LOOKING FORWARD TO MPLS FINAL FOUR PG 6 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019
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Task force suggests renaming Coffman A task force’s report released Wednesday advised stripping the names of Coffman, Nicholson, Middlebrook and Coffey. BY JAKE STEINBERG jsteinberg@mndaily.com
A University of Minnesota task force issued recommendations that, if accepted, would be unprecedented in higher education — renaming four buildings tied to administrators who exhibited racist and anti-Semitic actions. In a sweeping 125-page report released Wednesday, the president-appointed Task Force on Building Names and Institutional History recommended stripping four University buildings of their names: Coffman Union, Nicholson Hall, Middlebrook Hall and Coffey Hall. “We endeavor to measure their actions against the norms and practices of their day,” says the report. “But also consider whether the values they stood for are in conflict with those of our own time.” The report offers a history, deliberation and a reckoning with the University’s past of segregation and student surveillance. The task force describes conduct beyond what was showcased in the 2017 “A Campus Divided” exhibit, which ignited the renaming discussion. “It is not a simple retrospective view from where we stand in 2019,” said Riv-Ellen Prell, who worked on the exhibit and advised the task force. “It’s a document that really grapples with one of the major issues in America today — memory. It takes up very important questions of the complexity of honoring history.” u See RENAMING Page 4
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Passersby walk next to Coffman Union on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.
ADMINISTRATION
STATE GOVT.
State leg. forwards regent candidates
Walz’s proposal funds less than half U’s request
Higher education committees forwarded candidates Monday for the upcoming election. BY IMANI CRUZEN imruzen@mndaily.com
House and Senate higher education committees voted Monday to forward five University of Minnesota Board of Regents candidates for consideration in the upcoming election. The seats up for election are the student regent seat, the 5th Congressional District seat and two at-large seats. The full legislature will vote on candidates for the four seats later this session. Candidates discussed
topics like handling conflicting opinions, tuition and working with University PresidentDesignate Joan Gabel before lawmakers moved forward with recommendations. Mary Davenport, former interim president at Rochester Community and Technical College, was nominated for an atlarge seat. Davenport was forwarded by the joint committee for the 1st Congressional District seat last session during a special election, but was ultimately not selected by the legislature. “Throughout my career, I’ve always looked at the student as being the center of the higher [education] circle,” Davenport said. “[If] we keep that focus, then I think we can better address all the other type of issues with keeping the student in mind as
the centerpiece of it.” Regent Abdul Omari was not forwarded for an at-large seat. However, the legislature is not bound by the joint committee’s recommendations. Omari was also not recommended by the Regent Candidate Advisory Council last month with the council citing a lack of experience. Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFLMinneapolis, moved to include Omari in the candidate pool for the 5th Congressional District seat. Omari said although he was not seeking nomination for the 5th Congressional District seat, he believes he is best suited to work with University President-Designate Joan Gabel.
employees return to work after injuries or other medical conditions, helped create and launch the program. The program began in mid-November on the West Bank campus. Some sessions are u See STRETCH Page 4
u See BUDGET Page 4
u See REGENTS Page 4
Early-morning stretch program energizes University staff The program helps University faculty with their physically demanding responsibilities. BY NORAH KLEVEN nkleven@mndaily.com
JACK RODGERS, DAILY
Andrea Santi leads University Facilities Management employees in pre-shift stretch on Friday, Feb. 15. The program was started by Santi and fellow graduate student Nael Banat as part of their Kinesiology studies.
chest and hamstring stretches, among others. The stretches are tailored to help with different motions that are common in different positions. Neal Binsfeld, a disability specialist for UReturn, a division of the Disability Resource Center that assists University
BY MADELINE DENINGER mdeninger@mndaily.com
DFL Gov. Tim Walz rolled out his biennial budget proposal Tuesday, which included less than half of the University of Minnesota’s request. Walz’s budget proposes a $39.2 million increase in base state appropriations for the University GOVERNOR over the next two fisTIM WALZ cal years. University President Eric Kaler presented the school’s “modest” $87 million budget request to lawmakers last month. “Gov. Tim Walz’s funding proposal for the University of Minnesota is appreciated tremendously, but will create challenges because it is less than what is needed,” Kaler wrote in a statement. “Our budget request this session is restrained, but deeply important. We are asking for an $87 million increase in state support for our biennial budget.” At a press conference last month, Kaler stated resident undergraduate students on the Twin Cities campus could see a tuition increase of about 2 percent if the full request is met. Kaler said a partial allocation could result in a sharper tuition hike. Minnesota Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson said the budget proposal emphasizes college affordability through its investments in the University and the state grant program. According to a press release, state grant recipients will see an average increase of $300 with the current proposal. “The governor’s investment in the state grant program gets more money to students on the front end, so we really want to make sure students have as much of the tuition and fees covered to attend the University of Minnesota and ultimately have to borrow less,” Olson said. “That coupled with the additional investment in the University of Minnesota system may mean, based on the
FACULTY & STAFF
While most of the campus is still asleep on weekday mornings, some University of Minnesota Facilities Management personnel gather as early as 5 a.m. to start their day with a dose of group exercise and camaraderie. Graduate students from the College of Education and Human Development worked with the University to start a stretching program for physically taxing and repetitive positions on campus. Because many workers in these demanding positions are over the age of 40 and are more prone to injury, stretching programs can prevent injuries and increase range of motion. So far, employees from the University’s Office of Human Resources and Facilities Management have participated in the program, which is looking to expand to other departments. “It’s supposed to be a pre-shift warm-up and stretch,” said Nael Banat, a kinesiology graduate student and one of the two leaders of the program. The employees perform different stretches depending on what kind of work they do. The 10-minute stretching programs often consist of neck, wrist, back,
Gov. Tim Walz proposed only partial funding of UMN’s $87 million biennial budget proposal.
ACADEMICS
Chinese institute at UMN set to close at end of semester amid academic freedom concerns The institute’s national partners have faced harsh criticism for alleged academic censorship. BY HELEN SABROWSKY hsabrowsky@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota’s Confucius Institute — part of a controversial web of Chinese-backed institutes hosted at universities across the U.S. — will close at the end of the semester. University administrators say the closure was due to shifting priorities and new federal policy. Confucius Institutes, which are hosted by colleges across the nation, provide Chinese cultural and language
teaching. Although they claim that free speech is not limited in the University’s program, Confucius Institutes throughout the country have attracted interest from lawmakers, national organizations and the FBI for allegedly undermining academic freedom. The University’s Confucius Institute aims to strengthen K-12 Chinese language learning throughout greater Minnesota. It’s built a network of schools throughout Minnesota with support of the Chinese government, said Joan Brzezinski, executive director of the University’s Confucius Institute. “The Chinese language teaching community in greater Minnesota … has definitely grown and matured over the last
decade. Their needs have evolved,” said Meredith McQuaid, associate vice president and dean of international programs for the University. “We feel like we’ve launched them well.” Changes in federal policy contributed to the University’s decision. The National Defense Authorization Act, enacted last August, prohibits the U.S. Department of Defense from funding Chinese language programs at institution’s Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes without a waiver. The University’s DOD-funded Chinese Language Flagship program would have lost funding with the new policy had the University not decided to close its Confucius Institute. While the NDAA was a factor in the University’s decision to close its
Institute, McQuaid said closure discussions were already underway. In its report on Confucius Institutes published in 2017, the National Association of Scholars highlighted concerns over transparency, intellectual freedom and censorship of topics including Taiwan and Tibet. The NAS recommended that all universities close their Confucius Institutes. A University spokesperson said the University’s contract with the Confucius Institute does not regulate what employees discuss. In a Feb. 2018 U.S. Senate hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray said: “We do share concerns about Confucius Institutes. u See INSTITUTE Page 4
VOLUME 119 ISSUE 40
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THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1965 Malcolm X is assassinated by rival Black Muslims while addressing his Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH
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Josh Levitt performs his stand-up comedy piece on Monday, Feb. 18 at Blarney Pub and Grill in Dinkytown. Blarney holds Comedy Night every Monday and anyone can sign up to perform.
UMN reducing stormwater runoff Stormwater would cool nearby campus buildings through air conditioning. BY NATALIE RADEMACHER nrademacher@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota, in an effort to protect local water sources and reduce stormwater runoff, is building systems that collect stormwater to cool buildings around campus. A system is being built near Pioneer Hall and the new Health Sciences Education Center, which are both under construction. Once running, the system will store, filter, chill and evaporate stormwater to cool these buildings through air conditioning. The project is expected to be running after construction on the build-
ings is completed. Pioneer Hall renovations will be done this summer and construction on the Education Center is predicted to be finished in December. The new system is expected to collect and use more than 3.5 million gallons of stormwater once it is completed. This is not the University’s first stormwater collection system, and engineers for the projects are planning to expand to other buildings on campus. A stormwater collection system was installed during construction of Athlete’s Village, which opened at the beginning of last year. A large underground storage facility was built under the football practice field to store over 350,000 gallons of stormwater gathered from around the complex. The water is stored and
Cedar-Riverside shooting on Tues.
used to cool buildings part of Athlete’s Village during the warmer months of the year. About 1.5 million gallons of water are used annually in an average season to cool these buildings, according to Scott McCord, head mechanical engineer for the projects. The summer of 2018, its first season in use, the collection system was able to supply most of the water for the cooling system, McCord said. “This is cutting edge for the state of Minnesota,” said Cathy Abene, head civil engineer for the project. “We are the first place in Minnesota to have something on this scale.” Water for cooling buildings around campus is usually purchased from the City of Minneapolis, Abene said. The system was de-
veloped in part because of Minneapolis’ requirements regarding the amount of stormwater runoff that can get into nearby water systems, like the Mississippi River. Stormwater runoff in urban landscapes is a challenge because the water can become polluted by things like gasoline, lawn fertilizers and trash. “There is an environmental benefit to keeping stormwater on site and not having stormwater collect pollution from the city and it getting into rivers and lakes,” said Laura Allen, co-founder of Greywater Action, a nonprofit that educates people on sustainable water use. The University first began using stormwater as a resource in 17th Avenue Residence Hall. Stormwater collected from
the roof of the hall provides water for toilet systems in the building. To be more efficient and cost effective, engineers are considering installing stormwater collection systems for buildings being built or renovated around campus. “It makes sense to include this as part of larger renewal projects,” McCord said. “It is difficult to keep it cost effective without a larger project. We need to be good stewards of University funding.” Engineers are looking at other buildings near Pioneer Hall and the Education Center to implement stormwater collection systems. “We are in the early phases of this,” Abene said. “We want to see what [stormwater] can offer … and spread awareness about stormwater quality.”
