March 14, 2019

NEW ‘NIGHT MAYOR’ COULD SPARK NIGHTLIFE PAGE 2 THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

LATE WEEK

THE POSITION WOULD MAKE MPLS NIGHTLIFE SAFER

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STATE GOVT.

STUDENT HEALTH

Sides clash over tuitionfreezing bill

An invisible fight

Students with eating disorders lack campus resources

Fewer than 20 percent of college students who have been diagnosed with eating If the state bill is adopted, it disorders reported receiving treatment. could have a negative impact BY AUDREY KENNEDY on UMN’s budget, officials say. akennedy@mndaily.com BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com

In a tearful testimony in front of lawmakers last week, Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Moorhead student Matt Benjamin described his struggle to stay in school while supporting his family. Benjamin’s testimony was in support of a bill that would freeze tuition at the University of Minnesota and freeze or reduce tuition at the Minnesota State system. The legislation would significantly impact Benjamin, along with an increasing number of working students who face rising tuition costs. “I’ve become fluent in the art of juggling the bills to stretch every dollar to its fullest potential,” Benjamin said. “Unfortunately, the better future I’m looking forward to is overshadowed by the mountain of student loans waiting to be repaid just a few short months after graduation.” The bill fostered heated discussion between Senate higher education committee members about college affordability and the “unsustainable” rising costs for students across the state. Lawmakers then tabled the legislation until Tuesday, when it was laid over for possible inclusion in the higher education omnibus bill. “What I’m trying to do with this bill is ... create the conversation that we’re having, and push our institutions to be better,” chief bill author and Senate higher education committee chair Sen. Paul Anderson, RPlymouth, said Tuesday. Sen. Jason Isaacson, DFL-Shoreview, was the bill’s biggest opponent. A decline in the state’s investment in the University and Minnesota State colleges in recent years won’t allow for the tuition freeze or decrease at the schools, he said. “The reality is, the reason tuition is going up is because we’re not investing. Not because the schools are somewhat at fault or nefarious in any way,” Isaacson said. “They have taken serious cuts because of that.” Isaacson said the Legislature needs to find better ways of supporting higher u See FREEZE Page 3

CAMPUS

UMPD partners with nonprofit to address campus homelessness St. Stephen’s Human Services’ joint effort with UMN police will help homeless individuals. BY MOHAMED IBRAHIM mibrahim@mndaily.com

With a rise in homelessness on and around campus, the University of Minnesota Police Department will formally partner with a nonprofit this month to address the issue. UMPD will work with Minneapolis nonprofit St. Stephen’s Human Services’s Outreach program to find long-term placement for homeless individuals. The two organizations will formalize their agreement in the next two weeks, officials said. “We thought it would be good to be proactive about how we handle our homeless population and our encounters, and try to seek long-term solutions for placement and services,” said UMPD Chief Matt Clark. St. Stephen’s provides short-term shelter and permanent housing for homeless individuals. Last year, the Outreach program helped St. Stephen’s find housing for more than 400 individuals and provide shelter to more than 1,300 people who would have otherwise slept outside. The Outreach program’s six members provide other services, like handing out water during the summer or providing harm reduction supplies to intravenous drug users. “We’re just sort of a place that people can come and, you know, not feel judged,” said St. Stephen’s Outreach team lead Chris Knutson. “When we talk to people on the streets, we’re coming to them where they’re at [and] we’re not trying to push anything on people.” The yearlong contract will require the Outreach team to work with UMPD on and around campus a minimum of six times. The organization will train officers to use a humanitarian approach to homelessness, while UMPD will conduct ride-alongs with Outreach team members to provide them with information on the locations where displaced individuals tend to gather on campus. “Getting a heads up from them about where camps are popping up – that kind of thing is useful to us because it helps guide where we’re spending our time,” Knutson said. u See HOMELESSNESS Page 8

University of Minnesota student Abby has suffered from food and body image issues for as long as she can remember. But when it started to take over her life last year, she realized she needed to seek help for her eating disorder. “I originally didn’t think I was severe enough. … I still feel that way. With the diagnosis that I have, I feel like I’m not sick enough to be needing this,” Abby said, who asked to not use her last name because her parents aren’t aware of her diagnosis. In 2018, 4.5 percent of students on the Twin Cities campus self-reported that they had been diagnosed with anorexia and/or bulimia in their lifetime, up from 3.7 percent in 2015, according to a University survey. But the survey didn’t account for other types of eating disorders, like binge eating and other specified feeding and eating disorders. u See EATING DISORDER Page 3

ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY

Psychology and nutrition junior Taylor Peterson poses for a portrait on Tuesday, March 12 at University Commons apartments. Peterson went to The Emily Program to recover from her eating disorder in high school. Now, she is studying to become an eating disorder therapist at the same institution. Left, Peterson displays her journal, which she said helps her keep her thoughts positive.

STUDENT LIFE

New group to help those with traumatic childhoods H.O.P.E. aims to support students who went through traumatic childhood incidents. BY NORAH KLEVEN nkleven@mndaily.com

A new student group that started at the University of Minnesota last month hopes to provide support and teach coping mechanisms to students affected by traumatic events during childhood. H.O.P.E. is working to create a community for students with traumatic childhood experiences while raising awareness about the issue. The student organization was founded by research assistants of Canan Karatekin, an associate professor in the University’s College of Education and Human Development.

Research on adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, only began in the 1970s. ACEs are experiences of “abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence and neighborhood violence, peer victimization, and parental mental illness,” according to Karatekin’s website. Many researchers define ACEs differently, but in many cases they are defined as moderately to severely stressful experiences that occur during childhood up to the age of 18, Karatekin said. “We saw a need for college students to have a supportive environment where we understand these experiences ... because it does affect their mental health well-being [and] their physical health well-being.” said Emame Thompson-Eja, a University secondyear psychology student and a research assistant in the Child Wellbeing Research Group, a project led by Karatekin. Thompson-Eja said meetings and events

sanctioned by H.O.P.E. — which stands for healing, overcoming, persisting and encouraging — will focus on teaching ways for its members to overcome adversity, build resilience and self-efficacy and offer social support for members struggling with ACEs. ACEs can be correlated with unemployment, underachievement, incarceration, substance abuse and can even be linked to physical ailments such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, Karatekin said. “[ACEs] affect the whole body as well as mental health,” she added. Morgan Bilz is a first-year University student who said the promise of leaving home to attend college was what pulled her through some of her most trying days. During her childhood, Bilz said she and her four siblings experienced divorce and u See H.O.P.E. Page 3

RELIGION

UMN community uneasy after church’s LGBTQ decision The United Methodist Church recently voted to bar LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages. BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com

The United Methodist Church General Conference decision to disallow LGBTQ individuals within the church last month has caused concern for many in the University of Minnesota’s Methodist community. Historically, LGBTQ clergy and marriages have not been allowed in the UMC. However, there are wide discrepancies in how to adhere to these rules around the world. The choice of ordination or marriages are often left up to churches individually or by region. United Methodist Churches around the University, including Centennial UMC in St. Anthony Park, have been rocked by the decision, leaving many parishioners questioning the fate of the UMC. Centennial is a reconciling ministry and queer-affirming church, meaning it supports the membership, ordination and marriages of those in the LGBTQ community. “We don’t know the way forward for our church, but maybe it’s time for a creative way forward. Maybe it’s time for something new,” said Centennial Pastor Whitney Sheridan. On Feb. 26, a special session of the UMC General Conference, which hosted more than 800 church delegates from around the world, was held in St. Louis, Missouri to address whether they would recognize same-sex marriages and/or ordain LGBTQ clergy. Representatives in the UMC voted in support of the Traditional Plan, which they say adheres to the scriptural belief of marriage

TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY

Rev. Lauren Rheingans, campus minister for the Wesley Foundation, receives communion during a weekly worship service in Coffman Union on Sunday, March 10.

and sexuality, disallowing LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages. No one is refused communion in the UMC, but there will now be harsher penalties for ordaining LGBTQ clergy, Sheridan said. If she were to officiate a same-sex marriage, she would lose pay for a year; if she officiated another same-sex marriage, she would be defrocked. University members of the Wesley Foundation, a religious student organization affiliated with Centennial UMC, voiced concerns about the General Conference’s decision. Fourth-year University student Lily Dunk

is co-president of the Wesley Foundation and identifies as lesbian. She said she was disappointed in the General Conference decision, but the decision was a long time coming. “The UMC has been talking about [LGBTQ rights] since the 1970s. We’ve tried to live together for 50 years, and it hasn’t been working,” Dunk said. However, Dunk said the UMC’s decision will not impact the Wesley Foundation’s inclusion. “Wesley will not stop being affirming. We will cease to exist before we deny queer u See CHURCH Page 8

VOLUME 119 ISSUE 46

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Thursday, March 14, 2019 Vol. 119 No. 46

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Copyright © 2019 The Minnesota Daily. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

1950 The FBI debuts ‘10 Most Wanted Fugitives’ list. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH

‘Night mayor’ could change city Representatives pitch an initiative to make nightlife safer and more vibrant. BY ERIN WILSON ewilson@mndaily.com

A group of Minneapolis representatives are looking to improve the city’s nightlife, which might include appointing an official director of nightlife, or “night mayor.” L e a d e r s f ro m b u s i nesses, community organizations and the City of Minneapolis attended an international summit in late February to discuss the evolution of city nightlife and the “global movement” of night mayor positions. Community leaders now meet regularly as part of an initiative to make nightlife safer and more vibrant downtown and throughout the city. Ward 3 City Council member Steve Fletcher said overseeing downtown at night is difficult when regular government hours only run until 5 p.m. “There’s a group of us who meet ... to coordinate together and so in a lot of ways, we’re already

MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY

doing what night mayors do in other cities,” Fletcher said. “It’s just a question of whether we would benefit from having one person at the city whose primary focus that is.” Shane Zahn, director of safety initiatives for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, said hearing the experiences of other cities’ leaders at the summit helped inform him about what a night mayor could look like in Minneapolis. Zahn said community leaders still have work to do

before deciding to appoint a night mayor. “I think more research needs to be done because it’s a fairly new concept. … How do you pay for that position, who does it report to, what are some of the job roles or responsibilities, what are the missions and the goals?” Zahn said. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s office is also involved with the project. Frey said having one or more individuals who oversee nightlife benefits the city.

“We’ve got a whole team of folks that are very focused on making sure that the sidewalks aren’t rolled up at midnight and that we’re a 24/7 city that is safe and vibrant and exciting,” Frey said. “Whether it’s one individual or numerous stakeholders that are focused on improving nightlife, it makes sense.” Fletcher said the group is also looking to add more nightlife options for different groups, including women. “At this conference … there was a group pre-

senting on the ways that entertainment districts have been built that are not particularly friendly to women or that have a set of assumptions about what people want out of a nightlife experience that’s very centered around men,” Fletcher said. Joan Vorderbruggen, director of placemaking and public art at Hennepin Theatre Trust, also works on the initiative. She said the upcoming reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis this year will disrupt downtown activities. She hopes the project will bring together leaders from down town’s theater district and Warehouse District instead. “I think that having leadership entities that are dedicated to the success of the arts and of entertainment experiences is like an investment that is very much a no-brainer to me,” Vorderbruggen said. “I think that entertainment districts have different needs than other areas and have different concerns and different levels of complexity. ... I think that it’s something that needs to be collaboratively designed.”

Sexual violence workshops train students Groups offer sexual violence education for international students at the U. BY GWIWON JASON NAM gnam@mndaily.com

A series of student-led workshops this month represents growing efforts to educate international students about sexual violence. The Council of International Graduate Students is organizing the Sexual Violence Prevention series, which is catered to the University of Minnesota’s community of international students. The group’s first workshop was last Friday, with another session planned later this month. “We organized the [SVP] series in light of the various sexual harassment [and] assault reports and incidents published in the news outlets involving University of Minnesota international students or students traveling abroad,” said Ericka Lara Ovares, president of CIGS and second-

year master’s student of public health policy and administration. In August, a 21-year-old University student from China was allegedly sexually assaulted by billionaire Richard Liu while he was attending a program at the Carlson School of Management. As a student organization catering to international students, Lara Ovares said the group feels responsible for providing adequate resources to prevent further cases. The group hopes educators will be more involved in creating awareness about new concepts that might not be common or available in a student’s home country. “We believe that we should provide an opportunity to increase international students’ understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities, as well as provide a safe space to talk about this sensitive issue,” said Jackie Liu, co-director of programming in CIGS and fourthyear Ph.D. student of human resources development.

Last Friday’s workshop featured panelists who discussed sexual violence specific to international students, including a University alumna survivor of sexual assault who shared her experience. Some topics included affirmative consent, how to report sexual harassment and legal protections available to international students regarding sexual harassment. Their next workshop is March 30 and will focus on self-defense and de-escalation. Organizers acknowledged cultural differences and collaborated to make the SVP workshops accessible. “Depending on different cultures and countries, each international student may have a different understanding regarding sexual misconduct,” said Hanna Sun, representative to external organizations for CIGS and third-year master’s student of comparative and international development education. To address cultural differences, the group prepared a visual presentation catered

to international students. By request, the Aurora Center — a professional organization dedicated to sexual assault and relationship violence advocacy and education — designed the lecture. “We are aware that, for some students of different cultural backgrounds, sometimes even the word ‘sex’ is too taboo to mention in a conversation,” said Seyni Mbaye, co-director of programming for CIGS and second-year master’s student of development practice. The Aurora Center also collaborated with Viivncaus, a campus Hmong women’s group, to discuss sexual assault in the Hmong community at a workshop last Thursday. “In the Hmong community, sexual assault is an extremely taboo topic that often gets swept under the rug,” said Nouchee Vang, president intern of Viivncaus, event host and third-year psychology student. Conversations revolved around what sexual assault

looks like in the Hmong community and what this experience is like for Hmong women. “Many times, when victims and survivors come forward with their stories, our culture dismisses them,” Vang said. “We wanted to dismantle and change the ways we as a Hmong community think, talk and treat sexual assault survivors.” During the workshop, they defined terminology such as sexual assault and affirmative consent. They also taught participants the skills they need to support survivors seeking help. “This kind of workshop ... is educating and bringing awareness to issues that are not being addressed, especially in the Hmong community,” said Leng Vang, a second-year physiology and pre-medicine student. “It is to educate the new generations and bring change to our culture. People are afraid to change because they fear to lose their heritage, but it is us that created our culture in the first place.”

Trump’s Title X changes would alter grant funding These changes will prohibit abortions as another form of family planning. BY GWIWON JASON NAM gnam@mndaily.com

The Trump Administration’s proposed changes to Title X would prohibit grant recipients from performing, promoting, referring for or supporting abortions as a method of family planning, prompting a variety of responses from University of Minnesota scholars and advocates. Title X is the only federal family-planning grant program to offer family planning services, providing for nearly 4 million clients each year. It prioritizes the needs of low-income and underinsured families, including those who are ineligible for Medicaid.

