February 27, 2020

Q&A: MOD SUN TALKS ABOUT NEW MUSIC, LIFESTYLE PAGE 4

EARLY WEEK THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MEN’S HOCKEY

U looks into former men’s hockey staff misconduct Following reports, UMN has hired the law firm Perkins Coie to conduct a formal investigation. BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota has opened an investigation into allegations that former assistant men’s hockey coach Thomas Adrahtas committed sexual misconduct against players while on staff from 1984-1985. This comes following an article published by The Athletic on Friday that detailed allegations committed by Adrahtas while at Minnesota and several other institutions. Most recently, Adrahtas worked for Robert Morris University in 2018. “The University of Minnesota is aware of The Athletic article regarding alleged serious misconduct by an individual who served as a University assistant men’s hockey coach during the 1984-85 season,” the University said in a statement. “The University takes this disturbing report seriously and is taking immediate steps — including the retention of the law firm Perkins Coie — to determine what happened.” Along with hiring a law firm, Minnesota Athletic Director Mark Coyle sent a letter to the members of the 1984-1985 men’s hockey team, according to The Athletic. “I write to you and your 198485 hockey teammates to say that I deeply regret any such harm that may have occurred within Golden Gopher Athletics,” the letter said. The letter also asks that any of the former athletes bring forward any knowledge they have regarding the situation. The Athletic reported that months after Adrahtas left Robert Morris, players there learned that Adrahtas resigned because of allegations by a player from the 1980s. The story said Robert Morris and the American College Hockey Association had been notified by the player that he endured 20 months of sexual abuse by Adrahtas. The athletic director during Adrahtas’s time at Minnesota was Paul Giel.

“The University takes this disturbing report seriously and is taking immediate steps.” statement by the University of Minnesota

MNDAILY.COM

NEIGHBORHOODS

UMN’s Stadium Village vision comes to life A recent regents vote could shift the future of a 3-million-squarefoot area around Stadium Village.

BY CAITLIN ANDERSON AND J.D. DUGGAN canderson@mndaily.com, jduggan@mndaily.com

A Board of Regents vote earlier this month furthers a redevelopment that will completely transform the Stadium Village area. The East Gateway Project, a plan led by a University of Minnesota Foundation partnership, aims to forge an entry from the Prospect Park neighborhood and Interstate 94 into the University of Minnesota. Following years of planning, the vote transferred control of key land to UMF. The decades-long vision encompasses 3-million square feet of mixed-use development, including small-business incubators and office, residential and green space. Regents signed off on the vision and an agreement to transfer three University-owned land parcels south of TCF Bank Stadium to

Illustration by Sarah Mai / Minnesota Daily

UMF at the February meeting. Both regents and University leaders have praised the project, which has also garnered criticism over the recent vote’s timeline and possible long-term effects on the region. “This is a hundred-year decision and certainly with billions of dollars at stake,” said Regent Darrin Rosha at the Feb. 14 regents meeting. “This is a big deal.” ‘A place in need of a new identity’ The East Gateway Project is led by Visus, a partnership between the UMF subsidiary University of Minnesota Real Estate Advisors and developer Marquette, LLC. Marquette is run by the Minnesota-based multibillion-dollar Pohlad

family. Redevelopment will encompass multiple UMF-controlled properties along Washington Avenue — including the site of Stub and Herb’s — and the Dinnaken student housing properties. In that region, ValU Liquors, My Burger and a few other parcels are still privately owned. Years of development from separate private entities have created an unconnected, fragmented district, said Kathy Schmidlkofer, president and CEO of UMF, at the meeting. The University’s eastern boundary is “in need of a new identity,” she said. “The private sector wants to be here. But with our help and aspirations, we can build something that’s more than one plus one,”

Schmidlkofer said at the meeting. “More than incremental development. Something connected to a larger aspiration for this campus.” UMF will have to move infrastructure in the area, including Fire Station 19 currently on Ontario Street and the University’s Internet Technologies hub and stormwater pond on University Avenue. The agreement ensures the University will not absorb these costs. In exchange for the University parcels, UMF offered land west of Huron Boulevard, bounded by Delaware and Essex streets. This helps further the University’s plan to expand its clinical facilities. Visus intends to work with one u See GATEWAY Page 8

ENVIRONMENT

University confirms investments into fossil fuels The U confirmed it indirectly invests in oil and gas companies such as ExxonMobil. BY SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON shendrickson@mndaily.com

Amid questions and discussion surrounding fossil fuel investment, the University of Minnesota confirmed it does indirectly invest in the fossil fuel industry, including companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell. The University invests in fossil fuels with index funds — investments made by an individual or institution into a pool of companies. For several decades, the University has invested in the Russell 3000, an index fund of the top 3,000 companies in the United States, according to Stuart Mason, the University’s chief investment officer. However, as more companies worldwide are looking to become more sustainable and more people are becoming more aware of climate change, University Regent Michael

Hsu said he may one day encourage the University to divest from fossil fuels. “Maybe we’ve reached that tipping point where it doesn’t make any sense to invest in fossil fuels anymore,” Hsu said. “But as long as there’s a good return in fossil fuels, then we have to make a decision.” Institutions invest in index funds in order to replicate the financial success of the companies in that index pool, and index funds are often a cheaper alternative to investing directly into a single company, Mason said. The Board of Regents has the final say in what the University decides to invest in, according to University policy. “Our goal in investing is to make money so that we can reduce the cost of tuition and use that money to fund operations of the University of Minnesota,” Hsu said. Student groups such as the Minnesota Student Association and UMN Climate Strike have been actively advocating for the University to divest from fossil fuels by drafting resolutions, holding strikes and

OUTREACH

Illustration by Hailee Schievelbein / Minnesota Daily

sending “break up with fossil fuels” Valentine’s Day cards to the Board of Regents. “I’m always going to listen to the case being made by students,” Re-

gent Darrin Rosha said. “[Fossil fuel divestment] is an important issue because to students at our institution, u See FOSSIL FUELS Page 3

ADMINISTRATION

Addressing a shortage, UMN creates degree for rural veterinarians in the Midwest A collaboration with South Dakota State University, the program will launch next year.

SERVING THE UMN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900

Teamsters union votes to accept final contract offer from U of M Striking is now off the table for the union, but some members are still discontent with the offer. BY NIAMH COOMEY AND HANA IKRAMUDDIN ncoomey@mndaily.com, hikramuddin@mndaily.com

BY ABBEY MACHTIG amachtig@mndaily.com

Veterinary Student Cailey Malnarick, left, performs a check-in exam on “Noodle” with assistance from Veterinary Technician Sydney Gagnon, right, at the Veterinary Medical Center in St. Paul on Friday, Feb. 21. (Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily)

A new University of Minnesota degree will focus on rural veterinary practices to address the shortage of veterinarians in the Greater Midwest. The program, which is a collaboration with South Dakota State University, was officially announced this month. Beginning in August 2021, students will study for two years at South Dakota State followed by two years at the University of Minnesota. Upon completion, students will gain a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine, with a primary focus on a mixed animal practice. Students from any university can apply to the program. “We are really teaching a countryside practice, at the edge of both city and country. Within a mixed animal practice, veterinarians can

look at anything from baby goats, horses or cows, to cats and dogs,” said Gary Gackstetter, director of South Dakota State’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. “[Rural vets] look at the full spectrum and need to be able to do lots of things.” Program creators built on past initiatives designed to address the lack of rural veterinarians in the area, in hopes that graduates will find employment within the local farming industry, said Laura Molgaard, interim dean of the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Undergraduates who want to serve a rural community after graduation are often from rural communities. We put them through a tailored admissions process. They are asked to display

interest and stay in the program, and by doing that we’re able to keep young people in the pipeline,” Molgaard said. The need for veterinarians in the Greater Midwest region is due to a number of factors, Gackstetter said. “In general, I don’t think people are as comfortable with this practice. You have to give up comfort and freedom to be a good animal practitioner. You don’t get paid as much, and there isn’t the same economic incentive as there is to work in a clinic,” Gackstetter said. The need for more rural veterinarians in the Midwest can also be linked to the disperse geographical locations of farms across the area, said Alan Sletten, a rural u See RURAL VETS Page 3

More than seven months after their contract expired, the Teamsters Local 320 workers union voted to accept the University of Minnesota’s final offer Monday. The final offer, which came after months of negotiations, did not meet several of the Teamsters’ demands about wages, year-round employment for food service workers and harassment language, union members said. But because the majority of union members accepted the offer, Teamsters will not be going on strike. Teamsters Business Agent Hannah Bernardson said several hundred members voted to keep the contract, while close to 150 voted against it. Among members, opinions about the final offer were split, Bernardson said. “In the bargaining unit, you know, we have some people that are satisfied with the contract, but we have a large amount of people that are still unsatisfied,” she said.