Individual is shot near the home of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar Resident of the area reported they heard a loud noise and saw a man firing a gun. BY MOHAMED IBRAHIM mibrahim@mndaily.com
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minneapolis Police drive downtown on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.
The victim of the shooting was taken to local hospital, said Minneapolis police. BY TIFFANY BUI tbui@mndaily.com
One person was shot in Cedar-Riverside Tuesday afternoon, police say. Minneapolis police say
an adult male was shot at 3:45 p.m. on the 400 block of Cedar Avenue. The Cedar Cultural Center is in the area, as well as restaurants and small grocery stores. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Police have opened an investigation to locate a suspect.
A person was shot outside a building next to the home of U.S. senator and 2020 Democratic hopeful Amy Klobuchar in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon. The shooting occurred on the 400 block of 6th Street Southeast in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood Saturday around 12:30 p.m., said Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson John Elder. According to Hennepin County property records, the building at the address of the crime shares a driveway with the senator’s home. The victim was sitting in a car parked in front of the building when someone began shooting into the vehicle, Elder said. The victim was taken to North Memori-
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Sen. Amy Klobuchar formally announces a bid for the United States presidency on Sunday, Feb. 10 at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis.
al Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries. The suspects were gone before police arrived. A resident of the area who wished to remain anonymous said they heard a loud noise and looked outside to see a car crashed into a fence that leads to the building’s driveway. They said they saw a man firing a gun and later saw bullet holes in the car’s
windshield and drops of blood on the ground leading to the building’s back door. On the day of the shooting, Klobuchar was kicking off her 2020 presidential campaign. She stopped first in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Mason City, Iowa later that day, according to MPR reporting. Klobuchar’s campaign could not be reached for comment.
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Thursday, February 21, 2019
U Law School sees rising enrollment UMN’s Law School is making progress to eliminate a multimillion dollar deficit. BY AUSTEN MALACUS amalacus@mndaily.com
Rising enrollment numbers and applications are among signs of progress for the University of Minnesota’s Law School as it works its way out of a multiyear, multi-million dollar deficit. This fall, the Law School saw its largest entering juris doctorate class in seven years. Exceeding its own enrollment projections, the school’s prospects for next year look just as bright. As of January, J.D. applications are up 20 percent. Increasing enrollment and tuition revenue is a key part of the Law School’s three-year plan to eliminate its deficit by fiscal year 2021. University officials say the plan is on track after its first year, but the Law School still needs to resolve a $3.9 million shortfall over the next two years. “They’re beating their numbers both on revenue and enrollment, and they’re holding the line on expenses,” said Brian Burnett, the University’s senior vice president for finance and operations. “They are doing the things we asked them to do. They are hitting the metrics we ask them to
hit. But it’s not a magically there thing. It’s a continuous process.” The Law School met or exceeded all 18 benchmarks set for the plan’s first phase, which range from increasing enrollment to amping up philanthropic don a tion s a n d cutting discretionary expenses. The school has reduced non-student aid expenses by 33 percent in the past two years. The reduction has largely come from eliminating dozens of faculty and staff positions, cutting tenured faculty salaries and limiting raises. Law School Dean Garry Jenkins said the efforts have not been easy. “It has meant a lot of cuts, a lot of change. Lower salary increases for our faculty and [professional and administration] employees than those received by the rest of the University for four of the last five years,” Jenkins said at a Board of Regents meeting early this month. “It is something we have been taking very seriously and we are very committed to success.” The Law School deficit followed the freefall in prospective students applying for law schools after the Great Recession. Between 2010 and 2017, J.D. applications across the country fell around 40 percent. Applications dropped by more than 50 percent
in that time period at the University, which led to a decline in overall revenue. The University plan, approved by the Board of Regents, seeks to maintain the school’s reputation as a top 20 law program by investing more while incrementally cutting its deficit. This year, the University will increase operations funding for the Law School by $1.7 million. In the next two years, the University will contribute $2.8 million more in operations funding. “Having a top 20 law school is important to law firms here in the Twin Cities,” Burnett said. “We looked at some schools that decided not to defend their ranking and continue to grow to try and solve fiscal issues. And the lower the ranking got, the harder it was for them to generate tuition.” Third-year law student Robert Dube Jr. said the rankings are important to prospective students, even though they may be superficial. “Rankings can be a very simple barometer to figure out; okay, if I go to a school in the top 20, top 25, that’s probably a national school that will allow me to go practice wherever I want,” Dube said. Dube, the president of the University’s Law Council, said the school has maintained its high academic rigor,
The University of Minnesota Law School is seen on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
kept class sizes small and continued to provide scholarships. “As [students], we haven’t really felt the effects of the deficit,” he said. “We don’t really see any slowdown in services or worsening of the educational experience. It’s all stayed pretty consistent.” However, despite increased enrollment of J.D. students, the University has seen a stark decrease in the number of international law students. “What am I concerned about? What keeps me up at night? Well, one thing would
be the uncertain global environment and its impact on foreign student enrollments,” he said at the regents meeting. Enrollment in the LL.M. program, which educates internationally trained lawyers, dropped 25 percent last year. “I will confess that was not part of our plan,” Jenkins said, attributing decreases in the Law School’s second-largest program partly to the current political environment. The University’s LL.M. program reflects a national pattern in graduate
DAILY FILE PHOTO
schools: The number of new international graduate students across the country has dropped each of the past two years, according to a survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. But University officials remain hopeful the Law School will overcome its deficit in the coming years. “After a semester into this ... three-year plan, all signs point to the Law School doing the things they need to do on their end to successfully come out of this,” Burnett said.
Boynton student services fees expected to increase Boynton Health is requesting an additional $418,663 in student fees. BY GWIWON JASON NAM gnam@mndaily.com
Boynton Health requested additional student services fees this year, maintaining zero out-of-pocket undergraduate student costs and continuing a pattern of increased funding requests over previous years. Boynton requested a 4.15 percent increase in SSF funding in its 2019-2020 allocation, which is expected to cost about five dollars more per student than the current fiscal year. Students currently pay $127.53 for Boynton operational fees in their SSF. Although the proposal hasn’t yet been approved by the SSF committee, Boynton administrators believe the committee will decide by the
end of the week. Most of the clinic’s funding is provided by third-party insurance companies due to the University’s mandatory insurance guideline. “We receive so much revenue from third-party insurance and it keeps the cost of service really low for students here,” said Carl Anderson, director of Boynton Health. “Fees are lower compared to a lot of other campuses, and the University doesn’t have to subsidize financially any other way because we receive so much from external sources.” For the current 2018-2019 fiscal year, Boynton is projected to receive about $10 million, including the operational fee and facility fee. In 2019-2020 fiscal year, Boynton proposed an additional operational fee of $254,000 for mental health expansion and about $165,000 for the Gopher Chauffeur. The percentage of Boynton’s funding that comes
from SSFs is among the lowest in the Big Ten, according to data provided by Boynton. “Every university is struggling with the same issues. They are very likely seeing an increase in request for services,” said Holly Ziemer, Boynton’s marketing and communication director. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has the highest rate from SSFs for health services funding, which they call the student segregated fee. “We get a majority of our funding from the student segregated fee,” said Marlena Holden, interim director of marketing and prevention services at University of Wisconsin-Madison University health services. She added that 82.6 percent of their funding comes from student segregated fees. She said the student segregated fee was $217.44 per student for health services in the 2017-2018
U students could see larger state grants in Walz’s budget proposal University students using state grants could see increased financial aid awards. BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com
Qualifying University of Minnesota students could see their State Grant allocations increase next year as school officials propose possible tuition increases. The changes to the program, proposed Tuesday as part of Gov. Tim Walz’s biennial budget, would allow a typical University student who uses these grants to see an average award increase of $300. Traditionally aimed at helping students from low- to middle-income families, officials said rising tuition costs have increased students’ needs for the grants. “I think that the State Grant is helping students meet increased cost[s] because the State Grant has gone up some. It is really helpful for our students,” said Debra Pusari, associate director of financial aid at the University. State Grant Program recipients are Minnesota residents and generally earn up to $80,000 in annual income. A total of 7,936 recipients on the Twin Cities campus received more than $39 million last fiscal year. Each award averaged more than $4,900 last year. But Meredith Fergus, Minnesota Office of Higher Education financial aid
research manager, said studen ts a t the Twi n Cities campus are projected to receive more than $1 million more this fiscal year. The number is subject to further increases next year under the Governor’s proposed budget. Walz’s budget proposes the State Grant Program receive a $54 million increase for the next biennium. State grants provide aid for tuition and fees, plus an allowance for living and miscellaneous expenses, allocated to students through a formula. The Department of Education ordinarily enacts a new formula every June, after colleges set tuition. “A student at the Twin Cities campus is going to get more in grants than the students at Morris or Crookston because the tuition is different. It’s a proportional difference,” said Fergus. University President Eric Kaler proposed a 2 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduate students on the Twin Cities campus in early January. But some or all of this $258 increase could be offset for many students who qualify for the state grant program, according to Kaler’s recommended operating budget. The Governor’s proposal could also increase living and miscellaneous expense allowances for students. Currently, the allowances are normally given to students living under the poverty line, Fergus said. “We do think, given the new concerns about food and housing and security,
we want to support students at a level that’s higher than poverty,” Fergus said. “Students are writing off study time for working just so they can have adequate food and housing.” While Walz will sign budget allocations this spring, lawmakers in higher education committees will first set their own budget recommendations for the grant program, the University and the Minnesota State system. “When you look at the ecosystem of higher education in Minnesota, there are three big pots that we focus on,” said Sen. Richard Draheim, R-Madison Lake, vice-chair of the Senate higher education committee. “We have to do a balancing act. All of these people want money, and we have to prioritize it.” Multiple House and Senate bills have been pushed forward this session to reform the grant system. Rep. Jennifer Schultz, DFL-Duluth, a University of Minnesota-Duluth economics professor, said investments in the state grant system are some of the easiest ways to gain higher education support at the legislature. “I think we need to be investing in the State Grant Program to make college more affordable,” Schultz said. “I think that’s the easiest thing to do to get bipartisan support.”“I think we need to be investing in the state grant program to make college more affordable,” Schultz said. “I think that’s the easiest thing to do to get bipartisan support.”
