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Gabel talks U as a ‘research powerhouse’
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BUSINESS
Featuring black businesses
Regents and Presdent Gabel discussed research goals for UMN at a retreat this month. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com
At the regents retreat earlier this month, members of the Board of Regents and President Joan Gabel discussed the University of Minnesota’s research goals as a pillar that will ultimately go into the next system-wide strategic plan. Gabel kicked off the research roundtable with a basic question: “What kind of research powerhouse do we want to be?” Schools of thought vary when chasing down research dollars, Gabel said. The philosophy could be pursuing funding en masse, or it could be incentivizing faculty research catering to fields uniquely relevant for the University and the state. She emphasized that there could be trade-offs to either position, and prioritizing locally focused research could lead to less total grant money. “This is arguably one of our most opportunistic places to leverage distinction and to create signatures around who we are as compared to anyone down the street from us,” Gabel said at the meeting. The University ranked ninth among U.S. u See RESEARCH Page 3
STATE LEG.
State grants get boost, but offset by U tuition rise Minnesota grant funding rose 35% since 2008, but some still struggle with college costs. BY J.D. DUGGAN jduggan@mndaily.com
The Minnesota State Grant program continues to grow, but for many students it is not enough to offset rising tuition costs. Lawmakers are increasingly looking toward state grants to alleviate the burden of college costs. As tuition continues to increase, some students still struggle to make ends meet, even with the help of these funds. In the past 20 years, Minnesota State Grants have increased by more than $100 million, reaching about $194 million in 2018, according to the Office of Higher Education. The State Grant Program is a need-based fund that can go toward college costs for Minnesota residents from families generally earning up to $80,000 in annual income. “It’s always been designed to help students, it’s not designed to help the system,” said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus
MINNESOTA STATE GRANTS
$100 million INCREASE IN MINNESOTA STATE GRANTS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS
$194 million ALLOCATED BY THE MN LEGISLATURE FOR GRANTS IN 2018
SOURCE: MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH
u See GRANTS Page 3
JASMIN KEMP, DAILY
Mary Taris, left, publisher and CEO of Strive Publishing, poses for a photo on Sunday, July 21. Taris is striving to get more culturally relevant books into the hands of children. Bill English, right, Northside Job Creation Team Consulting Project Director, poses for a photo on Saturday, July 20. English helps support black business promotion by identifying and supporting African American-owned businesses in Minnesota.
The inaugural 9-day event is highlighting black-owned businesses in Minneapolis. BY J.D. DUGGAN jduggan@mndaily.com
For the first time, city of Minneapolis officials are dedicating a week to highlight black businesses. The city’s inaugural Minneapolis Black Business Week is a 9-day event that aims to celebrate and promote blackowned businesses. Various nonprofits and advocacy organizations are partnering to host the event, which kicked off festivities Friday at Mama Sheila’s Soulfood Kitchen in South Minneapolis. The University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center is among the partners, specifically through its Northside Job Creation Team, which seeks to bring sustainable-wage jobs to North Minneapolis. Bill English, NJCT consulting project director, said the event helps to promote black-owned businesses, which can support the community by stimulating the economy in North Minneapolis. “Black entrepreneurs, they tend to hire black people, they tend to carry black people and they inspire their children to become entrepreneurs,” English said. He said this type of outreach is especially important in Minnesota, which
has some of the greatest disparities in the country between white and black individuals. “It’s about lifting up the remarkable black-owned businesses that we have here,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who announced Black Business Week on behalf of the city alongside City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins. Frey said one of the week’s goals is to make resources available to businesses and help black entrepreneurs navigate city processes so they “can quickly get up and running and then scale.” Black Business Week includes a business expo, a career fair and an online city directory of participating black-owned businesses in various industries. While the event is taking place in Minneapolis, businesses in St. Paul and surrounding suburbs have been included in the directory and may be involved in the events. Among those businesses is Strive Publishing, a Twin Cities-based company that publishes black authors of children’s and young adult literature centered around African American culture. Mary Taris, publisher and CEO of Strive, said she connected with Black Business Week to raise awareness about the presence of black publishers in the Twin Cities. A reader since childhood, she said she felt a lack of black representation in literature. “When I was a little girl, I always used books as an escape,” Taris said. “But then as an adult, I realized that I could have done much more with my life if I had books that
Minneapolis Black Business Week Upcoming Events Wednesday
Black Women Makers & Innovators Networking Event Gold Room Restaurant & Lounge 5:00pm - 8:00pm Thursday
House of Talents Open House Reception Gaviidae Common Thursday 3:30pm - Friday 6:30pm
Flow: Northside Arts Crawl 2019 Self-guided tour Thursday to Saturday SOURCE: MINNEAPOLIS BLACK BUSINESS WEEK
validated who I am and inspired me to be all I can be instead of, like, you know, pretending to be someone else from a book.” Taris founded the company in August 2018. Later this summer, Taris will host a dinner celebrating African American children’s books and featuring more than 200 local African American authors, educators and publishers. “My mission is to get more books by and about African Americans into the hands of all children, basically,” Taris said. “The main thing I learned is that we can’t work in silos. We have to work together.”
