IN THIS ISSUE
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
EARLY WEEK
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE 2019
MNDAILY.COM
‘I am not alone’ STUDENT LIFE
University students’ silent grief
STATE GOVT.
Bonding bill moves on in Legislature The bill mirrors Walz’s capital proposal, but some senators say it’s unlikely to pass this session. BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota received a sizeable amount of capital investment funding from a recently passed House bill, but Republican lawmakers say the bill is unlikely to pass if it makes it to the floor. The House Capital Investment Division allocated $150 million to the University of Minnesota from their $1.5 billion general obligation omnibus bonding bill last week. The bill, which funds $117 million of the school’s $232 million Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement request and fully funds the Institute of Child Development building replacement on the Twin Cities campus and the renovation of A.B. Anderson Hall on the Duluth campus, is consistent with DFL Gov. Tim Walz’s proposal earlier this session. “I think it is something that, as we move on, can only get better,” House Capital Investment Division Chair Rep. Mary Murphy, DFL-Hermantown, said. “But it is a very good start.” Capital Investment Division Vice Chair Rep. Fue Lee, DFL-Minneapolis said the governor’s proposal recognized the University’s need. “We understand the need of the University of Minnesota in regards to some u See BONDING Page 3
JACK RODGERS, DAILY
Blake Downing poses for a portrait outside Appleby Hall on Saturday, April 13. Downing lost his mother when he was 14, impacting his mental health when he moved to a new high school and, eventually, away from home to attend the University of Minnesota. He now meets regularly with seven other students in Appleby Hall as part Student Counseling Services, which helped introduce a support system into Downing’s life that he says has been “life changing.”
Many UMN students say they feel isolated in their grief as they face the taxing demands of college life. BY MICHELLE GRIFFITH mgriffith@mndaily.com
Blake Downing is graduating from the University of Minnesota in May and preparing for graduate school at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. In addition to the stress of graduating, he’s shouldering an additional burden: His mom won’t be there to see him accept his diploma. Downing’s mom, Janis, died when he was 14 from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a lung disease that causes scar tissue and leads to lung failure. Downing said he knows graduation, a celebratory milestone for many students, will be difficult because he will be thinking about his mom’s absence. “Grief has such a powerful impact on the rest of my life, not just the fact that I miss my mom,” he said. “There’s just so many other things that it ties into.” Like Downing, many University students lose someone important to them. However, many
“
People don’t know what to say, [and] I don’t think you can learn what to say. That’s what I would tell people: put your listening ears on. Sit there and be there for them.” BLAKE DOWNING University student
students say they feel like they’re the only ones their age living with grief. Approximately 22 to 30 percent of college undergraduates are likely to have experienced the loss of a loved one within the previous 12 months, according to a survey of almost 1,000 students published in the journal “Mortality.” Grief is multifaceted. It looks different to everyone, and its severity depends on the strength of the relationship lost, said University faculty member Fiyyaz Karim, who specializes in grief, counseling and post-traumatic stress, among other clinical interests. “The one big thing is that sometimes college students don’t have that social support, because they’re away from home,” Karim said. Everyone grieves differently, Karim said. It can be isolating because many students don’t want to talk about it, fearing it will bring down the tone of a situation. And grief is still considered a “taboo subject” in many cultures, he added. The University has multiple resources for students dealing with grief, like grief support groups, personal counseling and websites providing advice and other informational tools.
The Innocence Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides legal support to wrongly convicted felons, moved to the University of Minnesota Law School earlier this month.
BY MIGUEL OCTAVIO moctavio@mndaily.com
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Nonprofit focusing on wrongful convictions moves to Law School
BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com
Some students say lease clauses make it hard to find subleasers, prompting financial worries.
expand their reach to include North and South Dakota. Now located in second floor offices in Mondale Hall, Jones said the move will give the organization access to resources it would not have had otherwise. “In addition to our geographic growth, we are looking for ways we can live our mission more fully, not only by representing clients in cases of actual innocence and working to improve the justice system through advocacy and education,” Jones said. “But we’re
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Both those from the University and the Innocence Project of Minnesota said they hope the move will encourage greater student involvement, support growth of the nonprofit and offer access to experts and professionals who could be helpful in cases. According to Executive Director of the Innocence Project of Minnesota Sara Jones, the nonprofit made the move because of its growth. Previously housed in Hamline University, the Innocence Project received a grant last year to hire a staff attorney and
U students race for subleasers as summer nears
University of Minnesota sophomore Anna Sibley plans to return home to Wisconsin after the semester ends. But first, she must find someone to take over her lease for the summer. Sibley is one of a number of students at risk of financial consequences if they don’t find a subleaser as summer approaches. With competitive prices and some locations more convenient than others, the chances of finding one may be slim. “I’m working at a summer camp over the summer. I’ve been at the summer camp for 14 years,” Sibley said. “It’s a really, really important job for me, so I have to go home.” To better her chances of finding a match, Sibley, who lives at The Marshall apartments, has already dropped her offer by $200. Sibley also said dozens of potential subleasers declined her offer because her contract ends early August. “Almost all of them [said] their internships end on Aug. 16 or 17,” Sibley said. “I wish [The Marshall] would extend that by a week because I wouldn’t be in this situation at all.” Sibley said she’s frustrated her apartment requires a fee to transfer her lease to someone else. Her living situation only adds
OUTREACH
The Innocence Project moved to accommodate growth and aims for better student access.
HOUSING
AGRICULTURE
As farm income declines, optimism grows at the University of Minnesota While farm income hits a new low, the University is teaching the state’s farmers to adapt. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com
Keith Yorek grew up on a dairy farm near Little Falls, Minnesota. In 2006, his parents had a plan: they would rent a barn down the road and put Yorek and his three siblings in charge of a herd of 35 cows. He was 10 years old at the time; his oldest brother was just 15. “It was our responsibility to take care of them cows and look after them and feed them and milk them morning and night before and after school,” said Yorek, a graduate student in the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The median income of Minnesota farms declined by 8 percent from 2017 to
2018, according to a study by University Extension, resulting in the lowest income in the 23 years the study has been conducted when adjusted for inflation. Experts blame lower prices, international trade issues and lower yields, among other concerns. Yorek’s upbringing instilled in him a love of cows. Now, he wants to be a veterinarian and travel around to small family farms treating livestock. “That would be my dream. We’ll see if it happens,” Yorek said. “A lot of these herds are going out of business.” Dairy farmers’ median income declined by 65 percent last year, and Extension saw a 15 percent drop in dairy farms’ participation in the study as some herds were sold off. University educators work with farmers in the field to improve efficiency and with students on campus to send the next u See FARMS Page 3
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Bovine blood lab technician Keith Yorek poses for a portrait at the Dairy Cattle Teaching Research Center on the St. Paul campus on Thursday, April 4. Yorek is a grad student at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
VOLUME 119 ISSUE 53
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MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
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Monday, April 15, 2019 Vol. 119 No. 53
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THIS DAY IN HISTORY
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1947 Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American player in Major League Baseball. He started his MLB career with the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 28.