Boynton Health as seen on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018.
fiscal year. Students at the University of WisconsinMadison pay about $90 more than the University for health service fees per semester. Though, unlike the University, UW-
Madison does not require health insurance. But Anderson and Ziemer say it’s difficult to compare campus clinics due to a variety of factors like size and what programs are subsidized.
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“Certainly what the Big Ten health centers are doing is trying to talk and learn from each other,” Ziemer said. “I think that’s what’s most important to understand, they will have different ways of doing it.”
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Renaming u from Page 1
Complicated legacies
Comprising University historians and professors, the task force documented tensions between preservation and change. “Monuments and buildings do not … embody or represent history except in a simplified manner,” the report says. “Such forms of commemoration often minimize or obscure the complexities, nuances and counter-perspectives to that simplified history.” The report acknowledges controversial administrators’ positive impacts, like former comptroller William Middlebrook’s efforts to make the University more affordable. But it’s also transparent about other impacts, like when he refused to sell University land to a black buyer in 1959 because allowing blacks on the property, he said, would
Thursday, February 21, 2019 lower its value. Former Dean of Student Affairs Edward Nicholson tracked the movements of Jewish students to further the political goals of a Republican lawmaker in hopes of influencing the University’s regent-selection process. The report says Nicholson’s legacy must include his personal bigotry and violations of academic freedom, due process and free speech. Ultimately, the task force concluded that their conduct was excessive, even for the time. The task force pointed to former president Guy Stanton Ford, who ended segregation in student housing in 1937 until his successor, Walter Coffey, reversed his policies. “You’re able to really understand the line of thinking,” said graduate student Emma Dunn, who co-authored a Minnesota Student Association resolution
calling for administration to rename Coffman Union. Coffman hosts nine of the University’s cultural centers on its second floor. But its namesake, former President Lotus Coffman, supported eugenics and enforced segregation in student housing. The report cited a pamphlet that quoted Coffman as saying, “It is my opinion that the great hope for the race lies in the intensive study of eugenics applied to human families.” Chloe Williams, a senior who started a petition to rename Coffman Union that gathered nearly 5,000 signatures last year, said she was ecstatic to read the report. “This shows a level of care and compassion to these students on the second floor,” she said. “I think it’s saying a lot.”
Moving for ward on renamings
The process has been
one of the longest of its kind in higher education, and it’s not over yet. President Kaler and Executive Vice President and Provost Karen Hanson will use the report’s contents to issue their own recommendations to the Board of Regents in March. The Board will ultimately vote on whether the buildings — and which buildings — will be renamed. “The thoroughness of the Task Force throughout this process has been exemplary,” said President Kaler and Provost Hanson in a joint statement. “Their comprehensive, extensively researched report and thoughtful analysis provide us with the information and context we need.” Dunn said she’s hopeful the regents will come to the same conclusions the task force did. “We can all follow why these conclusions are grounded in what the University represents,” she said.
The report recommends exhibits be installed in each of the buildings, whether they’re renamed or not, documenting the complex history of their namesake. It also calls on the University to permanently install the “A Campus Divided” exhibit in the newly renamed student union. President Kaler and Provost Hanson will name a p e r m a n e n t Ad v i s o r y Committee on University History to explore the University’s history and consider future renamings, such as Willey Hall. The report also recommends the University assess its history of discrimination against Native Americans and explore renaming possibilities that recognize the Dakota and Ojibwe heritage of the University. “Removing names in these instances helps reveal — not conceal — history,” the report says.
Budget u from Page 1
budget availability, a modest increase, but that’s for the president and the regents to decide.” Walz also laid out allocation totals for his bonding bill proposal. This includes $150 million of the University’s $232 million request. Walz’s proposal would fully fund the Institute of Child Development building replacement and renovations to A.B. Anderson Hall on the Duluth campus. The proposal would also allocate $117.7 million of the University’s $200 million Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement funding request. “By maximizing the life of facilities that serve students, faculty and staff systemwide, the bonding bill will keep the state at the forefront of emerging knowledge and educate the leaders of tomorrow,” Walz said at a press conference Tuesday.
Regents u from Page 1
“I believe that I am best situated as the strongest person to make sure that the president’s successful, whereby making the University successful, thereby making our state successful,” Omari said. “I have a unique relationship with [Gabel] that has been built over the past months.” Janie Mayerson, a former United States District Court judge, was forwarded for the 5th Congressional District seat. Incumbent Regent Peggy Lucas, who was not forwarded for the seat, said her past experience would help the board during the presidential transition. “I have served [the 5th District] for six years. As you know, the learning curve for a complex institution like the University is a steep one,” Lucas said during the meeting. “I believe that our new president will benefit from an experienced and diverse board.” The committee was unable to reach a vote on the second at-large seat and approved a motion to move forward two candidates, CEO of the Hmong Elders Center in St. Paul Ilean Her and Sandy Wiese of the Data Recognition Corporation in Maple Grove. Regent Dean Johnson, who currently holds an at-large seat, was not forwarded.
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Abdul Omari listens to Law School Dean Garry Jenkins during the University’s Board of Regents meeting at the McNamara Alumni Center on Friday, Feb. 8.
Mike Kenyanya, student body president for the Duluth campus, was moved forward for the student seat. Kenyanya is a strong advocate for students and has
brought attention to tuition concerns, said Minnesota Student Association president Simran Mishra. “We’ve really appreciated the dedication and the intention that Mike Kenyanya
has put on this issue of tuition,” Mishra said. “[He brought] up several times the importance of ensuring that financial access is not a barrier to students who want to attend university.”
Though the process is not over yet, keeping students involved is important, Mishra said. “I think overall the themes of transparency and accessibility were really
clear in this cycle of the regent selection process,” Mishra said. “So far, students who want to engage have been able to, and that’s something we’re incredibly thrilled about.”
FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY’S CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE $400,000 $350,000
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UMN HANBAN
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Nael Banat leads University Human Resources employees in pre-shift stretching on Friday, Feb. 15.
Stretch u from Page 1
now self-led by participants, often drawing up to 30 employees per meeting, said Kelly Richardson, a facilities team manager and facilitator of the program’s continuing West Bank stretching groups. Last month, the program started to hold sessions on the East Bank campus to be closer to where more employees worked. “The benefit is not only the physical part of stretching, it is the kind of camaraderie that is the process. It is a team. The team is getting prepared for the day,” Binsfeld said. Binsfeld said Banat and his co-leader, fellow graduate student Andrea Santi, have the right energy to make them fit leaders of the program. “They believe in what they’re trying to do,” Binsfeld said. “They believe
that exercise will benefit people’s lives.” The employees who begin their shifts with the stretching program say the sessions have become an enjoyable part of their workday. “I actually like it. It kind of wakes you up a little,” said Anita Fimon, a former M Dining cook who now works as a custodian in University Services. “It shakes the cobwebs.” Fimon regularly attends the 5 a.m. session at Scott Hall. She said she considers the program a necessary step for the University to protect its employees from overuse and work-related injury. Tim Ravn, a tradesman of 35 years, University electrician and one of the most lively members at the East Bank 7 a.m. session, said he was initially skeptical of the program’s benefits. But his opinion has changed in the weeks since the program
was implemented for East Bank staff. “The stretching program is beneficial, very beneficial,” he said. “We have fun, but we do our work.” Program leaders Santi and Banat said they work to prepare members to be selfled in each session. They hope members will continue the program once they are gone. “The goal for the future is for management and leaders in all these shifts to basically [stretch] every time before their shifts,” Banat said. Looking to the future, Binsfeld said he hopes to see the program become a University-wide and even system-wide initiative. He said there has been interest recently from library workers and from staff at the St. Paul campus’ animal hospital. “This is a start. The stretches are just a start,” Binsfeld said.