In a statement emailed to the Minnesota Daily ahead of Monday’s vote, the University said it is committed to working with the Teamsters on the next steps following the vote. Now that the votes are in, the union’s bargaining committee will meet again with the University to confirm the contract. Teamsters member Mick Kelly said the union has had three main points of contention with the University over the course of negotiations: wages, food service employees and harassment language. Last year, some Teamsters dining employees were shifted from 12- to nine-month contracts because of the lack of summer work in dining services on campus. Some union members said they were discontent with the cutback on hours and fewer choices over what position they have during the summer. Due to this, among other concerns, some Teamsters members demonstrated at the reopening of Pioneer Hall last fall. “We feel that our cause is just, that our demands are reasonable and the U has to address these problems,” Kelly said. In an interview last month, Bernardson said the University was not accommodating the Teamsters’ requests to include u See TEAMSTERS Page 3 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 42

Daily Review

2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

CAMPUS EVENTS CALENDAR FRIDAY

Battle of the Bands

SATURDAY

7:30 p.m. at the Whole Music Club Round four of the Battle of the Bands features features four new groups.

Leap Day Hooray!

SUNDAY

Improv-A-Go-Go

NOW PLAYING

“The Meg”

7 p.m. in Goldy’s Gameroom, cash bar 8 p.m. at Huge Theater, name your price Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Coffman Union Theater; Friday at Enjoy bowling, bingo, free cookies and Four improv groups from throughout 8 p.m. at the St. Paul Student Center soft drinks and frog-themed coloring. the Twin Cities will give you a laugh.

Bánh mì roasted for appropriation Erbert & Gerbert’s bánh mì retains few ingredients from the traditional sandwich. BY FARRAH MINA fmina@mndaily.com

Several people, including Vietnamese students at the University of Minnesota, have voiced criticism toward a sandwich Erbert & Gerbert’s launched last month: a plant-based roasted red pepper bánh mì. In addition to cucumbers and jalapeño, the Erbert & Gerbert’s sandwich contains roasted red peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, barbecue sauce and a cilantro-mint aioli. The sandwich retains few ingredients from the traditional Vietnamese bánh mì. It leaves out the signature crackly bread— typically made with a blend of wheat and rice flour— and the characteristic paté, pickled carrots and daikon, leading many Vietnamese students to feel that the sandwich appropriated their culture.

“You’d never find sweet roasted red peppers in a bánh mì — and probably no barbecue in there because that’s just not even regionally correct,” said Christina Nguyen, chef and owner of Hai Hai, a Vietnamese restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis. “ … I just think that they didn’t do their research, and that it’s nothing like a bánh mì. It’s weird that they’re calling it that.” There are two Erbert & Gerbert’s franchises around campus, one in Coffman Union and another in Dinkytown. When Erbert and Gerbert’s debuted its “bánh mì,” University of Minnesota Dining Services posted an Instagram story promoting the new product, which caught the eye of Trong Cu, a Vietnamese student at the University. Cu said he was “repulsed” by the sandwich that was labeled a bánh mì. “When an organization exploits [culture] and uses it to profit by putting a name on something that is not true, we

create this false representation of our identity,” he said. For Cu, Erbert & Gerbert’s sandwich is reminiscent of the French colonization of Vietnam—the influences of which appear in the baguette, paté and mayonnaise used to make bánh mì. “Our history has come from colonization already,” Cu said. “But in this modern society, we’re being exploited again — extorted once again — once again, to be profited off from.” Thi Bui, a fourth-year student, said the Erbert & Gerbert’s product resembled a sub sandwich. “There’s no way someone in the higher-ups that was Asian-identifying gave out the approval to do that,” she said. The announcement of the new product on Facebook also elicited backlash in the comments section. In response, the fast-food chain addressed the criticism with a Facebook comment. “Erbert and Gerbert’s uses inspiration from all over the world to bring flavorful

sandwiches to its customers. We apologize for any offense that our most recent creation has caused. The feedback that has been shared is important to us and we’ll use it to guide us in the future,” the comment reads. To fourth-year student Kevin Huynh, the company is appropriating Vietnamese culture as a branding technique. “Erbert & Gerbert’s is a big corporation [which has] the money to do research before throwing out

U researchers say composting horse carcasses is a viable, eco-friendly option. BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

Dr. Krishona Martinson interacts with a horse that lives at the Leatherdale Equine Center near the St. Paul campus on Monday, Feb. 24. (Nur Adam / Minnesota Daily)

Martinson said. And with over 145,000 horses in the state, deciding where to put them has become a problem. Burial is difficult because the carcass must be a certain distance from bedrock and sources of water. Cremation can be expensive, as is taking a horse to a landfill, which usually charges owners by the pound. Currently, most Minnesotans render their horses, meaning a company will pick up the body and take it to a facility where it will be processed for products like dog food and animal feed.

As of February 2018, a major horse renderer in Minnesota, Central BiProducts, announced it would no longer pick up horses that had been chemically euthanized as a precaution against contamination in food products. Since a majority of horses die by chemical euthanasia, Martinson said this has been a significant problem for horse owners, which makes her work even more timely. “This project is really important on a lot of fronts,” she said. “Right now there are no commercial facilities

a sandwich like that with no culture sensitivity,” he said. There are plenty of different kinds of bánh mì, and riffs on the Vietnamese sandwich are common, according to Nguyen. Though bánh mì can have almost anything on it, it is highly unlikely that it would include sweet roasted red peppers, barbecue sauce, tomatoes or lettuce, she said. “You can have a lot of fun with the different flavors as long as the bones are there.”

[for horse composting], but this research most certainly could lead to the approval of one if we can show that it works.” The team uses composting materials that are generally available on most farms. The horse compost pile rests on a concrete slab. First the team puts down a base layer of wood chips, which allow for airflow and help the decomposition process, said University soil specialist Melissa Wilson, who is also working on the project. The chips are followed

by a layer of thin wood shavings which the body rests on. The top of the horse is then covered in a mixture of manure and bedding, which provides the pile with nutrientrich microbes that aid in the composting process. “One of the neat things about composting that I particularly like is it kind of closes nature’s life cycle,” Wilson said. “Eventually we die, our remains decompose and the nutrients affect the soil for new things to grow.” So far, their research has shown that a horse can decompose in as little as 10 weeks. The process is also something that can be done in the winter, which has been a problem for horse owners who have difficulty burying horses when the ground is frozen. To help educate horse owners about the process, the team has given a demonstration at its composting site, as well as filmed videos and created an online course about horse composting through UMN Extension. “I think the problem is that people just don’t know about it,” said Alex Bianco, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. “It seems very daunting to do and that’s part of our goal to … convince people that it’s an option.”

Law group to host name change clinic Students seeking name changes can get assistance from volunteer attorneys. BY FARRAH MINA fmina@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota Law School’s LGBTQ+ student association is hosting a name change clinic next month to provide legal services for queer and trans students. OutLaw is collaborating with LGBTQ+ advocacy group OutFront Minnesota and the law firm Robins Kaplan to provide pro bono attorneys in Mondale Hall on March 6. They will assist clients with the name change process and help them navigate the legal forms. Online registration is needed to participate in the clinic. The name change process can be inaccessible and daunting, said Holly Dolejsi, an attorney at Robins Kaplan.

