s transition, coach Eggum had a concise response. “He’s done a great job,” Eggum said. “The thing about Steve is he’s just a tough kid, and I knew coming into this he could compete at any weight class.” The change has been great, Bleise said. He’s constantly happy because he doesn’t worry about his weight as much. “I get to come in and focus on being
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Luke Becker and Steve Bleise practice in the current wrestling space in Bierman Athletic complex. The University wrestling team received donations to move from their current practice facility to previous basketball practice facilities.
the best guy I can be without having the cloud of weight over my head,” Bleise said. Even though it’s the redshirt senior’s last year of eligibility, Bleise said he’s
putting a little extra into this season. “I told myself since I’m a senior, you know, this is my last shot, and I want to make every opportunity
count,” Bleise said. Most importantly, he wants to “enjoy [my senior season] and I want to end my career the way I want to remember it.” Bleise and the rest of the
Gophers return to action Sunday as they host Purdue at Maturi Pavilion. Erik Nelson contributed to this story.
7
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Cold u from Page 1
Thursday. Although campus was closed, University students still needed to complete their assignments, essential employees still needed to work and businesses, not wanting to lose revenue, stayed open.
Campus closed for many While the University has canceled classes due to extreme weather in the past, Cherrene Horazuk said a full-campus shutdown is uncommon. Horazuk is the president of AFSCME 3800, the union for local clerical workers at the University. She’s worked at the University for 14 years. On Tuesday, AFSCME 3800 sent a letter to President Eric Kaler demanding the University, in addition to canceling classes, close the campus for its employees. Horazuk said the administration did not appear to be considering the safety of its workers and faculty. Later that day, the University announced that the campus would be closed and requested only essential employees to come into work on Wednesday. “We were actually surprised that they changed their decision,” Horazuk said. “We recognize and honor the work that essential employees are doing to make sure the University is staying safe, but we’re glad the University decided to close overall.” Minnesota state statute defines essential employees are those who work in law enforcement, nursing
professional units and supervisory units. “I’d like to recognize the University administration for actually listening to people and making the right decision,” Horazuk said. Ashley Bonk, a thirdyear student, was happy about the cancellations. Although she normally has no class on Wednesdays, she was excited because she knew all her roommates were going to be home. “I plan on not leaving the house entirely. I plan on watching movies and that’s about it,” she said.
Dinkytown remains active Despite cold tempera-
tures, students were still hiking around Dinkytown on Wednesday. Kevin Monagan, a student studying English and political science, still made his way to the Dinkytown Starbucks in the early afternoon on Wednesday. “For me, I was curious what it was like outside,” he said. Halia Parrott, a thirdyear student studying nursing, braved the cold for an iced coffee. “I’m going inside for the rest of the day,” she said as she left, clutching her cold beverage. While a small number of Dinkytown businesses were closed, many like Blarney Pub and Grill, Target and Wally’s Falafel, Hummus
and Bakery were still open, serving the few customers who decided to brave the cold weather. Blarney, a popular bar in Dinkytown, was adamant about remaining open. “No way we’re closing early tonight,” said Ben Rouse, a Blarney employee.“People like to drink when it’s cold because it keeps them warm,” he said. Rouse said that Tuesday evening was a “pretty wild night,” despite the cold temperatures. Alaina Friedrich, a fourth-year student, said she did not notice how cold it was when she left her home earlier in the day, and she might be desensitized to “anything below zero.”
Total on Waitlist for Boynton Mental Health Clinic By Semester
35
Total on Waitlist Peak at One Time
200
100
0
Fall 2014
Spring 2015
Fall 2015
Spring 2016
Fall 2016
Spring 2017
Fall 2017
Spring 2018
Fall 2018
# of Full-Time Employees
300
Total on Waitlist
ELLE MOULIN, DAILY
Pema Lhewa keeps warm on the campus connector on Tuesday, Jan. 29 in St. Paul. All classes at the University of Minnesota starting after noon on Tuesday were canceled due to extremely low temperatures.