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We’ve been watching that development for a while. … It is something we’re watching warily and in certain instances have developed appropriate investigative steps.” The University of Minnesota is one of five Big Ten universities to close its Confucius Institute since 2014. The decision to close came after months of discussion between University and Institute leaders on what its future looks like, McQuaid said. Over the past 10 years, the number of K-12 Minnesota public school students studying Mandarin has increased from about 5,700 to over 12,000, Brzezinski said. “The programs have grown so much and they’ve gained
so much experience … that they don’t really need us anymore,” she added. Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, sent a letter to the Confucius Institutes at the University and St. Cloud State University last year expressing his concerns with the programs, which he said function as a public relations front for the Chinese government. While McQuaid said the University was never asked to close its Confucius Institute, she said the school always takes lawmakers’ opinions into consideration. In addition to Abeler, Sen. Chris Eaton, DFL-Brooklyn Center, and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, have also made inquiries into the work of the University’s Confucius Institute. The school’s Confucius Institute has received “numerous inquiries” from both federal and state lawmakers over
the last 18 months, McQuaid said. From 2014-2018, the University’s Confucius Institute received over $1.2 million from Hanban, China’s Confucius Institute headquarters, which makes up about 40 percent of the Institute’s funding. The rest came from the University and federal grants. Both Brzezinski and McQuaid praised the work of the Confucius Institute. “It really has been a great success … and of course, whenever anything ends that has been successful, there’s some sadness,” McQuaid said. “But that’s the nature of the University, to keep changing and keep evolving.” No University employees are expected to be laid off due to the Confucius Institute’s closure, according to McQuaid.
5
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019
CULTURE
Local speakeasies defy the test of time
MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
The Twin Cities’ crucial role during prohibition remains evident today. BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com
The Roaring ‘20s were widely known for their thriving economy and vivid arts scene. But back when jazz was the bee’s knees and flapper girls were the belles of the ball, the U.S. saw a nationwide ban on booze. In 1919, the U.S. government ratified the 18th Amendment and subsequently banned any sale of alcohol from 1920 to 1933. Though many freedoms
were enjoyed by a new crowd of urbanites, access to alcohol wasn’t one of them. Thus, the speakeasy was born. Speakeasies were bars that illegally sold alcohol — to those who could find them, anyway. The locales were often hidden in basements through nondescript entrances. To enter these secret bars, passwords were required. “You weren’t in [the speakeasy] if they didn’t trust you,” said Kelli Holloway, general manager at local speakeasy Al’s Place. “They didn’t let just anyone in.” While Chicago and New York City acted as hubs for gangsters and speakeasies, the Twin Cities were considered a safe getaway for
alcohol bootleggers, said Lori Williamson, the acquisitions and outreach coordinator at the Minnesota Historical Society. “The Twin Cities actually played a fairly important role [during Prohibition] given our proximity to Canada,” Williamson said. “We were kind of a major thoroughfare for bringing stuff in illegally and across the border.” Gangsters like Al Capone, John Dillinger and Fred and Doc Barker frequented speakeasies in the Twin Cities to lay low, Williamson said. “St. Paul had a curious relationship with the mobsters and [bootleggers],” Williamson said. “There came to be an understanding that
as long as no crimes were committed here, the gangsters from Chicago could have free reign, basically.” Given their nature, there is no known record of how many speakeasies were located in the Twin Cities. Nevertheless, physical remnants of these places can be found at Shaw’s Bar and Al’s Place, both in Minneapolis. Here, cemented-in entrances to basement bars and tunnels bring 100-year-old history to the present day. “We’ve got so much great history in the building itself,” Holloway said. “It’s not just a bar, it’s not a restaurant, it’s an actual experience. It’s transportation back in time.” The speakeasy is still alive today. Bars hide their
entrances and place an old fashioned at the top of their menus. Places like The Volstead House in Eagan embrace ‘20s decor and the simplicity of drinks during the era. “[The drinks are] special, something that you’re not going to get everywhere,” said Paige McInroy, a bartender at The Volstead House. “The history of it definitely plays a role.” Al’s Place was established in the hope of bringing this same history forward. Guests are encouraged to wear ‘20s attire, and the staff only speak of events from the prohibition era. “The whole entire experience [is] important to us,” Holloway said. “It’s not just
“It’s not just a bar, it’s not a restaurant, it’s an actual experience. It’s transportation back in time.” KELLI HOLLOWAY Al’s Place general manager
focused on the drinks. We want the whole package.” Whether in the 1920s or today, the spirit of a speakeasy is the same. “You might come in as guests, but you leave as family,” Holloway said.
MUSIC
Meet Fragile Crayons — oops, we mean Fragile Canyons After every album release and gig, the band chooses a local charity to donate to. BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com
Twin Cities-based band Fragile Canyons has three goals: to record an album every year, play one gig a month and donate their profits to charity. “When I was starting the band and when we started making records, it’s like, ‘Why should people care?’” said Andy Engstrom, the lead singer of the band and a University of Minnesota alum. “This is a way to make it a little more useful and meaningful, and not just us dicking around.” Fragile Canyons formed in December 2016, after Engstrom recorded a solo record with drummer Chase Wackerfuss. Since then, the band has given to various local charities, the most recent being the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. “It’s not a huge investment on our part, so to group [the money] together and give it to a good cause, it’s more effective than if we were just to divvy it up four ways,” Wackerfuss said. Having released three records since 2016, Fragile Canyons has transformed their sound from “acoustic songwriter” to “improvisational full-band jamming.” “We have a much tighter sound than we used to,” Engstrom said. “I was playing bass in a bunch of other bands [when Fragile
ELLE MOULIN, DAILY
ABOVE: Nick Baker, Noah Welter, Chase Wackerfuss and Andy Engstrom of Fragile Canyons pose for a portrait on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Bryant-Lake Bowl and Theater in Minneapolis. RIGHT: Fragile Canyons performs on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Bryant-Lake Bowl and Theater in Minneapolis.
Canyons formed], so I had never led a band. I didn’t know how to do that.” Engstrom names Joni Mitchell and the Grateful Dead as the band’s primary influences. These sounds are especially prominent in their latest album “Slow Dancing Beyond Silverdome,” which the band recorded at Blue Bell Knoll in Dinkytown. This album’s recording
process was representative of the band’s comical spirit and their enjoyment in making music. “There was one time where we were still recording and [guitarist Nick Baker] burped,” said bassist Noah Welter. “We got it on tape and the recording engineer pitch-shifted it and put it at the end of the song. We weren’t expecting it.” This light-hearted
approach to creating music, as well as their social media presence, is almost what Fragile Canyons is best
known for. The band’s Twitter account is home to a few viral tweets. Recent snippets
include equating different Twin Cities venues to “The Breakfast Club” characters and a meme about Neil Young’s “Harvest” album, which was shared by singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. E n g s t ro m r u n s t h e band’s Twitter and Instagram. His memes are often hyper-local, poking fun at topics such as the band’s name. “When I thought of [the name], I was like, ‘that’s it,’” Engstrom said. “But then it looks like it’s ‘Fragile Crayons’ so all these people are texting me: ‘dude, Fragile Crayons, I’m digging it.’ It’s kind of a joke now. All of our fans will call us like ‘Fertile Croutons,’ or like ‘Fragile Tampons.’” At the band’s most recent show on Saturday at Bryant-Lake Bowl, they played a few new songs they hope to record for their next album. “The headspace for me is really the live stuff,” Baker said. “We kind of took a little bit of time off to workshop some new material. That’s something we’re really looking forward to — throwing a bunch of new material in the mix.” Fragile Canyons looks to their fans to help them keep making music. For now, though, they love where they are. “I don’t know if I have a big idea,” Engstrom said. “I feel like a lot of local bands, they’ll do it for a while and just like disappear. I think that we just don’t want to disappear. We want to be like this band that never dies.”