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Scooters return to Minneapolis, U The scooters were approved for a second pilot and will return in March. BY ERIN WILSON ewilson@mndaily.com
Electric scooters will likely soon return to Minneapolis following recent approval of a second pilot program with a focus on accessibility. The Minneapolis City Council approved the program, which would go through March 2020, last month. While city and University officials said they’ve had success with the scooters, they first need to solidify details of the scooters’ return over the next few weeks. Josh Johnson, the city’s advanced mobility manager, said the scooters were used to travel to work and dining and entertainment destinations, not just for fun. “[We] very quickly realized that … they were a meaningful transportation option for many people,” Johnson said. City data collected from the 2018 pilot program showed over 70,000 people rode scooters, traversing over 90 percent of Minneapolis’ streets and trails. There were fewer than 100
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Kevin Walen, left, and Kevin Deitz lock up their Lime scooters before they vote at the First Congregational Church in Marcy-Holmes on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
formal complaints made to the city. The city will bring back the scooters as soon as possible, ideally before Minneapolis students are out of school, Johnson said. He said safety and equity are at the forefront of this year’s pilot program. “[The scooters] definitely did not serve a wide breadth of the city and definitely did not exist in any kind of scale, in particular, in our low income, non-white majority neighborhoods,”
Johnson said. In addition to increasing the number of scooters allowed on the streets from 600 to 2,000 and putting them in more neighborhoods, the city is looking to increase accessibility by implementing low-income pricing and options for individuals without smartphones or credit cards, Johnson said. Ward 3 City Council member Steve Fletcher said the most common feedback he received was a need for
Researchers find promise in antibiotic resistance
more scooters. “What people found was that … unless you were right downtown at certain times of day, there weren’t enough of them to be able to count on [using them],” Fletcher said. Steve Sanders, alternative transportation manager for University Parking and Transportation Services, said PTS hopes to bring the scooters back before the spring semester ends. “We liked it a lot, because it was was so popular for one
Professional, grad students ask for more SSF consideration COGS and PSG requested to add a question to the SSF application. BY KAIT ECKER kecker@mndaily.com
ABBI ADAMSKI, DAILY
UMN researchers found some bacteria are not resistant to antibiotics. BY KATIE SALAI ksalai@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota researchers found promising discoveries for the future of antibiotics in the ethanol industry. Research released April 2 by the University’s Department of Animal Science found that an antibiotic commonly used in ethanol production does not seem to cause antibiotic resistance. Loss of production due to bacterial contamination has always been an issue for ethanol facilities. However, antibiotics may help if resistance doesn’t block their effectiveness. The study tested two bacteria strains and found neither acquired resistance to the antibiotic virginiamycin after 69 days of exposure, but both strains did acquire resistance to penicillin after 18 days. This is the first study to observe long-term resistance of common industry bacteria in mimicked conditions of an ethanol production facility. “It’s good news for the
ethanol industry in being able to use that particular antibiotic and know that they’re not contributing to antibiotic resistance,” said Gerald Shurson, researcher and professor in the University’s Department of Animal Science. Sensitivity regarding the use of antibiotics in ethanol and other industries has led some companies to use alternatives, but they may be less effective. “The antibiotic has been designed specifically to inhibit the growth or to target the bacteria,” said Pedro Urriola, research assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science. “The alternatives are usually plant extracts or other products that were not specifically targeted for that purpose.” In international markets, antibiotic awareness in ethanol is also heightened and may cause trade barriers if not addressed properly. “They may have different terminology … if they’re looking for antibiotic-free, does it test below a certain level, is it never added in,” said Kevin Herrick, technical services director of POET Nutrition, the largest ethanol and corn co-product producer in the U.S. “It just adds a little bit
more discussion to the point as far as different ways that we can treat [it].” Shurson said the discussion of antibiotics is more complicated than people think because of their varying uses. He said the study is only one example. “What this study does is it says, ‘Well, yes, they are being used, but this particular antibiotic is safe,’” said Shurson. “So that gives the ethanol industry an argument, I suppose, to be able to continue to use those prudently.” Their research also shows benefits for the livestock industry that uses ethanol coproduct as feedstock, such as distiller’s dried grains with solubles, or DDGS. Some in the industry hesitate to use DDGS due to fears of antibiotic presence and misleading labels. Auditors ensure industries comply with label claims of “antibiotic-free” on packaging, a concern caused by uncertainty of concentration levels. “It’s known that antibiotics are used to make [DDGS], and there is the possibility, although very low, that they may be present,” Shurson said. “So it does influence demand. It does influence market penetration.”
thing … and I’m sure over time … the novelty will wear off,” Sanders said. “But now, there’s lots of people who haven’t tried them … and I think they … provide a legitimate transportation option for people.” While 80 percent of users reported satisfaction with the scooters, according to the city’s data, not everyone is thrilled about their return. University senior Alex Schatz said he wants to see more enforcement of traffic laws on the scooters. “They were … parked all over the place, like in the middle of sidewalks or on the bridge where you had to like climb around them to actually continue walking on the bridge,” Schatz said. “And the people driving them were ... going in between pedestrians or on the road violating traffic laws — just chaos all over the place.” Fletcher said these kinds of issues are an expected part of the city’s adjustment to the new transportation. “There were, as you would expect, I think some growing pains, and there were some ... people not knowing how they were supposed to use them,” Fletcher said. “And I think once people really started understanding, ‘OK, these work the way bikes work,’ ... it’s sort of making a lot more sense.”
In an effort to improve Student Services Fee recipients’ inclusion of professional and graduate students, student governments have requested a question be added to the SSF application. PSG and the Council of Graduate Students submitted the request to the Office of Student Affairs, asking that a question be added to the application to ensure graduate and professional students are considered in the design of these services for review on Tuesday, said COGS speaker Scott Petty. Often, graduate and professional students are not aware University services exist or that they serve them as well as undergraduate students, said Alanna Pawlowski, the president of the Professional Student Government. The question is intended to make SSF applicants like Boynton Health, Student Legal Service, the Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education and Student Unions and Activities think about graduate and professional students and how they’re being served, Petty said. “This is coming from a place of wanting to make sure that the needs of students are met, that the needs of professional students and the needs of graduate students are met,” Pawlowski said. Petty and Pawlowski said they know graduate and professional students have different needs than undergraduate students. “If you reach out successfully, but then you don’t have the services that match the needs, then it’s all for naught,” Pawlowski said. In the feedback the SSF committee gave to the administrative units this year,
“If you reach out successfully, but then you don’t have the services that match the needs, then it’s all for naught.” ALANNA PAWLOWSKI PSG president
the committee recommended increased outreach and education to the Aurora Center, SUA, the Student Conflict Resolution Center and University Recreation and Wellness. Adura Lasode, chair of the committee, said the question would be beneficial if added to the application, but it would also create the need for additional questions about every other subgroup on campus. “I really believe that information is power,” Lasode said. “And the more you hear about something, the more you think about it. So I think that is a first step is ensuring the information is going into the channels that reach the students.” While undergraduate students hear of these services in orientation or in large lecture courses, graduate and professional students don’t go through those same types of experiences, said Tommy Keller, the incoming president of COGS. However, Pawlowski said it shouldn’t be up to the different schools and departments to do all of the outreach. If the request for an additional question on the SSF application is denied, Petty said he will still be pursuing further action on the issue. “Something to keep in mind where our ask, and the work around this, is coming from, is that graduate and professional students do make up a sizeable portion of the total student body — about one-third,” Pawlowski said.
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3
Monday, April 15, 2019
Loss
JACK RODGERS, DAILY
Sydney Cashman poses for a portrait outside Sanford Hall on Friday, April 12. Cashman lived at Sanford during the 2017-2018 school year and learned about her grandfather’s death one morning when he didn’t make it into work at the family ice cream shop, Licks Unlimited. Cashman and her younger brother now co-manage Licks Unlimited and hope to continue on their grandfather’s legacy.
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Downing was at his mother’s bedside when she died. “It was very, very traumatic,” Downing said. “The most traumatic thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Weaving grief with college life
University alumna Michaela* was in her second year of her microbiology, immunology and cancer biology program when her father died. Michaela asked not use her real name in this story because she didn’t want others to think she is using her father’s death as an excuse for her hardships — a fear many who have lost someone say they face, Karim said. “You definitely feel like something has been taken away from you, and like it’s not fair,” Michaela said. “You kind of feel mad at the world. Honestly, I felt that for a really long time.” Both Michaela and Downing have participated in the University’s Student Counseling Services’ grief groups, which consist of four to eight students who meet weekly with facilitators to talk about their experiences as grieving college students. Many college-aged students have not experienced a traumatic loss, so the group gives those who have a space to relate to one another, said Sarra BeckhamChasnoff, a senior supervising psychologist at SCS and
a grief group facilitator. A common theme she has seen in the more than 14 years facilitating University grief groups is many students still have class deadlines to meet, even if they are coping with loss. SCS added an additional grief group session this semester and has had a waitlist to get into the group for many semesters, BeckhamChasnoff said. She said older adults who lose a loved one often see flexibility in the workplace and are able to take days off or reduce their workload. “Students who are in college often still have deadlines that need to be met,” Beckham-Chasnoff said. “They need to be successful by the end of a semester.” Second-year University student Sydney Cashman’s grandfather, Loran, died around this time last year. She has fond memories of helping him run his ice cream shop, which she said made the loss much more real to her. Cashman said she isolated herself from her peers after her grandpa’s death because she thought no one else would understand.