More than two-thirds of the respondents to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey reported that none of their IDs had the name and gender they preferred. In Minnesota, a person seeking a name change must fill out a form and pay a filing fee of approximately $300 unless they qualify for a waiver. The person must then appear before a judge in a court hearing to ensure that the name change is for valid legal reasons. “This is something that we can help with. By having these clinics where people come in, we can go through the paperwork with them ... and give them instructions about which courthouse to send them to,” Dolejsi said. “Ultimately, our goal is to make sure that everyone has access to the court.” The upcoming clinic at the University will be Robins Kaplan’s fourth. The law firm began providing legal name change clinics last year

when OutFront Minnesota approached them about an unmet need in the LGBTQ+ community. In that time, Robins Kaplan was able to help about 70 people submit paperwork for a name change, Dolejsi said. Name change support is also available at the University’s Student Legal Service. At SLS, attorneys fill out the paperwork, file it with the court and represent the student at a hearing, according to SLS attorney Karmen McQuitty. McQuitty has helped students get name changes since she started at SLS seven years ago. In fiscal year 2019, McQuitty said SLS represented 15 students requesting a name change. Many transgender people have to explain who they are repeatedly when their IDs do not align with their identity. “For a lot of people, the fact that their birth certificate or their driver’s license doesn’t conform with their gender identity is a very

Vol. 120 No. 42

An Independent Student Newspaper, Founded in 1900. 2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 450, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (612) 627-4080 Fax: (612) 435-5865 Copyright © 2020 The Minnesota Daily. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted. OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER Cleo Krejci Editor-in-Chief ckrejci@mndaily.com (612)-227-5914 Kyle Stumpf Business Operations Officer kstumpf@mndaily.com (612)-435-5772 Charlie Weaver General Manager gm@mndaily.com (612)-435-5657 EDITORIAL STAFF Max Chao Managing Editor mchao@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Managing Production Editor dkamas@mndaily.com Michelle Griffith Campus Activities Editor mgriffith@mndaily.com Katrina Pross Campus Administration Editor kpross@mndaily.com Madeline Deninger City Editor mdeninger@mndaily.com Audrey Kennedy Features & Freelance Editor akennedy@mndaily.com Paul Hodowanic Sports Editor phodowanic@mndaily.com Nick Jungheim Assistant Sports Editor njungheim@mndaily.com Liv Martin A&E Editor omartin@mndaily.com Jack Rodgers Multimedia Editor jrodgers@mndaily.com Emily Martens Copy Desk Chief emartens@mndaily.com Layna Darling Assistant Copy Desk Chief ldarling@mndaily.com Creston Halstead Chief Page Designer chalstead@mndaily.com Hailee Schievelbein Visuals Editor hschievelbein@mndaily.com =

The Roasted Pepper Bánh Mì sandwich from Erbert & Gerbert’s, purchased from the Coffman Union location on Monday, Feb. 24. (Andy Kosier / Minnesota Daily)

Yay or neigh: carcass composting University of Minnesota professor Krishona Martinson never anticipated her career would include composting dead horses. Since July, a team of specialists at the University has been studying the impacts of horse carcass composting as an alternative to the current means of disposal, which include burial and cremation. Their research has shown that composting has many positive soil benefits and is an easy and humane way to dispose of horses after they have died. “Horses are classified as livestock in Minnesota, but people tend to have a very individualized relationship with horses,” said Martinson, an owner of five horses. “So, when a horse dies, whether expectedly or unexpectedly, it’s very hard for an owner.” Martinson said that she believes composting is a dignified way to celebrate a horse’s life. The composting of other livestock in Minnesota is a relatively common practice, but not with horses. Horse owners do not have many disposal options,

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Illustration by Eva Berezovsky / Minnesota Daily

painful fact,” Dolejsi said. “So this step of going through the legal name change processes is just another instance where that explanation will be made again, so I think emotionally it can be intimidating.” OutLaw hopes the clinic will encourage students to seek out the resources

they need, said Charlie O’Meara, the OutLaw communications director. “OutLaw is queer and trans students looking out for queer and trans students, and I’m hoping that’ll make people feel a little more comfortable coming and getting services,” he said.

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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Courtesy of the University of Minnesota.

Gateway u from Page 1

or more private developers, though none have yet been decided, said UMF spokesperson Sarah Youngerman. A long process comes to a head University stakeholders have eyed the area for redevelopment for years, yet some regents felt the vote was rushed.

Fossil fuels u from Page 1

it’s an important issue … but obviously, there’s a lot of other considerations that are involved.” Other schools within the Big Ten Academic Alliance, of which the University is a member, have had their own conversations re-

Rural vets u from Page 1

veterinarian from Fergus Falls. “[As a rural veterinarian] there has to be a wealth of knowledge and you have to be able to do everything. I see a shortage of veterinarians in the rural country, especially as bigger farms are being developed. Vets have to travel further and

The Visus partnership first unveiled initial plans more than a year ago at a Prospect Park Association meeting, and later at an October 2018 regents meeting. At the time, many regents expressed excitement about the discussion, but there was some confusion about the vision. Then last December, Schmidlkofer and UMF’s trustee board chair Lynn Casey presented a concept plan for review with the regents. At the recent February

meeting, the plan was brought forward for both review and a vote, including dense legal agreements that turned over nearly all regent oversight of the project. Regent Michael Hsu said the agreements were provided about a week ahead of the final decision. “So one of my concerns… is that we’re having to make decisions right now without having time to evaluate this thing in a bigger picture,” said Regent Randy Simonson at the meeting. “We have to vote on the

garding fossil fuels divestment. The University of Michigan recently announced that it’s stopping any new investments into the fossil fuel industry. As of June 2019, Michigan invests about 9 percent of its total investments in natural resources, which include oil and gas. The University of Minnesota also disclosed that

it invests in a low-carbon index fund, which includes investments from more sustainable companies, Mason said. It operates similarly to the Russell 3000 index fund but prioritizes investments in companies with low carbon emissions. “I’m not saying that there isn’t more we could do, but I think we have done a fair amount,” Mason said.

further, so that’s where we need them,” Sletten said. Although veterinary medicine doctorate programs already exist within both universities, the new program will provide experience in both South Dakota and Minnesota, as the two areas have different veterinary needs. “South Dakota has the Great Plains and with that we see an animal mix of cows, calves and bison. In Minnesota we see more of

a companion animal mix of horses, cats and dogs,” Gackstetter said. With the creation of the program, leaders and creators said they hope to see an increase in graduates fulfilling the need for rural veterinarians across the country. “We think we could serve rural areas in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming,” Gackstetter said. “We can benefit lots and lots of rural locations.”

proposal as it’s presented to us.” UMF trustees needed regents to make a prompt decision so the project could proceed on time, Youngerman said. Casey said UMF is creating a special committee with regent-appointed members to regularly report to the board. UMF is also currently working out clarifications to retain some regent oversight. Concerns over conflicts of interest With more than 90 percent

of eligible trustees voting, UMF unanimously approved bringing the plan to regents. Some regents also sit on UMF’s Board of Trustees, including Regents Richard Beeson, Thomas Anderson and David McMillan — leading others to mention concerns over conflicts of interest. Beeson, Anderson and McMillan did not vote as trustees for approval to bring the project to the board, Youngerman said. But they later voted in favor of the project as regents at the February meeting. “I think it’s really more a matter of transparency and having agreements publicly debated,” Beeson said. With the transaction moving into the hands of private entities, some discussions can happen behind closed doors. On the other hand, regents are a public governing body whose actions are subject to public scrutiny. As a private nonprofit, UMF has a legal obligation to fulfill its mission of furthering the University’s interests. But Hsu said UMF’s presentation didn’t seem like they sought a partnership with the regents. “They kept on saying, ‘Well, our board already approved this unanimously.’ I don’t think they really think they sounded stupid, but they did,” Hsu said in an interview with the Minnesota Daily. “It

was disingenuous.” Uncertainty of private partnerships near campus Rosha said at the meeting while he trusts the UMF, he’s still unsure about partnerships with private developers. “I’m more concerned about the fact that this is not just the Foundation that’s going to be running this, it’s going to be private developers with a forprofit motive,” he said. While private developers are familiar with city planning requirements, working with regents is unknown territory, Youngerman said. Regent oversight could scare developers with interest in the project, she said. With private development around the University area favoring luxury student apartments, losing the Dinnaken House — to be demolished later in the project — would be detrimental for affordable student housing, Hsu said. But Casey said the redevelopment plan is the step in the right direction for the area. “Students today are going to come back to campus, one, two, even three decades from now. And they’re going to see a different and even better place than where you all went to school,” she said. “The University campus area is always evolving, but East Gateway that’s really an evolution with a capital E.”