6
Sports
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Final Four to be ‘unlike any other event’ The Final Four will return to the Twin Cities for the first time since 2001. BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com
Just 14 months after hosting Super Bowl LII, U.S. Bank Stadium will once again become the center of the sports universe as the venue for the NCAA Final Four in early April. Several organizations worked in conjunction to secure the bid, including the University of Minnesota. Kate Mortenson, CEO of the Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee, promised the event will provide plenty of entertainment for all fans inside and outside the stadium. “We have to provide something that people just cannot miss,” Mortenson said. “And be sure to cast that very wide invitation.” In addition to games, activities include free-to-thepublic open practices on April 5, tailgates on Nicollet Mall and concerts at The Armory. Mortenson said Minneapolis’ ability to hold so many fan activities close to the stadium was a key selling point in the bid process to the NCAA. “The NCAA’s favorite type of Final Four is a ‘walkable’ Final Four,” Mortenson said. “Apart from having an iconic stadium, having that stadium in a dynamic downtown where people can drive from the airport or
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Isaiah Washington jumps for the basket at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018 during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
take the light rail ... it’s very appealing [to the NCAA].” Matt Meunier, director of sales at Sports Minneapolis, shared Mortenson’s sentiment that Minneapolis’ compact nature makes it an ideal host city. Meunier has worked to bring several large events to Minneapolis, including the Super Bowl and X Games. He noted that since hosting the MLB AllStar game in 2014 (which occurred four months prior to the city receiving the Final Four bid), Sports
Minneapolis has been able to show clients first-hand what Minneapolis can offer. “We say, ‘If you choose Minneapolis, you’re going to have your competition venue, a convention center, hotels [and] light rail all within a 10-15 minute walk,’” Meunier said. “For us, hosting a client during these marquee events has been a unique opportunity to pay it forward.” As the nation’s 15th largest media market, Minneapolis is not America’s largest
metro area. However, its ability to secure bids to host popular events has helped raise its national profile, especially among sports fans. “It speaks to our credibility as a championship-caliber host city,” Meunier said. “Booking the Super Bowl and the Final Four really put us on the map.” Although many factors make Minneapolis a great host city, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of having a new, state-of-the-art stadium. The Minnesota
Sports Facility Authority touts U.S. Bank Stadium as, “The most adaptable stadium in the country.” Michael Vekich, chairman of the MSFA highlighted U.S. Bank Stadium’s versatility as a distinguishing quality that allows it to host events from basketball games to monster truck rallies. “There are not a lot of facilities in the U.S. that have the ability to handle an event of this size,” Vekich said. “The fact that this
was awarded right after the Super Bowl, that was very significant factor.” The MSFA projects the event’s operating costs to total $6.9 million. “[Operating costs] are made up of two very large categories,” Vekich said. “One is the seat build-out. That’s about $2.6 million. This will be the NCAA’s most difficult and costly build-out for the Final Four. This other piece includes staffing, broadcast operations, private security and decor, that’s about $4.3 million.” Vekich said merchandise and concessions, including alcohol sales, which the NCAA will allow at the Final Four for the first time, are estimated to generate $2 million in revenue to help cover operating costs. Additionally, MLOC will contribute an additional $200,000 to help offset expenses. A study from the MLOC projected the event bringing 94,000 visitors to the Twin Cities and generating $142 million in spending. Mortenson hopes to position the Final Four as a unique event that pleases visitors and once again showcase Minneapolis as a world-class city. “The message we want to emphasize from here moving forward is that April 5 through 8 has something for everybody,” Mortenson said. “There are a range of activities and experiences for everybody that they won’t want to miss.”
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
Henry Meeker paves own legacy with the Gophers Henry’s dad, Brian, competed for the men’s gymnastics team 40 years ago. BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Sophomore Henry Meeker competes in the still rings at the Maturi Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 26.
The last name Meeker may sound familiar to many Gophers gymnastics fans. Sophomore Henry Meeker currently competes on the team. However, years before him, his father Brian Meeker competed on the mats for the Gophers as a Big Ten champion gymnast and five-time All-American from 1979-1982. While his father may have cemented a legacy as a Gophers gymnast, Henry Meeker is looking to make his own mark on Maturi Pavilion. “I think it’s important that I’m not limited by what he did in college,” said Henry Meeker. “I don’t want to have the pressure to live up to his expectations or have anyone expect them. I’m not going to be exactly like him.”
Henry Meeker has spent much of his sophomore season on the pommel horse, competing in the event five times and adding two appearances on rings. It is an uptick from his involvement last year that saw him compete twice all year. “It feels like I’m contributing a lot more to the team,” Henry said. “Last year, I felt like I was more of a support role at meets, just cheering on the team and being able to be there for them. But this year being in lineup and contributing in scores feels really good.” Brian Meeker competed in the all-around during his time at Minnesota, winning two Big Ten titles in the event. “When [Brian] was competing, I was coaching at the University of Iowa, and every time we’d see Minnesota it would be like, ‘Damn it, Meeker is here.’ Because he was that good, he was the guy,” said Gophers head coach Mike Burns. Brian was a part of the gold medal-winning 1984 U.S. Olympic team and
was later inducted into the Gophers Hall of Fame in 2006. “I don’t want Henry to think, ‘Oh that’s what my dad did,’” Brian Meeker said. “We let Henry drive his own path.” As a child, Henry Meeker competed with his Gophers teammate Shane Wiskus, first as adversaries. “[Henry] always had really good technique, he had really good air sense, he was just one of those guys that was a natural, you could just kind of see it,” Brian Meeker said. While Henry Meeker was rising through the junior ranks, Brian Meeker tried to keep a hands-off approach. “I know he had good coaches and I think you can actually get too involved that way. ... We just wanted the coaches to set their own course, so it was intentional that I stepped back from the training,” Brian Meeker said. Henry Meeker said he appreciated the space. “While my dad definitely
could have been pushing me and always pestering me about it, he chose to stay mostly away from it and [let me] make my own decisions, which I really appreciate,” Henry Meeker added. Nowadays, Brian Meeker tries to make it to as many meets as he can, and often has a front row seat to watch his son as a judge. “He tries to stay as impartial as possible,” Henry Meeker said. “Obviously, when he’s judging me, even in junior level and the college level, there is a lot of scrutiny to make sure that he’s judging me fairly. ... He says that, if anything, he judges me harder than the other guys.” Brian Meeker has tried to sprinkle in notes and advice that he sees when watching him from up close. “I think that’s the hardest thing for Henry,” Brian Meeker said. “If I talk to him about these little things I see as a judge and he hears those things from a coach. ... That’s one thing that I’ve not shied away from.”
SOFTBALL
Minnesota’s offense finds power from new places this season Hope Brandner led the power surge early on with three home runs so far. BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com
The Gophers have found success from unexpected places this season as new faces have emerged to lead Minnesota on offense. Of the eight home runs the team has hit this season, all of them have been from players who had never hit a home run in a Gophers uniform before: Hope Brandner, Carlie Brandt, Natalie DenHartog, Ali Lindner and Anne Miller. “You know generally, especially in the top [and] middle of your lineup, that some of your power will come [from there],” said head coach Jamie Trachsel. “So, whenever you get support, to be able to change the game with one
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Utility Carlie Brandt winds up for a pitch during the game against the University of South Dakota on April 4, 2017.
swing and put the run on the board is a big deal.” The team has needed the new source of power. The players who returned from
last season’s team hit just 18 of the team’s total 55 home runs in 2018. Sophomore Hope Brandner, who leads the team with
three home runs, transferred to the team this year after one season at Oregon State. She is the only one of the new group to have any collegiate home
runs prior to this season, as she hit 12 as a freshman. “We knew she was a hitter because you don’t have the numbers she had as a freshman in the PAC-12, who generally has the toughest pitching in the nation,” Trachsel said. “She’s smart, she’s confident, she knows what she is capable of doing. ... To have someone with that moxie, that just kind of [flat out] knows she’s a great hitter and she can change the game with one swing [is huge].” DenHartog has hit two home runs this season, and is the only other player on the team with multiple home runs through seven games. However, DenHartog said she still wants to do more. “You say producing, but I see two hits and I see more things I can do, and I see more things we can do as a team,” DenHartog said. “I think we know that, and we’ve done good in opportunities we’ve been given, but we still have
so much to prove and I think that goes for all of us.” The the influx of production from new players has helped take some pressure off the veterans because they see their teammates stepping up. “I think it just shows we have a lot of depth in our lineup. A lot of different people can produce runs when we need it,” said senior captain Maddie Houlihan. “It doesn’t have to be one or two or a couple specific people that need to produce every single at bat. I think it just shows that there’s a lot of strengths in our lineup and there’s really not a weakness. People can come off the bench and do the same as any starter which is pretty amazing.” The team will hit the road again this weekend, traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to play five games in three days against the University of Alabama, the University of Louisiana-Monroe and Missouri State.
7
Thursday, February 21, 2019
GMOs can protect wheat from fungus A new method of cloning genes could save the agriculture industry billions. BY KAIT ECKER kecker@mndaily.com
Researchers from the University of Minnesota published a study earlier this month exploring a new gene cloning method that would make wheat resistant to a fungus that costs the agriculture industry more than a billion dollars of wheat annually. In the study, University plant pathologist Brian Steffenson used a new cloning method to isolate four genes in wheat that would strongly resist stem rust pathogens. Now that these genes are identified, there is potential to either breed or genetically modify the disease-resistant genes from the wild wheat species into the domesticated species. Farmers plant disease-resistant wheat because it protects against pathogens that threaten to destroy their crops, something that has widespread economic impact. “Our goal was to try to identify and clone as many genes as we could from this wild species,” Steffenson said. Scientists have been developing disease-resistant forms of wheat to minimize crop losses for centuries. However, pathogens typically overcome the disease-resistant genes. The four genes identified by Steffenson and his team would provide stronger resistance to these pathogens. He said there is an extremely small chance the pathogen would overpower the genes. Richard Magnusson, a farmer from Roseau, Minnesota, said a fungus destroyed his entire wheat crop in 1993. “We ended up burning our whole crop,” Magnusson said. “That’s how bad disease can get, so obviously it’s a concern.” The fastest, easiest way for this wheat to become
MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
available to the public would be through genetic modification, which takes the resistant genes from the wild wheat species and directly inserts them into the domesticated wheat species, Steffenson said. While the disease-resistant wheat could be developed by conventional breeding methods, this typically takes several years while the genetic modification process can be done in about half a year. “I think that it’s a safe and effective strategy because these genes are already found in wheat,” Steffenson said.
