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Shapiro suit advances in U.S. court A U.S. district judge found one of the First Amendment claims in the lawsuit may be valid. BY MIGUEL OCTAVIO moctavio@mndaily.com

A U.S. district judge is allowing part of conservative speaker Ben Shapiro’s freedom of speech lawsuit against the University of Minnesota to proceed. Judge Susan Richard Nelson partially granted the University’s motion to dismiss the complaint Tuesday, but is allowing one First Amendment challenge to proceed, according to court documents. Shapiro and the groups that sponsored his campus visit in early 2018 allege that the University moved the event to a smaller venue on the St. Paul campus instead of a larger venue on the Minneapolis campus due to political bias, violating their First Amendment rights. Plaintiffs requested for Shapiro to speak at Willey Hall, which has a capacity of around 1,000 people, but the University moved the event to the North Star Ballroom, which holds 400 people, claiming security concerns caused by Willey Hall’s central location. Nelson acknowledged a lack of such security precautions taken during past campus events by liberal speakers as potential evidence of political bias. Court documents also acknowledged that the decision was made without knowledge of any organized protests and could have been made due to some of Shapiro’s views, which could be seen as “controversial.” The plaintiffs — Shapiro, Young America’s Foundation and Students for a Conservative Voice — initially filed the lawsuit in July 2018.

STATE GOVT.

Conversion therapy bill clears hurdle A ban of the disputed practice of conversion therapy passed a health committee this month. BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com

A statewide bill banning conversion therapy, a controversial practice aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation, has passed its first obstacle, but debates about religious liberties and health care are only beginning to heat up. The proposed legislation written by Rep. Hunter Cantrell, DFL-Savage, passed through the Health and Human Services Policy Committee earlier this month. It requires licensed counselors and therapists to outline that conversion therapy is deemed ineffective by major medical organizations. The ban does not apply to pastoral counseling. Nearly all major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association, have denounced conversion therapy, stating it is not grounded in scientific reasoning and can be detrimental to patients. According to the Pan American Health u See CONVERSION Page 3

JACK RODGERS, DAILY

Horace Huntley poses for a portrait outside of Morrill Hall, the site of the Morrill Hall takeover of 1969, on Monday, Feb. 25. The takeover, which Huntley was a part of, helped establish the Department of African American and African Studies at the University.

A legacy takes over Morrill Hall A series of teach-ins will honor the 50th anniversary of the Morrill Hall takeover.

MINNESOTA DAILY ARCHIVE

A member of the University of Minnesota community speaks at Morrill Hall on Oct. 12, 1969.

BY HELEN SABROWSKY hsabrowsky@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota’s African American and African studies department hosted a teach-in Monday to kickoff a yearlong series of events that will examine the University’s history, present and future. Fifty years ago, a group of University of Minnesota students met with thenUniversity President Malcolm Moos to present a list of demands: establishment of an Afro-American studies program, funding for a black conference and development of a Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship. Unsatisfied with their meeting, the students entered an administrative office in Morrill Hall, permitting people to leave but not enter. The 24-hour takeover ended with the University agreeing to the students’ demands, which led to the creation of the Department of African American and African Studies, funding for the black conference and increased support for black students on campus. Hearkening back to the takeover, over u See MORRILL Page 3

BUSINESS

University ends relationship with Chinese telecom giant Huawei UMN will not accept money, enter into contracts nor approve data exchanges with Huawei. BY JAKE STEINBERG jsteinberg@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota has suspended its relationship with the world’s largest telecommunications equipment company. In a memorandum sent to University

deans on Feb. 14, Vice President for Research Chris Cramer said the University will no longer accept money, enter into contracts or approve information exchange with Chinese telecom giant Huawei. The company is under federal indictment for stealing trade secrets, violating sanctions against Iran and committing bank fraud, among other charges. “Given the extraordinary level of concern raised by these indictments, which follow upon the heels of other developments of concern, we consider it prudent to suspend

our interactions with Huawei,” the memo states. Over the past three decades, Huawei has grown to be an $8.4 billion dollar company. It is leading the deployment of next-generation 5G cellular infrastructure — but not in the United States. The federal government has discouraged U.S. companies from working with Huawei or buying its equipment, warning its technology could be leveraged for u See TELECOM Page 3

ENVIRONMENT

University of Minnesota members take steps to reduce their plastic footprint Some in the UMN community are taking unique steps to cut their waste and avoid plastic. BY NATALIE RADEMACHER nrademacher@mndaily.com

When Allison Sandve saw what rising temperatures and pollution were doing to a coral reef in Australia, she wanted to do something about it. Even if it wouldn’t have a huge impact, she decided to remove plastic from her life. “I felt like I could only do little things, but maybe I could do something,” Sandve said. Last year, Sandve decided to stop buying products with plastic containers or packaging, like cosmetics, lotion and almost all processed foods. She makes her own deodorant and shampoo, which she keeps in used dish detergent containers in her refrigerator. The University of Minnesota Extension media and public relations manager makes her own personal hygiene products because store-bought items are often kept in plastic containers that are thrown away or recycled

after use. Sandve is nearing the end of a year-long venture to use as little plastic as she can. Her year is up in March, and she said thinks she will have saved about 20 pounds of plastic when the year is over. “Most of this is easy … but you can navigate a fine line between passionate and obsessed when you are making your own shampoo,” she said. Plastic can be hard to recycle and some types cannot be recycled, which is one of the reasons Sandve cut plastic from her life. As of 2015, only around 9 percent of plastic material is actually recycled, according to a study published in Science Advances. Around 79 percent of plastic ends up in landfills or in the environment. Sandve has been documenting her experience through her online blog, where she writes about navigating a world full of plastic and how she finds alternatives in order to avoid it. Sandve is quick to note that she is not able u See PLASTIC Page 3

ELLE MOULIN, DAILY

Allison Sandve loads her plastic-free groceries into her car on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Seward Community Co-op in Minneapolis. Sandve started living a plastic-free lifestyle almost a year ago and plans to continue exploring ways to incorporate sustainability into her life.

VOLUME 119 ISSUE 42

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

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Thursday, February 28, 2019 Vol. 119 No. 42

An Independent Student Newspaper, Founded in 1900. 2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 450, Minneapolis, MN 55414

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1993 Federal agents raid a cult compound in Waco, Texas, attempting to arrest the cult leader on charges of stockpiling weapons. The raid is unsuccessful and leads to a 2-month standoff that resulted in 80 dead cult members.

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MN caucus looks to bring diversity Local legislators hope to address racial disparity in the Twin Cities.

Somali-American legislators. But the newly-formed caucus makes up less than 3 percent of the Legislature. “Having Hodan and Mohamud is really helpful. And the fact that Hodan and Mohamud are part of the black caucus will help bringing the domestic African community and our immigrant communities together and help create a commitment for us to be one and support one another,” Hussein said. Hassan will prioritize child protection and juvenile correction reform, she said at the town hall. She also discussed the need to stop the racial profiling that East-African business owners face. Abdirizak Abdi, a former mental health provider and business owner, said he has experienced racial profiling. The black caucus is important for positive representation at the Capitol, he said. “We want someone at the state level telling people positive things we’re doing. Fingers are being pointed at the Somali community,” he said. Noor said while the caucus hopes to address the issues brought up by community members this session, efforts are long-term. “It’s a multitude of issues we can’t all address in this session, but we’re starting to connect the dots where they need to go,” he said.

BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com

Members of the Minnesota House and Senate created the United Black Legislative Caucus in early February with sights on increasing representation at the Capitol. Rep. Mohamud Noor, DFL - Minneapolis, and Rep. Hodan Hassan, DFL - Minneapolis, are two members of the newly formed caucus aimed at addressing racial disparities in the Legislature. Noor, who represents the University of Minnesota and its surrounding neighborhoods, said the group will be significant for black communities in his district. “We know there is a significant disparity in our system, and we’re working together on the Senate side and the House side with people who understand the challenges of the black community,” Noor said. Noor and Hassan were joined by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Ward 6 City Council member Abdi Warsame at a town hall at the Brian Coyle Center in Cedar-Riverside Wednesday to discuss community issues at municipal and state levels. The town hall tackled topics like unemployment, income, incarceration and homeownership inequality, issues the caucus also hopes to address. “I think having representatives that have shared lived experience, they bring that perspective to the table and will help their fellow senators or elected officials get a different perspective,” said Salma Hussein, who runs the girls program at the

JACK RODGERS, DAILY

ABOVE: City Council Member Abdi Warsame speaks during the United Black Legislative Caucus at the Brian Coyle Center in Cedar-Riverside on Wednesday, Feb. 27. BELOW: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks during the United Black Legislative Caucus at the Brian Coyle Center in Cedar-Riverside on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Brian Coyle center. Noor said he will use community input from discussions like the town hall at the Legislature, specifically in the newly formed caucus. “We’ve talked about a lack

of students of color, especially black students, at the U, and how we can really change that,” Noor said. “We’ve talked about the economic challenges of the people of Cedar-Riverside and the

surrounding area, with a significant number of East African immigrants.” Freshman lawmakers Noor and Hassan joined the House this year, joining a record number of black and

“We’ve talked about a lack of students of color, especially black students, at the U, and how we can really change that.” MOHAMUD NOOR representative, DFL-Minneapolis

UMN students respond to Klobuchar’s bid Some worry she is too moderate and won’t go far in the presidential race. BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com

The announcement of Sen. Klobuchar’s, D-Minn., bid for the democratic presidential nominee earlier this month has excited students at the University of Minnesota. They are curious if she has what it takes to win the Democratic nomination, let alone the United States presidency. In the weeks following her announcement, University students on the left have wondered whether her centrism will help or hurt her chances and whether her staff treatment could leave her out of the race completely. Katie Swartzer, a second-year student studying strategic communication and political science, attended Klobuchar’s announcement speech on Feb. 10 at Boom Island Park. Though Swartzer said she doesn’t know if she’ll be supporting Klobuchar in the primaries, she admits Klobuchar has the “hometown advantage.” “She’s got that ‘Minnesota Nice’ thing going for her,” Swartzer said. Third-year student Emily Hackerson also attended Klobuchar’s rally and said Klobuchar’s ability to attract liberals and conservatives is what won

DAILY FILE PHOTO

The crowd cheers as Amy Klobuchar takes the stage at her presidential bid announcement on Feb. 10 at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis.

her support. “I’ve always admired Amy Klobuchar because she gets a lot of work done. She’s working across party lines more than anyone else,” Hackerson said. “I think especially the people from Minnesota are getting excited.” Hackerson said the best chance for a woman to win the Democratic nomination or even presidency would be to have someone more moderate. Not everyone agrees with Hackerson, however. University political science student Drew Torrance said he thinks Klobuchar’s moderate stances might be a detriment to her campaign.

“She’s given us the same kind of watered down Democratic talking points that they’ve been giving us for years,” Torrance said. “And college costs still go up, college debt still goes up. She wants this middleo f - t h e - ro a d s o l u t i o n t o everything and that just doesn’t get much accomplished. We need actual progressive reform.” He added that progressives may be able to do better in smaller, rural communities than a moderate. “[Those in rural communities] don’t want tax cuts for billionaires, they don’t want a $100 million increase in military budget. They want investments in their communities, they

want investments in jobs and education, and that’s not what you’re getting from a centrist like Amy Klobuchar,” Torrance said. An additional hindrance to Klobuchar’s chances may be the allegations of mistreatment among her staff. A New York Times article claimed incidents of verbal assault and cruelty. University alumna Deanna Rey worked for Klobuchar from September 2015 to January 2016. Working in the Minneapolis office, she said she didn’t get much firsthand experience with Klobuchar, but that the Senator held a strict standard of professionalism. “I’ve never seen anything

done by Klobuchar that was harmful or hurtful to her staff,” Rey said, though she did recall moments when employees would clear the office of anything deemed unprofessional before a visit from Klobuchar. Klobuchar has a 36 percent staff turnover rate, the highest in the Senate, according to a Politico analysis. Swartzer said she hoped the allegations weren’t all true, saying “it’s okay to demand excellence without being hurtful.” Thinking back on the snowy day when Klobuchar first announced her candidacy, Swartzer said what she remembered was a sense of unity – one she hopes will resonate with people across the U.S. “Maybe I’m just biased because I am from Minnesota, but there were just so many people there, and I think a lot of people find inspiration and see themselves in her because she’s got a very relatable story,” Swartzer said.

“I’ve always admired Amy Klobuchar because she gets a lot of work done.” EMILY HACKERSON third-year UMN student

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The Minnesota Daily strives for complete accuracy and corrects its errors immediately. Corrections and clarifications will always be printed in this space. If you believe the Daily has printed a factual error, please call the readers’ representative at (612) 627–4070, extension 3057, or email errors@mndaily.com immediately. Correction: A previous version of the article “Boynton Health requests additional student services fees for next fiscal year” misstated the student services fees request. The SSF request was submitted by Boynton Health and administrators have made no indication of their expectations for the amount that will be approved. THE MINNESOTA DAILY is a legally independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is a student-written and student-managed newspaper for the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. The Daily’s mission is: 1) to provide coverage of news and events affecting the University community; 2) to provide a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University community; 3) to provide educational training and experience to University students in all areas of newspaper operations; and 4) to operate a fiscally responsible organization to ensure its ability to serve the University in the future. The Daily is a member of the Minnesota News Council, the Minnesota Associated Press, the Associated Collegiate Press, The Minnesota Newspaper Association and other organizations. The Daily is published Monday and Thursday during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and it is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn. Midwest News Service distributes the 10,000 issues biweekly. All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste. U.S. Postal Service: 351–480.

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Morrill u from Page 1

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Medical students James Pathoulas and Kevin O’Donnell pose for a portrait on Feb. 22.