Teamsters Local 320 members stand present at an MSA forum to support a resolution drafted by Austin Berger on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019.(Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)

Teamsters u from Page 1

specific language about harassment in their contract. While the bargaining unit was not surprised by what was in the University’s final offer, some were disappointed, Bernardson said. Going forward, the union will need to determine how to proceed with

addressing the summer work issues, she said. Under the new contract, Teamsters members will be paid retroactively with their new raises back to Sept. 30 despite having been without a contract since July, Bernardson said. Members were content with the 2.25% wage increase, but were unhappy that the retroactive pay will not go back to when their contract ended,

she said. Bernardson said the Teamsters will continue to address the challenges faced by food service workers at the University. “That fight definitely isn’t over,” she said. “They will be hearing from us. They will be seeing us out on campus, you know, rallying our folks up, trying to get some sort of agreement in place for our food service workers.”

Contamination poses roadblock for MarcyHolmes neighborhood organics recycling City officials are exploring at the possibility of adding organics. The light rail as seen on Thursday, June 20, 2019 in Minneapolis. (Tony Saunders / Minnesota Daily)

Minnesota Student Association continues push to expand free light rail stops Another bill aims to improve safety on the light rail after spike in crime. BY MOHAMED IBRAHIM mibrahim@mndaily.com

More than seven months after their contract expired, the Teamsters Local 320 workers union voted to accept the University of Minnesota’s final offer Monday. The final offer, which came after months of negotiations, did not meet several of the Teamsters’ demands about wages, year-round employment for food service workers and harassment language, union members said. But because the majority of union members accepted the offer, Teamsters will not be going on strike. Teamsters Business Agent Hannah Bernardson said several hundred members voted to keep the contract, while close to 150 voted against it. Among members, opinions about the final offer were split, Bernardson said.

“In the bargaining unit, you know, we have some people that are satisfied with the contract, but we have a large amount of people that are still unsatisfied,” she said. In a statement emailed to the Minnesota Daily ahead of Monday’s vote, the University said it is committed to working with the Teamsters on the next steps following the vote. Now that the votes are in, the union’s bargaining committee will meet again with the University to confirm the contract. Teamsters member Mick Kelly said the union has had three main points of contention with the University over the course of negotiations: wages, food service employees and harassment language. Last year, some Teamsters dining employees were shifted from 12- to ninemonth contracts because of the lack of summer work in dining services on campus. Some union members said they were discontent with the cutback on hours

and fewer choices over what position they have during the summer. Due to this, among other concerns, some Teamsters members demonstrated at the reopening of Pioneer Hall last fall. “We feel that our cause is just, that our demands are reasonable and the U has to address these problems,” Kelly said. In an interview last month, Bernardson said the University was not accommodating the Teamsters’ requests to include

“In the bargaining unit, you know, we have some people that are satisfied with the contract, but we have a large amount of people that are still unsatisfied.” HANNAH BERNARDSON business agent

BY YVES DE JESUS yjesus@mndaily.com While residents push for organics recycling at a Marcy-Holmes park, issues with contamination are forcing city officials to proceed with caution. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, along with city staff, is currently examining the possibility of adding an organics collection site at Holmes Park after residents expressed interest in the program. The move is part of a larger effort by the MarcyHolmes neighborhood to expand organics recycling accessibility. While the neighborhood does not have any organics collection in its park, Van Cleve Park in Como is one of nine drop-off sites citywide. “I’ve had a lot of students come to me trying to find a place to compost their organics,” said Park Board Commissioner Chris Meyer. “So I’ve been looking into expanding that at Holmes Park in Marcy-Holmes neighborhood the same way Van Cleve has one.” Meyer met with residents and Park Board staff about starting an organics composting program at

Holmes Park earlier this month. In an emailed statement to the Minnesota Daily, the city of Minneapolis recycling coordinator Kellie Kish said Holmes Park is an unlikely candidate for an organics program because it does not have infrastructure for staff to monitor and maintain the bins. This infrastructure would include a parking lot and a recreation center. “It’s not a good fit at this time because we don’t have staff there to help do it,” said Linden Weiswerda, who manages maintenance operations for the park system. “But there’s plenty of other places where we are trying to expand it.” City staff are responsible for emptying out organics bins and bringing them to a composting facility in Rosemount. Without proper infrastructure and staffing, organics bins in Holmes Park could become contaminated with plastic and other non-compostable materials, Weiswerda said. “We don’t want to put [bins] out there and then end up contaminated and [then] have to go into the landfill,” Weiswerda said. “What we want to do is do it intentionally and do it really well.” Outside of Holmes Park, Marcy-Holmes community members are looking at other ways to expand organics

recycling options, said Jessica Focht-Perlberg of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association. “We’re also partnering with a few different communities in the neighborhood who are interested in possibly seeing what they can do to possibly offer additional public drop-off spots or sites for people in apartment buildings,” she said. Joe Schaedler was one of the residents to ask for a public organics recycling in the neighborhood. He said having the infrastructure in place will make composting easier for the average consumer. “The idea is about creating the infrastructure for the conscientious consumers to take the action that’s possible to improve,” Schaedler said. “The more infrastructure there is for this, the more we can make it functional, and the more beneficial we make it for the environment.” In addition to the nine existing sites, Weiswerda said Park Board and city staff will continue efforts to identify other locations for organics recycling. “So it’d be great if we could just throw an organic container out there, but if we do, it’s going to get filled with glass,” Weiswerda said. “So we’re trying to avoid organics programs [that] just turn into trash.”

4 MNDAILY.COM

BY ALEX STRANGMAN astrangman@mndaily.com

Mod Sun has had a hell of a year. He’s been in and out of the public eye, gotten sober and returned to his musical roots. The Bloomington, Minnesota native sat down with A&E to talk about this new chapter in his life, and finding the best version of himself. Is there a full length project on the way? In a short form answer, yes, there is an album coming very soon. At this point in my life I have the best narrative that I’ve ever had, which is that I’ve been very

vulnerable over the last year about the changes in my life. I’ve had a big public eye moment. There’s moments of breaking down. There’s moments of all this stuff and it would be a shame if I didn’t document this in the form of an album. Where I’m at right now is I’m ready to offer the best [album]. You’ve begun to get back into more rock-oriented music; do you feel like you’re coming full circle as an artist? I feel like this is the music that comes out of me. This music right here is really where I feel the most natural and I feel like for once in my musical career I’m not

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MUSIC

Q&A: Mod Sun discusses music, sobriety, positivity Mod Sun is starting a new chapter in his life as he prepares for his upcoming tour, kicking it off at First Avenue on March 1st.