FOOTBALL
Alex Reigelsperger talks injury and life after early retirement The redshirt freshman decided to retire from football after a hit during practice this spring. BY JOHN MILLER jmiller@mndaily.com
While playing football, Gophers redshirt freshman defensive end Alex Reigelsperger always knew there was a possibility that athletes can be seriously injured. He just never thought it could happen to him. It was the first full-contact practice of the spring when it happened. “It was just me and one of our running
backs, and it was a play where our safety came on a blitz off the edge,” Reigelsperger said. “I kind of stood the running back up and was bringing him down, and our safety happened to just hit the side of my head.” After he was down ALEX REIGELon the ground for some SPERGER time, an ambulance PHOTO COURTESY OF rushed him off the field. GOPHER SPORTS Reigelsperger had cracked the C4 vertebrae in his neck and suffered a serious concussion.
“The first 24 hours I couldn’t feel anything or really move,” he said. After some analysis, doctors told him that he must have cracked his C4 vertebrae while he was in high school and he was lucky he wasn’t paralyzed from the most recent hit he took. Initially, Reigelsperger was made aware that he could likely play football again, it just wouldn’t be for this upcoming season. As he began to be inch closer to recovery and was almost out of his multiple-day stay at the hospital, he received some news that altered his life forever. u See REIGELSPERGER Page 4
RESEARCH
Kidney research at UMN propelled by a recent Trump executive order President Trump signed the order this month to strengthen kidney research nationwide. BY KATRINA PROSS kpross@mndaily.com
CHRIS MCNAMARA, DAILY
Dr. Mark Rosenberg poses for a portrait on Monday, July 22 in his office in the Mayo Building where he conducts research on kidney and chronic kidney disease.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to advance kidney health in America — endorsing work being carried out at the University of Minnesota. The University is known for its kidney transplants and research, and Dr. Mark Rosenberg, the vice dean for education and academic affairs at the Medical School, is leading some of its efforts. Rosenberg, who is also the president of the American Society of Nephrology, went to the White House to witness the signing of the order
and met with the Department of Health and Human Services secretary. The executive order aims to create more awareness and prevent kidney disease, increase home dialysis and kidney transplants and support new upcoming inventions like an artificial kidney. “This was a huge moment, it’s recognition that kidney disease is a major health problem and an area that’s in need of transformation. The order is a bold vision that has unveiled how the executive branch is going to change the approach to kidney disease,” Rosenberg said. The University has one of the oldest and largest kidney transplant programs in the world. It also helped establish kidney transplants in children and diabetics, and has performed more than 9,000 kidney transplants u See KIDNEYS Page 3
VOLUME 119 ISSUE 66
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Research roundup: food insecurity, crickets U of M researchers published several studies throughout the month of June. BY GWIWON JASON NAM gnam@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota researchers released several studies last month focusing on topics like sustainable diets, child food insecurity and male crickets in Hawaii. Many young adults value sustainably-produced foods University researchers examined the continuity of valuing sustainable diet practices from adolescence to adulthood and its impact on food choices. According to the research, sustainable diets benefit society. Their impact on the environment is minimal and they promote the health of those in the present and future. “This study uniquely allowed for building understanding of how values around sustainable food production may change,” said Nicole Larson, a nutritional epidemiologist who co-authored the study, in an email sent to the Minnesota Daily. Their findings suggest that public health messages addressing sustainable foods are likely relevant to many young adults, including those who have limited resources to purchase food and are “nutritionally vulnerable.”
MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
“It is one of the first longitudinal studies to have looked at how early and present values for sustainable food production practices may influence the healthfulness of dietary intake,” Larson said in the email. Children and food insecurity in summer months Children from households lacking a reliable access to healthy food drank more sugar-filled beverages and ate less fruit than children who were food-secure, according to a School of Nursing study published last month. Researchers looked at differences in the diets of school-aged children during the summer months on
weekdays and weekends, unlike previous studies that have focused on insecurity during the school year. According to the study, children tend to gain weight in the summer and making nutritious food more accessible may avert weight gain and promote healthy development. “Our study assessed children’s weekday and weekend day dietary intake during summer months which is a time when children are prone to excess weight gain,” said Jiwoo Lee, a research associate and lead author, in an email. Lee said the researchers believe the study’s findings highlight a need to improve access to nutritious food for children over the
summer months. Mutations in male Hawaiian crickets University researchers measured the intensity of the reproductive disadvantage of mutated male crickets in nature, focusing on Pacific field crickets in Hawaii. In Hawaii, male crickets are preyed upon by fly larvae that act like parasites. Female flies use male cricket songs to find their hosts, and the male crickets infested with the fly larvae die. A genetic mutation present in the cricket population changes the wing structures that crickets rub together to produce their chirping sound, meaning the crickets can no longer sing. Non-singing male crick-
ets are safe from the flies, which has caused the mutation to spread throughout the cricket population, said Jessie Tanner, who led the study as a doctoral student in the College of Biological Sciences, in an email sent to the Daily. This is what the researchers called a “natural selection pressure” and they deemed the crickets with the mutation “flatwings.” According to the research, silent male crickets have a hard time finding mates because cricket song is how females find mates, and females are reluctant to mate with males that cannot sing, Tanner said. Another kind of evolutionary pressure is present among the cricket population — sexual selection. Although this strongly disfavors “flatwing” males, the researchers found the population between singing and non-singing males was balanced, Tanner added. “This system offers us a rare opportunity to observe rapid evolution and trait loss, and to understand what happens when two major drivers of evolutionary change act in conflict,” Tanner said in the email. The research found that singing males outcompeted silent males in terms of reproductive success in a single generation. “These findings help us understand why singing crickets remain common in Hawaii even though singing likely results in parasitization and death,” Tanner said.
Grant aims to restore, revitalize industrial sites Developers, officials seek to revitalize industrial land near the University. BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com
Former industrial sites around the University of Minnesota are getting a new chance at life with the help of grant funding aimed at clearing contaminants from the area. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded sites around the state grant funds totaling $3.4 million in July to remove potentially harmful chemicals from soil or groundwater. The money will encourage the renewal of old industrial sites, or “brownfields,” like the Malcolm Yards Market project in Prospect Park, to cater to current community needs. The Malcolm Yards Market received about $73,000. Helping developers afford the costs associated
with cleaning up industrial land promotes reuse of otherwise underutilized parts of the city, said Kristin Lukes, director of DEED’s Office of Brownfields and Redevelopment. “The projects get so expensive with the soil and groundwater contamination that why not just go to a different clean site down the street?” Lukes said. “It’s really to help level that playing field for developers to develop on previously used sites.” The program awards redevelopment sites suspected of having pollutants grants twice a year. The department covers up to 75 percent of the cleanup cost, with the developer paying for the rest. Past cleanup projects include Surly Brewing Co. in Prospect Park. To apply, developers must go through an authority like the city, have concrete plans for redevelopment and gain approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “The program is structured to help redevelop brownfields or perceived brownfields,” said Jeff Ellerd,
JASMIN KEMP, DAILY
The future site of urban food hall, Malcolm Yards Market, as seen on Friday, July 19. This is one of many sites given a clean up grant.