Conversion u from Page 1

Organization, “repression of sexual orientation has been associated with feelings of guilt and shame, depression, anxiety, and even suicide.” Citing the important intersection of medicine and policy, University of Minnesota Medical School students James Pathoulas and Kevin O’Donnell voiced support for the ban. “This bill is really about protecting people, especially vulnerable people from a fraudulent practice,” O’Donnell said. Pathoulas said exact statistics about the use of conversion therapy in Minnesota are unavailable because of “coded language,” such as “restorative therapy” or “religious counseling.” A 2018 University of California-Los Angeles’ Williams Institute study estimated 689,000 LGBTQ adults have received conversion therapy nationally, and an estimated 57,000 LGBTQ individuals will receive conversion therapy before the age of 18. One of the most adamant supporters of this legislation has been OutFront Minnesota, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. Emma McBride, who works in policy and legislative affairs with the organization, said the bill does not infringe on religious freedoms. “The second part of the

Plastic u from Page 1

to entirely eliminate plastic from her life. She will occasionally buy a container of orange juice or a carton of blueberries. “You can do certain things to reduce how much plastic you use,” said Brett Barney, director of graduate studies in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. “Just going to the grocery store and getting things you need to eat is difficult because packaging has plastic.” After her year without plastic is over, Sandve said she will not go back to buying plastic products and plans to ramp up her efforts to reduce how much plastic she uses. After seeing a documentary highlighting how some birds are dying from ingesting plastic, University graduate Annie Schiferl, like Sandve, decided to do

Telecom u from Page 1

Chinese state espionage. A 2012 report from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence found Huawei “cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence and thus pose[s] a security threat to the United States.” In June, lawmakers sent a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos warning that university partnerships with Huawei “may pose a significant threat to national security.” The letter said Huawei’s partnerships with universities are a primary mode of China’s strategy for acquiring foreign technology and called upon the Department of Education to investigate Huawei’s connections to higher education. The University of Minnesota isn’t the first institution to distance itself from Huawei. Other Big Ten schools have taken similar stances. The University

bill actually says you can’t falsely advertise goods or services. We already have that law written for a good reason — to protect consumers and vulnerable Minnesotans — and we’re just saying that that needs to apply to conversion therapy as well,” McBride said. The bill’s critics say otherwise. Conservative and religious advocacy organizations, like Transform Minnesota and the Minnesota Family Council, say the bill infringes on religious freedoms. “I’ve met and spoken with people who have gone through transformative and compassionate sexual orientation change efforts. Their stories were really moving,” said Moses Bratrud, communications director for the Minnesota Family Council. “They don’t want the state of Minnesota to take away their choice, and it was their choice to get that counseling. We don’t want some Minnesota families to be able to get the care they want and others not to.” Bratrud said abusive tactics once associated with conversion therapy are no longer used. In addition, Minnesota lacks data about the prevalence of conversion therapy necessary to back the ban. He said the proposed legislation would infringe on the rights of those “who may desire to seek counseling to bring their sexual orientation or gender identity inline

with their deeply held religious beliefs.” McBride disagrees, saying the ban is aimed at protecting children and other vulnerable populations. Consenting adults would be able to address their sexuality as they see fit. “This ban is long overdue, … what we’re talking about is manipulating, harmful therapies that tell LGBTQ people that they need to be cured in order to be loved,” McBride said. The next step for the ban is going through the House Commerce Committee. OutFront Minnesota and other proponents of this bill are confident it will pass through the House, but they are more leery of the Republicancontrolled Senate. If passed, Minnesota would become the 16th state to ban conversion therapy for minors. According to Pathoulas, if the ban does not pass the state legislature, advocacy organizations and individuals will look to pass local ordinances banning conversion therapy and continue pushing for a ban at the state level. “The whole point of this bill was to spark a conversation about what kind of state we want to live in, how this state is going to treat vulnerable youth, especially LGBT youth,” Pathoulas said. “The policies in this state we pass and choose to enact [create] a climate that truly impacts people’s lives.”

something about it. Schiferl said it’s easy to live more sustainably in Minneapolis because of resources such as composting and recycling. She said she shops for groceries in bulk at local food cooperatives and avoids buying food and drinks that come in plastic containers. “I started trying to cut out things that were wasteful,” Schiferl said. “A lot of it comes down to how you buy your food.” Schiferl and Sandve don’t believe it is possible to live completely without plastic because of how abundant it is in society. “Plastic is a very cheap way to package things … it helps protect freshness. There are benefits to using it,” Barney said. For a class project, fourthyear University student Cooper Silburn carried all the waste he generated over two weeks in his backpack. At the end of the project, he had over two pounds of food

packaging, plastic silverware and various plastic and waste in his bag. “When you buy something, there is a burden you put on the environment and those around you by the waste you produce,” Silburn said. For Silburn, feeling the burden of the waste on his back made him realize how much waste is generated by going out to eat. He used to frequently eat at restaurants on campus, but he now packs a lot of his own meals and is more aware of how much material he recycles and throws away, he said. Of the 262 million tons of waste generated nationwide in 2015, only 68 million tons were recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. “There are do-nothing’s out there. In their world, future generations are going to hate us for allowing the planet to be treated so poorly,” Sandve said. “We can turn this around.”

of Wisconsin is reviewing its suppliers to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act, Reuters reported. Signed into law in August, the NDAA prohibits recipients of federal funding from using Huawei’s equipment. Suspending its relationship is an unusual and remarkably serious step for the University, said College of Science and Engineering Associate Dean for Research Joseph Konstan. But given the situation, it makes sense, he said. “I think it’s fair to say these are unusual circumstances, given the company is under indictment,” he said. Huawei funds University research through gifts to the University of Minnesota Foundation, he said. There were future projects CSE believed Huawei was going to fund that will not go forward due to the suspension. “They expressed an interest in networking and advanced technologies,” he said. “But we were just in early talks.”

Huawei is a member of the multi-university Center for Research in Intelligent Storage, where it sponsors research on memory and data structures. Member institutions, like the University, develop technology for industrial use. Huawei is just one of many sponsors, said center director David HungChang Du, and they don’t get exclusive access to the results. “They have never asked for special treatment and we’ve never provided it,” he said. The decision would not stop faculty, students or staff from interacting with Huawei. Students can still pursue a job or internship with Huawei and staff can still interact with its employees. They need only report when entering into consulting relationships, per an existing administrative policy. The letter says the University’s decision stands until “such time as the alleged economic national security issues are resolved.”

200 high school students and University and community members gathered in Coffman Union Monday for the first in a series of three teach-ins. Teach-in 101: Understanding Our Legacy served as a kickoff for a series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the takeover and the creation of the African American and African studies department. Speakers, artists and panels led the event, which examined the creation of the department, the context out of which it grew and its implications for the present and future. Ahead of the historical takeover, the AfroAmerican Action Committee delivered a list of demands to the University following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. The demands aimed to increase financial and student support for black students on campus, improve accessibility to the University and diversify curriculum, said Horace Huntley, a leader of the Morrill Hall takeover and retired professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The protest was a culmination of nearly a year of unrest and unmet student demands. Frustrated by a lack of University action in meeting their demands, about 40 students led by the AfroAmerican Action Committee met with Moos and presented a simplified list of demands, Huntley said. “The demands had been issued almost a year prior. And there had been discussion from time to time about nothing being done, so at that point we had decided the only way something was going to be done was if someone pushed the issue, so we pushed the issue,” Huntley said. Unsatisfied with Moos’s response, the group refused to leave Morrill Hall, staging a 24-hour takeover of the Bursar Office, Huntley said. “We felt there was a need to make a huge statement about what was happening and how we felt about it,” he said.