MN DAILY

Courtesy of Mod Sun.

fighting so hard to be the outcast. In hip-hop, in rap, I mean you look at a picture of Mod Sun and you’re like, ‘No, he’s not a rapper.’ And that was great. That was honestly probably a big advantage of mine for a long time. But, at this point, it’s like, I feel like I kind of have a home in music which is singing alternative, obviously inspired by rap and hip-hop ... totally inspired by it, but doing something that’s really natural to me. Like you said, full circle bro, this is what I was doing at the start. How do you maintain a rockstar lifestyle while sober? I’ve tried to blaze a different path with [sobriety],

and make it so I can still live almost the exact same way I was living, as far as the environment and company I keep, and be like, ‘Alright, I’m really going to test my self control and I’m going to still go out. I’m going to go to the club with friends.’ I’m the designated driver now, let’s get it straight. I’m driving to and from the club, and my friends are wasted, and I promise you at the end of every night they look at me and they’re like, ‘Man, I think you just had more fun than me tonight. You just smiled the entire night, danced, and talked to everybody. And you didn’t even put anything in your nose or take a sip of anything.’ It makes me

ART

feel more like a rockstar. It really does. I wanted to do that to show people that [sobriety] can be doable in a way that you still have fun. It’s not all sitting there missing out. Sounds like a crazy past year. How do you stay so positive through it all? This time around it had a little more to do with faith than it ever has ... believing in God lowkey, believing in the statement, ‘Thy will be done.’ I really did have to believe not just in myself anymore. I think that it takes this inner struggle that you have to get over. I mean, anyone who’s working to

be positive every day — as positive as that is — there is this struggle that you’re forcing [yourself] to be positive. I was starting to go down a wrong road, and it’s a blessing because a lot of people just burn out at that point, but I took it as a way to find the best me. This interview has been edited for style and clarity.

Mod Sun

March 1, 7 p.m. First Avenue, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis $20 (GA) - $125 (VIP) All ages

MUSIC

Marked for Battle of the Bands, Hit The Skids is on the rise

The band melds genres to create a unique DIY punk sound. Musicians Alex Fuller, left, and Jake Yaeger, right, members of the local alt-rock band Hit the Skids, pose outside of Hard Times Cafe on Friday, Feb. 21. The band is set to release a new album entitled “New Horizon” and will play in the University’s Battle of the Bands. (Liam Armstrong / Minnesota Daily)

BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com

Ai Weiwei’s “Safe Passage”, installed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art for the exhibition “When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Art and Migration.” (Courtesy of Charles Walbridge.)

‘When Home Won’t Let You Stay’: Artists respond to migration A new exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art takes a deeper look at migration via art. BY ALEX STRANGMAN astrangman@mndaily.com

The exterior columns of the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s north entrance adopted a new look this week, exchanging the normal off-white color for an array of oranges, reds, blues and greens. For the U.S. premiere of his work titled “Safe Passage,” Chinese artist Ai Weiwei covered the columns with a total of close to 2,400 life vests, each representing an individual life affected by migration. The work is just one part of the new “When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Art and Migration” exhibit opening in the museum’s Target Galleries. For Gabriel Ritter, curator and head of contemporary art at Mia, the “Safe Passage” work is part of a much larger conversation. “I really don’t read it so much as a memorial, as much as a beacon to the community and a beacon to visitors to recognize the difficulties that face refugees on their harrowing journey. But, also to implicate viewers themselves. We are part of the problem,” he said, adding that individuals

vote for those in office who make policies with real life ramifications. The title of the exhibit is taken from “Home,” a poem written by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire. The exhibition focuses on different aspects of migration, immigration and forced displacement, and is made up of more than 40 works by 21 different artists from across the world, some of whom are immigrants, refugees or migrants themselves. “When Home Won’t Let You Stay” debuted at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, which organized the exhibit. However, for its installment at the Mia, the museum commissioned Twin Cities-based organizations CarryOn Homes and Postcommodity, based in the American Southwest, to create two Mia-specific works, the “COH Living Room” and “Let Us Pray for the Water Between Us.” “Let Us Pray for the Water Between Us” is the first part of the exhibit visitors will see upon entering the museum. The work consists of a 2,200-gallon Hazmat tank repurposed as a “selfplaying polyrhythmic ‘host drum’” creating rhythms derived from Dakota songs. Complete with comfortable seating, dim lighting and a plethora of soft pillows, the “COH Living Room” is a shared space at the very end

of the exhibit, designed as a place of respite and relaxation where people can decompress after what might be an emotional or draining viewing experience. The rest of the show features a wide range of different art works from personal accounts to poetic meditations, including sculptures, paintings, installations and videos. For a state like Minnesota, which has the highest number of refugees per capita of any state in the U.S., according to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, it only makes sense that an exhibit showcasing a wide variety of migration experiences would come to the Mia. According to Katherine Luber, the Mia’s recentlyelected director, it’s time that museums step up and take a lead around starting and continuing difficult conversations. “It’s the perfect opportunity for us to think about where art museums can make a difference in our bigger cultural conversations about what we stand for,” she said.

‘When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Art and Migration’

Feb. 23 - May 24 Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave. S, Minneapolis $20

It began with a love letter two years ago. Now they’ve got an album. Local band Hit The Skids has found a way to combine various influences, including Neil Young, Green Day and The Replacements, into a punk rock, DIY sound. It started in jazz combo in high school. Alex Fuller, now a sophomore studying psychology at the University of Minnesota, and Jake Yaeger played together in an ensemble for an event at their school. At the end of the night, a friend told Fuller, “Someone left you a love note on your drum kit.” A drummer from another high school had watched Fuller and Yaeger’s performance and wrote an open invitation to jam, listing influences such as Hüsker Dü and Soul Asylum. “I hit him up, and I’m like, ‘I got some new songs that I’m working on, do you want to try and jam?’” said Fuller. “By the end of the first practice, I asked if he wanted to be in our band, and he was just like, ‘Alright cool.’” Vic Fischer joined the original lineup of Hit The Skids as its drummer. During that year-long period, the band recorded an EP and a full-length album titled “New Horizon,” which is set to be released Feb. 28. “It took us like a year to get our shit together before we were ready to actually play any shows,” Fuller said. Even then, Yaeger, the bassist, missed their first gig as a band because of ACL reconstructive surgery. The general vibe of Hit The Skids is very much along those lines — they tend to let loose and just go with whatever they’re handed. However, their music is pretty tight. “In the last few months we’ve had a big difference in energy, and we’re starting to take a lot of those punk

influences home,” Yaeger said. “It’s weird to go out and listen to our older stuff because it’s sort of a snapshot of our first two years as a band.” All of the songs in their first EP “Rainy Days” and their upcoming album “New Horizon” were written by Fuller, showcasing oldies folk and a light touch of Green Day. “I just kind of write stuff whenever it comes to me, and every song is a little bit different,” Fuller said. “A lot of the stuff I wrote on [the new album] started on acoustic guitar, and I transferred it to electric guitar. Then everything gets sped up, and it turns into a rock song.” During the summer of 2019, Fischer left the band to attend college in Georgia, and Hit the Skids was left drummer-less. So Yaeger brought his friend Matt Mwangi in, and after two short practices they played a gig together. “You wouldn’t have been able to tell that he had only been with us for two practices,” Yaeger said. “We sounded just as good as we did before, maybe even a little better in some ways. It took us by surprise.”

UMN Battle of the Bands

Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. The Whole Music Club, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis Free

Mwangi has stayed with Hit The Skids since, and they’ve begun experimenting with more collaborative songwriting. “We have a lot of different influences, so I think going forward, we’re all going to be pitching new ideas for songwriting,” Mwangi said. “With all of us having input on these songs for the next album, it’s going to be pretty cool.” Hit The Skids will be playing a mix of their older and newer material at the University’s Battle of the Bands at the Whole on Feb. 28. They want their set to showcase where they’ve come from and where they’re going as a band. “We’re going into the recording studio two days later to record some brand-new songs,” Fuller said. “They’re going to seem drastically different compared to the album, but if you’ve seen us recently, it’ll all make sense.”

5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

COLUMN

MN DAILY

Editorials & Opinions

Too tall? Bummer. Too short?

Just add stilettos.