u from Page 1
resources. And sometimes, it can be a combination of both of those things,” said
Steve Hermann, director of Boynton Mental Health. The consultation lasts 20 to 30 minutes and is often scheduled the day a student walks into the clinic or within 24 hours. After this
meeting, a student will have a full therapy appointment within two weeks. “The whole goal of that meeting is to collect enough information so we can make good recommendations
ABBY ADAMSKI, DAILY
Webinar u from Page 1
As of Monday, the webinar has drawn 407 total viewers. Viewers are primarily in Minnesota, but the range of viewers spans the country, with some even from as far as British Columbia, Roberts said. A unique stress The stress women in agriculture face is unique, in part because of the demands of the industry. The agricultural industry gives little time for vacation and a lot of general uncertainty. Roberts and Mold emphasized financial woes as the biggest stressor for male and female farmers. Mold said mental health concerns for farmers are under-researched, and that the profession has a high suicide rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control, those who worked
in farming, forest and fishing industries had the seventh-highest rate of suicide among occupations in the U.S. in 2015. For women, the already difficult profession has an added layer of stress. Women are usually tasked with taking care of their families and their homes — essentially working two full-time jobs, according to Mold and Roberts. Roberts said the webinar was designed for women because their unique needs lack recognition in the agriculture industry. The webinar aims to ensure women take care of themselves in order to take care of others, as their role on a farm often requires. Emily Annexstad, a third-year University student studying animal science and agricultural communication and marketing, is a third-generation farmer. She grew up on her
family farm in St. Peter, Minnesota. “[Farming] has always been a big part of my life,” Annexstad said. “I really loved growing up on a farm.” In her family, Annexstad noticed her mother and grandmother played important and demanding roles. They helped both with agricultural operations and family care. The fluctuating prices of dairy and other commodities led to inconsistent income, which made it hard for her family to invest in the farm. Although the series is designed specifically for women operating in the agricultural industry, Mold said the sessions can help anyone of any gender and in any occupation. “A big takeaway message is whoever we are, we have to deal with our own issues first if we’re going to be good for anyone else,” Mold said.
Students from warmer climates brave the polar vortex
Ernie Lopez, a fourthyear student from Long Beach, California, said he was not too worried about the frigid temperatures. However, not all students from warmer climates are prepared to deal with cold weather. International Student Scholar Services hosts a number of sessions throughout the year that are designed to help international students succeed
Mental Health Clinic Provider for Full-Time Employees
30 25 20 15
Source: Boynton Health
Boynton
Her toughness against the weather, she said, could probably be attributed to being Minnesotan.
at the University, including one preparing them for the brutal Minnesota cold. Students are taught how to dress for winter, stay active, combat isolation and navigate the University during its coldest days, said Nasreen Mohamed, the organizer of the sessions. Mohamed said students are often either terrified of the cold weather or don’t believe how cold it can actually get. Joao Castro, a secondyear student from Brazil, has attended the winter preparation session two times because he found it helpful. “In Brazil, we never get a temperature lower than 40 degrees,” he said. “When you get [to Minnesota] you aren’t expected to need to know how to deal with winter.” While Minnesotan winters are hard for some students to deal with, they are a draw for others. “I chose to apply to college in the [Northern United States] only so I can experience the snow and all different seasons,” said Leslie Li, a student from the southern coast of China. Li said her freshman year was hard because she was unprepared for the cold. Juliana Ramos, a graduate student from Brazil, said she was not used to the winter at all. “I think after my first winter, I knew how to dress better,” she said. She said they don’t even make the clothes needed for Minnesota winters in Brazil. She said she is jealous of her friends and family back in Brazil. “They’re talking about a beach, and I can’t even leave my house,” Ramos said.
to the student,” said Matt Hanson, assistant director of Boynton Mental Health. “We can help here [at Boynton], or you might be better served by going to the community.”
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Source: Boynton Health About 15 to 20 percent of students are referred to community providers, Hermann said. “It depends on what the student wants and needs,” Hermann said. “But we do
have a case manager and medical social worker to help with those referrals. Normally, students are able to get started in the community within one to two weeks.”