New electric Nice Ride bikes to roll onto campus this spring The new Nice Ride bikes aim to boost ridership across the city of Minneapolis. BY EMMA DILL edill@mndaily.com
A fleet of black electricpowered Nice Ride bikes will roll into docks on campus and across Minneapolis this April. The electric bikes, which were announced Feb. 7 during an event at the Graduate Hotel, provide riders with a pedal assist that the company hopes will expand ridership. Nice Ride will also increase the number of bike docking stations in Cedar-Riverside and other historically low-income Minneapolis communities. Bill Dossett, executive director of the nonprofit Nice Ride Minnesota, believes the addition of electric bikes will make biking a more viable transportation option for both commuters and tourists. “You won’t have to work as hard, but you do have to pedal,” Dossett said. “You get more assist if you work harder. So, if you’re pedaling up a hill or you’re trying to accelerate, you will get more assist. If you’re going down a hill, you won’t get any assist.” In 2018, a Nice Ride bike in Minneapolis averaged about one trip per day. After the introduction of electric bikes in San Francisco, New York City and Washington D.C., average usage doubled, Dossett said. The company will initially launch 500 electric bikes and 1,300 traditional docked green bikes across the city this spring. During the first few months, Nice Ride will gauge interest in the electric bikes and learn how to keep the bikes charged. Electric bikes require more maintenance than traditional bikes, with batteries that must be manually changed every few days, Dossett said. Dossett said electric bikes are a “stepping stone” for Nice Ride. In the future, customers will return their
bikes to charging stations instead of docks. Later in the summer, Nice Ride plans to swap out all of the docked green bikes with electric bikes, said Steve Sanders, alternative transportation manager at the University of Minnesota’s Parking and Transportation Services. All traditional bikes will eventually be dockless. “Gradually, the green bikes are just being phased out because they’re getting to be almost 10 years old. So, they’re going to be replaced on a one-to-one basis with either e-bikes or [dockless] blue bikes,” Sanders said. Since the program began in 2010, Nice Ride usage on campus has been among the highest in the city, Sanders said. “All the conditions are right. There’s a lot of density, the distances aren’t too great, there’s plenty of stations,” he said. “All the conditions are really right here for them to get used more, and I suspect the same is going to be true once the e-bikes come in.” Additional docks will be introduced into low-income neighborhoods to promote equity, Dossett said. Nice Ride will also offer reduced price memberships for those who qualify for public assistance. Ward 6 Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame said the program’s expansion in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is a positive development. “I welcome those kind of programs because they give people options. If somebody doesn’t drive … it’s a good option,” Warsame said. The expansion will also boost usability for students and others near campus, Sanders said. “All members of the University community are going to be able to get around town regardless of where they live,” he said. “The expansion is really kind of beefing up their whole system in the city, and that’s an exciting thing.”
“This is a very sound and also safe method of disease control.” James Anderson, a professor of wheat breeding at the University, agrees the genetic modification process of creating new varieties of wheat is ideal, but said there is not enough public acceptance of genetically modified wheat. “Right now, there are no GMO wheats marketed anywhere in the world,” Anderson said. As a wheat grower, Magnusson sees wheat falling behind with the advancements corn and soybeans are making
with genetic modification. “I think the challenge is getting the public to accept genetically modified wheat,” Magnusson said. “If the public doesn’t accept it, it’s not worth having.” According to United States Department of Agriculture regulations, certified organic growers and handlers are prohibited from using GMOs because it is not something that would be “possible under natural conditions or processes,” according to the policy. If the gene resistance was bred into the wheat through the
traditional methods, organic growers would be able to use it. Besides planting varieties bred for disease resistance, many farmers use fungicides to protect their crops. Many fungicides, insecticides and herbicides are prohibited in organic farming. If the genetically modified disease-resistant wheat ever made it to market, David Torgerson, executive director of the Minnesota Wheat Council, said it would benefit farmers and the public. “If our wheat productivity was increased, it would help
farmers and our whole economy in Minnesota,” Torgerson said. Steffenson and his team will continue their research in other cereal crops like barley and oats. “This technique can be applied to many different crops and many different plant species,” he said. “The same technology could be used to clone out or isolate resistance genes, from not just wheat, not just wheat relatives, but many different cereal species and perhaps even a wider range of plants.”
Low-income homes get solar panels
A new report is focused on making solar energy more accessible and easy. BY FARRAH MINA fmina@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota researchers recently released a report that focuses on making solar energy more accessible to low-income households — a solution that could help homeowners meet mortgage payments. A proposal by Humphrey School of Public Affairs researchers could reduce the overall operating costs for homeowners by providing solar financing options geared toward Habitat for Humanity and its nonprofit affiliates that lower energy bills. “Habitat for Humanity — they provide affordable housing to people, but even after you have an affordable home, you still have home costs like insurance ... and one of those [costs] is energy too,” said
ABBY ADAMSKI, DAILY
Erica Bjelland, a program development specialist at Rural Renewable Energy Alliance. RREAL is a nonprofit that works to make solar energy accessible to people at all income levels. The University of Minnesota’s Chan Lab partnered with RREAL to develop ways to alleviate poverty using solar energy. “What we really focused on was the finance side, ‘How do you make the solar integration actually create long-term value for homeowners?’” said Gabe Chan, the principal investigator of the Chan Lab. The use of solar energy in Habitat for Humanity is not new. Chan documented over 50 cases across the country where Habitat for Humanity homes have integrated solar. He said the problem is these tend to be one-off projects due to their reliance on donated resources. “You have … nothing really systematic and transformative about how to do this integration together as
a real package for energy assistance,” Chan explained. Instead of these one-off projects, Chan and his team looked for more sustainable solutions. “The goals of our project were to think about how to do solar integration with Habitat for Humanity in a way that could be more transformative and longterm and sustainable,” Chan said In the report, the researchers cited a study from research consulting firm Fisher, Sheehan and Coulton that found households at the federal poverty level spend approximately 18 percent of their income on energy. This energy burden makes it difficult for many homeowners to transition out of their tight financial position. Even though solar systems generate energy for free, the challenge is affording the huge upfront cost. It costs around $30,000 to power the average Minnesota house with solar energy, Bjelland said. According to
Chan, paying for this often involves lines of credit or loans, which create accessibility barriers for low-income households. Apart from cost, another challenge is restructuring Habitat for Humanity house designs so that they are more appropriate for solar energy, graduate assistant researcher Jordan Morgan said. This includes considering the angling of the roof and the direction the house faces to ensure maximum sunlight, he explained. “What we’re trying to think about is how do you take that revenue from the solar generation that accrues slowly over time and re-invest that in a way that enables future home builds to integrate solar,” Chan said. The main audiences of the report were Habitat for Humanity affiliates and solar developers like RREAL. “It’s not just a published article to sit in the shelves of academia,” Morgan said. “It’s really a useful tool.”
8 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019
MN DAILY
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Editorials & Opinions
COLUMN
UMN students studying abroad: a white experience How study abroad programs are catered to only one group of U students, and the effect that has.
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ast semester I was abroad in Rabat, Morocco. It was an incredible experience and I had the chance to meet many new people. ALEEZEH HASAN The program columnist I was studying with had only 40 people in it, and out of these 40, only eight were people of color. At the beginning of the
trip it didn’t seem to be a huge deal. I have grown used to being the only minority in large groups. However, over time, it became clear that many of my peers lacked cultural sensitivity. The racism of these white students was overwhelmingly obvious when they were in a new country. Examples of this came up when some students used Muslim phrases like “inshallah” when speaking about alcohol and partying. The phrase is forbidden within Islam, which made the use of the phrases offensive and frustrating to me since I am actually a Muslim. Another shocking comment was made within a classroom when a white student got angry at our Arabic professor for how Arabic grammar didn’t make sense. A native English speaker then described the entire language of Arabic as nonsensical. Besides racist comments, insensitivity toward financial statuses was a common issue. One girl within my program openly asked,
“What’s a FAFSA?” And had never heard of something like it. Some students had come to the program through scholarships, so these comments were incredibly disheartening and difficult for them to hear. Other students had regularly traveled to expensive locations, and looked down upon those who couldn’t afford to do the same. A larger issue within the program was that it appeared to be tailored to white students. Many of the lessons they taught us during orientation didn’t seem to be applicable to me or my fellow people of color. Such as extensive conversations about how we needed to dress modestly, or explanations about cultural traditions that are common within most non-Western countries. These problems need to be addressed immediately so minority students do not feel marginalized during an experience that can already be mentally and emotionally challenging. Programs should aim to make American students feel at home. Fellow students are currently
comfortable making racially insensitive comments and students are not respectful of the new culture they are within. In order to change this, a screening process is necessary for new students. A simple test could be given as part of the application when students are signing up to go to non-Western nations. Other than this, programs could increase discussions about these issues. My fellow minority peers and I found ourselves venting privately to each other about the frustrations we felt toward the group. If we had been given an open space to discuss some of these issues, then we may have felt safer within the program and wouldn’t have needed to resort to private communication. Aleezeh Hasan welcomes comments at ahasan@mndaily.com.
EDITORIAL
Hustle culture promotes more unhealthy lifestyle More than 42 percent of college students reported being unable to handle they stress they feel.