JACK RODGERS, DAILY

Horace Huntley, speaks in Coffman Union as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the African American and African studies department at the University on Monday, Feb. 25. The department’s creation was influenced in part by the Morrill Hall takeover of 1969, in which Huntley played a key role.

The demonstration, which remained peaceful, resulted in some financial damages. Huntley, along with Rosemary Freeman Massey and Warren Tucker Jr., were indicted for aggravated criminal damage to property, rioting and unlawful assembly. “You have to be able to speak truth to power, although there will be certain consequences to that,” said Huntley, one of the first University students to graduate with an African American and African studies degree. A t t h e t im e o f t h e takeover, fewer than 90 black students studied at the University, said Rose Brewer, a professor in the African American and African studies department. Today, there are about 1,500 black undergraduate students enrolled at the Twin Cities campus — approximately five percent of the undergraduate population. Ongoing demands by the department include increasing the number of black faculty, staff and students on campus, increasing accessibility for underrepresented students and offering diverse perspectives in University curriculum. “There was a series of issues that the students had taken on and I would say … those are still burning issues today,” said Brewer. “College campuses all over this country are facing issues that these black students 50 years ago put on the table.”

Isabella Rolland, a University junior who works in the African American and African studies department, echoed Brewer, saying current students still face many issues highlighted in the takeover. “I think it’s really significant to hear ... the struggles people have gone through in the past and how it’s similar to struggles now, especially in terms of representation,” she said. High school students enrolled in a college-level African American studies course attended the event to earn credit for University coursework. Brewer said this is one way the University works to improve accessibility to the school. Monday’s teach-in focused on providing historical context to the Morrill Hall takeover, while the next two will focus on the present and future campus climate and include underrepresented groups like the LGBT community and women, Rolland said. “Students 50 years ago understood that the demands of the current moment certainly express, from my perspective, a vision that was prefigured — you want justice, you want fairness, you want equity,” Brewer said. “These are issues that we haven’t been able to resolve in this country and so they are burning ones … you can struggle for these things, that freedom is a constant struggle until we’re free.”

Sports

MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Gophers’ March Madness bid in jeopardy Minnesota is on the edge of qualifying for the tournament heading into March. BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com

When January ended, Minnesota found itself in favorable position to make the NCAA Tournament, holding a 6-4 record in the Big Ten and a 16-5 record overall. However, it was clear that the team’s toughest tests would come in February. During the past month, the Gophers have lost six of their seven games, each defeat coming on the road or at the hands of a ranked opponent. Although the stretch has been frustrating for fans, it was not completely surprising. “I’d say that they’re basically right about where I expected them to be,” said Eli Powell, vice president of The Barnyard, the men’s basketball team’s official student section. “We knew that February was going to be brutal. After the Illinois game on Jan. 30, [the Gophers] were only favored to win one game the rest of the season. That was the game at Rutgers which [they] just lost, but Rutgers had since gotten better so [the Gophers] weren’t even favored to win that one.” That 68-64 defeat against Rutgers on Feb. 24 looms large for Minnesota. Many assumed if the Gophers defeated middling

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Brock Stull loses control of the ball on Thursday, Feb. 21 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Gophers lost to Michigan 69-60.

opponents in Rutgers and Northwestern, they would lock up an NCAA Tournament bid. Now, with just three regular season games remaining, it’s likely the team will need to upset either Purdue or Maryland. Following the defeat to Rutgers, head coach Richard Pitino told the media the team wasn’t going to get ahead of itself, looking prematurely to

games down the line. “Prepare for [Northwestern], that’s all you can do,” Pitino said following the defeat at Rutgers. “Don’t look ahead. There are still so many good opportunities in front of us. You can’t start thinking about ‘what-ifs’, you just have to see if you can steal a road win.” Despite the challenging February, Minnesota still has hope of making the

NCAA Tournament. While their projected seed has fallen over the past four weeks, other teams in similar situations have also failed to separate themselves from the pack. A unique variable may make projecting the NCAA Tournament field more difficult this year, however. This season, the NCAA introduced a new ranking system called the NCAA

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

Evaluation Tool, or NET. Currently, the Gophers sit at 60 in the NET Rankings, relatively low compared to other teams expected to receive an at-large bid. Minnesota sits one spot behind fellow Big Ten team Penn State, a team that sits second-to-last in the conference standings. While it’s unclear how much the NET will factor into the committee’s

decision-making, Minnesota could stand to benefit from an upset victory before the Big Ten Tournament. Powell pointed to the March 5 home game against Purdue as an opportunity accomplish just that, citing Williams Arena as a distinct advantage. “Anything can happen at ‘The Barn,’” Powell said. “The Purdue game is definitely one to keep an eye out for. We’ve seen [Williams Arena] rocking this year like it hasn’t in years. ‘The Barn’ is an equalizer.” In the latest AP rankings, Purdue is currently No. 14. The Boilermakers defeated Minnesota 73-63 on Feb. 3 to begin the Gophers’ current stretch of six losses in seven games. While the team is doing its best to focus on one game at a time, players are aware of the bigger picture. Redshirt senior Brock Stull, who spent his first four seasons at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, compared the Gophers’ final stretch to previous conference tournaments he’s played in. “All these games are a little tougher,” Stull said. “It’s kind of like that tournament. You feel that pressure, you need to win.” Minnesota will have a chance to pick up a crucial victory Thursday night in Evanston, Illinois. The Gophers will try to improve upon their 1-8 record in road games against a Northwestern team that’s last place in the Big Ten.

SOFTBALL

Ellee Jensen’s all-around ability sparks Minnesota

COURTESY OF BRAD REMPEL, GOPHER SPORTS

Freshman outfielder Ellee Jensen runs to first base in a game at Siebert Field.

Jensen has hit .393 in her career with the Gophers and hit .401 last season. BY ERIK NELSON enelson2@mndaily.com Sophomore Hannah Willmarth jumps during her bar routine at Maturi Pavillon on Friday, Feb 15.