“At first, I didn’t even know how to bring it up without being weird or changing the complete mood of the conversation,” she said. “You just never really know how people respond to that kind stuff. … People don’t know what to say.” Immediately after her grandpa’s death, Cashman went home to Maple Grove, Minnesota, to be with her family. She missed about a week of classes, and when she came back found she had a lot of work to make up with little motivation to do so. She said some of her professors were sympathetic and told her to take as much time as she needed to complete the work she missed, but others were not as understanding. Students can miss class and assignments to take time to grieve the loss of a loved one immediately after their death, according to University policy. They must work with their professors to decide when makeup work will be due, and the professor is not required to make accommodations if the makeup work is unreasonable, even if the
student has a legitimate reason. The University’s student bereavement policy is less defined than its policy for faculty, staff and administrative employees. Faculty members can receive up to three days paid leave, depending on the relationship lost. Bereavement policies are often different for university employees and students. In many cases, the faculty policy is well-defined, which can be indicative of a university’s priorities, said Heather Servaty-Seib, a Purdue University professor who researches college student bereavement policy and grief and loss. Cashman is a member of Chi Alpha, a Christian community at the University. The group’s support helped her cope with her grandfather’s death, she said. The University does not give students a specific amount of time off from school because everyone’s loss is unique due to culture, location and more, Jennifer Reckner, the University’s Office of Undergraduate Education’s chief of staff, said in an email. At Purdue University,
Farms
for agricultural industries in 2017. “I am not worried about it at all,” she said. “This just happens to be the bottom of the trough.” Homann is the swine vice president of the University’s Production Animal Medicine Club. She holds meetings where they discuss case studies and practice what they will do in the field. “I don’t think we talked about health at all,” she said of a recent meeting. “It was about farming and how to help your farmers and how to be this wealth of knowledge on a bunch of things that vet school doesn’t teach us directly.” Joleen Hadrich, associate professor and Extension economist, currently advises the next generation of farmers. She knows they will be going back to help their family farms deal with the changing realities of the agriculture industry. She always keeps their families in mind. “Our farmers are resilient and they are nimble,” Hadrich said. “They’re figuring out ways to manage input costs so that they can keep more money as profit.” Using historical data, Hadrich analyzes the effects of past decisions to
better prepare farmers for the future of their changing industry. She said the University faculty’s expertise “does not exist anyplace else in the country.” “I think the research that will be coming out of the U over the next few years will be cutting edge,” Hadrich said. “We are creating the resource space to continue to have agriculture to be a big economic driver in the state.” Nathan Hulinsky, an Extension educator focusing on business management, travels across Minnesota teaching groups of farmers about everything from marketing to risk management strategies. His work advises farmers how to get the best price for their product, increasing profitability for farms statewide. He teaches classes about farm transition, helping them pass their business to the next generation and remain operational. “We need these farms to continue to have Minnesota be a productive and efficient state,” Hulinsky said. “Everybody eats, so everybody need food. And where’s our food come from? The farmers. So keeping these farms in business is very important to me.”
Bonding
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generation back to the barn with new lessons. “It’s a really challenging farm economy right now, and it’s widespread,” said Dale Nordquist, associate director of the University’s Center for Farm Financial Management. “All the major typical Minnesota commodity product[s] … are suffering from low prices.” The University’s veterinary medicine curriculum is diversifying, teaching Yorek and other students how to treat many different animals. Yorek said they emphasize consultation to help farmers see broader problems within herds. Graduate student Taylor Homann’s passion for pigs inspired her to be a vet. She is going back to the veterinary clinic in her hometown of Pipestone, Minnesota after finishing school. “Pig farming drives my hometown’s economy,” she said. “As a vet, you can be this expert and source of knowledge to help them.” The median income for Minnesota pork producers declined 77 percent in 2018. Despite the decline, Homann is not fazed. Pork was at the top of the charts
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of the requests and that why we felt like HEAPR and asset preservation is really needed. That’s why we stuck with the governor’s recommendation,” Lee said. Bonding bills are traditionally produced in evennumbered years while oddnumbered years put together the state’s biennial budget. But past odd-year sessions have seen smaller bonding bills pass. “I do not dispute [the state’s] needs, and pretty much all these expenditures; I don’t quiver with their legitimacies, it’s just the size of the bill,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City. “The House Republican caucus is not going to support a bill of that size.” Bonding bills, unlike standard bills, need a supermajority to pass. This year, the bill would need to gather 81 votes in the House, meaning the Democratic caucus would need six Republican votes to pass the omnibus bill.
Subleasers
Final “stage” of grief? Learning to live with it
For many college students, grief and loss is not something that ends in a few days, as some grieve the loss of a loved one for years. Some experts argue it never ends. Downing, who will be studying microbiology at Berkeley in the fall, said after processing his mother’s death, he is proud of his grief. “I feel like I have some wisdom that other people don’t, and I’m able to kind of use that to help other people, I hope,” he said. Initially after his mom died, Downing said he felt like he had to have perfect grades and be better than everyone else to make his mom proud. He now knows this is not true. “Anyone who loves you just wants you to be happy,” he said. Michaela now lives in Seattle, Washington and works at a cancer research center. She said she always wanted to study microbiology, but after her father died
“They’re not going to get six Republicans to support that bill,” Urdahl said. “I would look more kindly on a smaller bill, heavy on infrastructure.” But Lee said House Democrats are working to secure the votes. “I don’t know how we will get there, but $1.5 billion is something we as the DFL caucus believe in having to really invest in public infrastructure, and that’s a value that we have for both red and blue districts across the state of Minnesota,” Lee said. Some Republican senators are uncertain about passing a bonding bill this session. The omnibus bill has no Senate companion, and the Senate Capital Investment Committee has not met yet this year. “I have not worked on a bonding bill; I’m not prepared at this point to do a bonding bill,” Senate Capital Investment Committee Chair Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, said. “That’s where we sit in the Senate at this point.” The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means
from stage IV lung cancer, Michaela gained fervor to study cancer treatments so no one else would go through what she experienced. The support of her loved ones helped her make it through her most trying times. “A lot of the time I didn’t even know what I needed from people, but they understood that and they were okay with that. … They were there,” Michaela said. Cashman is studying business and marketing education and remains active in Chi Alpha. She said being a short drive away from her family and the comfort she felt around her fellow members of Chi Alpha helped her cope with her grandfather’s death. Even though death and grief is uncomfortable to talk about, Downing said he thinks people just need to listen to those who are hurting. “People don’t know what to say, [and] I don’t think you can learn what to say,” he said. “That’s what I would tell people: put your listening ears on. Sit there and be there for them.” If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health problems, consult the following resources: • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 • U of M Crisis Line: 612-301-4673 • Boynton Mental Health Clinic: 612-624-1444 If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT BY THE NUMBERS
$117 million ALLOCATED FOR HEAPR FUNDING
$28 million ALLOCATED FOR THE
INSTITUTE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT BUILDING
$4.3 million ALLOCATED FOR THE RENOVATION OF A.B. ANDERSON HALL
$1.5 billion HOUSE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE OMNIBUS BONDING BILL
$1.27 billion GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDED BONDING BILL
SOURCE: MNDAILY REPORTING
Committee and is expected to be decided upon near the end of session on May 20. “Bonding bills have become part of the chess game that ends a session,” Urdahl said. “I would not be surprised if that is the case this year.”
Paratransit Helps U Around Campus!