The new federal regulations were published last week and will be effective May 3. The new rule requires a distinct financial and physical separation between programs providing services funded by Title X and those providing abortions. Multiple lawsuits are currently underway to overturn the sweeping changes. Rachel Hardeman, assistant professor in health policy and management at the University of Minnesota, believes the new rule could force facilities like Planned Parenthood and other clinics that provide abortions and other services to forgo Title X funding. Planned Parenthood receives $60 million per year through the program. “It’s an issue of reproductive justice and health equity. Denying patients

who are disproportionately poor, young and of racial [and] ethnic minorities access to reproductive health services is an injustice and an act of violence,” Hardeman said. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the changes ensure recipients are compliant with Title X rules and will allow a greater number to receive services through the program. Providers can still discuss abortions but are no longer required to, opening funding for clinics that don’t provide abortions. Students are split on the issue. “Abortion is not a form of birth control and Planned Parenthood has been preying on innocent women by disguising their abortion services as reproductive rights or women’s healthcare,” said Nick

Johnson, president of the anti-abortion group UMN Students for Human Life. However, J’Mag Karbeah, Ph.D. student in public health policy and management, said abortion access and abortion care are essential family planning services for women. “The recent decisions ... pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of many women and families in our county,” Karbeah said. “Not only will this action disproportionately impact lower income people, but it is a direct affront to reproductive justice.” Karbeah said seeking information about abortion services is not an easy decision for women to make. She said many women who seek the services already have children at home and would like to provide them with the highest quality of care. “In addition to restricting

“The recent decisions... pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of many women and families in our county.” J’MAG KARBEAH Ph.D. student

access to necessary health services, this legislation also attempts to regulate the reproductive decisions that women are allowed to make,” Karbeah said. “We know that, historically, bans on abortion do not prevent women from seeking these services, it only prevents women from doing so safely.”

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Thursday, March 14, 2019

ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY

Psychology and nutrition junior Taylor Peterson poses for a portrait on Tuesday, March 12 at University Commons apartments. Peterson went to The Emily Program to recover from her eating disorder in high school. Now, she is studying to become an eating disorder therapist at the same institution.

Eating disorder u from Page 1

“We know that there are a lot more people suffering than those statistics reflect,” said Mary Utz, a therapist at Boynton Health’s Mental Health clinic and a member of the clinic’s eating disorder team. Less than 20 percent of college students who are diagnosed with an eating disorder report receiving treatment, partially because of stigma, according to Elizabeth Claydon, assistant professor at West Virginia University, whose research focuses on eating disorders. “Especially among male students, [people believe] eating disorders are a female disease. There’s a ton of misinformation out there … you can’t necessarily tell that someone has an eating disorder by looking at them,” she said. However, some students say the on-campus resources for students suffering from an eating disorder aren’t enough. Boynton, the University’s primary student health resource, currently does not offer any eating disorder therapy groups or

major treatment options on campus. “It’s so expensive to go to another treatment program. Boynton has [10] free therapy sessions a year … and my insurance doesn’t cover anything else. They said, ‘Yeah, we think that you have this, but we can’t help you here,’” Abby said.

Underreported, untreated or unattainable

Students with eating disorders have raised concerns about insurance coverage and accessibility. Students who believe they may be suffering from an eating disorder can request a free eating disorder assessment at Boynton, where they can be diagnosed and referred to off-campus specialized treatment institutions. Boynton does not provide more resources because of the complexity of eating disorders, Utz said. Students can only see a therapist every three to four weeks, which is not often enough. Melrose Center and The Emily Program, the two programs recommended by the University, have inpatient and outpatient treatment

plans for students with active symptoms. Unlike Boynton, they can offer a team approach which includes a therapist, dietitian and doctor to determine a method of care. Katy, a theater major who asked to only be identified by her first name for privacy reasons, said she didn’t understand what she was struggling with until she was diagnosed. She said Boynton was a big part of her move to seek additional help at Melrose. “I just wanted to find out what support and help I could get, but [Boynton] was able to give me a diagnosis. It felt so much better to have a name for what I was feeling,” she said. Cost becomes a concern for students referred to outpatient treatment centers. Abby was enrolled in outpatient treatment at Melrose for six months before her insurance stopped covering the program, which she said was devastating. Students recommended by Boynton can consult with a staff member about their insurance. Those attending Melrose can apply for a grant to cover their out of pocket expenses, which Utz says many receive. “Out of pocket, it’s a lot …

my sessions ranged from $50 to hundreds of dollars,” Abby said. “I felt so bad that my parents didn’t know what it was but they still would have to pay for it, so I stopped.”

Seeking support on campus

Taylor Peterson, a junior studying psychology and nutrition, was hospitalized after dropping to 60 pounds when she was 14 years old. She said she’s mostly recovered from her eating disorder after going through multiple inpatient treatments. But when the death of a family member caused her to relapse last semester, she said she tried to seek help again at Boynton before her symptoms became worse. “They weren’t able to help me even though I wasn’t super seriously affected; I only had a few symptoms. ... I just needed to talk to someone ... even in a group,” she said. Boynton has 16 therapy groups or workshops this semester covering topics like PTSD, relationships and gender, but none are primarily focused on issues with food or body image. While the University has offered support groups in the past, Jillian Lampert,

Freeze u from Page 1

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Gov. Tim Walz announces the state budget to legislators and media at the Minnesota Department of Revenue building on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

education, with potential tuition freezes coming later. If the Board of Regents was forced to abide this legislation, the impact on the University’s budget for the next two years would be significant, said Brian Burnett, University senior vice president for finance and operations in his testimony last week. An increase in tuition is an essential aspect of the University’s upcoming budgets. According to Burnett, the University will raise undergraduate resident tuition by around 2 percent if its entire $87 million ask is allocated, resulting in a $27 million increase in tuition revenue. “[The increase] is what’s needed to maintain the current scope and quality of our programming across all three of our missions: instruction, research and public service,” Burnett said.

chief strategy officer at The Emily Program and professor of an eating disorder management class at the University, said groups can cause students to think they don’t need more treatment. “Sometimes they’ll go to a support group and feel like, ‘Yeah, I got it. I’m going to support group, that’s all I need.’ They need so much more,’” she said. Students have also expressed concern over going to an campus group because of the stigma, Lampert said. Even naming the group something related to food or body image issues is difficult, she said. “There’s still this kind of societal judgment about it. Sometimes people won’t even come to a group that has any remotely to do with eating or body image or anything like that,” she said.

Taking action to recover

Lampert said while students who have eating disorder symptoms may think they don’t need treatment, the disease can easily wreck their college careers. “We often say the eating disorder will interfere with your schedule way more than the treatment will,” Lampert

The potential loss of the increased revenue creates a significant hole in the University’s budget, Burnett said. “Freezing tuition for the resident undergraduates for the next biennium across all campuses would exponentially increase the importance of new state funding, and it would lead potentially to the reductions in the scope and quality of the University,” he said. While the bill is laid over, lawmakers will continue to discuss how the state deals with higher education throughout the session. But those in the committee were pleased with the start of negotiations surrounding college affordability. “If it’s not going to be us that have the hard conversations about tuition increases, then who? And if not now, when? This has gone on year after year after year,” Anderson said. “We need to be bold, and we need to have the conversation.”

MSA vice presidential candidate leaves race Janet Nguyen left her campaign due to Washington’s post about abortion. BY NIAMH COOMEY ncoomey@mndaily.com

A Minnesota Student Association vice presidential candidate dropped out of the race after her running mate’s past social media posts resurfaced and stirred controversy. Janet Nguyen released a statement late Sunday evening saying she would pull out of the All Campus Elections due to comments made by running mate Osirus Washington. Student government

elections started Monday. Washington posted, “Do you get bad karma for having an abortion?” on his Facebook account on Jan. 28. On Sunday evening, many MSA members and others responded to the post with concern and asked him to clarify the meaning behind the post. In a response to one of these comments, Washington said he had “no ill intent” with the post and claimed to be looking for different viewpoints on abortion. Nguyen’s statement, which addressed Washington’s post and subsequent comments, declared her withdrawal from the race as well as her and others’

“dissociation” from Washington’s comments. “We want to make the stance known that we condemn ignorance over such a sensitive issue. As women ourselves, we want every woman to feel safe on campus in the conversation surrounding bodily choices. We, individually and collectively, advocate for female empowerment and family planning services like Planned Parenthood. We support healthy dialogue around this topic and do not stand with the comment made by Osirus,” the statement read. The election for MSA president and vice president are held this week, through March 15 at 8 p.m.