8 THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
Editorials & Opinions
COLUMN
EDITORIAL
Schools across the country take a stand on whether yearbook photos can include guns
U must consider student safety more regularly
More than 100 people across the U.S. were injured or killed in mass shootings in schools last year.
T
he gun debate in America has seemed neverending. Last year was the deadliest year for school shootings in the U.S. Over 100 people ALEEZEH HASAN were injured columnist or killed in mass shootings that took place in American schools. Shootings continue to cause fear in Americans, and the debate on gun control remains divisive. Supporters of the Second Amendment refuse to give up their rights to carry while people on the left push for stricter laws surrounding gun ownership. When I was in high school and working as an editor for my school newspaper, our adviser would urge us to remove all mentions of guns. Any jokes related to murder or shootings would immediately be redacted from the paper. He explained that in the age of school shootings, these mentions were insensitive and distasteful, and that we may unintentionally be encouraging or perpetuating acts of violence. I found these comments valid, but I also did not find censorship of the paper to be correct within certain contexts. While written words in a paper may have an impact on an individual person who has
premeditated a mass shooting, the use of a photo would not likely cause such tragedy. Students are the ones who are most impacted by the stances taken in the debate over school shootings. Across the U.S., high school seniors are currently submitting their senior pictures to their yearbooks. While many students pose with sports gear or instruments, some students have chosen to pose with their rifles. This non-traditional picture has led to controversy within individual school boards.
Last year was the deadliest year for school shootings in the U.S. Over 100 people were injured or killed in mass shootings that took place in American schools.
In Nebraska, some school districts have decided to allow senior pictures that involve guns. These districts have decided to look at each photo on a case-by-case basis. Photos that feature a student posing with their gun slung on their back are viewed as acceptable. While photos that feature a cocked rifle are not allowed, the argument that was made for these photos was that many students use their guns for sport. Hunters and shooting sports should be allowed into the yearbook as much as a football or a tennis racket. The
Nebraska school’s review is justified. As long as no form of harm or violence is displayed in the pictures, there is no reason for it to be removed. While Nebraskan schools opted for some allowances, a student’s photo of him posing with his hunting rifle was denied in May. The principal contended that students were not allowed to bring weapons of any form onto school property, so the yearbook should be treated the same way. I believe it’s fair for the principal to disallow pictures of certain items. But when it comes to guns, they can also be used for sport. A baseball bat could be used to seriously injure someone, but the main purpose of the object is to play a game. If students are allowed to pose with baseball bats or hockey sticks, guns should be admissible as well. When it comes to gun control, posing with a rifle isn’t what should be found offensive. The real problem are the bloody deaths that occur in places of education. It is doubtful that school shooters view photos in yearbooks and then decide to act. Students who hold their gun in a way that isn’t threatening should be able to submit photos with guns. Athletes who participate in archery are able to pose with arrows. Guns used for recreational purposes shouldn’t be viewed differently. The only true way to end mass school shootings is to enact stricter gun control laws. Targeting high school students who use their guns for sport is not the answer.
Aleezeh Hasan welcomes comments at ahasan@mndaily.com.