project manager of Wall Companies, developer of the Malcolm Yards Market project. “It is a good thing to do so those contaminants can’t spread, and so that when it’s redeveloped there’s no risk to the public.” Many of the sites that are awarded grants contain petroleum, which often contaminated soil when the areas were home to industrial facilities, like manufacturing plants erected within
the past century. For the Malcolm Yards Market site, cleanup is focused on both petroleum and asbestos removal, Ellerd said. Clearing the area is one of the final steps before the project can apply for building permits in the near future, Ellerd said. For many redevelopment projects in Minneapolis, any suspected contamination on the property must be removed. Contamination
around campus, like in Prospect Park, is especially common given the area’s industrial past. Historically, the area was used as a railroad connection between St. Anthony Falls and ports in St. Paul, said Stephen Klimek, project manager of the Towerside Innovation District, which supports community collaboration with developers. “This new investment is fueling the repair and restoration of our environment and ... everyone benefits from that,” Klimek said. Lukes said developing these areas helps promote job creation, increase the tax base and eliminate health risks. Malcolm Yards Market is among the most recent projects in Prospect Park, which has seen rapid changes in the past several years. “It’s really revitalized the whole area,” Lukes said. “People that take that risk and ... believe in those projects, and kind of get them some assistance that really spurs all that adjacent development in the area.”
Cedar-Riverside program hopes to reduce social isolation The programming is aimed to help promote community and socialization. BY IMANI CRUZEN icruzen@mndaily.com
Cedar-Riverside community leaders are using grant money to foster community for women living in affordable housing. The grant, awarded through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, provides more than $66,000 toward the West Bank Community Development Corporation’s programming over the next two years, starting July 1, 2019. The money will go toward a WBCDC program that aims to decrease isolation among East African
women in Cedar-Riverside. WBCDC, which owns around 500 units of affordable housing throughout the neighborhood, includes weekly programming aimed at supporting the women in those units. Activities include sewing classes, gardening, field trips and dancing. Grant funding will go toward sewing instruction, cultural and art activities, neighborhood events, child care and more. Debbie Wolking, WBCDC program manager, said these activities help promote community and socialization. “What I’ve seen happen in this programming is that women who didn’t know each other met each other and developed relationships,” she said. “And then now drive each other to their ESL
classes or watch each other’s kids or pick up groceries for each other.” Past programming has included a “Somali House” designed for residents to gather and drink tea as a way to bring community members together. Ayan Isaq, WBCDC outreach coordinator, is behind much of the nonprofit’s community involvement. Isaq said multiple factors, including culture and age, can contribute to isolation and stress among residents. “So we thought to bring some days that people can meet, to be able to meet and then you can talk freely,” Isaq said. The grant award is one of the Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Healthy Connections program grants awarded to
18 different nonprofits in Minnesota. Blue Cross Blue Shield Senior Program Officer Bilal Alkatout said WBCDC’s work aimed at promoting civic engagement in the area, whether in neighborhood planning or voting, made the organization a good candidate for the grant. “This was a means of creating that social connection, that could lead to those conversations and kind of increase their ability to understand and connect over what are the issues that are happening in this really new surrounding and these new systems that are pretty difficult to navigate for newcomers,” Alkatout said. Alkatout said social challenges faced by marginalized communities can lead to health disparities.