Sidney Clarke columnist

I

MNDAILY.COM

n our middle school minds, any living thing that stood above 5’6’’ was more akin to a giraffe than a human being. All things considered, height wasn’t the worst issue to have, even back in those days. You could’ve been the first to develop a 5 o’clock shadow, a teacher’s pet, or had one of those wheeled backpacks. Worse yet, you could’ve had a legitimate

issue like food insecurity or domestic violence to deal with. Regardless, every day that we are no longer 14 and subject to social ridicule for factors outside our control is absolutely thrilling. But although the methods of social pariahism have evolved, height is a continued source of insecurity, especially for women. Given that the average woman in the United States is just 5’3’’, it’s no surprise that women above 6 feet, or on the upper side of 5, run into societal blockades. In addition to being socially conditioned to feel like a skyscraper, tall women are frequently ostracized by fashion trends. Most clothing is manufactured to comply with variation in proportion to the female waist and hip, but height is often considered a specialty size. As a result, women above the “standard” height live in a continual nightmare of high-water jeans and dresses that fit like T-shirts. Generally speaking, there is a bit less clothing to go around in the world of tall women, which further accentuates already prevalent issues like slut-shaming and predetermined standards of professionalism. Height also plays a significant role in the nature of relationships. In 2005, a group of researchers from the University of Chicago and MIT studied height as an influence in online dating services. The study found that women who were 6’3’’ received 40% fewer messages than

women who were 5’5’’. Participants were studied indiscriminately of sexuality, but unfortunately, the results were heavily focused on heterosexual relations. They found that height is either a factor of the stereotypical attraction schema or the prevalence of modern gender roles. Given that the majority of female models are 5’9’’, it’s likely not the former. Evidently, heterosexual men are more comfortable with shorter female partners. While it would appear that tall women are victims of toxic masculinity, it’s worth noting that the same study revealed that taller men were more positively received by women. In either case, height often precipitates lowered self esteem. To some, height is considered a blessing, and if you’re being recruited for the University rowing team, it is. But every time a tall woman is asked whether or not she plays basketball, a pair of heels get shoved to the back of a closet. For whatever reason, height has been inextricably associated with a lack of conventional beauty. To that effect, taller women are expected to adapt and utilize this apparent disadvantage in a positive way, such as athletics, or make efforts to minimize the flaw via shoe choice, posture, etc. Expectations of height, weight, and complexion have limited female power for too many generations. As long as normalcy continues to define beauty, imagined

ideals of perfection will dictate the value we assign ourselves and the love we think we deserve. Neither concern is worthy to be allocated a space within figures saturated with beauty and so much more.

Sidney Clarke welcomes comments at sclarke@mndaily.com.

CARTOON BY ROBERT MCGRADY

EDITORIAL

The University needs to reduce the price of student parking Parking at the University costs upwards of $74 a month for students, on top of tuition.

S

eventy-eight percent of undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota live off-campus, according to U.S. News & World Report. For those students, transit is not always an option, leaving with them with a costly option: driving to campus. Each semester, University Parking and Transportation Services holds a lottery for student contract parking. If chosen, students can choose between three types of parking — lots, ramps or garages. Lot parking is the cheapest option, costing $74 a month, while garage parking costs a whopping $137 a month. A student who chooses garage parking pays more than $500 a semester on top of their tuition. These prices are higher than reasonable for students on a budget. Jacqueline Bass, communications manager for Parking and Transportation Services, said that the reason parking is so expensive on campus is because the department does not receive funds from University tuition or the state. “Parking fees (contracts,

hourly parking, meters, and event parking) go directly to the construction, operation, and maintenance of University parking facilities; construction and maintenance of the transportation infrastructure such as roads and sidewalks; accessibility options for individuals with disabilities; and the intercampus transit system,” she explained in an email to the Daily editorial board. “Even with the broad scope of activities that parking revenue supports, campus parking rates are lower than comparable facilities downtown.” Without funding or more support from the University or the state, it is understandable that parking prices will be high. However, the University needs to find a way to make parking more affordable for students, even if that includes giving more funds to PTS. While there are students who can afford to pay for parking every month, there are many students who cannot because of their income. According to the University of Minnesota’s Office of Admissions, 75% of enrolled students use some form of financial aid in order to attend. Students are not always afforded the time and opportunity to work enough to cover the cost of parking on campus, and the University should be conscious of that when deciding on fair pricing. The cost of parking at the University of Minnesota undermines how much students already pay in tuition. It should be reduced for students in a way that makes getting to campus easier and more affordable. It is time for the University to take a larger role in student transportation and start allocating more resources for PTS.

one or two of the songs he likes, but only the ones that go with the flow. Gotta do a vibe check before sex, right?

Dr. Date, So, I met this guy a few weeks ago. And holy god, is he good at sex. Not going to get into details, but we are having a GREAT time. Not only that, he actually makes his bed and doesn’t leave his room a disaster, so I think it’s true love. It would be perfect … if not for his music taste. See, he liked putting on music during sex, which is totally normal. But the songs are exclusively on the playlist because they have sex-related titles? So like, think “Come Together,” “Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You,” “Beat It,” “Take it Off”... yeah. He thinks it’s hilarious, but it’s such a mood killer. I’ll like one song, but then the genre totally switches and he starts going in time to “Jerk it Out.” A girl needs consistency! The sex is mind-blowing, but I just want to listen to some Tame Impala. What do I do?

–Lo-fi Hip Hop Beats to Study and F*ck To

Dear Lo-fi Hip Hop Beats to Study and F*ck To, Funny in theory? Oh my god, yes. But yeah, going from Arctic Monkeys to Ke$ha will give you some whiplash. Don’t start off with an insult, just mention that you want a chance to “set the mood” and offer to make your own playlist. Include

–Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

I’ve been seeing this one girl lately. It’s kinda new for me — kinda the first time I’ve caught feelings for someone in years. I really can’t get enough of her — we connect so well, on so many levels. It’s like someone went through my internet history and constructed the perfect woman — absolutely unreal. Obviously, I love everything about her as a person … but, obviously, there’s a complication. She’s a very … artistic person. At first that just meant walking around downtown with film cameras and making vaporware playlists for each other based on astrological compatibility, and I was really into it. But then she invited me over to her place and … it’s not ideal. It seems like her carefree artistic spirit applies to all aspects of her life, so her room looks less “2013 Tumblr” and more “Crustpunk Crack Den.” There’s more paint on her mirror than actual reflective surface, she’s named the mice under her bed after existentialist thinkers (I almost stepped on Nietzsche the other day … she wrote a song about it), and every time I come over I need to clear a path just to avoid stepping on half-empty Red Bull cans and hempcigarette butts. The breaking point was when I got into her bed — it was full of sand? And for some reason she said that

she liked it like that? I only stuck around for a few hours and haven’t texted her since. That was two days ago. What do you think? Cut my losses and move on? Hire a biohazard team to clean out her room? I don’t want this to be a deal breaker …

–Crustpunk Crisis

Dear Crustpunk Crisis,

I mean … devotion to the aesthetic. If you really like this girl so much, you embrace the vision. (But seriously, sand?! How does that not kill the mood?!) She’s probably not going to change because of you, sorry. You can hire a cleaning team all you want, or you could spend the money on more hemp cigarettes and live the lifestyle. Or, instead of crashing at hers, just have her come over more often. Maybe your cleanliness will inspire her to try using a vacuum, and instead of getting her into bed, teach her how to make one?

–Dr. Date

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.

letters@mndaily.com Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414 EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.

THE EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPARTMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEWSROOM Dr. Date is a satirical advice column dissecting real-world situations. Want advice from the love doctor? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com

6

Sports

SCOREBOARD FEB 24

Baseball

Minnesota: 2 TCU: 11

MNDAILY.COM

MN connections in “Border Battle”

FEB 27

Women’s Basketball vs. Iowa 6:30 p.m.

FEB 27

Softball

vs. Binghampton 12:30 p.m.