COURTESY OF OSIRUS WASHINGTON AND JANET NGUYEN’S CAMPAIGN

Osirus Washington, left, and his former running mate Janet Nguyen. Nguyen dropped out of the MSA race after a social media post by Washington about abortion resurfaced.

said. “People shouldn’t wait; they should get the care they need because it’ll help them go on and be able to do all the things they wanted.” Many University students who went to off-campus treatment centers said it was life-changing, and the education and resources on campus have yet to catch up. “All the emails from Boynton are focused on if you’re stressed with finals, feeling anxious, etc. There was nothing like that for eating disorders for me,” Abby said. “I would benefit from talking to more people and going to more things, but they aren’t that accessible or affordable here.” Utz said there are no current plans to expand Boynton resources, but they will continue their outreach efforts. According to Claydon, while keeping a student on campus for treatment can be more effective, a positive campus culture is a big part of encouraging students to seek help. “Campuses can be very triggering environments,” she said. “College is designed to help support a student so they can be the best they can be. This is just one more thing that we can provide.”

H.O.P.E. u from Page 1

familial mental health crises and were victims of mental and emotional abuse. Bilz said these experiences still impact her today and they have motivated her to study child psychology. “I’m very proud of the person that I am today, but I hope to be there for the kids that felt the way that I did at the time,” she said. At the University, Bilz said she’s found her calling and place in spite of her early traumatic experiences. “I’m a freshman and I’ve found my place and found out exactly what I want to do ... and organizations that are very tailored to my passion. I’ve literally never been happier,” Bilz said. Avery Yang, a 26-yearold student studying psychology, said he realized he was dealing with ACEs only one year ago. Yang said he had a particularly difficult childhood as a first-generation college student who experienced widespread abuse, familial mental illness and domestic violence. Yang said he felt the presence of ACEs in his life has hindered his college experience and even made him question what he gained from his studies at the University. When H.O.P.E. was founded, it provided him the community he said he had desperately needed earlier in his college years. “I think the great thing about H.O.P.E. is they have their own ways of addressing issues and finding solutions. That’s so great because that’s where I’m at and that’s what I needed,” he said, “I’m graduating now and this club just started and it was just exactly what I needed.”

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WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

Paige Williams peaks for the Gophers at right time

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

MEN’S HOCKEY

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Senior Tyler Sheehy skates toward the puck on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Mariucci Arena. The Gophers beat Notre Dame 2-1.

U to play Notre Dame in Big Ten semifinal Minnesota swept Michigan last week and moved on in the Big Ten Tournament. BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com

Junior Paige Williams performs her floor routine at Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Feb 15.

Williams was named Big Ten Specialist of the Week for two straight weeks. BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com

In just two months, the Gophers’ women’s gymnastics team has gone from the No. 22 ranked team in the country to No. 9. The Gophers have climbed the rankings steadily each week and have put together their best two performances in back-to-back weeks to vault them into the top-10 nationally and second among all Big Ten teams, trailing only No.7 Michigan. Against Pittsburgh on March 2, Minnesota put up the second-highest team score in program history with a 197.500. Minnesota followed up that performance with a 197.025 at the Elevate the Stage event, the ninth-highest in team history. “I’ve been really proud of the team,” said head coach Jenny Hansen. “They are always searching for more and are never satisfied. ... Their expectations keep rising, and I think it has been able to show them what they are capable of.”

Paige Williams has led the charge for the Gophers, posting back-to-back career meets. On March 2 against Pittsburgh, Williams finished with a career-high 9.900 on vault, winning the event title. She was also crowned the floor exercise champion for the event with a 9.925. Following the meet, Williams was announced as the Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week for the first time in her career. Williams continued her superior form on March 8 at the Elevate the Stage competition. The Wylie, Texas native finished with another career-high, this time on the floor exercise with a 9.975. The score is tied for the highest in program history; Lindsay Mable, MaryAnne Kelley and Carolyn Yernberg are the only other gymnasts to achieve it. “All her landings were spot-on,” Hansen said. “She’s got great amplitude, but even the little things were done so well that day. I knew it was going to be a great score. I didn’t know what she was going to get but I knew it was going to be a good one.” Her performance aided in posting the one of the

highest team floor scores in Gopher history with a 49.475. On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced Williams as the Specialist of the Week for the second consecutive week. “I was pretty excited,” Williams said of the awards. “It just shows that all of my hard work in the gym is paying off.” Williams is currently ranked No.17 in the country on the floor exercise, a huge jump from her No. 40 position at the beginning of the season. Floor exercise wasn’t always Williams’ focus, who came to the University with a passion and focus for the vault. However, with a new routine this year, Williams has been able to show off more of her personality and flare, which has resulted in higher scores. On vault, Williams relies on her explosiveness, something coach Hansen said she and the team are in awe of during practice. “I don’t work on it so much; I think it just happens,” Williams said. “It just seems to come with my gymnastics.” Williams and the Gophers look to continue recent success in their final regular-season meet of the year Friday

DAILY FILE PHOTO

“I’ve been really proud of the team. They are always searching for more and are never satisfied. ... Their expectations keep rising, and I think it has been able to show them what they are capable of.” JENNY HANSEN head coach

March 15, taking on No. 7 Michigan, No. 19 Missouri and Centenary in Columbia, Missouri. before heading to Pennsylvania for the Big Ten championships. “I want them to keep doing what they are doing; I don’t want to change anything,” Hansen said. “Our consistency has been great; we are just trying to do the little things well. That’s the theme of the week: Everything matters [and] little things lead to big moments, so that’s what we are trying to do.”

The Gophers hit their peak when they needed it most. They’ve won five straight and seven of their last eight games after sweeping Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The team has been under stress since late in the regular season. Without winning the Big Ten Tournament, there is little chance of them making the NCAA Tournament. But Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said the players were only focused on what’s certain: Saturday’s game at Notre Dame. “I’m not going to hide the fact that we got a pretty good feel about us,” Motzko said. “I don’t think they’ve taken it one ounce further than ... they want to get to win number 19. We’re in a good spot.” The Gophers (18-15-4) are 3-1 in the regular season against the No. 16 Fighting Irish (20-13-3), and swept them in their first weekend series at Notre Dame’s Compton Family Ice Arena, where the semifinal will be played Saturday. Minnesota was out-shot in that weekend series 78-48, but won the series by a combined score of 7-2, capped by Gophers freshman forward Blake McLaughlin’s gamewinner in the final eight seconds of the third period. “I remember Blake scoring with [eight] seconds left, and the building kind of dying, which was kind of nice. I like a silent away building,” said Gophers goaltender Mat Robson, who started those first two games. “It’s a great place to play, and I’m looking

forward to getting back there. Obviously, some experience there, some success as well, and we’re just going to look to continue that with this one-game weekend.” On Tuesday, Robson was named one of three finalists for the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year award for his play in the crease this season. Robson, a junior from Mississauga, Ontario, became eligible to play for the Gophers in the middle of the 2017-18 season. He’s recorded a .920 save percentage, with 915 saves on 30 starts this season. Motzko is up for Big Ten Coach of the Year, and Gophers Sammy Walker is up for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Robson will have some trouble lined up across the ice from him as Fighting Irish goaltender Cale Morris recorded two shutouts on 55 total shots last weekend in Notre Dame’s quarterfinal series against Michigan State. Morris was also named as a finalist for Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. “We just need one [goal] to win, so I guess that’s how it’s going to go this weekend,” Robson said. Gophers two-year captain Tyler Sheehy faces what could be his final game with the team if they don’t continue to the Big Ten Championship. Sheehy had three points last weekend, and is second on the team with 41 points overall this season. He suffered an injury and saw his production drop to 25 points last season after a 53-point sophomore season, but has recovered since. “He’s also having another great year, like his sophomore year, and it’s what we need out of our captain,” said Minnesota sophomore forward Brannon McManus. “[It’s] what we need out of leadership and he’s doing it, and we look up to him.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Gophers excited for challenge of Big Ten Tournament The Gophers are looking to add wins before the NCAA’s Selection Sunday. BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com