Hustle culture. Most people tend to think of illicit activities and side jobs when hearing the word “hustle,” but let’s talk about the idea of hustle culture in the context of the University of Minnesota. The New York Time’s article, “Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?” prompted an important question: why are students boasting about workaholism when it’s quite unhealthy? According to Erin Griffith, a New York Times journalist, hustle culture is defined as being obsessed with striving while being “relentlessly positive.” In other terms, hustle culture is logging 12-hour work days, gloating about how little sleep you got and working yourself until exhaustion. Simply put, hustle culture is promoting a burnout culture. The millennial generation is being labeled many things, with the term “burnout” creeping in. College students love to fill their plate with as many things as possible; for example, enrolling in 15 credits, partaking in student groups and holding one or more part-time jobs. But the reality of this hustle and bustle lifestyle is exhaustion, depression
and frustration. A 2018 study completed by the Harvard Business Review showed that passionate entrepreneurs were much more likely to report feeling in a constant state of anxiety, frustrated by their work and a few felt emotionally drained. While this study focuses on entrepreneurs, not students, these feelings are more than applicable to our University. Since 2015, University of Minnesota students had a 29-percent increase in mental health conditions. While this increase may result from multiple causes, the connection between unmanaged stress and mental health conditions is strong. Moreover, the 2018 College Student Health Survey, which was directed by Boynton Health, reported that more than two in five students couldn’t manage their stress. That is an alarming amount of students reporting burnout. While passion is a driving force to success, being a workaholic is dangerous to your health. Students shouldn’t be bragging about three hours of sleep or studying for eight hours straight. Everybody needs a break and it’s OK to take one — the world doesn’t stop just because we do. If you’re feeling burnt out or stressed, Boynton offers mental health services. Contact Boynton at 612-625-8400 or visit boynton.umn.edu.
GUEST COLUMN Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.
Free college: everyone else is starting to do it Colleges and universities across the country have started to offer bolder financial commitments.
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couple weeks ago, I wrote a column about a recent report on financial aid that was to be presented at the Board of Regents February meeting. The report was informative, JONATHAN ABABIY and I am glad columnist our regents got to hear it, but my column took issue with it. I argued the report was too self-congratulatory and overlooked how bad tuition and financial aid are at the University of Minnesota. Evidently other people feel that way about tuition and financial aid in Minnesota. Recently, Sen. Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, announced a new proposal to cover two years of college at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State system. I don’t know the specific economics of this proposal and neither does Dziedzic. What’s important is that supporters say the proposal is meant to start a key conversation about access to higher education, according to Star Tribune reporting. Big ideas, like Dziedzic’s, are needed to make higher education more affordable and accessible in Minnesota. In the spirit of that proposal, I say the University or state of Minnesota needs to have a dedicated financial aid guarantee or program for its students. It’s a big idea, but it really isn’t that unique. Tons of states and universities have financial aid guarantees. In Washington, low-income students who register for the state’s College Bound program in 7th or 8th grade are almost guaranteed free tuition and fees at a public university when they graduate. Further east in New York, the state’s Excelsior Scholarship guarantees free tuition to low-income students. The idea is even taking root among universities in the Big Ten. In 2017, the University of Michigan created the Go Blue Guarantee. The Go Blue Guarantee promised all in-state
students making under $65,000 a year (the state’s median family income), free tuition for four years. Michigan Regent Denise Ilitch told Michigan Live that “this will change lives forever.” It changed the University of Michigan for the better, too. Michigan is a relatively non-economically diverse school, with more wealthy students than low-income students. A New York Times project found that around 9.3 percent of its freshman class is from the top 1 percent, while approximately 66 percent of its students come from families that make over $110,000 a year. After the Go Blue Guarantee came into effect, applications from Michigan’s lowest income households surged by 24 percent. Its incoming freshman class had an increase of 6 percent in students from families making under $65,000, according to The Michigan Daily. Even mighty University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign rolled out the Illinois Commitment after the Go Blue Guarantees’ success. All instate students under its median family income will get free tuition and fees for four years, effective fall 2019. The University of Minnesota does have the U Promise Scholarship, but its small amount — $4,000 at most. This means tuition is only free for very low-income families making $30,000 — half of Michigan’s and Illinois’ threshold. That isn’t good enough. The University or State, perhaps in conjunction with each other, need a formal University commitment toward free tuition until a certain income threshold, like the state’s median income. Other schools are doing it and succeeding. Obviously, there are some problems with only covering tuition and not the full cost of attendance, but a formal program is a start. Dziedzic was right. We need to have a conversation about access to college, and a promise from the state or the University to its students would be an excellent way to do so.
Jonathan Ababiy welcomes comments at jababiy@mndaily.com.
Response to Gabel appointment Joan Gabel was selected by the Board of Regents to be the University of Minnesota’s next President. With a J.D. from University of Georgia and a former position as dean at Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business, Gabel will be the first female President of the University of Minnesota. While this may be a mark of progress – women accessing greater positions of decision-making in higher education – this step toward inclusivity should not distract us from the University’s transgressions against gender equality that took place this year. Earlier this year, the University’s Medical School was looking to fill its newly founded fellowship that was focused on reproductive health care. The fellowship would have placed a postresidency doctor in a community clinic to “learn and provide reproductive healthcare, including services for birth control, sexual transmitted infections, miscarriages and abortions,” according to Minnesota Daily reporting. One of four of its kind in the country, the fellowship would have offered an unprecedented opportunity to learn and practice reproductive healthcare. However, after outcry from anti-abortion student groups and threats from anti-choice lawmakers to pull University funding due to the fellowship, the fellowship was rescinded in May. After the fellowship was rescinded, Medical School Dean Jakub Tolar said the “value” of the fellowship needed to be reevaluated. However, the value is clear: access to reproductive health care is essential for gender equality. For women to access education and their preferred career path, and thus help advance gender equality, they must have access to reproductive health care. Gender equality will not be realized in our EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board. SHARE YOUR VIEWS The Minnesota Daily welcomes letters and guest columns from readers. All letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. The Daily reserves the right to edit all letters for style, space, libel and grammar. Letters to the editor should be no more than 500 words in length. Guest columns should be approximately 350 words. The Daily reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication.
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society until women can not only decide what type of reproductive care is best for them, but can access medical professionals that can provide such care. Many women are currently unable to access adequate reproductive care, not only because of the ever-restricting abortion-related laws that are closing clinics, but because universities are cutting programs that teach these essential medical skills. Universities across the country are caving to political pressures that push to discontinue programs focused on reproductive medical care – often because of the programs’ inclusion of abortion care – leaving few adequately-trained practitioners in the field. This shortage of practitioners stagnates the movement toward gender equality, as it leaves many women with diminished reproductive care options. By cutting the fellowship program, the University seemed to relay the message that reproductive health care – a crucial element of gender equality – is not an important field of learning or practice. Further, the University allowed its mission of being a cutting-edge research and learning institute to be hindered by the political ideals of the few. Reproductive health care is a legitimate area of study, a legitimate need of the community and a main component of gender equality. Therefore, while the University can celebrate its first female President, it must not stop there. Hillary Hoffman is a J.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota Law School. This guest column has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
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9
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019
MN DAILY
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (2/21): 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 7 — Accept an offer of assistance. A partner’s opinion is important. Underscore your statements with feeling. Listen respectfully and share your gratitude.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 9 — You’re getting stronger and more confident. Step into a role you’ve been longing to play. Check another personal milestone off your list.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — Physical action means more than talk. Practice your moves. Extend your reach and push your performance to new levels.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 6 — Lay low and find a private place to think and make plans. Avoid risk or hassle and choose the easier option. Your imagination is going wild.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is an 8 — Relax, and enjoy the view. Share it with someone nice. Talk about what you love and make promises to advance your creative vision.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is an 8 — You have friends in high places. One good turn deserves another. Strengthen connections by showing up for others.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 7 — Pursue domestic tranquility. Handle chores and repairs. Relax into your cozy nest. Consider long-range home improvement plans.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is an 8 — Career matters occupy your time over the next two days. Optimism rules. Keep your objective in mind. Don’t divulge a secret.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Your research takes off. One clue leads to another. Find a cozy spot to catch up on the reading. Summarize your observations and share.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 7 — Pursue an education dream. Your studies develop and grow over the next few days. Consider travel opportunities and cultural exchange.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 9 — Focus on generating and processing income. Keep a positive cash flow by monitoring it closely. Persuade with a clear pitch and compelling case.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — To avoid potential problems, play the game exactly by the book. Tackle detailed chores over the next few days. Monitor shared finances.
DR. DATE Dr. Date,
I am living proof that you should see your partner naked before agreeing to an exclusive relationship. This guy I’ve been seeing asked me to be his girlfriend this Valentine’s Day. I’m not a hookup kind of girl, and like to take it slow in relationships. We had fooled around plenty, but hadn’t actually had sex. But when he took me out to a fancy restaurant and asked me with a bouquet of my favorite flowers, we practically flew back to his apartment. What can I say, I was happy! That is, until he pulled down his boxer shorts to reveal a secret tattoo on his ass. Not random song lyrics or geometric shapes, but a girl’s face! After some persuasion, he told me it was his ex’s portrait. Apparently that was the only way he could prove his commitment? I like the guy, but this might be a dealbreaker. What can I do?
—Tit for Tat
Dear Tit for Tat,
Is it a good tattoo? Like, could you pretend it’s a celebrity? Any ass tattoo is a bad ass tattoo, especially if it’s a face. But a weird obsession with a celebrity might be better than seeing his ex every time you have sex. This answer depends on how much he regrets the tattoo, and if it was his idea. If his ex didn’t push him to do it, you should worry he might get your portrait next. But if he regrets his decision, did it while he was drunk or plans to get it covered up, you might be able to make it work. Just make sure you’re ready to be in a relationship with a guy who would agree to a tattoo like that in the first place — seriously, on his ass?