“What I’ve seen happen in this programming is that women who didn’t know each other met each other and developed relationships.” DEBBIE WOLKING WBCDC program manager
“There’s also kind of data indicating that if people are experiencing just even a sense of isolation, social detachment, a fear of safety within their community, that leads to negative health outcomes down the line,” he said.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER Cleo Krejci Editor-in-Chief ckrejci@mndaily.com (612)-227-5914 Kyle Stumpf Business Operations Officer kstumpf@mndaily.com (612)-435-5772 EDITORIAL STAFF Max Chao Managing Editor mchao@mndaily.com Christine Ha Managing Production Editor cha@mndaily.com Michelle Griffith Campus Editor mgriffith@mndaily.com Madeline Deninger City Editor mdeninger@mndaily.com Paul Hodowanic Sports Editor phodowanic@mndaily.com Madeline Folstein A&E Editor mfolstein@mndaily.com Liv Martin Assistant A&E Editor omartin@mndaily.com Courtney Deutz Multimedia Editor cdeutz@mndaily.com Bailey Davis Copy Desk Chief bdavis@mndaily.com Emily Martens Assistant Copy Desk Chief emartens@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Chief Page Designer dkamas@mndaily.com Morgan La Casse Visuals Editor mlacasse@mndaily.com =
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The Minnesota Daily strives for complete accuracy and corrects its errors immediately. Corrections and clarifications will always be printed in this space. If you believe the Daily has printed a factual error, please call the readers’ representative at (612) 627–4070, extension 3057, or email errors@mndaily.com immediately. Corrections Last week’s Culture Compass incorrectly stated the time of Hedge Theatre Company’s “Mini Plays for Minneapolis (+ St. Paul)” production. The production’s doors opened at 6 p.m. and the play started at 7 p.m. THE MINNESOTA DAILY is a legally independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is a student-written and student-managed newspaper for the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. The Daily’s mission is: 1) to provide coverage of news and events affecting the University community; 2) to provide a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University community; 3) to provide educational training and experience to University students in all areas of newspaper operations; and 4) to operate a fiscally responsible organization to ensure its ability to serve the University in the future. The Daily is a member of the Minnesota News Council, the Minnesota Associated Press, the Associated Collegiate Press, The Minnesota Newspaper Association and other organizations. The Daily is published Monday and Thursday during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and it is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn. Midwest News Service distributes the 10,000 issues biweekly. All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste. U.S. Postal Service: 351–480.
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Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Research u from Page 1
public research institutions in the 2017 fiscal year, third in the Big Ten behind Michigan and Wisconsin, according to a National Science Foundation survey of total research expenditures. “Do we want to go to number nine to number five?” Gabel asked. “We can do that; that could be a goal.” But while the overall rankings are strong, some regents expressed an interest to rank higher in areas of research specific to the state. Surrounded by a burgeoning medical device industry, regents questioned
Grants u from Page 1
Falls, Republican lead of the House higher education committee. “It goes right to the students. So then they can take that to a private or a religious school or wherever they go. It’s their choice.” Nearly 81,000 Minnesota college students received state grants last year. But some students, like Sophia Bursey, watch costs add up despite their grants. Bursey, a junior studying economics at the University of Minnesota, takes about 16 credits worth of classes per semester while working on campus — yet her student debt has mounted to around $40,000. She worked three jobs last summer to
Kidneys u from Page 1
to date. About 40 million people in the United States have kidney disease, with more than 730,000 living in Minnesota. Patients with kidney disease often have to be placed on dialysis or need kidney transplants. Dialysis removes toxins from the blood and is needed when
if the University should be number one in medical technology research. In a state that boasts a vast number of lakes on its license plate, they pondered if the University should be the “water guys.” While total research dollars is a straightforward metric to compare the University with other
schools nationally, narro w i n g d o w n r a n k i n g s for various domains of research is not as simple. The University stacks up somewhere between 51 and 75 worldwide for both medical technology and water resources research, according to Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019. When it came to listing potential goals, regents expressed a desire to better align research with the land-grant mission of the institution. The line of what is Minnesota-centered research and what is not can be tricky to pin down. While research may have a local tinge, it often has implications spanning far outside the upper Midwest. Diana Karwan, assistant
professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences who researches forest hydrology and watershed management, said the impact of her research stretches far beyond the state border. “Just looking at northern Minnesota, not even statewide, the water that is there flows different places. It flows across state boundaries and it flows across national boundaries,” Karwan said. “So there are some areas of research that can be hard to isolate in political boundaries.” Many regents shared the goal of bolstering medical research, and several expressed a desire to make the Medical School among the top 10 in the country.
“Top-ranked medical schools attract and preserve the best and brightest students, doctors and researchers,” Dr. Ali Salavati, a researcher in the Medical School’s radiology department working to improve the accuracy of detection of recurrent prostate cancer, said in an email. “These talented individuals will bring innovations, high quality health care, reputation and funding to the University.” Citing Minnesota as a hub for medical technology companies, Regent Michael Hsu said the University should be number one for med tech research. At the retreat, Hsu said he has talked with people at local companies that bypass the University to go to other schools for their research.