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to her already overwhelming workload from classes and her job, she said. Senior Paradis Vandeputte may have to pay rent for two different locations this summer if she doesn’t find a subleaser for her current apartment. Vandeputte said interested inquirers have randomly dropped communication with her throughout the past four weeks. Sometimes they cut off communication upon learning she lives with male roommates and her lease ends early August, even though she’s made those details explicit on her online posts. “It’s kind of been stressful when either ... I go a day without any new messages or people don’t respond,” Vandeputte said. Her apartment’s policy would hold Vandeputte liable for her lease if an inquirer fails to pay the first month’s rent of the summer, adding to another list of concerns. “I could move out, move into my new place, and then this person just doesn’t show up to pick up their keys. ... I would still be liable for paying,” Vandeputte said. Graduate student Neha Sethi also feels the stress of finding a subleaser. Like Vandeputte, Sethi may have to pay rent for two places simultaneously for part of the summer. Sethi said she’s
the bereavement policy is enforced by the Office of the Dean of Students. Since a University entity notifies professors about a student’s excused absence, faculty take it more seriously, Servaty-Seib said. “Coming back [to school] just felt like I had so much to do and not enough motivation or anything to do it, because that just wasn’t on my mind at the time,” Cashman said.
?
WHAT IS PARATRANSIT?
It is a free van service to campus buildings for persons with short or long-term physical disabilities
WHEN DOES IT RUN?
- Year-round Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m - Except official U holidays MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
worried about any excess fees or other policies her apartment requires when transferring her lease. Vaibhav Sharma, another graduate student, said while he’s struggled to find subleasers because his lease period ends in early August, he’s still positive he’ll find one. “It’s just a matter of finding the person who’s genuinely interested,” Sharma said. “I am optimistic, but I guess I just don’t like the amount of effort and time this is taking.” Melanie Isaacs, a University senior, was unable to find a subleaser for her room last summer, forcing her to stay in a home where she said she had a tense relationship with
“I could move out, move into my new place, and then this person just doesn’t show up to pick up their keys. ... I would still be liable for paying.”
WHERE DOES IT GO?
To and from more than 200 locations on the Twin Cities campus
HOW DO I SCHEDULE IT?
Rides can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance by phone: 612-624-8338 OR online at: z.umn.edu/paratransit
PARADIS VANDEPUTTE University senior
her roommates. “It really took a toll on my mental health,” Isaacs said. “I just never wanted to be home.”
612-626-PARK (7275) | pts@umn.edu | pts.umn.edu
4
Sports
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
FOOTBALL
Spring game shows off the new roster The game featured competition at key positions and gave time to new players. BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com
Next season’s Gophers football team was on display in the spring game at Athlete’s Village’s indoor practice facility Saturday. The game, which was moved indoors and not open to the public because of space restrictions, was played by dividing the Gophers roster into two teams — a maroon team and gold team — and then playing four 15 minute quarters without hitting on kickoffs and punts. The maroon, led by quarterback Zack Annexstad and the two spring game MVPs, receiver Rashod Bateman and linebacker Thomas Rush, took a 38-20 victory after leading 28-7 at halftime. “They treated it like a game day, and prepared like that,” said head coach P.J. Fleck. “I thought we had a tremendous spring. We did exactly what we said we wanted to do.” The spring game is an opportunity to see inexperienced, young players take the field in real game situations. When Fleck was asked about which new players had a good game, the first name he said was Rush. Rush had a 71-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the first half. He recored one sack
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Sophomore Thomas Rush intercepts the ball for a touchdown on Saturday, April 13 at the football facility in Athlete’s Village. The Gopher football team participated in their annual spring football game.
and five tackles last season. The linebacker position will need a new starter this season after former linebacker and NFL Draft hopeful Blake Cashman graduated. “[Rush] had some sweet tackles. He had the pick-six. I mean he’s stepped up big time,” defensive end Carter Coughlin said. “He’s had a great spring ball this far, but it shows what he’s going to be able to do for us this year.” Maroon started scoring
in the game with a 31-yard touchdown reception to junior tight end Bryce Witham. Then, 400-pound offensive lineman Daniel Faalele took a handoff from Annexstad and ran for a 6-yard touchdown. “When the defense got back to the sideline, I told them, ‘there was nothing you could do back there,’” said gold team receiver Tyler Johnson. “I told them, ‘Just get back in there. Keep playing football.’”
TRACK AND FIELD
T h e G ol d t e a m , l e d by quarterback Tanner Morgan and coached by defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, swung back with a 12-yard touchdown reception from sophomore receiver Chris Autman-Bell to make the score 14-7. Then maroon’s running back Mohamed Ibrahim ran for a 2-yard touchdown and Rush returned an interception 71 yards for a score of 28-7 to end the half. Gold out-scored Maroon
13-10 in the second half with two touchdown catches from red shirt freshman tight end Brevyn SpannFord. But it wasn’t enough, as the Maroon team won 38-20. Morgan and Annexstad, the two starting quarterbacks on Saturday, were the two starting quarterbacks in the 2018 season. Annexstad started out as the starter last year before suffering and injury during a game at Nebraska.
Morgan started all the games after that. He was the quarterback when Minnesota beat Wisconsin and when the team beat Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl. It is still unknown who Fleck will pick to start when the season starts on August 29 against South Dakota State. “I thought they completed balls they needed to complete. I thought they ran the offense very effectively,” Fleck said. “They completed a lot of balls down the field, which I wanted to see. Our down the field pass game has to be more efficient.” Antoine Winfield Jr., the Gophers’ star safety, was back on the field running at full speed after suffering a leg injury and having surgery in the fall. Tight end/ wildcat quarterback Seth Green, who had eight rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns last season, was also in a jersey and street clothes on the sidelines. Redshirt junior running back Rodney Smith, who suffered a season-ending injury last season, had pads on, but didn’t play. Running back Shannon Brooks, who also suffered a season-ending injury last season, was watching without pads on the sidelines. “We’re taking our time with both of them,” Fleck said. “We’re deep there, but you can’t be deep enough at running back. And they’re all going to get plenty of carries. We’re going to need them all.”
SOFTBALL
Gophers sweep Michigan State, add more conference victories Minnesota scored 16 runs and had 16 extra base hits in the two games. BY JULIANNA LANDIS jlandis@mndaily.com
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Redshirt freshman Rachel Schow clears a hurdle on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Field House. The Gophers competed against several other colleges at the Jack Johnson Classic Track Meet.
U has to wait to perform and debut new stadium Minnesota’s home track opening was canceled because of the bad weather. BY BABATUNDE JINADU bjinadu@mndaily.com
The Minnesota track and field team’s home opener was canceled on Saturday due to inclement weather. The weather postponed what was to be Minnesota’s first outdoor home meet in a decade. The team was without a stadium before the University of Minnesota Track and Field Stadium opened in September 2018. “I blame myself for getting my hopes up, knowing the Minnesota weather. It was definitely going to be a special thing, to have a first home meet in over a decade, and to be able to be a part of that historic moment,” said senior Temi Ogunrinde. “It sucks that the weather kind of prohibited that from happening, but obviously, safety [comes] first; there was no way we could’ve competed in this weather.” On the bright side, the canceled meet allowed the team to reflect on their successes in the season thus far. “We’ve learned a lot
about each other [so far]. The coaches learned a lot, the student-athletes learned a lot; [we’re] trying to learn how to compete, how to travel and how to work with each other,” program director Matt Bingle said. “As we’ve moved outdoors, things have been really good. … I feel like the culture is coming, performances are coming and we’re really moving in the right direction at the right time. We’re having a lot of fun as one team, so that’s really exciting.” The Gophers had a steady season, competing in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan before the women’s team placed seventh and the men’s team placed ninth at the Big Ten Indoor Championships meet. Then, at the NCAA Indoor Championships, t h ro w e r s K i l e y S a b i n , Jonathan Tharaldsen, Kieran McKeag and distance runner Obsa Ali picked up Second Team All-America honors. The team followed up their indoor season with impressive showings at outdoor meets in Miami, Stanford and Arizona. “It’s the thick of the
season; we’ve been gone every weekend, and now with the meet canceled we’ll finally have a weekend off to relax. I’ll be doing that [and] catching up on a lot of homework,” Ogunrinde said. “I definitely was a little bit disappointed; it was very exciting to get a season opener on a home track and I was excited to watch our team compete together. But I know that we have a couple of meets coming up,” said team captain Rachel Schow. The team ended the week strong with practices and weight-lifting sessions before getting the weekend off to prepare for their next meet at Duke on April 19. “I definitely was bummed; we finally have this outdoor track that we can use and, of course, Minnesota gets a blizzard. I know that people were really looking forward to being able to compete on our own home turf finally,” Sabin said. “But I know that we got in another hard week of training, everyone got better this week and we have two more meets coming up later. As much as it sucks to not be able to compete this weekend, we got better this week.”