The U of M canceled classes on Wednesday after temperatures hit record lows near Minneapolis. Minnesota has faced dangerously cold temperatures this week, with Minneapolis experiencing a windchill of 50 degrees below zero midday on Tuesday and just over 40 degrees below zero Wednesday at noon. Even with the polar vortex, many students feared classes would remain in session due to the University of Minnesota’s seemingly strict policy on class cancellations and campus closures. However, the University shocked us all with its nearly two-day closure, a decision that was made late Monday evening. While Minnesota is expected to warm up in the next few weeks, we encourage the University to consider implementing campus shutdowns more frequently on necessary occasions. The University is quite shy when it comes to closures — as shown in the past year. Students are expected to trudge through snow and blistering cold multiple times each year. Just over one year ago, students had to trudge through nearly 15-inches of snow and walk against 30 mph winds; weather conditions that led Gov. Mark Dayton to declare a snow emergency as well as cause the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport and the Minneapolis Public Schools to shut down. Though the University remained open, professors were free to cancel class at their discretion. Mike Berthelesen, vice president for University Services, told the Minnesota Daily that many factors must be looked at in shutting down the University. Furthermore, the last time the entire University was shut down was the early 1990s, according to Berthlesen. Even when the Twin Cities and surrounding areas were hit with 15 to 20 inches of snow in mid-April, the University only granted students a partial day off. While Minnesota’s snowy climate is not something that can be avoided, the safety of students, especially those who commute, should prevail over a few missed classes. Students shouldn’t be left wondering whether they have to risk the roads to go to class or be reprimanded for being absent. When it comes to these uncomfortable incidents, the University should continue considering how students and faculty may be impacted. For example, the University tweeted on Monday that it is “closely monitoring the weather & expect to make a decision about any weather-related announcements by midday Tuesday.” However, a large majority of students commute daily to campus and need to be notified before midday that classes are canceled. This statement, released on Twitter, led more than 70 people to send backlash to the University in regards to commuters and the security of faculty and students. Ultimately, the University needs to continue recognizing the safety of all students, staff and faculty as it relates to Minnesota weather. While it may take time and lengthy discussions to cancel classes or close down the University, it should be done for the well-being of students and faculty. EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.
Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.
COLUMN
Decoding statistics of campus loneliness Surveys seem to suggest college students are lonely, but they do not offer us a real reason why.
C
oming into college, my vision of what my four years would be like was something like Vampire Weekend’s first album, “Vampire Weekend.” I pictured myself as someone who would JONATHAN ABABIY frequently be in columnist rooms like the ones in the album’s eponymous cover art: beautiful chandeliered rooms full of attractive people socializing, having a good time, perhaps talking about books. I would be like someone from the song “Campus,” a guy who napped on balconies in between classes in the romances and hanging out with friends who wore keffiyehs. Two years in, I think it’s safe to say that my college experience has not been a Vampire Weekend song. Uprooted from home, paying for school myself, I have spent many more nights underneath a plain popcorn ceiling by myself than underneath a chandelier with boisterous friends. Now in a campus apartment, I can’t just
walk into the living room and see my family. College is the first time I’ve been alone and away from them for a meaningful period of time. I’ve loved my time at the University of Minnesota, but it hasn’t been without loneliness. I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way. The American College Health Association backs me up. In its spring 2018 national survey of college campuses, just over 27 percent of college students reported feeling very lonely in the last two weeks, while an additional approximately 13 percent have reported feeling that way within the last month. Another survey by the insurance company Cigna found that our generation — Generation Z — was the most lonely in a country where only 53 percent report they have a meaningful social interaction with someone on a daily basis. Our generation’s loneliness and its causes have become something of a meme. Magazines have done big, serious stories about my generation’s use of smartphones. Scientists have raced to run studies on how social media and technology have affected us — a solid 15 years after our addiction set in. Newspaper editorials and columns beseech us for not being social like we used to be. Yet, in another campus survey, the Student Experience in the Research University, everything seems to be mostly fine. Run by the University’s Office of Institutional Research, the SERU is a big survey that measures how students feel about school and what they think they’re getting from it. Over 80 percent of
students were at least somewhat satisfied with their social experience on campus, according to the spring 2017 SERU survey. Another approximately 63 percent are participating in campus student organizations. It seems like the SERU survey conflicts with others that show that we are a lonely generation, much more so than the others. The SERU doesn’t measure loneliness like a psychology survey, but the survey’s questions about campus participation seem to be showing all the marks of a healthy and active generation. What I think is that these two things appear together. We are the loneliest generation. One scroll through Twitter can prove that to you. But for many, it’s just a vibe or general feeling. For a whole segment of our generation, it’s a persistent feeling. The SERU found that nearly 20 percent of surveyed students are somewhat dissatisfied with their social experience. The frustrating thing about these surveys is they don’t tell you why everyone’s lonely, and the smart phones and technology explanation you hear in the media feels too simple. We don’t know why we’re so lonely, but I guess it’s on us to talk to each other and figure it out.