After concluding the regular season with a 1912 record (9-11 Big Ten), the Gophers are confident that they’ve done enough to hear their name called among the NCAA Tournament’s field of 68 teams. Still, a strong showing at the Big Ten Tournament this week would make the selection committee’s decision much easier. Minnesota’s conference record earned them the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which is taking place this Wednesday through Sunday at the United Center in Chicago. “A lot of great memories in conference tournaments,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “It’s a fun time of year. But there’s nothing better than conference tournaments because you play teams that you’ve played multiple times.” The first test for the Gophers comes Thursday

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Senior Jordan Murphy jumps to dunk the ball on Thursday, Feb. 21 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Gophers lost to Michigan 69-60.

evening against No. 10 seed Penn State. The teams met once during the regular season, a 65-64 Minnesota victory on Jan. 19 in which the Gophers survived a goahead shot attempt from Penn State junior Lamar Stevens which rimmed out

at the final buzzer. At the time, Penn State was winless in conference play, but the Nittany Lions have since turned things around. They have won seven of their last 10 contests, with the three defeats coming by a

combined 20 points. That s t r e t ch i nclu de s u p s e t victories over ranked opponents Michigan and Maryland. “[We’re] excited about playing Penn State,” Pitino said. “[They’re a] really, really good team; they’ve

been playing very well. It was a war at our place [and] came down to the last possession, so we know we’ll get their best shot.” For the Gophers to advance beyond the first round, they will need another strong performance from junior Amir Coffey. In his last three games, Coffey has averaged nearly 29 points per game and received recognition as Big Ten Player of the Week the past two weeks. Named third team AllBig Ten by coaches and media, Coffey rose to the challenge of becoming the Gophers’ premier guard this season. The team has relied heavily on Coffey, who has played at least 39 minutes in each of the last four regular season games. According to Coffey, he’s not worried about the strain of extra minutes and is available for as long as the team needs him down the stretch. “I feel like once you get out there it all feels the same,” Coffey said. “I could play 20 minutes and be sore the next day. I just play the game, get recovery and get ready for the next one.” In addition to Coffey, Minnesota will count on

its other superstar, senior Jordan Murphy, to continue his stellar play in the postseason. Named first team All-Big Ten by the media and second team by coaches, Murphy finished second in the nation with 21 double-doubles and ranks second in Big Ten history with 1,272 rebounds. Having cemented his legacy as one of the best players in Gophers history, Murphy now hopes to end his career with a successful postseason. After losing in the first round last year, Murphy says he’s been thinking about returning to the Big Ten Tournament ever since. “I’ve definitely been looking forward to it,” Murphy said. “Just something that I’ve been thinking about pretty much every night, getting back to the Big Ten Tournament, redeeming last year, the way we ended the season.” The first game against Penn State is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. on Thursday. If Minnesota wins, it will play at the same time on Friday against No. 2 seed Purdue, the team that the Gophers upset 73-69 on Tuesday, March 5.

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MN DAILY

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

ART

Artist illustrates that anything is possible Destiny A. Davison explores human relationships in her ongoing comic. BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com

Destiny A. Davison believes that anything, absolutely anything, is possible. Her illustrations and comics tell stories of real thinking things, un-real thinking things and sentient planets. “So very rarely are [my characters] human,” Davison said. “It’s really just another way to say be hopeful about your life and about all the things you could potentially do, potentially be. ... That never ends. No matter how old you are, anything could happen.” The University of Minnesota alum’s other-worldly illustrations typically come in the medium of permanent-marker doodles, something that harkens back to the artist’s childhood. “I used to draw on walls. Not in a healthy way,” Davison said. “If I was ever bored, I would go and crawl behind the couches and draw on the walls with anything I could get my hands on.” These strategically placed murals became part of a bigger picture. Davison never put down that marker. “A lot of times, I’ll just start with permanent marker or pen because it’s just natural and it’s permanent,” Davison said. “You can’t go back, so if you make a mistake, you just have to make it bigger. It’s just not on walls anymore.” Art, especially illustration, is something Davison realized she cannot live without. “I remember going into her room and seeing papers scattered on the floor, her sitting on her bed and just drawing and drawing and drawing,” said the artist’s sister Alex Davison, a senior studying film at the University. “I just remember being in awe. It was like going into a museum.” This collection of personal drawings has evolved

into Davison’s witty and joyous comics “Planet B” and “The Droll,” which she frequently posts about on her Instagram pages. “The Droll” is a series that reflects on labels we put on each other. Davison describes the drolls as “monsters” — just not as scary as we may think. “I don’t think monsters were ever meant to be something to be afraid of,” Davison said. “They’re really just expressions of our own selves as human beings and our own creativity, including things that are fantastical or scary.” Much of Davison’s personality comes through in the dialogue and style of her characters, especially the bold lines and their quirky nature. “[Her art has] become this whole world, whereas before it was just like this small piece,” Alex Davison said. “And now it’s blossoming into this huge, beautiful colorful thing.” Davison has presented

ELLE MOULIN, DAILY

ABOVE: Local illustrator Destiny A. Davison works on a drawing in a new sketchbook on Thursday, March 7 at Bordertown Coffee in Dinkytown.

RIGHT: Destiny A. Davison poses for a portrait on Thursday, March 7 at Bordertown Coffee in Dinkytown. Davison has been working on a new series called “The Droll” about “various real, unreal and in-between thinking things.”

her art, both visual and literary, at various art shows and events. At last month’s Err event, Davison gave an engaging PowerPoint lecture on “The Drolls.” “I really like the oddities and creativity of her art. They’re drawings but they’re also stories,” said Err’s Hanna Kjeldbjerg. “She is one of those artists that’s always creating, always posting and sharing.”

Along with her comics, Davison channels her creative energy into improv and short stories. “I think we can all have our big projects or the thing that we think is going to be our big thing,” Davison said. “But I don’t really believe

that anyone is destined to do one certain thing.” This is one of the ways that Davison has seen herself grow as an artist. She pushes herself to finish each project she works on. She takes risks rather than asking for permission

to create her art. “The worst thing that you can do is sell yourself short and not try,” Davison said. “That’s really the hardest part in anything … just trying. A lot of the times it’s really not as scary as you think it is.”