A young pitching staff for Michigan State and multiple schedule changes worked in Minnesota’s favor in Sunday’s doubleheader at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Gophers won the first game 7-1 and the second game 9-5 in the shortened series. Minnesota technically earned the series sweep in two games because the third game was canceled due to scheduling complications, due to inclement weather last week. “We had 16 extra base hits today, and that’s a lot of extra base hits,” head coach Jamie Trachsel said. “It was collective throughout our entire lineup, and that’s a great contribution from your lineup.” The first game went in favor of Michigan State for a brief period in the first inning, but it was all Minnesota after that. Minnesota players MaKenna Partain and Maddie Houlihan each had two RBIs in the game. Beyond that, extra-base hits were a theme in the early game with Partain hitting two doubles and a triple. There were nine total extra-base hits for the Gophers in the 7-1 rout. Minnesota’s star pitcher, Amber Fiser, pitched all seven innings of the game and allowed five hits and one run through those innings. She threw 134 pitches in the game and recorded 13 strikeouts in the victory. Fiser notched an impressive individual record against the first batter she faced in the game. With the first out of the first inning, Fiser recorded her 500th career strikeout. The 13 in the game tied her career high in a single game as well. “I don’t always think about what number I’m at; I never honestly know what strikeout number I’m at during a game,” Fiser said. “My goal is just to go out there and throw out the batters or put the ball in play and have
JACK RODGERS, DAILY
ABOVE: Amber Fiser throws a pitch at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on Sunday, April 14. BELOW: Macy Gill slides into third base at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on Sunday, April 14. The Gophers beat Michigan State two games to none as part of their double header.
confidence in the defense behind me.” In the second game, senior pitcher Sydney Smith got the nod in the circle to start and pitched the first 3 2/3 innings. She gave up five runs to the Spartans and struck out four batters. Fiser came back in after some rest and collected seven more strikeouts in the last 3 1/3 innings to collect her second win of the day. This game wasn’t as decisive as the first one. The score went back and forth as Michigan State took a 2-0 lead early, to which Minnesota responded with a three-run second inning. In the fourth, both the Gophers and Spartans scored three runs apiece. This time the offense came from freshman Emma Burns, who led the team in RBIs. She had four while Partain and freshman Natalie DenHartog had two RBIs each. Burns, Partain and senior Allie Arneson
“My goal is just to go out there and throw out the batters or put the ball in play and have confidence in the defense behind me.” AMBER FISER Gophers pitcher
had home runs in the game to power the Gophers to victory. With the series sweep, the Gophers have one loss in Big Ten play so far. They go on to play Wisconsin in a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday. “Each day is a new opportunity,” Trachsel said. “Each opponent is a little bit different ... we’re just trying to take care of Minnesota softball and the things that we can control in every single area.”
5
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
FITNESS
Finding a twerk-life balance
Twerk-style fitness classes strive to empower women, boost body positivity. BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com
After navigating their way through the winding hallways of the A-Mill Artist Lofts on Saturday, around 60 women stuffed their coats in cubbies and found their spots on the dance studio floor, making small talk before their twerk class began. Yes, you read that right. Donning a tank top with the slogan “Twerkout and Chill,” Simone Sobers, leader of Saturday’s twerking class, is not your average fitness instructor. Creator of “The Boss Chick Dance Workout,” the Miami native has created what can only be described as a twerking empire, organizing classes in places from Seattle to Istanbul. Centered around body positivity, Sobers’ fitness c l a s s e s ( a f f e c t i o n a tely called “Twerkshops”) offer training to twerking beginners while also providing a vigorous workout. “I know I wanted [the class] to be an empowering space for women to come together [and] do an alternative form of cardio that wasn’t the treadmill or anything normal that you’d find in a gym,” Sobers said. “A space where they’d feel safe regardless of what they did for a living, where they were from, what their body type [was and] where all women can have fun in a new sexy, but also challenging, way.” Blasting music by Cardi B and Beyoncé, Sobers taught the class moves like “the earthquake,” the “dirty dog” and the “booty bounce.” (“Think basketball,” she said.) Although many of the dancers admitted this was their first time doing a twerk-style fitness class,
Simone Sobers shows the class the correct form for twerking on Saturday, April 13 at the A-Mill Artist Loft in Minneapolis.
the room was filled with supportive hoots and whistles as women busted out their new moves across the studio floor. “It doesn’t feel like a workout,” said participant Cherrelle Green-Rivers. “I want to up my twerk game while I’m getting older and [this is] the best kind of working out — the accidental kind.” Sarah Justad, a fitness instructor at Open Minds Fusion Studio in Minneapolis, invited Sobers to come teach two classes this weekend; she thinks Minneapolis can benefit from this kind of fitness routine. Justad started teaching her own twerking class, “Make
it Clap,” last summer. “With most fitness classes, you see a bunch of toned, fit women doing step and pilates and wearing yoga pants — you don’t see any cellulite,” Justad said. “With twerk though, especially with the videos that The Boss Chick will post on Instagram, you’ve got women of all different shapes and that’s great.” Justad believes embracing your flaws can make you feel more confident and sexy. “You leave with this sense of self-confidence [and] more of an appreciation of the body and how it can move or what it’s capable of,” Sobers said. “We do a lot of twerking but there’s
a lot of power behind the inbetween steps that we do [too].” Sobers’ twerk classes are all-female. She believes this atmosphere allows women to embrace their body without feeling intimidated by the male gaze. “We don’t see men as evil or perverted, but in a class where we are doing movement in an area that is so sensitive to us and moving our bodies in a way that is very vulnerable, [it’s] very personal,” she said. Although reactions to her twerkout have been overwhelmingly positive, Sobers said she gets comments about the class being sexually provocative
and not empowering for women. “I think that’s tied to a lack of understanding of what we’re doing,” she said. “Something a lot of people don’t know is that twerking is literally pulled right out of African dance and has nothing to do with sex — it’s something [Americans] appropriated from African culture and … gave that sexual connotation.” Justad is planning to become certified by Sobers so she can bring The Boss Chick Dance Workout to the Twin Cities. “I’m so excited for the booty brigade,” she said. “I want twerk to be the next yoga.”
JASMIN KEMP, DAILY
“I wanted [the class] to be an empowering space for women to come together [and] do an alternative form of cardio ... where all women can have fun in a new sexy, but also challenging, way” SIMONE SOBERS “The Boss Chick Dance Workout” creator
STREET STYLE
ANDREW KOSIER, DAILY
Katie Loop, Veronica Min, Lea Davidson and Nico Moore pose for portraits at the Minneapolis Institute of Art on Saturday, April 13.
Street style: Art isn’t the only thing blooming at Mia
Attendees of Mia’s annual “Art in Bloom” pulled out great spring looks. BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndailiy.com
off, paired with over 160 floral arrangements throughout the museum. This, coupled with the fashion, made for a beautiful scene at Mia. A&E scouted out some of the best looks of the weekend.
The brief taste of spring in Minneapolis had everyone showing off their favorite spring looks before digging out their winter jackets again. Still, some weren’t ready to give the florals up so soon. The Minneapolis Institute of Art’s annual “Art in Bloom,” which ran this weekend, gave everyone the chance to proudly wear spring outfits in the face of those few inches of snow on the ground. The art had its own spring accessories to show
Katie Loop What they wore: Skirt thrifted from Savers, boots and cardigan thrifted, shirt from Amazon How could that long, maroon skirt not catch your eye? A thrifted gem from Savers, Loop pulled the look together with a graphic tee that gives kids great economic advice: “Sell your soul!” Her dark blue hair compliments the maroon of the skirt and elicits the big question — “are you an alien?” — from kids. Her answer? “I always say yes.”