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Hannah Willmarth thriving after transfer to U from Washington The sophomore has competed five times this season despite none at Washington. BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com

Transferring from school to school has become a common trend throughout college sports nationwide. However, some programs haven’t emphasized it during recruiting, including the Gophers women’s gymnastics team. “We are not actively looking for transfers, we actually don’t,” said head coach Jenny Hansen. “Unless we hear someone else come to us and say, ‘Hey what about this athlete? I hear she’s looking for a new home.’” Last summer, an alumni approached the team about a freshman gymnast from Washington named Hannah Willmarth, who was ready for a change. Willmarth visited the team and instantly

felt at home transferring to Minnesota later that summer. Willmarth joins teammate Mary Korlin-Downs as the only transfers on the roster this season. “We had heard about Hannah through a couple different alumni and alumni parents and we heard really good things,” Hansen said. “Her personality seemed to fit really well with the rest of our team. Her desires and goals seemed like a really good fit and all the girls said, ‘We love her, she would be fantastic.’” Willmarth remembered emailing the team during her initial recruiting in high school, but Minnesota had already filled all the spots on the roster. The journey came full circle when she arrived late to the team in August, tasked with learning her second set of teammates, coaches and culture in as many years. “I don’t think the gymnastics part was too big of

transition for her, but she had to get to know new coaches, a new environment, a new team, and she kind of just jumped right in and I think the girls just embraced her,” Hansen said. “I think they did what they could to make her transition as smooth as possible.” Willmarth struggled to find a role during her season at Washington. She never found a spot in the lineup during a competitive meet. Since arriving at Minnesota, Willmarth has competed in five meets on the the uneven parallel bars. The sophomore has improved her score every meet, from a 9.775 in her first meet on Jan. 4 to a 9.875 in the team’s last meet on Feb. 23. Her improvement has helped the team rise through the national rankings, as the Gophers are currently ranked No. 9 in the nation and second in the Big Ten on the uneven parallel bars. “It’s been really exciting

because I didn’t really compete much last year,” Willmarth said. “To like, get more experience and compete with this awesome team and to keep getting better, because it is still fairly new to me, has been great.” Willmarth and Hansen attribute her steady improvement to her growing confidence, something she lacked during her freshman season. “I came here and was very unsure of myself,” Willmarth said. “I had some new skills in my routines, and they’ve been so supportive and instilled confidence in me. My competing routines have gotten better because of that.” Willmarth and the Gophers will return to the mats and compete at Maturi Pavillion for the last time this season for senior night against Pittsburgh on March 2 at 4 p.m. The team will honor seniors Rachel Cutler and Selena Ung.

As a batter, “attacking the pitch” has a very literal meaning to one Gopher sophomore. Center fielder Ellee Jensen relies on her allaround ability on offense and defense, in addition to her distinctive batting style. Right fielder MaKenna Partain said Jensen’s best attribute is her vision. “She’s so talented with her hands,” Partain said. “She has some of the best handeye coordination I’ve ever seen in my life. You know she’s going to get on [base.]” Jensen is a slap hitter, or a slapper. Slap hitting involves walking toward a pitch while staying in the batter’s box. If a batter makes contact with the ball outside of the batter’s box, the batter is called out. Jensen said slap hitting makes it challenging to hit for power. “It’s difficult because you’re continuing to move through the box,” Jensen said. “It’s hard. You have to have good timing to power through, but some people are good at it. I haven’t been.” Since joining the Gophers last season, Jensen’s career batting average is .393. In 2018, she started and played in all 58 games and hit .401, the highest of the group of starters by more than .025. She has seven RBIs and four

career doubles. This season, Jensen’s batting average is .346. She has nine hits and two RBIs. Head coach Jamie Trachsel said Jensen sets the tone for Minnesota when she gets on base. “With her speed and our lefties following her, it opens up different options to advance runners,” Trachsel said. “You’re not subject to bunting. You can put balls in play. She can steal a base. [Jensen] gives us options in terms of manufacturing and producing runs.” While Jensen sets the tone offensively, she can also contribute when she’s not at bat. She was third on the Gophers in stolen bases last season, swiping 11 bags on 13 attempts. Defensively, Jensen hasn’t committed an error in her collegiate career and had 45 putouts a year ago. Last season, she was the lone starter to not commit a fielding error. “She’s a natural outfielder,” Trachsel said. “She reads the ball well. She has natural angles to the ball. She’s fearless. She has good body control, which allows her to field a lot balls on extension or lay out and steal some hits diving for the ball. When there’s a ball that’s in play that she can get to, she’s going to make the play.” Jensen said she utilizes her speed in all aspects of the game and not solely on base running. “It gives me an advantage because I can get there a little quicker,” she said. “When I’m on the bases, I can look one extra base and be able to get there.”

MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

CULTURE

CULTURE TO CONSUME BY BECCA MOST

Binge-watch this: “Russian Doll” Maybe you loved her on “Orange is the New Black” as Nicky Nichols, or maybe you’re just intrigued by her street smart “go-fuck-yourself” attitude and wild mess of orange hair. Either way, Natasha Lyonne stuns as the cigarette-smoking protagonist in Netflix’s latest show. Shrouded in dark humor, this is one of those stories that follows you even after you’ve stopped watching. I’ll spare you any spoilers, but gosh, just wait for the ending!

Get hung up on this: String lights The snow keeps coming, and although the mornings aren’t so dark anymore, it’s still a pretty dreary time for someone who spends much of the day holed up in their bedroom. Browse Amazon for some cute string lights to hang up around your bed frame or to loop on your walls. This’ll immediately elevate you to that cozy hipster status you’ve always secretly dreamed of. Plus, it adds some warm light that’s good to study by.

CULTURE COMPASS BY BECCA MOST

Friday: Social House with Darnell Williams and the MARAJ Pittsburgh rap duo Social House, known for their popular song “Magic in the Hamptons ft. Lil Yachty” and their work in producing Ariana Grande’s hit “thank u, next,” is coming to the University campus Friday before heading on tour with Grande in the spring. Paired with the feelgood beats of Darnell Williams and the Minneapolis-based music collective the MARAJ, the audience is in for a treat.

Where: Whole Music Club, 300 Washington Ave. SE., Minneapolis Hours: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $5 for students, $10 for general public

Saturday: “First Free Saturday” at the Walker The first Saturday of the month means free admission to the Walker art galleries and any ongoing events, games or performances at the museum. This weekend features the Kids’ Film Fair, which includes a screening of several short films created by Indigenous youth as well as ten animated short films from around the world. If you’re interested in stop-motion, two guest animators will present a short lesson on the basics of stopmotion animation. Perfect for people of all ages.

Where: Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl., Minneapolis Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: Free

Sunday: “Pippin” Come watch University theater students perform “Pippin” this Sunday at Rarig. This engaging musical follows the path of young prince as he searches for the significance of life. With flying circus performers, a stellar cast and killer show tunes, this performance isn’t one you want to miss!