ART

Reckoning with racism in the knitting community Twin Cities knitters work to promote inclusion, dialogue through their craft. BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

Karen Templer’s blog post appeared to be the tipping point. On Jan. 7, the influential knitter blogged about a planned trip to India, describing it as part of her new “year of color.” The post sparked outrage in the knitting community, especially among POC knitters who were offended by her word choice and likening of the trip to a “flight to Mars.” The hashtag #diversknitty that emerged after Templer’s post has been used over ten thousand times, with hundreds of POC knitters from around the country sharing their experiences with racism online. Many POC knitters said they are often assumed to be inexperienced by staff in knitting stores. Some are followed around while they shop or ignored altogether. Others highlighted the lack of representation in knitting catalogs, as well as the lack of designs made by people of color in shops. In light of the post, some Twin Cities knitting groups and stores are reconsidering their inclusion practices. The Yarnery, a knitting shop in St. Paul, has been especially vocal in the

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Jill McGuire knits a mitten at The Yarnery in St. Paul on March 9.

conversation, something customer Jeanne Burns respects. Burns said The Yarnery is taking note of yarn producers who do not engage in the discussion of race and racism in the knitting community. The store is looking to fill their shelves with more companies that reflect their values. “To me, that is powerful and also risky,” she said. “As a [small] business

owner, you risk offending and alienating people [who] don’t support that. I want to support businesses that do the work and take the risk and say, ‘This is not okay to us.’” The Yarnery is working to supply more yarn and knitting patterns from producers of color and foster community dialogue with weekly knit nights. No conversation topic is off-limits at these events,

which is a contrast to some groups that seek to “stick to their knitting” and leave conversations involving race or politics at the door, said Scott Rohr, co-owner of The Yarnery. Annie Chen, a member of Minneapolis black-led knitting collective “The Yarn Mission,” said separating politics from her craft is impossible. “I think it’s a benefit of white privilege to [not] bring

politics into it,’” Chen said. “Because for me, I see my whole life as political. My work and how I choose to move in the world is political. So [it’s a] privilege to ... only want to talk about knitting.” As an activist and founder of The Yarn Mission, CheyOnna Sewell said she has always seen knitting as more than a hobby. For her, knitting became a way to raise money and keep her fellow protesters warm

during political rallies. “I see us as a part of the connecting force,” Sewell said. “I want us to activate people and bring people together and serve people.” The group is conscious about the yarn it uses and provides economic access to knitting materials and classes, which can be expensive. Yet some white knitters say the discussion is overexaggerated and fosters unnecessary drama. “Suggesting that forms of oppression can be reduced to ‘drama’ is antagonistic,” Sewell rebutted. “[This discussion is] not different than what we see outside [the knitting community too].” Although Yarn Mission knitter Lauren Buchanan noted some white-owned yarn stores have taken steps to acknowledge their biases, many lack a diverse staff or the tools necessary to have discussions about race. This can make it difficult to bring in customers of color and advertise inclusive knit nights. “We’re not naive to think that everybody sits and knits and the world’s going to be a perfect place … but I do think it’s easier to have civil discourse when you are all engaged in a craft together,” Rohr said. “‘Stick to your knitting’ is a really bad idea. Let’s use knitting to actually break some things apart. That’s a better way to go.”

6 THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

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Editorials & Opinions

COLUMN

College admissions scandal evinces larger issue The wealthy have long had the front door, back door and side door, and discussion is overdue.

M

ost cities don’t do this, but for nearly a century the New York City Police Department has tipped off photographers nearly anytime anybody interesting JONATHAN ABABIY has found themcolumnist selves being taken to the station in handcuffs. It’s called the “perp walk.” After letting a crew of photographers assemble on the sidewalk, NYPD cops link arms with their handcuffed suspect, like grown up preschool teachers, and slowly walk the perp between

the police car and station. It’s a softball toss for photographers and any editor who wants a picture of a star made low. A number of movie stars, politicians and Wall Street kingpins in varying degrees of emotion and preparedness have all been blessed with this glow of cameras. Perp walks are a controversial practice. An obvious tactic of humiliation, it implies guilt, even though trial for the suspect hasn’t even started. As the Pacific Standard wrote last year, it scratches society’s “satisfying itch for retribution,” but doesn’t do much else besides scratching that itch. This is the danger with the recent news about the FBI’s investigation into college admissions fraud. It’s fun to watch. But will we be brought out of our smug, Midwestern self-satisfaction to do anything about it? Our reaction to this investigation needs to confront other moreaccepted ways the rich and wealthy win the college sweepstakes. The initial reaction of many people to this story was simply one of ridicule. It’s hilarious to see famous actresses, lawyers and business leaders get themselves in trouble over something as trivial as college admission. Some of the

schemes are so harebrained it’s difficult to see why anybody thought it was a good idea. For example, one parent indicted in the scheme pays the corrupt college admissions fixer to bribe the University of South Carolina’s senior associate athletic director. The fixer hires a graphic designer who Photoshops pictures of the parent’s kid in water polo gear bought off Amazon into a stock photo of water polo players. The bribed senior associate athletic director then used the doctored photo and a fake athletic profile to try to convince admissions counselors to accept the “athlete.” After we get over the idiocy of a scheme like this, we should consider other less visible ways the wealthy try to beat the system in college admissions. Stories like this don’t really happen all that often. What really happens is more subtle stuff. The snitch in the FBI report puts it quite well. Talking to a client who was a top lawyer at an international law firm, he said: “There is a front door which means you get in on your own. The back door is through institutional advancement [donating money], which is 10 times as much money. And I’ve created a side door

in.” The fixer got caught opening the side door, while the back door is still open and the front door isn’t always easy to open. The wealthy can hire completely legal admissions consultants to massage and marinate their kids’ lifeless college essays and can sink thousands into tutors other kids can’t afford. There’s always the option of just buying a building on campus, too, like Jared Kushner’s dad did. There are many doors into college campuses. What this scandal does is remind you that those doors aren’t necessarily open for you and me. It’s fun to see rich people do the perp walk, but it’s our job to make sure something systemic comes out of it.

Jonathan Ababiy welcomes comments at jababiy@mndaily.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.

Recycling is not the only answer After reading the article titled, “University of Minnesota members take steps to reduce their plastic footprint” from the Feb. 28 issue of the Minnesota Daily, I felt compelled to respond. I encourage others to look closely at the plastic they use in their life. As a University of Minnesota student that spends my time advocating for the environment, I often have students come up to me happily exclaiming: “Don’t worry about me! I am so environmentally friendly! I recycle almost ever ything!” I often don’t have the heart to tell them that although recycling may seem like the answer, this practice is actually contributing to the large amount of waste that is overtaking the planet. The ar ticle shares grim details of the plastic problem: “Only 9 percent of plastic material is actually recycled. … Around 79 percent of plastic ends up in landfills or in the environment.” This statistic can be overwhelming and makes others feel their individual actions of refusing plastic are not enough to spark change. This is where my work and environmental education plays a crucial role in teaching others that we each have the power to do something beneficial for the environment.

Each time you use plastic, you can’t be sure it’s getting recycled, so avoiding the use of plastic is truly the best option for being environmentally friendly. It’s easy to avoid plastic in your daily life, such as daily Starbucks cups (buy a reusable thermos). It’s also easily forgotten that almost all our day is spent interacting with plastic. Using a plastic toothbrush, plastic toothpaste container, plastic bottles for shampoo and conditioner, plastic razor, plastic soap bottle — and that is just plastic that is a part of most morning routines. This does not include the plastic we use on a daily basis that we may forget about. The best advice I can give to someone who is trying to be environmentally friendly is to do a plastic audit. This shows you how much waste you dispose of throughout the course of your day. Then, you should try to find sustainable alternatives when it’s time to replace those items. Remember, each individual action can contribute to the pollution problem. Choose actions that are part of the solution. Bailey Tangen is an environmental science, policy and management student at the University of Minnesota. This letter has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

COLUMN

We can lessen earth’s suffering by using less plastic

The University could decrease its use of plastic by offering plastic bag alternatives at U bookstores.

E

nvironmental protection is absolutely necessary. Plastic waste from humans causes our earth to suffer. Trashed plastic specifically tends to end up in the ALEEZEH HASAN ocean and can columnist be found inside over 90 percent of seabirds in the world. Only a minority of plastic is biodegradable and most plastics cause harm when left in landfills or oceans.