Veronica Min What they wore: Jacket from a shop in Rochester, dress from Galleria, hat handmade by Min It’s safe to say that Veronica Min was the style icon of Mia’s “Art in Bloom” this year. Her hat, adorned with flowers, was handmade by Min herself; it matched her silk jacket perfectly. The deep pinks, blues and purples matched some of the floral arrangements at the event, too. Lea Davidson What they wore: Jumpsuit made for her in Tanzania, denim jacket from Everyday People Clothing Exchange The bright pattern of Davidson’s jumpsuit is exactly the kind of color we need for spring. It’s fun, unique and looked beautiful next
to some flowers. The denim jacket served as a stylish reminder that there was, in fact, still some snow on the ground. This didn’t stop Davidson from wearing her favorite spring piece — some cropped pants. Nico Moore What they wore: Glasses from Amazon, jacket and pants from Savers, sweater from Earthbound Trading Company Moore says his favorite stand-out piece he owns is definitely the glasses he wore. They are the cherry on top of this wonderful monochromatic look. His jacket is personalized with a patch he created that combines an “M” and a heart to symbolize the phrase “Moore Love.” The small details are everything.
6 MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
Editorials & Opinions
COLUMN
Don’t share every photo of your kids Sharing all of your children’s photos online exposes them to unnecessary risks.
I
magine you were born in 1998. Unlike our 1998, in this imaginary one, Facebook and all the other internet connectivity norms UMA VENKATA existed. columnist Your parents adored their healthy, happy baby and so did their friends and family. I could watch you and your siblings grow, month to month, through your parents’ Facebook posts. Now imagine it’s the year 2019, and you’re 21 years old. You are in charge of your own image — every single image of you that exists. You have the wherewithal to understand and digest the implications of those images. One day you Google yourself, do a bit of self-background checking and scroll through your parents’ Facebook photo albums — finding it’s packed with two decades of you, available to virtually anyone. And I, whoever I am, could watch you and your siblings grow, month to month, through your parents’ Facebook posts. You’ve probably known for most of your life your relatives’ attitudes toward
putting your photos on the internet. Your one-month-old smile, soccer games, graduation, the permission to post these things is implicit unless it is directly solicited. Which I think we can all agree it’s usually the former. There are people who put photos of myself on the internet without my knowledge or consent. Those people tend to be close to me, and they care about me. Of course, I will still always love them too. For those reasons, it’s difficult to ask them, who only mean you well, to change something so fundamental in the way they express their affection. But what if you really don’t want your photos online? In the end, you may want to be in control of the highly personal information about yourself that is disseminated. This is inconvenient but valid. Imagine how much more it will be for children younger than us: who really were born into the age of Facebook, whose first presence was the ultrasound, and, upon reaching some lucid age, realize their true privacy has virtually never existed. Their entire lives can be examined, scrutinized and data-mined. Those images and accompanying information are available for doxxing or third-party capital gain — which has been pedophilia for some and will be pedophilia again for someone else. It is easier to case and blackmail and, God forbid, kidnap. The target audience for this piece is college students in 2019, who largely do not have children but are statistically past the halfway point between being born and bearing children of their own. By the time the classes of 2019 through 2022 have their own children, cultural norms
But what if you really don’t want your photos online? In the end, you may want to be in control of the highly personal information about yourself that is disseminated. may have shifted away from sharing photos of children into the public sphere. But sharenting, as Google apparently recognizes the word, is still very common. Children today are already getting upset or scared over what personal information of their is publicly shared. Sharenting often comes from a good place, but it can end up somewhere bad. You can express love by showing it off, or you can express love by honoring intimacy. Love is complicated, but it is also patient and kind. You do not love less if you don’t show it to everyone, or if you ask someone else to err on the side of caution.
Uma Venkata welcomes comments at uvenkata@mndaily.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR A note to the anonymous person who performed CPR on my brother On Thurs day, March 14, 2019, at about 1:30 p.m., my brother was walking through Nicholson Hall on his way to his class on the history of religion. He was taking advantage of the University’s auditing program for people over 65 years of age. He loved history of all types and was doing research for a book that focused on the history of the world’s religions. At the same time another student, or perhaps a faculty member, was also walking in Nicholson Hall. Exactly where they were going, or why they were there is not known. As the two were passing, my brother suddenly collapsed from a heart attack . This unknown person stopped and immediately started CPR on my brother. EMS personnel arrived and took over life saving attempts, then transported my brother to the U of M hospital. He remained there in critical condition for two weeks before he finally passed away. Our family would like to thank this person who stopped to preform CPR on someone they did not know and would likely never see again. These selfless actions allowed for his family, first some hope, then sadly a chance to say good-bye to a loved one. If you are this person, or know of this person and you, or they, wish to be recognized, then please contact the Minnesota Daily so we might be put in contact with each other. Rober t Vaughan is the brother of the victim, a University alumnus. This letter to the editor has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity. Please email letters@mndaily.com if you have relevant information.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Is the UMN task for ce repor t on renaming fair to for mer President Cof fman? As most people are aware, the Task Force on Building Names and Institutional History recently recommended to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents that four university buildings be stripped of their names, because the four men commemorated by the buildings didn’t live up to the standards the University community has a right to expect. Several regents caused a stir when they questioned the quality of the report on the basis of which they have been asked to arrive at their decision. This has led to a bad-tempered standoff and bruised egos. The regents have been accused of encroaching on prerogatives of faculty. Scholarship is their fiefdom. How dare the regents second-guess the scholarship of faculty? But this criticism overlooks the point that the University’s constitution entrusts decisions about naming buildings to the regents, so they are left with no choice but to make judgments about the quality of the report. That is why I think it is important to shift the spotlight back to the task force report and its strengths and weaknesses. In this spirit, I offer the following contribution. I reviewed the task force’s discussion of Lotus Coffman who served as president of the University from 1920 to 1938. I won’t keep you in suspense. Based on my review,
I concluded that the report’s scholarship – at least in the section on Coffman – doesn’t come close to meeting the minimal standards to serve as a basis for the regents’ decision. I come not to praise Coffman. Nor do I take a position on renaming Coffman Union. I simply think that Coffman should stay named, as well as not shamed without convincing evidence of wrongful behavior. To illustrate why I reached this conclusion, I consider the task force’s treatment of Coffman’s 1911 Columbia University dissertation, “The Social Composition of the Teaching Population.” Coffman’s work is based on a survey of teachers in 17 states. Frankly, it is pretty dull fare. But the task force alleges that this study, (as well as Coffman’s other writings and actions), was racially motivated and/or informed by his alleged adherence to the ideology of what it calls “scientific racism.” In addition, the task force claims, (also non-persuasively in my view), that Coffman “facilitated” eugenic scholarship on campus because of these beliefs. The task force admits that Coffman worked for “wider access to highquality education.” Nevertheless, it finds that many of the study’s recommendations mask a hidden agenda. It charges that the recommendations were “couched in aims to increase the number of male teachers of higher social class (and native-born white parentage) as the most intrinsically qualified.” In this brief comment, I explain why I think that every one of these claims is wild
and unsubstantiated or seriously misleading. In summary: I find that Coffman didn’t call for an increase in the number or proportion of male teachers. Nor did he have anything to say about advancing white teachers. It is misleading to say that he called for more teachers of native-born parentage. And, his reference to “teachers of higher social class” has nothing to do with what the report calls “scientific racism” or even class prejudice or other bias. Least of all, did Coffman say that any of these groups were “the most intrinsically qualified?” To elaborate on these points: Coffman recommended in his dissertation that “leaders in education must engage continuously in a campaign for the higher qualifications of teachers, for an increased compensation, for greater security and permanence of position, and for a more widespread recognition of the respectability and service of the calling.” He also appealed for the greater professionalization of teachers. But nowhere in the book does he advocate increasing the proportion of male teachers. Indeed, as the task force itself notes, Coffman expressly stated that the “feminization” of teaching could not be reversed. Nor does the book at any point propose that the number of white teachers be increased. Nothing in the book suggests that Coffman’s recommendations are intended to favor whites over other races. It is true that Coffman favored teachers of native-born parentage. But that was entirely because he considered fluency
COLUMN
What is the cultural significance of calling celebrities ‘problematic’? Policing celebrities and their fandoms and relationships is unproductive and unnecessary.