Softball

vs. Auburn University 6:00 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. St. Cloud State 6:37 p.m. vs. North Carolina 7:00 p.m.

Center Daniel Oturu shoots the ball at Williams Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 19. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)

The Gophers are looking to sweep the Women’s Gymnastics season series with vs. Missouri/ Ohio St/ Wisconsin Sunday. Lindenwood 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Hockey vs. Michigan 7:30 p.m.

FEB 29

Softball

vs. Georgia Southern 10:00 a.m.

Men’s Gymnastics vs. Michigan 1:00 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. St. Cloud State 2:07 p.m.

Softball

vs. Auburn University 3:30 p.m.

Men’s Hockey vs. Michigan 5:00 p.m.

Baseball vs. Duke 7:00 p.m.

MAR 1

Softball

vs. Binghampton 9:00 a.m.

Women’s Tennis

vs. University of Colorado 1:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Maryland 3:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Wisconsin 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Hockey vs. Michigan 5:00 p.m.

Baseball

vs. NC State 6:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UPCOMING

Baseball

MN DAILY

BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com

Barring an improbable win streak, it appears the Gophers’ chances of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament are now slim. That does not mean they won’t have plenty to play for on Sunday when they travel east to play Wisconsin.

The Badgers have dominated the series in recent years, winning 12 of 14 matchups between the 2011-12 and 2017-18 season. However, Minnesota has taken two of the past three meetings, including a 70-52 victory on Feb. 5. It was the Gophers’ first victory over Wisconsin at The Barn since 2014, a victory head coach Richard Pitino says was for the fans. “It’s great to win here,” Pitino said after the game. “This rivalry means so much

to our fans and for our home state. When you play in The Barn, it has to be a special experience.” Sunday’s ‘Border Battle’ will take place at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin, but will still feature plenty of Minnesota intrigue. With five players from the Twin Cities metro area, Wisconsin actually has as many Minnesota natives on its roster as the Gophers. The trend of Wisconsin signing players from the Twin Cities is set to continue

as the Badgers currently have a pair of commits from Minnesota signed to their 2020 recruiting class. The presence of players familiar with one another on the other side of the court is something that looks set to energize the rivalry in the years to come. “Especially being from Minnesota, you always want to be able to beat Wisconsin,” said sophomore Daniel Oturu. “You want to go out there and give the best effort you can.” Many of the Badgers’ current Minnesota natives are key contributors. One such player is junior Brad Davison of Maple Grove, an alumnus of Howard Pulley, the same AUU program with which Oturu and fellow sophomores Gabe Kalscheur and Jarvis Omersa played. Davison has been a polarizing figure in college basketball. In the last meeting against Minnesota, he was fresh off a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul he committed against Iowa. Though Davison is not popular among Gophers fans, Pitino counts himself among his admirers. “Brad is a good kid,” Pitino said. “I got to know him a little bit recruiting, he comes from a good family, so it’s not personal. Our guys are friends with him. There are a lot bigger villains in this

world than Brad Davison.” Two other significant Minnesotans on Wisconsin are junior Nate Reuvers and freshman Tyler Wahl, who both attended Lakeville North High School. Oturu recalled competing against Reuvers and Wahl when he attended Cretin-Derham Hall, saying the games were always competitive. “They were really good games. Nate and Tyler are both really good players and both are from here so it’s exciting to play against a couple other Minnesotans,” he said. Following the victory in February, Oturu said he treated the meeting like he would any other game. Immediately, redshirt junior Payton Willis suggested the game meant more to Oturu than the Woodbury native was willing to admit. “He’s lying,” Willis joked. “I’m his roommate. He woke me up at 10 a.m. blasting music, talking about, ‘We’ve got to get this one.’ So, it meant a little bit more.” With so many personal connections between the teams, the Gophers can do more than keep any hope of an NCAA Tournament berth alive with a victory. They can also secure bragging rights by sweeping Wisconsin for the first time since 2009.

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

Freshmen play key role in Gopher success Highly-touted recruits McKinney and Bold are finally starting to produce. BY AJ CONDON acondon@mndaily.com

As junior Shane Wiskus and sophomore Mike Moran prepared for the Winter Cup over the last several weeks, the Gophers men’s gymnastics team needed a spark to replace the workload the pair carried. That spark came from two freshmen who have made names for themselves in the recent weeks: Donte McKinney and Crew Bold. “It feels good to know that we’re actually making an impact,” Bold said. “Like we’re kinda worth it. It makes us feel good, and makes you want to keep improving more.” Improving is exactly what these two have been doing. The Gophers haven’t had their best lineup, as head coach Mike Burns puts it, this whole season, but McKinney and Bold have taken on a bigger role lately. In the past two meets, both Bold and McKinney have tied

Freshmen Crew Bold, left and Donte McKinney pose for a portrait after practice at Cooke Hall on Tuesday, July 16. (Tony Saunders / Minnesota Daily)

for the team high on the high bars with a 14.100. Bold was the first to the feat on Feb. 1. Two weeks later, McKinney tied him. McKinney also ranks in the top-15 nationally in two events, vault and high bar, where he has a NCAA national qualifying average of 14.483 and 13.717, respectively. “I think I’ve been getting more concentrated as the

season’s gone. My sets have been becoming ... easier than normal,” McKinney said. “I kind of started off the season a little rough, I’m not gonna lie. I started out with simple, watered down sets and then once I got comfortable I started upgrading and getting my confidence up.” Though Bold isn’t as highly ranked, he has stepped

up his performance as of late. Against Washington, he set a new career-high on vault with a 14.150. In that meet he also set career highs on the floor, rings and parallel bars. “A big part of [improving] is teammates. They’ve helped me get better, helped my motivation, pushed me, which is a big factor in all my gymnastics training,” Bold said.

“Having my teammates tell me ‘Let’s go, let’s get it, you can do it.’ That’s definitely what’s been helping me improve a lot.” Burns has seen both of these freshmen develop throughout the season and knows they will be crucial to the team’s future success. “The two of them together really are a huge one-two punch in the freshman class. Donte has been really starting to hit his stride really nicely. Crew is very talented in several events and is gonna be a big part in this push forward for the rest of the regular season,” he said. Bold and McKinney have been able to feed off their recent success week to week, but the team had a bye week this past weekend. Burns doesn’t think that will affect the freshman’s performance. “Obviously a week off of competition takes you out of that cycle, but it’s also kind of a mental break,” Burns said. “By not competing I think it drives the hunger, so I’m really looking forward to how these two respond.” The Gophers are back in competition on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Michigan.

SOFTBALL

MaKenna Partain is a consistent force for Gopher softball Partain is second on the team with a batting average of .428 and 11 RBIs. BY NOLAN O’HARA nohara@mndaily.com

Source: Gophers Athletics. Times and scores accurate as of time of publication.

When the Gophers softball team needs a hit, it knows it can count on the bat of MaKenna Partain. The Gophers’ senior infielder has been a mark of consistency for the team in the last four years. Partain has hit at least .375 in each of her four seasons at Minnesota, and has 232 hits, 131 RBI and a .382 batting average for her career. Her offensive production has only progressed in 2020, ranking second on the team in batting average, hitting .408, and her 11 RBIs also rank second on the team. For Partain, offense is a “mentality game” and staying level mentally leads to that connection and consistency at the plate. “I don’t really try to think about a lot when I’m up at the plate. I just try to think about attacking balls over the plate and just trying to do whatever I can to get on base for my team,” Partain said. “Any way I can get on is any way I can

have someone else behind me hit me in.” Partain hasn’t only shown consistency at the plate, but also in the field. Starting at second base through the Gophers’ first 14 games, she has only one error and a .974 fielding percentage. Partain’s defensive abilities were highlighted in the bottom of the sixth in a 1-1 game against Baylor. She made a diving play on a ground ball at second, flipping it from her glove to shortstop Carlie Brandt for Minnesota’s last out of the inning. The play made SportsCenter Top-10 and helped the Gophers force the game into extra innings. “I knew there was two outs, so I knew if there was any ball in play the runner would be going pretty hard,” Partain said. “I just dove and tried to flip it as fast as I could and luckily Carlie came across.” While the Gophers would go on to lose 2-1 to Baylor in extras, they bounced back on Sunday with their second victory over Tulsa on the weekend. The win put the Minnesota at 8-6 on the season, two games above .500 in a treacherous nonconference schedule for a team that head

Senior MaKenna Partain prepares to bat at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on Saturday, May 25. (Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily)

coach Jamie Trachsel says is still finding its identity. As the Gophers look to find that identity, Partain, a senior and leader on the team, has been impressed with her younger teammates, who have embraced the team’s culture. “We have a lot of upperclassmen and we don’t really have so many underclassmen in our lineup, so I think having them perform is

awesome,” Partain said. “It’s just been really exciting to watch them grow and really buy into the process of everything we believe in on our team.” Prior to the start of the season, Trachsel challenged the Gophers to embrace the rising expectations for the team following its first ever appearance in the Women’s College World Series.