Where: Rarig Center, 330 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis Hours: 2 p.m. Cost: $7 for Students, $12 for Faculty, Staff & Alumni, $17 for Public

The rollerblading Debu-Taunts train to make their derby debut The MN RollerGirls’ Debu-Taunts teach roller derby and empower skaters. BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com

It takes stamina, strength It takes stamina, strength and an insurance card to roll with the Minnesota RollerGirls’ Debu-Taunts. Whether they started with a background in roller derby or not, the trainees in the program look forward to tying up their skates every week. “It’s good to be good [at sports] and it’s good to support yourself, but it’s also great to support other people,” said Debu-Taunt Jocelyn Runton, otherwise known as Polly Pocketknife. “It’s physically what we do, but it’s also mentally what we do.” The Debu-Taunts is a 12-week training program open to almost anyone interested in roller derby, as long as certain requirements are met. Grace Christenson, known as Spunky Bruiser, and her fiancee Alicia Tatley, known as Wench Toast, signed up for the Debu-Taunts after watching some derby games a few years ago. “[Starting out] was scary,” Tatley said. “You’re really confused and not really sure what’s going on and it’s really fast-paced and just exhausting.” Roller derby is a contact sport where two teams skate around a rink in order to gain points. The Debs can work their way through four levels, the fourth level being 3S, or the scrimmage level. Then, members can become game eligible and play with an official league. “Once you do it a few times, it tends to kind of

ELLE MOULIN, DAILY

Members of the Debu-Taunts team practice on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul. The Debu-Taunts training program of the Minnesota RollerGirls meets every Sunday to teach developing skaters about the world of derby.

slow down. Your body starts doing what it needs to do to get past someone,” Tatley said. “There’s a little less thought.” Even from the outside, derby looks like a physically demanding sport. There is no shortage of sweat and bruises in the game. “You have to hold each other pretty tightly to keep in contact so you’ll get like fingerprint bruises,” Christenson said. “[To play a game] you have to be able to skate backwards [and] do a full stop a couple of different ways. You have to be able to get hit without completely falling over.” But the sport is also extremely emotional. Skaters in the program become stronger in more ways than one. “We skate with scientists

and doctors and housewives and preschool teachers and every different kind of person that there is,” Runton said. “But on the track that doesn’t matter. We can come together and hug each other and hit each other and be completely on the same side. That’s helped me grow as a person.” Every part of the sport is team-based. The Debs aren’t only working on skating and jamming, but on communication and trust, too. “This is the first sport that I played where I’ve really been a team member,” Christenson said. “I’m working on how to relay to other people without having to [vocally] communicate. And what [to] communicate with people to make sure that you’re all on the

same page.” The physical and emotional aspects of derby are a given on the track, but the skaters’ different backgrounds make the sport more than just a hobby. “We don’t talk much about what we do on the outside, but once you catch what your teammates may do on the outside, it’s so amazing,” Runton said. “To realize that your teammates are absolutely amazing people ... that’s what makes me come back.” From level one to 3S, the Debs grow together, support each other and (sometimes) knock each other down. “I have friends that I started at level one with and it’s kind of a camaraderie,” Tatley said. “Like, ‘Oh you’re my friend, great, I can’t wait

“We skate with ... every different kind of person that there is. “But on the track that doesn’t matter. We can come together and hug each other and hit each other and be completely on the same side.” JOCELYN RUNTON Debu-Taunt

to knock you down when I’m scrimmage eligible, let’s hit each other.’”

DANCE

BLAQ preaches power through movement The Minneapolis dance company BLAQ promotes healing, self-love.

“I get to control what my body is going to be telling. And although I don’t get to choose how my body is going to be perceived, I do get to determine what I want to share.”

BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

Twenty minutes before the other dancers entered the healing space, Deja Stowers lit a stick of incense and walked the proximity of the studio, sending wisps of sweet-smelling smoke curling toward the ceiling. Every Sunday afternoon, Stowers leads a dance class unlike those taught in traditional studios. In these classes there are no mirrors on the walls, no choreographed songs or dance moves to memorize. It’s also not the end of the world if dancers trickle in fifteen minutes late. Incorporating four components into their practice: dance, discussion, writing and American Sign Language, dance company BLAQ works to give black women a space where they can be free of the stereotypes and discrimination they experience in daily life and heal through the unfiltered expression of dance. “I founded BLAQ because I didn’t feel like the dance community was reflective of my approach to dance and performance,” Stowers said. Having faced racial discrimination and body-shaming in the past, Stowers wanted to change the narrative moving forward. Instead of focusing practices on the “ultimate end-goal” of a recital, the sixperson group emphasizes the work and significance of dance for the dancers themselves. BLAQ uses the term “observance” instead

ALICIA JAMEEL BLAQ member

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

ABOVE: Alicia Jameel dances at a session called “Finding Your Divinity” on Sunday Feb. 25 in Minneapolis. RIGHT: Melissa Mitchell participates at a dance session called “Finding Your Divinity” on Sunday Feb. 25 in Minneapolis.

of “performance.” “It’s not for the viewers, it’s really for the experience of the people that are in it,” Stowers said. “We create art for the artists that are in the piece … and hopefully that will bring the observers to witness something raw and real instead of something that is rehearsed.” Alicia Jameel, a member of BLAQ, says that as a black woman she constantly feels she must perform in her daily life. In taking away the performative aspect of dance, BLAQ gives more power to the dancers to be themselves.

“If I’m going to be able to use my body to share a story, I don’t want to allow other people to have opinions on [it],” Jameel said. “I get to control what my body is going to be telling. And although I don’t get to choose how my body is going to be perceived, I do get to determine what I want to share.” The six women work to make the company as accessible as possible, integrating sign language into their choreography, group conversations,

events and workshops. At their “ASL Brunch,” members will speak only in American Sign Language over a meal. Although the American Disabilities Act provides deaf individuals better access to translators, Jameel said accessibility often doesn’t include social situations or events. This can leave deaf people feeling isolated from their communities. Learning ASL has made her more aware of her

“hearing privilege,” Jameel said. She hopes that incorporating sign language into dance will add meaning and depth to the movement. “If people could see and know what the signs are, that’s valuable ... in telling the richness of a story,” Jameel said. While BLAQ hosts multiple events like self-care workshop “BLAQ Love” and dance class “Finding Your Divinity,” the company hopes to develop more community workshops next fall. “One thing about being black, especially in this country, is you become very adept to figuring out how to make a whole lot of something out of absolutely nothing,” said Aneka McMullen, a professional choreographer and member of BLAQ. “What we’re doing is figuring out how to take a whole lot of negative something … and putting it into something that we can use. For us, we turn to creativity because ... this is a way to break all that down and turn it into the fuel for yourself to keep you going,” McMullen said.

6 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

Editorials & Opinions

COLUMN

The Middle East: a region with zero representation on race-based surveys Race surveys do not recognize Middle Eastern people, and this is something that must change.

s a graduating senior, I have spent countless hours filling in job applications. On every application, I come across the same question: “What is your race/ethnicity?” ALEEZEH HASAN While I can columnist answer the question quickly, these surveys do not include a choice many people find applicable. They are stuck with selecting “other” or picking a race that doesn’t correlate to their own identity. Among these people is Celine Ammash, a senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in global studies. Ammash was born in Minnesota, but her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon during the 1980s. Her identity is a large part of herself, and she’s seldom able to find representation within race-based surveys. “When I am applying for places, I have to put another race, so usually I’ll put Caucasian or white. … I just feel like I’m putting down something that’s not me, so I think it just creates a false portrayal of who I am,” she said.