supplement her income. “I don’t have the option to not work because, like, you know, I need money to pay for different things like rent and groceries and school,” Bursey said. In recent years, state grants consisted of about 12 percent of the higher education budget, a slight increase from about 9 percent in 2008, according to state bill documents. Overall, state grant funding has increased 35 percent, while the University system has decreased by 9 percent. Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, former member of the House higher education committee, said state grants are on top of the funding for public institutions, and help support a “very, very small percentage“ of students who need
assistance or attend private Minnesota colleges. Since around the time of the Great Recession in 2008, tuition has increased 36 percent to about $13,000 for resident undergraduates at the Twin Cities campus. Rep. Laurie Pryor, DFLMinnetonka, vice chair of the House higher education committee, said while grants help subsidize costs for lower income students, countering costs for middleand high-income students remains a debate at the Capitol. “It’s like, how much do we want to subsidize their education?” Pryor said. “When you give money to institutions, public institutions, then we are subsidizing the education of middle and higher income students and families.”
Out-of-state students are ineligible for state grants, regardless of income status. “We can’t afford to fund everybody. That’s just — it’s just math,” said Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, vice chair of the Senate higher education committee. Cassidy Drummond is a political science and economics senior attending the University from New York. She’s accumulated $60,000 in student debt, despite receiving scholarships and federal grants. Although Drummond comes from a low-income family, she’s ineligible for state grants. Drummond chose the University because it was among the cheapest in the Big Ten for her. Since enrolling, she said the cost of college has become progressively more expensive.
Nonresident tuition at the Twin Cities campus has increased by 35 percent over the past decade, reaching nearly $29,000 in the 2018-2019 academic year. About 28 percent of Twin Cities campus students pay out of state tuition. “It’s frustrating, because it’s not like I get any more financial aid. And it’s not like they increase on campus wages to like, subsidize the increasing tuition,” Drummond said. “So I feel like I’ve just ended up progressively taking on more jobs.” Drum m ond said sh e worked four jobs last year on top of being a Minnesota Student Association student senator and averaging 21 credits per semester. “I just, like, don’t sleep,” she said.
the kidneys fail. Delano Gurley, 37, from Brooklyn Center, has had kidney disease since he was 18. He’s already had two kidney transplants and is hoping for another transplant from the University. He is currently on at-home dialysis. Gurley said doing athome dialysis instead of going to a clinic is beneficial because he has more freedom and is in control of
his own treatment. “You’re in charge of your own healthcare really. Your own treatment … it forces you to really be more responsible and be your own doctor and to take your healthcare into your own hands,” he said. Gurley said he’s glad that kidney disease treatment is becoming a government priority. “I think it’s due time. I’ve been dealing with kidney
disease for about half of my life and it’s really an underserved population of people, so I think it’s great news that the spotlight is on kidney disease and kidney issues. A lot of people just don’t understand it or aren’t aware of it and a light needs to be shed upon it,” he said. Going on dialysis is time-consuming and difficult, as it has to be done multiple times a week for hours at a time, said Patrick
Nachman, the director of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at the University. “It’s tiring. Most people have trouble carrying out a full-time job. … We want to improve how dialysis is done and improve the quality of life,” he said. Current research conducted at the University and across the country is hoping to create new methods to treat kidney disease that
“There are some areas of research that can be hard to isolate in political boundaries.” DIANA KARWAN CFANS researcher and assistant professor
He questioned if the University needs to find better researchers. Oral cancer researcher Dr. Nelson Rhodus said a strong foundation for research is about more than just the academic researchers. Rhodus, a professor in both the Dentistry and Medical Schools, said it is about the entire system where the research is conducted. “If I have to do everything by myself ... simply because I don’t have the support, then obviously I am not going to be that productive,” Rhodus said. “When you develop facilities, infrastructure, support systems, it just maximizes your team who has the expertise to do what they do.”
MINNESOTA STATE GRANTS
BY THE NUMBERS
81,000 MINNESOTA COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVED GRANTS IN 2018
12% OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION
BUDGET CONSISTS OF STATE GRANTS
35-36% INCREASE IN TUITION FOR
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS SINCE 2008 SOURCE: MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH
are more convenient. New innovations include improving at-home dialysis options and working towards creating artificial kidneys. Nachman said while the executive order endorses work being carried out at the University, another approach to think about the order is how the work at the University will make the executive order effective and improve the lives of patients.