“Even for our returners, [we want] to see how they handle, embrace the expectations from last year and in their own individual goals along with our team,” Trachsel said. After Minnesota’s first three weekends to play, it’s evident Partain has accepted Trachsel’s challenge, building on her incredible consistency from her first three seasons.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

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MEN’S HOCKEY Gophers Defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf collides with an Ohio State player at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. The Gophers ended the night with a 6-3 victory over Ohio State. (Liam Armstrong / Minnesota Daily)

Seniors reflect ahead of final games The team has three seniors: Marooney, Zuhlsdorf and team captain Nanne. BY JULIANNA LANDIS jlandis@mndaily.com

As the Gophers men’s hockey team prepares for its final home series of the regular season, the senior class is looking back on their final season. The senior class is small compared to the large number of underclassmen, with just three players: Joey Marooney, Ryan Zuhlsdorf and captain Tyler Nanne. The three seniors are extremely close and take their roles as leaders seriously, especially with how many young players they have looking up to them.

Joey Marooney, forward, Chaska While he hasn’t seen as much ice time through his career as the other two seniors have, Marooney is playing the most he’s ever been in his final season, and he’s someone Gophers head coach Bob Motzko will be relying on as a crucial part of the team’s depth as they make their run in the postseason. “We need him coming down the stretch, and we keep telling him that. He’s tough, hard-nosed. He just gets after it,” Motzko said. Marooney said that he and the other two seniors were very close and that they’ve worked to impart the importance of hard work to their young teammates. “Just coming to practice ready every day, I think actions speak louder than

words. Having that preparation day in, day out really teaches the young guys you can’t really take this for granted, and you never know when your last day is coming to be, so just treat every moment like it’s your last,” Marooney said. Marooney has played in 34 games in his Gophers career, including a career-high 16 this season. He has four career assists. Tyler Nanne, defenseman, Edina As the program’s first third-generation player, Nanne has a deep respect for the heritage of Minnesota’s program and feels honored to be a captain, especially given the obstacles he overcame to get there. Nanne originally committed to Ohio State in 2015 but wasn’t medically cleared to

CROSSWORD

play because of concerns related to myocarditis, a heart condition that Nanne was diagnosed with the summer before. “You look at the list of captains that have represented the ‘M’ here, it’s a blessing to be on the wall with them and, most importantly, to represent a great group of guys. I’ll do everything I can to lead this group to victory ... and to be a good role model,” he said. His favorite memory with the team, he said, was scoring his first goal and looking up to see his family in the stands. He remembers that it felt even more special considering how much time he had to take off from being on the ice. Nanne has 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in his 103 career games. He’s blocked 57 shots this season.

Ryan Zuhlsdorf, defenseman, Edina For Zuhlsdorf, it’s most important to make the rest of the moments count and not take anything for granted. He feels increasingly bittersweet as the season comes closer to an end. He thinks about it every day. “I try not to think about it a lot, but you have to realize your time is coming to an end and ... you just think about cherishing the moments and staying in the present and not worrying so much about your future,” he said. It’s clear to see just how passionate the players are about their team. Zuhlsdorf’s favorite moments with the Gophers were not good plays or goals he scored, but the feeling of being able to pull off a sweep for the home crowd.

He choked up when talking about it. “Those couple times that we sweep here at home, it’s just, it’s amazing that feeling of getting around in the circle and saluting the fans, everyone’s smiling, everyone’s having a great time,” he said. “You look around and you see all the tradition and pride that Minnesota has ... being able to represent that well is a good feeling.” Zuhlsdorf has three goals and 25 assists for 28 points in his career. Zuhlsdorf has played in 140 games and has a plus/minus of +16. As they leave their young teammates behind, all three want to see the team thrive and further the legacy and culture they’ve fostered this year. And, of course, to get some new championship banners hanging from the rafters.

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Last issue’s solution 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. © 2020 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis. © 2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

2/27/20

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As Super Tuesday nears, U students discuss Dem picks

Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Minnesota Daily interviewed students around campus this week about who they think should get the Democratic nomination. By Jasmine Snow jsnow@mndaily.com

Photos by Nur B. Adam nadam@mndaily.com

Simone Hendrix

Jordyn Kathmann Pakou Vang

Major: Sociology Hometown: Middleton, Wisconsin Voting: Bernie Sanders, in-person on election day

Major: Youth studies and Spanish Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota Voting: Bernie Sanders, in-person in Minneapolis

“It was either between Warren or Bernie. But as I’m a public health minor, I’m very interested in health issues, and [Bernie]’s pushing for Medicare for All and that’s … an area that I really care about.”

“My mom has Type I diabetes, and she’s had it since she was a little kid. We’re having a really big problem right now in the U.S. with rationing insulin and not getting people access to the healthcare that they need. So I think it’s really important to ensure that all people — no matter race, ethnicity, social class — are able to have access to different medical devices and services like insulin.”

Jack Kappel Major: Finance Hometown: Waconia, Minnesota Voting: Undecided between Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump, unknown method “I think of myself as a little bit of a moderate. I know that they’re kind of viewed as the most extreme on the sides, but I don’t know. I’m just kind of caught between some things on each side that I kind of agree with and disagree with. And, you know, [Trump] is not really the most professionalacting person on the planet, but there just are some Republican ideals that I do agree with.”

Alisha Bhargia Major: Biology, society and environment Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota Voting: Elizabeth Warren, absentee ballot “I really like her stances on specific policies such as healthcare and climate change. I also think that she’s a really strong candidate that is working for … the American people. And she’s a woman, and I think it’s about time we have a woman president.”

Major: Physics Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota Voting: Undecided between Joe Biden or Elizabeth Warren, in-person in St. Paul “For [Warren], I just like her ideas and the way she’s thinking. For [Biden], I’m just leaning towards him because he was the vice president. But, it’s a little hard for me to decide on him because I don’t think that he’s been doing really well in the debates.”

Neesha Moore Major: Sport management Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota Voting: Undecided “Currently, I’m undecided. I need to do a lot more research before I fill in the bubble on my ballot. I’m trying to find candidates that really support issues that I care about and that I think can beat Donald Trump … Caring about people is my main concern and I feel like some candidates don’t do that as well [as others].”

“I think he could bring some good views not being in [Congress]. While I can see that that might have its own flaws, I think I really like stoic and very calm during the debate — unlike some of the Major: Fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology candidates. The main Hometown: Faribault, Minnesota reason is that he’s Voting: Pete Buttigieg, in-person not too far left.”

Ryan Stumbo

Meghan Cahill Major: Chemistry Hometown: Hanover, Minnesota Voting: Amy Klobuchar, absentee ballot

“I’ve done my research on all the candidates, and I feel that Amy is the most effective politician we have as a Democratic nominee. She gets the most things done in the Senate … and she gets the most bipartisan work done. I feel like our country is more polarized than ever, and I think that the next president should be someone [who’s] willing to bring everybody in and is going to unify the country. I feel like Amy is best able to do that.”