L
ast Friday, Korean pop septet BTS released their new alb u m M a p of the Soul: Persona as well as a music video for its title track, “Boy PALMER HAASCH With Luv feat. columnist Halsey.” The collaboration was well received — BTS broke the YouTube record for most views in 24 hours with the music video — but was the site of minor fandom drama earlier in the week when it was initially announced. While this isn’t BTS’ first collaboration with an American artist (the group has worked with artists like Steve Aoki and Desiigner in the past), this one sparked a familiar question frequently aimed at today’s celebrities: is Halsey problematic? BTS released the first teaser for “Boy With Luv” on April 7, revealing that the title track of their album was a collaboration with American pop singer Halsey. Shortly thereafter, my Twitter feed was flooded the word “problematic”: a vague, catch-all term that signifies a transgression into prejudice or bigotry. There’s little nuance to the term, and it’s frequently invoked with little substantiation. Following the announcement of the collaboration, “problematic” populated my Twitter feed
in various forms ranging from the simple, “Is Halsey problematic?” to more detailed threads that began with phrases like, “HALSEY BEING PROBLEMATIC AF.” Citing tweets, photos and “celebrity feuds” dating back to 2009 (when Halsey was 14; she is currently 24 years old), a subset of fans condemned the collaboration on the basis that Halsey was problematic. I’m not here to debate that particular question, although I’m pretty staunchly in the camp that old tweets and vague claims do not a celebrity cancellation make, especially in light of Halsey’s personal advocacy work. From a fandom perspective, however, this kind of response isn’t atypical; it’s a key facet of cancellation culture. University of Michigan professor Lisa Nakamura told the New York Times last June that cancellation is “a cultural boycott. It’s an agreement not to amplify, signal boost, give money to.” Determining whether or not a celebrity is problematic determines whether they earn you public — and financial — support. This case, however, goes past basic conduct policing. BTS’ fandom, ARMY, is incredibly passionate, if not sometimes a bit overzealous. However, demanding whether or not Halsey was problematic immediately after the collab was announced was a defensive response predicated upon the self-assumed responsibility that ARMY needs to protect BTS by policing the people with whom they associate. The desire to protect BTS often comes from a good place and has manifested in the fandom in a number of positive ways. That being said, attempting to police both professional and interpersonal relationships with other artists is mostly just exhausting and unproductive. BTS and Halsey seem to be
Determining whether or not a celebrity is problematic determines whether they earn you public — and financial — support.
genuine friends; past that, a collaboration with a major American pop artist is sure to help with the radio play the group needs in order to continue advancing their success in the United States. None of this is to say that we shouldn’t hold artists accountable for their actions — as fans, it’s important to be our favs’ most vocal critics. Ultimately, however, it’s important to consider what exactly we mean by problematic and the implications of invoking the term. Putting aside affective response and attachment to our favorite artists, policing their relationships (professional and otherwise) is ultimately unproductive and unnecessary.
Palmer Haasch welcomes comments at phaasch@mndaily.com.
in English to be an essential qualification for teaching. Rightly or wrongly, he was preoccupied with what he called “the problem of training teachers who have not become thoroughly Americanized.” (By the way, the task force sneers at the idea of Americanization, which it puts in scare quotes). The task force charges that “[w]hen distinguishing, in his terms, Anglo-Saxon from Catholic national origins in survey groups, [Coffman] cited a prominent eugenicist to indicate the dangers of large families from ‘inferior stocks.’” But I can’t find any reference to Catholics in his book. And it is simply false that Coffman uses the term “Anglo-Saxon” to contrast people of English origin with “inferior stocks.” He uses the term on just one occasion, and for a completely different purpose: In order to estimate the percentage of teachers who are fluent in English. Coffman adds together the number of native-born American teachers whose parental language is English and the count of foreign-born teachers with “clearly Anglo-Saxon” surnames. A careful reading would have shown that Coffman’s use of the term “Anglo-Saxon” is innocent of any racial connotations. To read the rest of this letter to the editor, go to mndaily.com. Ian Maitland is a professor in the Carlson School of Management. This letter to the editor has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
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7
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
MN DAILY
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DR. DATE
HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (4/15): What you’re learning pays off this year. Maintain persistent routines for professional growth. Fall into a lucrative situation. Savor summer fun with family before a new career phase. Reach a professional peak next winter, leading to a new domestic plot twist. Explore and learn.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Written by Nancy Black
Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is a 9 — Your work is in demand. Don’t get sidetracked. Avoid risky business, and stick to practical priorities. Plan actions before launching.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 5 — Privacy and peace soothe and restore you. Review plans, and revise for current situations. Avoid travel or expense. Settle in to complete a project.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 7 — Romance blossoms today and tomorrow. Think things over before acting. Get family aligned on the plan you’re considering. Build for love.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 7 — Make social plans. Prepare for events, meetings and gatherings by laying solid groundwork. Make reservations and arrangements.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 7 — Discipline with planning and preparation supports your home renovation projects. It’s too early to tear things apart.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 7 — Organize and prepare your work. A professional challenge or objective requires careful planning. Resolve a sticky issue in the design phase.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 7 — Edit your work before submitting. Consider the context and tone. Distractions abound. Focus to meet deadlines. Preparation and organization pays off.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is an 8 — Plan a vacation or trip. Work out the dates, schedule and itinerary. Do your homework for a wonderful experience.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Review accounts and budgets before committing to new expenses or purchases. Monitor cash flow for positive growth. Organize for clarity.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 7 — Changes necessitate budget revisions. Strategize for maximum benefit. Collaborate and join forces. Keep things respectful and professional.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — Revise personal plans for shifting circumstances. Build strength to grow options. Self-discipline serves you well. Consider long-term visions.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 6 — A partner’s opinion is important. Listen to another perspective on a shifting situation. Hold your commentary until you have all the facts.
Dr. Date,
I’ll get to the point: how do I stop being attracted to men who treat me like trash?! It’s the most cliche story in the book. But I have the mindset that I can “change” men who clearly do not want to be in a relationship. Then, when I don’t get the love I give, I internalize it and take it personally! It’s got me Googling, “how to stop catching feels for f*ckboys.” I know I deserve way better, but I create a vision in my head of us together. The caretaker in me feels like I can be the one to turn these players into adoring boyfriends. How do I stop falling for guys who are obviously not ready for a relationship?
—Fallin’ For F*ckboys
Dear Fallin’ For F*ckboys,
As someone who has fallen for quite a few of them, I feel your pain. For me, it took getting my friends to be very honest — to the point where they were swiping through Tinder FOR me. If the guy’s bio raised red flags or if he was holding a fish in his profile picture, it was a left. It also helped they weren’t afraid to call out guys I did end up dating, even saying they’re trash to their face. But Tinder aside, the root of your problem might be confidence and respect. You deserve more than a guy who will treat you like dirt, but you have to really believe that. Be confident in your ability to find a better man and recognize that, if you need the guy to change into a different person, he’s not for you. If you’re having trouble, get your friends to hype you up! And it doesn’t hurt to ask what they’re looking for before you start a fling. Those kinds of guys tend to identify themselves when answering the “what are we” question. (“Uhhhhhhh...just wanna have some fun” anybody?)
class who I think might be into me — if fighting is flirting. I tease her so much that she seemingly gets pissed off, and we’ll banter back and forth in lecture hall. While I think it’s just for fun, I’m worried she actually hates me, and what I take as flirting is genuine anger. If it is flirting, I’d be super into it. She’s really cute ,and I think we would get along well. But I don’t want to totally be misreading signals and ask her out if it would make her uncomfortable. Class is coming to an end, but I still want to see her. How can I figure out if she’s actually into me?
—Banter in Biology Lecture
Dear Banter in Biology Lecture,
Dear Banter in Biology Lecture, Without knowing the situation super well, it’s kind of hard to tell your relationship. While “if they’re mean to you, it’s because they like you” was common in elementary school, you might just be coming across as an asshole. But if it’s continuous banter over weeks of class time, she might not mind it as much as you think she does. There are no assigned seats in college, so she could have moved a while ago. Thankfully, there’s a way to make half a move: ask her if she wants to study together. If she says “yes,” you can gauge your relationship in a nonclassroom environment and see if she wants to hang out without textbooks. But if she says “no,” accept her answer and tone down the teasing. You may not be able to read signals, but you can probably tell if you’re being a jerk.