Jonathan Ababiy welcomes comments at jababiy@mndaily.com.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (1/31): Communication profits this year. Share your affection and kindness steadily. Study to unveil a mystery. Summer glory for your crew comes before physical obstacles alert you to stop and smell the roses. Follow your heart this winter. Express your creativity and passion.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Written by Nancy Black
Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is a 9 — Discover incredible beauty along the road. Stop and admire the view. Pay a kindness forward. Contribute anonymous acts of kindness.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Good news travels fast. Connect with your networks to share in an exciting conversation. Provide words of encouragement and inspiration.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — Find hidden resources when you least expect it. Surprising actions lead to an unexpected windfall to shared accounts.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 9 — Your efforts can generate new profits. Pace yourself and take regular breaks for better results. Make lucrative deals and shift your schedule.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 9 — Fall in love with your partner all over again. Find beauty in places you weren’t looking. Work together for common joys and enthusiasms
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 9 — Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. You have the power, once your batteries are charged. Focus on what brings you happiness.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is an 8 — Make extra time for health and wellness. Enjoy a walk outside or other energetic ritual. Discover unexpected beauty or benefit. Try new flavors.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 7 — Rest, and consider long-range goals. Imagine your dream team, and make a list. Plot the possibilities. Use the idea as an excuse for a fun connection.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — You’re especially persuasive and charming. Make a lovely connection with someone attractive. Romance develops naturally.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — Discover a magical moment with friends. You can realize a shared vision. Create something beautiful together. Share a perfect sunset or lovely view.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 7 — Weave love into your nest. Seek and find your own domestic bliss. Consider beauty, comfort and functionality. Find a treasure that inspires a shift.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 9 — Invest your heart into your work, and it grows. Your status is on the rise. Share what you love about it. Inspire others to excellence.
DR. DATE Dr. Date,
I met this girl through our intramural soccer team last semester. After trying to find excuses to hang out “as a team” after games, I finally asked her out. We’ve only gone out a few times, but I really like her and want to keep seeing her. The problem is, she’s super competitive. I’ve only ever played with her, not against her, so until now her aggression was a good thing. But once we started dating, I realized she turns everything into a competition. Whether it’s who can down their drink faster, who wins the race to the restaurant or who … finishes a certain bedroom activity first. I can’t enjoy our time together without feeling like a loser. She’s determined to win at everything, even if it wasn’t a race in the first place. I’ve only seen her lose a few times. Each time I was terrified for the person on the other side. I’m worried that if we keep dating, I’ll end up being mocked for not brushing my teeth fast enough. How can I convince her to calm down?
—Losing Streak
Dear Losing Streak,
There’s nothing wrong with a competitive streak, especially during team activities, but this is definitely more of a red flag. You shouldn’t be scared around someone you like! Mention to her the competitions are coming off as more aggressive than friendly. If the other side is terrified to lose, no one may have told her it’s too much. If she turns that into a “who can deny the fastest” race, you might want to think about letting her go. No one wants to spend their relationship in the penalty box.
— Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
I think I want to take the dive and say the L-word to my man. I definitely have the feelings, but the only thing holding me back is whether he does too. I want to say
it, maybe on V-day, but I don’t want him to a) freak out at how serious I am getting, or b) say it back just because I said it first. How do I know?
—The L-Word
Dear The L-Word,
When it comes to the L-word, there aren’t any rules for how soon is too soon or when the right moment is. Some people wait a year and spell it in M&M’s on a giant cookie, others blurt it out at the grocery store two weeks in. Either way, what matters is how you’re feeling and how you’ll feel if your boy doesn’t answer the way you want him to. Obviously, the response we all hope for is, “I love you too! I’ve been wanting to say it but was scared you didn’t feel the same way!” This could happen, and I hope it does. However, your boy may do it differently. Imagine him saying something along the lines of, “I really like you, but I think it’s too early to say ‘love,’” or just straight-up, “I don’t feel the same way.” Decide if that’ll make you upset. More importantly, decide if you’ll believe him. It sounds like you’re not sure he’ll mean it if he says he loves you back, which is more of a problem than worrying he won’t say it at all. Figure out why you think this is a possibility. Has he said he wants to take it slow? Does he worry about commitment? Weigh these things out, and decide if telling him how you feel is worth the possible disappointment. No matter what he says, take it at face value. You’re being honest, so assume he is, too. As for saying it on Valentine’s Day, maybe don’t. Setting a date will just make you nervous. Say it when it feels right, say it with authority, and don’t backtrack once it’s done.