Due to the environmental consequences, there was a recently proposed plastic ban in the city of St. Paul. This ban was meant to remove all use of plastic take-out containers within restaurants. With the looming threat of global warming, many cities are attempting to take action against single-use plastic waste. There are tricky steps and complications when a city tries to implement a full plastic ban, so the matter would be simpler to take care of on our campus. With Minnesota Student Association presidential elections happening now, it’s important to listen to the candidates’ takes on banning plastic. Mina Kian and Jael Kerandi’s platform focuses on sustainability. They bring these ideas into practice with MSA on a smaller level, such as internally limiting the use of plastics. Candidates Spencer Kleinshmidt and August Schutz aim to decrease the use of plastic by focusing on straws. They hope to work with Coffman Union restaurants to change the types of available cups so straws will be used less, unless specifically requested. These

candidates have clear sustainability goals and keep some focus on plastics. While these efforts are good, our campus should push harder for the complete elimination of plastics. The University of Minnesota can do this by following the proposal that began in St. Paul. Take-out containers are the starting point for this goal; by using compostable materials for the containers, the carbon footprint of the entire University would decrease. The University bookstore could do more to reduce the number of plastic bags handed out, too. While the bookstore has started giving out cloth bags, it could stop using bags altogether or have a space where students can return the cloth bags if they no longer have a use for them. Other campus shops should have alternatives to plastic bags as well. There should be cloth bags available for purchase at all campus stores, so that waste is decreased significantly. The use of reusable materials should be something we take seriously. It would be ideal

EDITORIAL

Journalism not immune to elitist bias Newsrooms are lacking reporter diversity, which ultimately results in more limited news coverage. Journalists across the country were abuzz last week when Theodore Kim, who is director of newsroom fellowships at the The New York Times, tweeted a list of the “best” colleges that produce the most “consistently productive” journalists. His top four universities? Columbia University, Northwestern University, University of California, Berkeley and Yale University. Not shockingly, these universities have a student population demographic that is predominately white. While those are all great universities with students who posses high academic standards and achievements, a large number of hardworking journalism students across the country were excluded from the list — including people of color and students from a low-income background. The total annual costs of these institutions are also some of the highest in the country. Out of Kim’s designated “best” schools, Columbia University is the most expensive with Forbes reporting its annual cost at $74,199. Only recognizing these institutions and admitting students from a certain pool limits newsroom diversity across the country.

This affects the content that newsrooms put out and ultimately influences national media coverage. There are clear obstacles, both financial and academic, to enter these universities. If newsrooms want to represent diverse interests and viewpoints, they should be doing more to recruit students from those backgrounds and forgo elitist assumptions. The media works best for all when the stories and the newsrooms producing the stories are welcoming to people of all backgrounds. Well-known and respected newsrooms, like The Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times, are predominantly white and male, while corporations like Vox are predominantly white women. When reading articles online, the average person might not think much of the individual behind the computer screen, but the voice behind the story is very important. For those who come from isolated backgrounds, stories regarding their communities may end up mischaracterizing their actual experiences. It is important that news coverage is objective and expansive. We should not restrict our reporting and coverage to communities that look like our own gender, racial or cultural background. We need to recognize the importance of having a wide range of stories and experiences, which includes being intentional with diversifying our newsrooms. We at The Minnesota Daily recognize

We should not restrict our reporting and coverage to communities that look like our own gender, racial or cultural background.

we’re not perfect at this ourselves. We need to better incorporate all voices in our reporting, staff and story subjects. For us, incorporating diversity workshops and being mindful of our content is just the start. Great writers will always come out of Yale, Columbia, Berkeley and any other top-tier journalism school. But publicly acknowledging only a select few schools not only neglects hard working journalists but also discourages potential writers from pursuing a career in journalism. All perspectives are important when it comes to accurately reporting and sharing the stories of the world around us. It’s the name of the journalism game. Whether that be in our own newsrooms or universities, we need to be aware of the voices we include at the journalism table.

to have a campus where all materials are compostable, there is less single-use plastic and there is more awareness of ways to help the earth. Since recent reports have outlined that global warming is reaching the point of being irreversible, it is absolutely necessary for us to take action against this threat. Hopefully, St. Paul’s proposal will encourage other cities in our state to reduce and limit use of plastic. In the meantime, it’s our University’s responsibility to take steps toward change in order to ensure our earth will be able to support us for years to come.

Aleezeh Hasan welcomes comments at ahasan@mndaily.com.

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

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DR. DATE

HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (3/14): 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 — Household issues require attention. Surprising actions could compel a spontaneous response. Keep a cool head and listen to intuition. Secrets get revealed.

Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Your work is attracting attention from someone important. Push to polish and prepare. Make technical improvements. Correct errors before they’re seen.

Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 7 — It feels like dreams might come true. Present information clearly. Polish details on a creative work. Edit and trim until it’s tight and simply solid.

Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is an 8 — You’re taking new ground. Learn a useful trick. Explore fresh terrain and investigate the background story. Dig through data and take notes.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 9 — There’s money to be made. Profitable opportunities are available. Follow an older person’s advice. Make a good impression.

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is an 8 — Focus on shared accounts and financial matters. Fix something before it breaks. Communication makes a big difference.

Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is an 8 — You’re especially sensitive. Keep it respectful and gracious on the red carpet. This is your show; smile and share appreciations.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is an 8 — Partnership kindles with an unexpected spark. Discover unconsidered possibilities. Words fall out of your mouth. Express what’s in your heart.

Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Listen to intuition. Peace and quiet energize you. Notice your own thoughts. Indulge restorative rituals and reorganization. Consider what you want.

Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — Demands on your attention may seem high. Patiently stay in communication. Postpone what you can. Handle urgent matters and rest.

Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 9 — Friends enliven and enrich. Keep showing up for people. If you can’t make a date, reschedule. Keep your word. Contribution ripples forward.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — Prioritize fun and romance. Pamper your family with simple pleasures. Relax, and settle in with a good story or game. Get to know someone better.

Dr. Date,

Spring break is fast approaching and I’m pumped. A week off from school, no snow on the ground (knock on wood) and happy-hour specials every day at campus bars? It’s the best time of the year. But my girlfriend just told me she’ll be going on a trip to Florida with her friends to visit her grandparents. Sounds like a sweet thing to do, but I thought the short notice was weird. I pressed her friend for the name of their hotel and looked it up. It’s a “nude hotel,” or as close to nude as you can get! It’s on a private nudist beach and promises no outside viewers. Everyone in the hotel is required to wear no more than a bikini or speedo when out and about, and sneakily taking pictures will get you thrown out on the street faster than you can say, “But they’re just for Instagram!” She’s straight and going with female friends, so I’m not worried about some guy friend who chose a convenient location. But I’m disappointed she lied to me. What do I do?

—The Naked Truth

Dear The Naked Truth,

You’re sure her grandparents don’t live near the hotel? Who knows, old people with money can be wild! It’s a nude hotel, not a sex hotel, but considering the association, I can’t blame you for being worried. Even more concerning is the fact that she’s lying — even if she just thought you wouldn’t understand. While I would normally say have faith in your girlfriend, she’s already broken your trust. Talk to her as soon as possible before she leaves. You can’t stop her from going (Florida instead of Minnesota? Who wouldn’t?), but you need to straighten things out now. Maybe see if you two can get a private room for the week instead?

— Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

If TV and movies have taught me anything, it’s that the third date with someone is special. And by special, I mean you can finally have sex without your friends judging you for “putting out too early.” I’ve had plenty of hookups that didn’t abide by that rule, but when the guy I was seeing didn’t initiate the first two times I saw him, I figured he was waiting. When he texted me saying he wanted to go somewhere special for a date, I was

excited. However, he said it was going to be a surprise, and I’m not about to hop into a car with a guy I’ve only spent a total of three hours with. He insisted we would end up at his place by the end, but I’m not trying to end up on Dateline. After a solid hour of texting, he finally gave up — he wanted to take me to traffic court. He had a speeding ticket and didn’t want to sit at the courthouse for hours alone. WTF? I told him how weird it was and how I had different plans that night. He said, “Well, I was planning on bringing you back to my place afterward to make up for it!” Normally I would ghost him, but he’s really hot. Is this worth sitting in a courthouse?

—Too Fast, Too Furious

Dear Too Fast, Too Furious,

Gosh, what a dilemma — not. Haven’t you ever been to the DMV? It’s like that, but everyone around you is losing time AND money. Is the misery worth what could be mediocre sex? If you’re determined to sleep with this guy, just ask him. Tell him he’s welcome to come over after his hearing, but two dates isn’t enough to justify spending your precious time with him in a courthouse for hours. Here’s to lowering his ticket fine!

— Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

What’s the protocol on hanging out with someone over spring break if you’ve been getting along with them well but only see them in class? I don’t want to seem clingy, but I also don’t want to not see this guy for a week in case he loses interest.

—Running Out Of Time

Dear Running Out of Time,

My best friend once dated a guy who asked her out on the last day of the semester without ever having talked to her during class. I’m not saying you should do that, but I AM saying there’s no protocol. Ask this guy what his plans are over break. If he’s staying in town, ask if he wants to hang out. If he’s going to Cabo, tell him to have fun and then have fun during your own break. Don’t obsess. P. S. If he does leave and you have his number, just let him text you.

—Dr. Date

Want advice from the love doctor? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com

SUDOKU CROSSWORD

Last Issue’s Puzzle Solved Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.

Last issue’s solution

3/14/19

© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

8

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Most adults find drug costs are too high Students and adult professionals worry about prescriptions and their prices. BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com

The majority of Americans consider the cost of prescription drugs unreasonable, according to a study released earlier this month. The study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit, found only 25 percent of U.S. adults trusted pharmaceutical companies to price drugs fairly and 79 percent thought drug costs were unreasonably high. Many University of Minnesota students and people around the state agree. Amy Felegy, a journalism student at the University, has been a Type 1 diabetic for 18 years. Because her pancreas does not secrete insulin, Felegy is required to take insulin and utilize blood sugar testing supplies, and costs can be steep. “I used to be on my parent’s insurance before I went on the student insurance here at the [University], and my insulin cost was about $300 per vial through insurance. A vial usually lasts about a month,” Felegy said. Felegy prefers a brand of diabetic test strips that aren’t supplied through Boynton Health, so she has to pay out of pocket. Her blood sugar isn’t checked as it should frequently as a result, which negatively impacts her health. The cost of prescriptions may influence her future decisions, Felegy said. “Now that I’m graduating, I have no idea what my insurance plans may look like or what an insulin vial may cost after I graduate,” she said. “I’ve got to make sure that I get a job with good insurance to cover all of my medical bills.” Stuart Williams, a lawyer with Minneapolis firm Henson Efron, serves as a public member on several

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Abby Silbaugh, who had to pay $5,000 out-of-pocket for emergency prescriptions despite her University of Minnesota insurance, poses for a portrait on Monday, March 11 in her workspace.

medical licensing boards. He pointed out the cost of prescription drugs can sometimes be justified. “I think sometimes the prices are reasonable and sometimes they’re not. I don’t think you can paint with a broad brush. There is a lot of money that goes into innovation and research,” Williams said. However, Williams said he feels the American healthcare model is “deeply flawed” and focuses too much on profits. According to the online database Statista, the U.S. held more than 47 percent of the global pharmaceutical market in 2018.

“I think [the high cost of prescriptions] has gone too far, and I think we need to do something at the federal level to really address these issues,” Williams said. Another student, Abby Silbaugh, also thinks that more needs be done. When Silbaugh went to an urgent care clinic and was prescribed two emergency medications totaling over $5,000, she was shocked that a vital medication would cost so much, adding she didn’t think that was the intended goal of those who created it. “Most people who actually conduct the research aren’t trying to get a profit

out of it, because they either know someone who has the disease or they want to better the world,” she said. “The people who actually profit off of those scientists and their dedicated research are the companies.” According to Rose Roach, executive director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, nurses have directly dealt with the effects of high cost prescription drugs. “We hear many stories on a regular basis of how [nurses] see patients being sicker now than ever before,” Roach said. “It is directly an impact of the high cost of pharmaceuticals where

people either ration drugs or are unable to get the drugs they need to stay healthy and, in some cases, literally survive.” Roach said some pharmaceutical companies are bought and resold for a profit, driving up the costs of medications. According to the Government Accountability Office, the amount U.S. citizens have spent on prescriptions has almost doubled since the 1990s. Revenue from pharmaceutical companies reached $775 billion in 2015. “Supply and demand in healthcare doesn’t work the way it does for houses or cars

or computers,” Roach said. “Nurses feel really strongly that people need to get the help they need when they need it and not worry about this cost barrier that is artificially put in place by this system.” No matter how prescription drug prices are addressed going forward, Felegy hopes that those in government and the pharmaceutical industry will remember the human cost of drug prices. “Chronic illnesses can be emotionally taxing, and that financial tax that’s added onto it is such a burden,” she said.

Church u from Page 1

students,” she said. According to Lauren Rheingans, campus minister for the Wesley Foundation, the decision was comparable to the 2016 presidential election because few expected the Traditional Plan to pass. “What we’re feeling now, with this kind of uncertain time, is a lot of grief around ... what we could have been,” Rheingans said. “We’re really, really divided in the world, especially in the U.S. [There] was a lot of the hope [that] this plan would be one step forward in keeping each other in conversation.” However, Rheingans said she thinks the vote has forced UMC to take a harder stance on LGBTQ rights. “You might have seen some churches that you might not have noticed before, but that are now looking for the biggest rainbow flags they can find,”

TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY

Communion sits on a table in Coffman Union on Sunday, March 10 during a worship service for the Wesley Foundation, a United Methodist campus ministry.

Rheingans said. Though Rheingans said she doesn’t think changes will happen overnight, she also said she doesn’t think there will ever be a wholly united UMC again. “I’m not interested in being in a church where we are content saying that [LGBTQ] people are really harmed and suffering, and we’re just going to pretend that it’s not happening. I think this is grounds for something new,” she said.

“We don’t know the way forward for our church, but maybe it’s time for a creative way forward. Maybe it’s time for something new.” WHITNEY SHERIDAN Centennial UMC pastor

Homelessness u from Page 1

Prior to contract negotiations, UMPD collaborated informally with the St. Stephen’s team over the years. Officers of the department’s Community Engagement Team would take St. Stephen’s workers to areas around campus with the highest numbers of homeless individuals. UMPD Lt. Jim Nystrom, who leads the Community Engagement Team, said the officers would allow Outreach team members to approach homeless individuals first. “Homeless people don’t always react well to a uniformed officer or even a lightly uniformed officer,” said Nystrom. “They’re more so looking for that social worker, that person who can help them.” The University has seen a significant increase in the local homeless population over

ABBY ADAMSKI, DAILY

the last two years, specifically near the East Bank light rail station and its surrounding buildings and parking ramps, Nystrom said. This increase caused the department to boost its response by formalizing the contract with St. Stephen’s. Although the agreement between the two is a great step in assisting homeless

individuals around campus, it is only the beginning, Nystrom said. “The fact that we’ve entered into an agreement doesn’t mean that our homelessness issue is gone or going away,” he said. “I think it’s going to be something we’ll have to contend with for a good number of years, if not for a very long time.”