4
Sports
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019
MEN’S HOCKEY
Gophers flock to Da Beauty League More than 25 current and former Gophers will be competing in the summer league. BY CHAD FAUST cfaust@mndaily.com
While the Gophers’ men’s hockey team calls 3M Arena at Mariucci home throughout the season, a large group of current and former Gophers seem to have found their off-season home in Da Beauty League. The four-on-four league calls Braemar Arena in Edina home and features 27 current and former Gopher hockey players in a heated competition. Da Beauty League was established in the fall of 2015 in an effort to bring professional hockey to Minnesota yearround. It serves as both an opportunity for college and pro players to prepare for their upcoming seasons, and as a way for fans to experience fast-paced, professional family in a fun, family atmosphere. “It’s pretty cool to play where I went to high school,” Edina graduate and Minnesota sophomore defenseman Ben Brinkman said. “I played there for three years so it kind of feels like I’m back playing in high school.” For current Gophers, the league offers a unique space for them to compete with and against their current teammates, as well as with pros they idolized growing up. “It’s pretty cool to see those guys you watched on TV and being able to be out there with them, see how good they really are and see how skilled and how hard they work,’’ Brinkman said. “It’s fun to watch them play,” senior defenseman
CHRIS MCNAMARA, DAILY
Players from the Jack Links team watch as their teammates take on their opponents, Tria Health, in the second game of Da Beauty League at Braemar Arena in Edina on Wednesday, July 18.
Ryan Zuhlsdorf echoed. “Obviously they’re not going 100 percent but it’s cool to see the tricks they do during the game and see what they can do But playing against their current teammates is exciting too. “It’s fun to play against those guys, Brinkman said. “You practice against those guys every day but you never really get to play against them.” While the league itself
isn’t as competitive as what these players will face in their upcoming seasons, it serves as a way for them to both get in shape and try a few things out. “It goes along with other training I’m doing, and even though it’s not fullspeed, 100% all the time, it’s good to experience gamelike situations and be able to make plays,’’ Brinkman said. “It’s a good opportunity to work on creativity and
getting in shape,” Zuhlsdorf said. “Being able to play with those pro guys is always beneficial to us younger guys.” Finishing out summer league play in August, the Gopher players are thrilled to start the 2019-2020 season off strong. With a lot of younger players they are hungry to make something happen. “We’re a young team, but we have high expectations,’’ Brinkman said.
“We’re the University of Minnesota, everyone’s got high expectations for us and we have high expectations for ourselves. It starts in the summer getting to know the new freshman and bonding as a team, and right now we’re just getting closer as a team and preparing for the season to start.” For Zuhlsdorf in his senior year, he’s looking to make a difference both in the league and as a leader. “I’m looking to have
VOLLEYBALL
FOOTBALL
UMN athletes show off their volleyball skills for Team USA
Reigelsperger
Three U alums are also competing at the Pan-Am games for their country. BY CHAD FAUST cfaust@mndaily.com
The United States volleyball circuit was well-represented by Gophers this summer as the team gears up for the 2019-2020 season. Sophomores C.C. McGraw and Adanna Rollins, as well as juniors Regan Pittman and Stephanie Samedy, had a chance to play for USA volleyball in places like California, Italy and Japan. For sophomores McGraw and Rollins, the experience they had overseas is something they’ll never forget. “It was by far one of the coolest experiences,” McGraw said. “It was such an honor to be able to compete with some of the top athletes at the collegiate level. We got to meet a bunch of new players and play under a different coach, and it was just a really cool and unique experience.” Rollins echoed this sentiment. “It was a wonderful experience,” she said. “It was my first time so it was really exciting and new, and I learned a lot from the different countries I played and the different girls I got to play with from different colleges” For these rising stars, their experience playing with and against players across the world provided more than just a unique summer experience. It offered a chance to participate in a different kind of game altogether at times, one with different pace and styles. In Japan, McGraw saw a game that she wasn’t quite
DAILY FILE PHOTOS
Outside Hitter Adanna Rollins, above, jumps to spike the ball at the Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Nov. 30. The Gophers swept Bryant three sets to none as a start to their postseason. Freshman libero CC McGraw, right, serves the ball during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Gophers beat Northwestern in all three sets. used to back in the states, a style that taught her to get more comfortable being uncomfortable while playing. “The Japanese game is so different than what we’re used to, so getting a different view of the game of volleyball was really valuable,” McGraw said. “One of the biggest things that the Japanese team had was their defense, they dug everything, and as a result they were super successful.” As for Rollins, the emphasis playing in Italy was all about the value of
each possession. “I just learned how much every point matters. It’s such a fast game over [in Europe] it really helped me embrace how much you have to put into every single point,” Rollins said. “I plan on taking that [mindset] into the season.” For both players, the opportunity gave them an insight into ways the Gophers, and themselves as individuals, can improve next season. “I’ll definitely take what I learned overseas and give it to my teammates, talk
about how points matter and how being together as a team makes a difference,’’ Rollins said. “My takeaway is that I need to scrap away at balls this season, do everything I can to keep the ball off of the floor, doing the best for my team, and just getting the job done.” The Gophers aren’t finished representing Team USA yet this summer. Former Gophers Hannah Tapp, Samantha Seliger-Swenson and Sarah Wilhite are gearing up for the Pan-Am Games in Peru on Aug. 7-11.