— Dr. Date
Want advice from the love doctor? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com
SUDOKU CROSSWORD
Last Issue’s Puzzle Solved
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.
Last issue’s solution
1/31/19
© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
10
Thursday, January 31, 2019
To combat rising costs, libraries offer free textbooks Only 25 percent of faculty are aware of cheaper options for class materials. BY JAKE STEINBERG jsteinberg@mndaily.com
For Rebecca Swenson, an assistant professor of agricultural communication and marketing, the cost of her course’s textbook wasn’t adding up. She used a standard business communications textbook, but she said it was too general to justify making 100 students pay $90 every semester. She sought a solution that better aligned with her environmental content. An answer to her problem came in an email from the library: an affordable content grant that would help her replace the expensive textbook. Now, Swenson said her course materials are more specific — and at no cost to her students. With higher education costs rising, two University
of Minnesota organizations hope the University Senate will recognize the libraries as an increasingly important partner in reducing student costs. The Senate Library Committee and the Minnesota Student Association are drafting separate calls for increased resources for the libraries’ affordable content programs. “What my committee is trying to do is make sure, while we’re preserving the superior quality of our institution, that we’re making materials as affordable as possible,” said MSA Academic Affairs Director Jacques Frank-Loron. MSA received pushback after previous attempts. Some professors don’t like to be told how to teach their class, Frank-Loron said. “It’s perceived as it’s extra, or they have to recreate the curriculum in a different way,” he said. The University Libraries’ eLearning Support Initiative development lead Kristi Jensen said the biggest
barrier to adopting affordable content is lack of awareness. “I think faculty have a lot of things on their plate,” Jensen said. “If they have something that has worked for them, they might not have kept up with this really complex environment when it comes to course content. The publishers are offering new models almost every time you turn around.” A 2016 survey by the Babson Survey Research Group found that 50 percent of faculty said cost was a “very important” factor in selecting course materials, but only about 25 percent were aware that more affordable materials were readily available. The average University undergraduate spends $1,000 on course materials per year, according to One Stop Student Services. The libraries offer grants, consulting and a vast collection of free content to faculty looking to reduce the cost of their course material. Jensen said the libraries’ grants may have saved students nearly
ABBY ADAMSKI, DAILY
$6 million between fall 2015 to spring 2018 . Math professor Mike Weimerskirch taught a “pretty standard” precalculus class. He’d lecture for an hour and assign homework from Pearson’s MyMathLab. His withdrawal rate was standard too — about 10 percent.
Weimerskirch used an affordable content grant to replace Pearson with an online video textbook. That way, he said, he can devote class time to helping students work through problems. After the switch, Weimerskirch said his withdrawal rate plummeted. As did the
cost of his class. The old book was over $100. University Libraries estimate the switch saved his students $155,000 across all of his courses in one semester. “Why are students paying for this stuff anymore? They should be able to get it for free,” he said.