At the University of Minnesota, there were over 7,000 students of color enrolled in the undergraduate programs in fall 2017. These students deserve to feel represented within the campus community. For the number of students who are Middle Eastern, this recognition isn’t there. “When I applied to the U, there wasn’t a Middle Eastern category,” Ammash said. She made up for the missing choice by writing her race later in the application: “I wrote that I was Lebanese, to make it a point that I was Middle Eastern. And I remember, like, purposely doing that just so that they knew what my background actually was.” Students should be able to select their racial background or identity. The privilege of representation is one that Middle Eastern students and people do not get to experience. Adding another choice to race-based surveys, specifically those within the University, is vital to achieve equal representation of all students. The U.S. is a land filled with immigrants; it is a land made up of many different races. Ammash explains why she feels her race needs to be recognized on these surveys: “I definitely think there needs to be more representation. Everyone needs to understand that America is a melting pot, and it’s not just little minority groups here and there — America is turning into the entire world in one nation.” It’s important to properly recognize diversity because of the makeup of the U.S. Adding the choice of Middle Eastern could lead to several political benefits for minority groups. Besides visibility, the added choice would monitor discrimination, desegregate schools and allow small minority business owners to

At the University of Minnesota, there were over 7,000 students of color enrolled in the undergraduate programs in fall 2017. receive federal loans. This being said, adding “Middle East” is just the start. Other choices should be expanded even more. Eventually, it may make the most sense to allow people to fill in their race in a blank space, rather than having them select from a few options. When it comes to the University of Minnesota, our school should not advertise diversity when it doesn’t allow all races to make their backgrounds known on applications. In order to actually uphold the countless identities within our school, all race choices should be recognized.

Aleezeh Hasan welcomes comments at ahasan@mndaily.com.

Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.

A controversial weekend in the Twin Cities, featuring a Twitter conspiracist Twitter announced Jacob Wohls’ permanent suspension from the platform on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

his weekend, one of the world’s youngest hedge fund managers was here in Minneapolis. He was tweeting to his more than 100,000 followers about the city, its people JONATHAN ABABIY and his invescolumnist tigation into the city. His Twitter account has since been suspended. I kinda like finance, Minneapolis, its people and investigations, so I emailed him from my Minnesota Daily email and left my phone number. A few minutes later, I received a call from a Virginia number. I don’t know anyone from Virginia, so I let the phone ring for a bit on the couch, then I picked it up. “Hello,” I said. There was a long pause. The connection was terrible so the pause sounded like tinfoil in a microwave. “Hello. Jonathan. This is Jacob Wohl.” When he was 18 years old, Jacob Wohl was one of the world’s youngest hedge fund managers. He successfully raised millions of dollars under management at this hedge fund. That impressive haul brought him media attention. The only catch was that he was lying and

that he did it badly. The investors who poured money into Wohl’s hedge fund quickly figured him out. The returns he promised allegedly never happened. Wohl’s lies are like snowflakes on a day too early in the fall; as soon as they aren’t in the air anymore, they dissolve. Wohl is now a former hedge fund manager. This weekend in Minneapolis, Wohl’s lies fell like the snow. Working with two other far-right activists, Wohl came to “investigate” whether Congresswoman Ilhan Omar married her brother for immigration purposes. Obviously, this is an absurd lie, but this is the world Wohl lives in. He tries to wrangle issues into existence for his followers, who fervently donate toward his cause. He tweeted out that there were “no-go zones” in Minneapolis. In a Periscope live stream with his far-right buddy, he said that “Islamists’ [sic] forces here have taken over sections of the respective police departments.” His buddy added that “there are men who walk around in orange vests that say Sharia police in some of these Somali communities.” As any normal person who has been in Minneapolis for more than 15 minutes would know, that’s got to be the dumbest I have ever heard, on par with the rumor of a Territorial Hall rooftop pool. I tried to get Wohl to talk to me about these magical places and laws he was describing in vivid detail for his Twitter audience of over 100,000. After our call, he texted me a location on the St. Paul campus, telling me to “please put out the word on campus” and meet him there later in the day. I showed up at the Magrath Library,

EDITORIAL

Tightening the restrictions on vaping in Minn. According to the Truth Campaign, people who vape are four times as likely to start smoking cigarettes.

The Minnesota Daily reported Sunday that lawmakers are looking to tighten restrictions on vaping. Under the proposed bill, vaping would be banned in places where cigarettes are restricted. The bill would broaden the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act and limit youth smoking. We believe tightening vaping restrictions is needed to meet these goals. Vaping, which is the smoking of e-cigarettes, is commonly thought to be better for health than smoking cigarettes. In reality, vaping is just as dangerous as smoking typical cigarettes. We have all seen the warning commercials, but many of us do not fully understand the dangers of vaping. The truth campaign reports that someone who vapes is four times as likely to start smoking cigarettes. Though shocking, statistics only get worse. One Juul pod equals 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine. Some vapes contain lead, formaldehyde and manganese, as well as other chemicals linked to cancer. Manufacturers intend to create candy and fruit-like flavors “to attract children,” according to Craig Weiss, chief executive at NJOY, an e-cigarette and vape manufacturer. The sweet flavors are likely to keep children and teenagers vaping, which is why lawmakers are looking to place restrictions on vaping. While some University of Minnesota students have said the bill would be challenging to enforce, it’s important to remember it’s not just for the University campus. In fact, passing the bill would ban vaping in areas including public transportation, places of employment, government buildings and, of course, public schools. At universities, vaping has become a sort of epidemic. It’s a normalized act that is commonly glorified on social media. For example, Barstool Gophers, a popular Instagram and Twitter account for the University of Minnesota, frequently posts photos and videos praising vaping. On Feb. 17, the @BarstoolGophers Instagram account posted a photo of a “quad Juul hitter,” or a device that allows someone to smoke four Juuls at once. This unhealthy culture created around vapes and Juuls can be combated by bills like the one proposed. Though it may not be entirely effective, as it is taxing to enforce these types of laws at a university, it’s the first step needed to prevent youth smoking and obstruct vaping in public areas. We realize that tightening vaping restrictions will not suppress the number of vapers at our University. But the bill may control the number of youth that are surrounded by and exposed to a culture that encourages vaping. 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.

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

[Wohls] tries to wrangle issues into existence for his followers, who fervently donate toward his cause.

along with some other Daily columnists. We prepared some questions and waited, hoping to interview him and see the snowflake melt once it made any contact with the real world. Wohl never showed. He told me that, due to security precautions, he would only meet me if he picked me up in his car. I don’t like getting into cars with strangers from the internet, so that never happened. He did make headlines after that, though. On Tuesday, Twitter announced Wohl was permanently suspended from the platform. As much as Wohl wants us to live in the hateful world he spins up for us, his main stumbling block seems to be his own idiocy. I guess the word is out on campus now.

Jonathan Ababiy welcomes comments at jababiy@mndaily.com.

THE EDIT ORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPAR TMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEW SROOM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (2/28): 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 — Your career rises with focus and attention. Keep building toward your long-term vision. If you don’t have one, think about it and write something down.

Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Pour your creativity into making long-desired changes at home. Play with color, texture and lighting. Remove what doesn’t fit.

Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — Plan a vacation or trip. Your wandering feet miss the road. Long distance adventures begin with one step. Learn, explore and discover the world.

Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is an 8 — Write, edit and publish. Your muses have an open connection. Communications reach a wider audience. Share what you’re learning.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is an 8 — Discuss shared finances. Moves you make now can have long-term benefit. Keep building your future fund. Disciplined efforts succeed.

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 9 — Push for a lucrative goal. Disciplined efforts succeed. Reinforce foundational supports. There’s extra income available if you’re willing to go for it.

Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is an 8 — Collaborate for mutual support. Shared interests deserve your attention. Keep your promises, and make new ones.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 9 — Selfdiscipline is your secret power. Keep things simple and frugal. Personal matters have your attention. Dress for success and smile for the camera.

Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Discipline with your health and fitness practices provides long-term benefits. Balance work, exercise and rest. Feed your energy with good food.

Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 6 — Listen to your intuition. Consider what’s ahead and review plans behind closed doors. Contemplate different options and potential consequences.

Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — Lend a helping hand. Provide emotional and physical support to someone you love. Stand together. Listen and bear witness. Keep showing up.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — Huddle with your team. Solutions arise naturally when you work together. Others admire your fancy footwork. Share tricks and techniques.

DR. DATE Dr. Date,

When I met my boyfriend two years ago, I honestly figured it wouldn’t last more than a few hookups before I ghosted him. But to my surprise, I found myself falling head over heels, and we’re planning on moving in together this month. One problem — I’m actually 30. I’m a latecomer to the whole college thing, and I look five years younger than I am. Age is pretty much irrelevant after you turn 21, so I never bothered to tell him how old I really am. He’s 21 and thinks I’m 23. We even bought fake IDs together, even though I didn’t need one. I’ve been avoiding any sort of birthday celebration and told all of my friends to be careful when wishing me a happy birthday on Facebook. But now that we’re signing a lease together, he’s bound to see my driver’s license and other personal information. How do I tell him I’ve been legally able to drink since he was 12?

—Nothing but a Number

Dear Nothing but a Number,

If this was a three year age difference, I wouldn’t be as concerned, but you met when he was 19 and you were 28. I’m not going to comment on maturity levels or anything, but that’s a major thing you should have disclosed. Both of you may be in college, but you’ve had very different life experiences. Tell him as soon as you possibly can. Hopefully this won’t lead to a breakup. But if it does, you don’t want to be stuck living together. Hey, at least he’ll find it out before you sign a marriage license!

I asked her about it and she shrugged it off. She said it’s an old account she only uses to follow celebrities and mindlessly scroll through. However, I remembered the username and looked it up later. Not only is the account active, it looks like she uses it as her diary. There are tons of personal tweets on topics she has ever talked to me about. Thankfully she only had positive things to say about me, but she’s tweeted some things that worry me. It’s a public twitter with a decent amount of followers, so I’m really conflicted. Should I tell her I found her account? Is there a way for me to broach those topics without telling her?

—Public Tweeting

Dear Public Tweeting,

She not only didn’t tell you about it, she actively hid the account from you. I wouldn’t bring it up unless the topic is something incredibly serious. If you want to address some of the more minor things, mention them in a casual way. But still, try and forget the account. Finding out someone close to you has been reading your diary is a major breach of trust, even if the diary is technically public. Respect her privacy and don’t scroll through her feed — yes, even if she is talking about you.

— Dr Date

Dr. Date,

I was looking over my girlfriend’s shoulder the other day and noticed her on Twitter, which I thought she didn’t use.

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

2/28/19

Thursday, February 28, 2019

U budget director’s ‘priceless’ expertise Tonneson guided a multibillion-dollar budget for over two decades at UMN. BY AUSTEN MACALUS amacalus@mndaily.com

Julie Tonneson isn’t afraid of numbers. It’s a skill that comes in handy for the University of Minnesota’s budget director, who is responsible for guiding the school’s multibillion-dollar annual operating budget. Calm and collected, Tonneson’s finesse with financial matters quickly becomes evident to those who have seen her in action. During presentations before the Board of Regents and testimonies to state lawmakers, Tonneson often whips out a multitude of facts and figures on the spot, breaking down the University’s highly complex fiscal enterprise like elementary school math. With more than two decades of experience, Tonneson knows the ins-and-outs of the institution’s nearly $4 billion budget better than almost anyone else. Serving under four different presidents, multiple economic downturns and a changing landscape in higher education, Tonneson has become the University’s de facto budget extraordinaire — holding a unique kind of knowledge that school officials acknowledge would be difficult to replace. “We’re very fortunate that she has the ability to navigate what could be a really tough job,” said Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations Brian Burnett, Tonneson’s boss. “There aren’t a lot of people at this University that could do her job right now. In fact, I can’t think of anyone who can do it.” As discussions about this year’s budget begin to heat up before regents vote on it in June, Tonneson will

TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY

Julie Tonneson, associate vice president for budget and finance at the University, looks through years of old files in her office at Morrill Hall on Thursday, Feb. 21.

continue to play a major role in the process. And in the 25 years she has worked on the University’s budget, Tonneson said, “We never had a budget that hasn’t been approved in the end.” However, Tonneson readily admits she doesn’t have every number memorized. “I’m not afraid to say that I don’t know,” she said Tonneson’s mix of expertise and natural humility makes her special, according to current and former colleagues. They attest to Tonneson’s even-keeled approach to her work, collaborative attitude and dedication to public service as a “priceless” asset to the University.

Tonneson came to the University in 1993 after working for the state of Minnesota as a budget analyst for K-12 education. The University’s former CFO Richard Pfutzenreuter III recruited Tonneson to help engineer the University’s budget process. The line of work requires an analytical mind and a thoughtful approach to solving financial issues, Pfutzenreuter said. “You’ve got to have retention of the facts,” he said. “You’ve got to be pretty smart, and she’s pretty damn smart.” Tonneson, who holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Humphrey School of Public Affairs, has

since worked her way up to oversee the budget office — helping determine how much money the University has and how it can use that money. “It’s working with all of the units to understand their needs, their budget challenges, their goals,” Tonneson said. “Trying to align those with the president’s and the board’s goals and priorities and make all of that happen, or as much of it happen within the resource constraints we have.” That means she’s at the center of almost every conversation happening on campus, from new research projects and academic programs, to tuition increases and administrative cuts.

As Burnett puts it, her office deals with “all of it. Every school, every college, every campus, every unit.” Tonneson starts planning for the annual budget every summer, almost a full year before it needs to be approved by the regents in June. Every two years, she also helps the University put forward its biennial legislative request, complicating an already difficult process with uncertainty about how much lawmakers decide to allocate. Lincoln Kallsen, assistant vice president for Institutional Analysis, has worked with Tonneson in various roles for over two decades. He said colleagues respect Tonneson’s collaborative approach to work.

“She’s really trying to provide the honest analysis and evaluation for all the budget issues in the ewntire system,” he said. However, Tonneson’s tenure has not been without challenges, including confronting the drop in state funding after the Great Recession and increased criticism about perceived administrative bloat. But for Tonneson, the work comes back to the University’s mission to serve the state. Those who know Tonneson echoed her dedication to public service. “She doesn’t crave the spotlight,” Pfutzenreuter said. “She wants to be, and is, a very dedicated public servant.”