— Dr Date
cheating on me for at least six months. I confronted him. He denied it. I showed him proof. We broke up. You know, the whole shebang. After looking through his texts, I realized the girl he was with also had a boyfriend, so I messaged him on Instagram to let him know what happened. Ever since we both broke up with our respective exes, we’ve been texting back and forth about once a day. It started as having another person who understood what the other was going through, but it’s slowly turning a little more romantic. He’s super cute and charming, and he seems to think the same of me. He asked me out for coffee yesterday, but this sounds like the beginning of a Lifetime movie. Is it weird if we go out on a date?
—It’s a Small World
Dear It’s a Small World,
If you end up married, just say you met through friends. It’s the catch-all excuse for any relationship that started off on a strange foot! (Couples who met through Minecraft, anyone?) You’re single, he’s single. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the two of you getting drinks or something. But if you go out with him, make sure both of you aren’t subconsciously doing this as a way to seek revenge or as a rebound. You and your boyfriend were together for two years — that’s a lot of feelings to suddenly get over, even if it ended badly. If you decide to start dating, keep it on the down-low for a while, just to make sure he’s not using you to make the ex mad. Hopefully this is just a weird meet-cute story for two now-single people bonding over a shared trauma.
—Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
After two years of dating, I found out recently that my boyfriend has been
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
2/21/19
© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
10
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Memorial held for icon Willie Murphy Performances and a service were held last weekend for the Minneapolis native. BY MIGUEL OCTAVIO moctavio@mndaily.com
Community members shared laughter and shed tears over the weekend while paying tribute to a West Bank rhythm and blues icon. Willie Murphy, a celebrated musician, songwriter and producer, died on Jan. 13 after battling pneumonia for several weeks. A memorial service was held on Saturday at the Augsburg University Hoversten Chapel while former bandmates and friends gathered at The Cabooze Sunday for a musical celebration. Murphy was 75. “I’m 80 years old now. I’ve had a lot of people who are no longer around,” said Spider John Koerner, a musician and longtime friend of Murphy. “I didn’t really expect him to die so soon ... it’s just, something’s missing.”
Koerner released an album with Murphy in 1969 titled “Running, Jumping, Standing Still,” which has been cited as a favorite of John Lennon’s. Koerner said his time working on the album included his most creative moments. Murphy turned down an opportunity to work with a major record label to stay in Minneapolis. He was later lead singer of Willie and the Bees before performing as part of the Angel Headed Hipsters. Last week, the City of Minneapolis declared Feb. 17 Willie Murphy Day. “Willie Murphy is possibly one of America’s truly great songwriters,” said Maurice Jacox, a former covocalist of Willie and the Bees. “I encourage anybody who is a fan of great songwriting to take a look at the lyrics.” Jacox, who also attended Minneapolis Central High School with Murphy, said he showed his friends love, even in tough times. Murphy helped produce Grammy award-winning
singer Bonnie Raitt’s debut album in 1971. He also joined Prince and Bob Dylan as an inaugural inductee when the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame launched in 1990. Former state Rep. Andy Dawkins, DFL-St. Paul, said Murphy was his favorite musician to watch at the now-closed 400 Bar on West Bank. Murphy played at Dawkins’ wedding in 1995. “He could just get in there and everybody would start jumping up and dancing,” Dawkins said. “It was a joy. Everyone in the room [was] smiling.” In 1998, Murphy released a track titled “Keep On Rockin’ the Boat” that included lyrics encouraging listeners to speak out against injustices in the world. Trumpeter Scott Snyder, a former bandmate of Murphy, said the political advocacy in Murphy’s music is an important part of his legacy. “He was just constantly railing at the system, the way we should be,” Snyder
MIGUEL OCTAVIO, DAILY
A photograph of local rhythm and blues legend Willie Murphy at his memorial service on Saturday, Feb. 16
said. “It’s important for people to remember him and his music and the cause.” Lucinda Kircher, a fan of Murphy since the 1990s, said she appreciates the environmental advocacy
messages in his November album “Dirtball.” She frequented the recentlyclosed Viking Bar to watch him perform. “There were times when I just danced alone on the dance floor just because
I moved to the music,” Kircher said. “He was somebody I respect and [who] could bring joy into my life.” Tributes continued Monday night with a blues jam event at Palmer’s Bar.
Possible new training for teachers of blind students The University might get new funds for teacher training program. BY ERIN WILSON ewilson@mndaily.com
A bill presented to state senators last week could establish a training program at the University of Minnesota that would help improve education for an under-served group in the state. The legislation, authored by Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, was presented to the Senate higher education committee on Feb. 14. Under the
bill, $250,000 would go to either the University or the Minnesota State system annually for a program to aid instructors of blind or visually impaired students. Senjem said the proposed program targets the state’s shortage of these instructors in K-12 and higher education. “Somehow, the state of Minnesota, we believe, needs to step up and have some instructional place where this kind of training can occur,” Senjem said. Senjem noted a high number of licensed instructors are getting close to retirement age. Minnesota does not currently offer this type of program, so
individuals who wish to be trained for licensure have to go out of state. Steve Jacobson, vice president of The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, said in his testimony at the committee meeting that a licensure program in the state would mitigate a shortage of teachers and help avoid “an impending crisis.” “Without this instruction, [students’] chance at leading a full and productive life is diminished,” Jacobson said. “It is harder for them to get jobs, for them to attend an institution of higher education and in some cases even to graduate from high school.”
Senjem said while the bill would address an important issue in the state, the legislature can’t necessarily control whether the University or Minnesota State system takes on the program. “It’s an economic thing, they just don’t have the number of interested people that are aspiring to do this kind of work,” he said. “It’s not something you do because it’s going to be financially viable for you.” Stacy Ernst, director of the Office of Teacher Education at the University, said their office is currently focused on revitalizing the autism spectrum, developmental delay and learning disability programs. Ernst said the office would prioritize these areas over any new programs. “Our attention is on r e v a m p i n g t h o s e p ro grams,” Ernst said in the meeting. “So attention to a fourth program like this one would need to follow
DAILY FILE PHOTO
The Minnesota state capitol on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2018.
ramping up the three that we currently have suspended.” This is the second year Senjem has brought the bill forward. It was included in the higher education omnibus bill last session but was eventually vetoed by former Gov. Mark Dayton. Senjem said a bill with such a small funding allotment may have a good chance of passing this year.
“A bill as small as this, in terms of both money and impact, should be able to, I think, make it through,” Senjem said. “In the totality of everything we consider, it probably is not significant, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important.” The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the higher education omnibus bill, which will be heard later this legislative session.
University researchers are using stalagmites to gauge climate change Past glacial periods show rainfall and temperature change via stalagmites. BY KATIE SALAI ksalai@mndaily.com
Studying cave stalagmites from past glacial periods can help gauge climate change, according to University of Minnesota research. To record Earth’s climate history in previous glacial periods, researchers from the University’s Department of Earth Sciences and the University of Massachusetts analyzed various characteristics of Peruvian stalagmites in caves. In a study published on Feb. 4, the researchers compiled a more complete record of glacial periods as part of an ongoing effort to understand rapid changes in climate. “The last glacial period is marked by these really rapid, high amplitude swings in climate. It’s not been clear whether those really rapid, high amplitude climate changes were also present in [earlier] glacial periods,” said lead researcher Stephen Burns, a UMass geosciences professor. “One of the very few archives that can give you that kind of information is stalagmites.” Previously produced records have not been able to show a clear number of climate events prior to the last glacial period, but the team’s research displays rapid shifts in
temperature and precipitation during that time. Burns said what drove rapid climate changes is still not entirely known. “ [ T h i s i s ] p ro b a b l y because we don’t fully understand even what they look like during all types of past climates, but they are a part of natural climate variability,” Burns said. Although this research cannot be directly ap plied to predicting future climate change patterns, Burns said it can be useful in piecing together and creating more accurate geological records to reference as a type of natural climate change. University isotope geochemist Larry Edwards used stalagmites as indicators of rainfall and temperature change in climate history. He said initial testing produces a basic record that can then be adjusted by comparing multiple layers of stalagmites. “In the end, you would have a whole set of oxygen isotope analyses, which would basically tell you something about rainfall at the time,” said Edwards. The stalagmites were excavated throughout the early 2000s, and found to be over 135,000 years old. Since then, researchers have conducted more than a thousand tests of radiometric dating. “We got a really nice age range, which was pretty much the whole glacial period before last (the penultimate glacial period), and there is not that much data for that timeframe ... anywhere in the world,”
Edwards said. Lisa Welsh, a geologist who helped collect the samples, said it was interesting to find the initial age results and see major differences. “It’s neat when you go into a cave, you never really know what you’re going to get at all and what the age of the samples are going to be,” Welsh said. The team was surprised to find the samples were much older than their 10,000-years prediction. Although the stalagmites were only excavated from South America, the researchers used the data to review previous climate change worldwide. “The whole climate system is pretty closely tied together,” Burns said. “You can’t change climate very much in one part of the world without affecting climate everywhere.”
“The whole climate system is pretty closely tied together. You can’t change climate very much in one part of the world without affecting climate everywhere.” STEPHEN BURNS professor of geosciences at UMass