Second shutdown may up housing costs near UMN Student housing complex at risk of losing the funding for renovations. BY MIGUEL OCTAVIO moctavio@mndaily.com
Nonprofit developers near the University of Minnesota may face uncertain funding if the federal government shuts down again after the three week temporary opening. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides monetary funds to some nonprofit developers across the country, may close again as a result of another shutdown. The Community Housing Development Corporation and the West Bank Community Development Corporation are nonprofit developers near campus. They are working together on a nearly $16 million project to renovate the Riverside Homes
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Jackie Smith, 26, burns leaves outside of her apartment just north of the West Bank campus on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2018.
in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which is funded in part by HUD. The project had to seek alternative funding during the 35-day shutdown and could face additional issues if HUD funding stalls again. “The longer [another shutdown] goes on, the longer the consequences we’d probably
face,” said David HoffmanDachelet, assets manager of West Bank CDC. “But as of right now, we’re OK.” Part of the contractor and builders’ monthly payments come from HUD. Without HUD funding and oversight during the shutdown, the project’s developers worked with a HUD-approved lender to help
pay builders for the month of January. Workers will receive a normal payment for February with the reopening of the federal government, Hoffman-Dachelet said. “There’s some flexibility there, but the longer it goes on, the less flexibility there’s going to be,” said Elizabeth Flannery, president of CHDC. “That’s just a real problem for the builders who are working on these projects and not getting paid.” Flawnnery said a backlog from the shutdown may also cause further delays from HUD. Prior to the federal government reopening, she said another affordable housing project in Minnesota was put on hold. Tim Mungavan, executive director of West Bank CDC, said another shutdown would leave the project’s future uncertain because HUD must approve any changes. “If it stays open, it’ll be
fine,” Mungavan said. “If it closes down again, we’ll [be] back in the same spot.” Hoffman-Dachelet said another months-long shutdown may lead the development to turn to resources like other HUD-approved lenders or the City of Minneapolis. Aeon, another nonprofit developer based in Minneapolis, is working on a 70-unit, mixed-income housing project in Prospect Park. Alan Arthur, CEO and president of Aeon, said the federal shutdown has not yet affected construction, which is slated to finish this fall. “I suppose if the stand-off between Mr. Trump and Congress continues ... then it could have a problem for us,” Arthur said. “But so far it hasn’t caused any problems for us at all.” Aeon, which oversees affordable housing units for around 8,500 residents across the Twin Cities, received
enough aid from HUD during the shutdown to pay rent subsidies through February, Arthur said. Ward 2 City Council member Cam Gordon said he hopes the Riverside Homes will continue to receive enough funding to complete the project. “That’s another example of why the federal government shouldn’t shut down,” Gordon said.
“The longer [another shutdown] goes on, the longer the consequences we’d probably face.” DAVID HOFFMANDACHELET West Bank CDC Assets Manager
E-cigarettes outperform patches and gums in quitting smoking, study says THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON D.C. — A major new study provides the strongest evidence yet that vaping can help smokers quit cigarettes, with ecigarettes proving nearly twice as effective as nicotine gums and patches. The British research, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, could influence what doctors tell their patients and shape the debate in the U.S., where the Food and Drug Administration has come under pressure to more tightly regulate the burgeoning industry amid a surge in teenage vaping. “We know that patients are asking about e-cigarettes and many doctors haven’t been sure what to say,” said Dr. Nancy
Rigotti, a tobacco treatment specialist at Harvard Medical School who was not involved in the study. “I think they now have more evidence to endorse e-cigarettes.” At the same time, Rigotti and other experts cautioned that no vaping products have been approved in the U.S. to help smokers quit. Smoking is the No. 1 cause of preventable death worldwide, blamed for nearly 6 million deaths a year. Quitting is notoriously difficult, even with decades-old nicotine aids and newer prescription drugs. More than 55 percent of U.S. smokers try to quit each year, and only about 7 percent succeed, according to government figures. Electronic cigarettes, which have been available
in the U.S. since about 2007 and have grown into a $6.6 billion-a-year industry, are battery-powered devices that typically heat a flavored nicotine solution into an inhalable vapor. Most experts agree the vapor is less harmful than cigarette smoke since it doesn’t contain most of the cancer-causing byproducts of burning tobacco. But there is virtually no research on the long-term effects of the chemicals in the vapor, some of which are toxic. At the same time, there have been conflicting studies on whether e-cigarettes actually help smokers kick the habit. Last year, an influential panel of U.S. experts concluded there was only “limited evidence” of their effectiveness.