— Dr. Date
— Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
I’m the first to admit that I have the awareness of a 6-year-old. Every relationship I’ve ever had was initiated by the girl seemingly out of the blue, even though they’ve later told me they were dropping hints for months. I’m completely oblivious to the whims of women, so, besides dating apps, I’ve given up on meeting people. However, there’s this girl in my
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
4/15/19
© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
8
Monday, April 15, 2019
Regent Cohen set to depart from board After finishing her second term on the board, Cohen will step down as regent. BY AUSTEN MACALUS amacalus@mndaily
Linda Cohen has served on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents for the past 12 years, a tenure marked by a term as board chair, steadfast support for education and, above all else, abiding love for the University. But as Regent Cohen’s time at the University comes to an end, it’s a “bittersweet” finale for one of the longest-serving regents and one of only two women currently on the board. Rounding out her second term, Cohen is set to depart once state lawmakers choose a new at-large regent this legislative session. “I have really really enjoyed my time on the board enormously,” Cohen said. “Naturally, I have mixed feelings about leaving the board, but I think that it’s important that the board
have new ideas periodically and new perspectives.” Fellow regents say Cohen leaves behind an exemplary approach to higher education governance and, in turn, a better University. Since joining the board in 2007, Cohen has become known by colleagues for her thoughtful and deliberative — if, at times quiet — demeanor, more focused on listening to others and building consensus than grabbing a headline. “In her own quiet way, she’s been a real force,” said Regent Peggy Lucas. Despite an increasingly political and occasionally divided board, Cohen has maintained a calming presence, making her one of the most trusted and respected regents on the board. Cohen’s apolitical style has often lifted her above the fray. One administrator claimed he’s never heard a bad word about her. “Regent Cohen is just amazing, thoughtful and careful and very, very balanced in how she views and exercises her governance role. And I think that’s a quality we should all strive
for,” said Board Chair David McMillan. “I think the University owes her a debt. I know that I do.” A family of Gophers For Cohen, serving the University is more than a part-time gig; it’s a family legacy. She comes from a long line of University supporters who span nearly a century. Her parents met at the University; Cohen’s dad, Louis Gross, was a star Gophers football player in the 1920s. Her husband, her brother and her son have degrees from the University. Her granddaughter currently attends the U. Cohen’s Ph.D. in educational psychology is from the University. “The University was part of our family,” said Luella Gross Goldberg, Cohen’s identical twin sister. Though she didn’t attend the University, Goldberg was the first woman to chair the University of Minnesota Foundation. However, Cohen’s tenure has aligned with growing divisions on the board, including a deepening rift
between the regents and President Eric Kaler’s administration. Cohen, who was board chair when Kaler started at the University in 2011, said the regents had a great working relationship with the president. “Regent Cohen and I have always had a warm and friendly relationship,” Kaler wrote in an email to the Minnesota Daily. “She was my first board chair and her help was critical to my good start as president.” But the collegiality marking Cohen’s first term on the board “has eroded in recent years, and I think that’s troubling for her,” Goldberg said. “Her motive, of course, has always been a belief in the importance of education,” Goldberg said. “I think it was her only motivation in becoming a regent, unlike some regents who seem to think it’s a stepping stone or a place where personal views should come into play.” Throughout her time on the board, Cohen has been a constant proponent for the University’s excel-
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
University Regent Linda Cohen poses for a portrait on Saturday, April 13 in her home in Minnetonka. Cohen is wearing her father’s University sweater.
lence, especially regarding education. From bolstering fouryear graduation rates to promoting diverse student enrollment, Cohen maintained a strong passion for undergraduate student success, said Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. Cohen has been a “champion of this University,” said McMaster, who worked closely with Cohen. “Her values align almost
perfectly with the values of this University.” Beyond everything else, Cohen was seen as a “beloved” advocate for the University, McMaster said. That makes her upcoming departure even more difficult. “She’s a Gopher through and through. She loves this institution, and she’s spent 12 years trying to make sure we’re in a better place,” he said. “We’re all extremely sad to see her step off the board.”
U researchers estimate cost of reinsurance program The program may stabilize premiums in an unpredictable insurance market. BY NORAH KLEVEN nkleven@mndaily
By analyzing data from two national surveys, researchers at the University of Minnesota have estimated the cost of a national reinsurance program, which could help stabilize health insurance premiums in the unpredictable individual insurance market. The report released last month in the Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and
Financing, found it would cost the federal government about $30 billion to establish a national reinsurance program, if approved, from 2020 to 2022. “There’s been a lot of turbulence in the health care insurance marketplace for years now,” said Coleman Drake, a researcher on the study and a visiting assistant professor of public health at the University of Pittsburgh. Reinsurance is a payment made to individual m a rk e t p l a c e i n s u r e r s which helps negate the effects of providing coverage for costly clients, like those with preexisting conditions or high prescription drug costs.
The funds help neutralize insurers’ risks when covering costly patients and can encourage new insurers to enter the marketplace. Drake said reinsurance does not affect the group m a rk e t p l a c e o r p e o p l e who get their health care through employment. Though reinsurance is commonly thought to benefit the lowest income recipients, it instead helps those who make a livable wage but must purchase their own health care. Minnesota was among the first three states to implement statewide reinsurance in January of 2018, alongside Alaska and Oregon. Lynn Blewett, lead researcher on the
project, said Minnesota’s reinsurance program effectively reduced premiums by 20 percent. Between 4 and 6 percent of Minnesotans have individual health care insurance, Blewett said. “I know $10 billion a year sounds like a big number, but, in terms of these national health care numbers, that’s not an astronomical amount,” said Drake. “This gives us more certainty about what a national reinsurance program would cost.” But some argue the government’s efforts are better spent trying to tackle the root of unstable health care premiums, namely the rising cost of health care.
Though reinsurance has helped lower premiums for some, it has not proven beneficial across the board. Throughout the examined two years, it cost the state of Minnesota $542 million annually, according to Jennifer Schultz, a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a member of the Minnesota House. Schultz said the future of the reinsurance program in Minnesota is in question in the Minnesota Legislature as the state weighs if it can afford to continue the program after its expiration next January. “It would be a better use of money to tackle health care costs rather
than dumping money into a temporary solution, which is regulating the cost of reinsurance,” Schultz said.
Innocence
opportunities they may not receive post-graduation. “The practical reality of student debt for our young lawyers is that many cannot afford to work for public interest organizations when they graduate,” Thomas said. “But to have exposure to an organization like the Innocence Project early in your legal training makes it more likely that someday, when you’re financially stable, you can support this organization.” Liza Messinger, a student in the law school, is currently enrolled in the year-long clinic affiliated with the Innocence Project. Messinger said the work she’s done on cases has mirrored the work done in the podcast “Serial”: there is a lot of scrutinizing of evidence, re-interviewing witnesses, looking at forensic science and scouring records. “It’s a pretty intense experience, but I don’t think there’s any better way to prepare yourself to be a good
lawyer,” she said. The work involved with overturning a case, according to Messinger, is not easy. Evidence already used in trial or the appeals cannot be used in working to overturn a conviction. In Minnesota, after an appeal is rejected, there are two years in which evidence must be gathered to file another post-conviction appeal. After that date, a higher bar of evidence is needed to be hit, Messinger said. Though Messinger said it can feel like an overwhelming task to overturn a conviction, she remains positive by focusing on the process and reminding herself that it’s not about the numbers but real people and their lives. “You are going through someone’s life in a really deep way,” Messinger said. “In class, we focus a lot on the law, but actually working with people who these cases impact has been a rewarding experience for me.”
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considering getting into research and partnerships to do some practical research as well.” According to the National Registry of Exonerees, there have been 2,418 exonerations in the United States since 1989. According to the Innocence Project of Minnesota, the organization has successfully exonerated six men who spent a combined total of 84 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Laura Thomas, the director of law clinics at the University, said she thought the move would be mutually beneficial for the Innocence Project and law school students, providing them with easier opportunities for volunteering. She also said the organization offers students gratifying opportunities to do tangible good in the world,
“It would be a better use of money to tackle health care costs than dumping money into a temporary solution, which is regulating the cost of reinsurance.” JENNIFER SCHULTZ Professor of Economics
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