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“The head neurosurgeon came in and told me that it would be in my best interest, if I wanted to be a full functioning adult, not to play again,” Reigelsperger said. Reigelsperger, who was a redshirt his freshman year due to a torn labrum in his shoulder, was primed to have a role to help the team this year. However, after a lot of time thinking, he came to the conclusion to stop playing. “I talked to [P.J.]Fleck about it and talked to myself,” Reigelsperger said. “I just realized it was in my best interest to be the best ... father and brother and husband and anything else later in life that I want to be [and] just not play.” Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Reigelsperger played football since he was 8 years old. He started with flag football, eventually moving on to tackle football. It was all he had ever known. However, every player eventually calls it a career at some point, whether it be a 20-year NFL player or a kid in middle school. “You’re eventually going to have to hang your cleats up. It’s not something you expect your second year in college,” said Reigelsperger. Devastating news like this can have an effect on one’s mental state. Reigelsperger suffered from depression after making his decision not to play anymore, but he had a support system from his teammates, specifically Malcom Robinson, roommate Axel Ruschmeyer and the coaches. The culture Fleck and his staffed have instilled on the football program and its players were crucial for Reigelsperger’s wellbeing. “[Defensive coordinator] Rossi and [defensive line coach] Panagos would call me three to four times a week to make sure I was doing okay,” Regielsperger said. “I feel like if this happened to me anywhere else it probably would have been a lot harder.”
a great year. Our team is gearing up here pretty well. Hopefully we can win a big ten championship and get into the NCAA tournament and have a good run at it. It’s going to be fun to be a senior and a leader in their eyes, and show them the Gopher way.” Regular-season play began on July 10 and will be switching from Wednesday night games to every Monday and Wednesday throughout August.
“I just want people to understand that even though we’re athletes we’re still people at the end of the day.” ALEX REIGELSPERGER former defensive end
Joan Gabel, the new president at the University of Minnesota, has highlighted plans to get students more help with their mental health, which Reigelsperger thinks is a good thing. “People think just because we have free school, free food and free clothes that we don’t have mental health problems,” said Reigelsperger. “I just want people to understand that even though we’re athletes we’re still people at the end of the day.” Now that his career on the field is over, Reigelsperger has been allowed to keep his scholarship in order to continue working toward his youth studies degree. He wants to help at-risk kids who have been in trouble with the law turn their lives around. “A lot of us, including myself, was just one or two choices away from being in that predicament,” Reigelsperger said. “Which is why I want to be a juvenile probation officer.” One thing that Reigelsperger hasn’t yet decided is if he is going to stick around the game of football. The option for him to help the team, whether it be this year or the next, has been left open. He will miss one thing and one thing only when it comes to the sport. “Winning,” said Reigelsperger. “It’s a lot more fun when you win.” Even though he won’t be contributing to the team, he has confidence and high hopes for this Gophers football team. “Nobody will say anything if they go 11-1 this year,” said Reigelsperger. “I could see them easily playing in the Big Ten Championship game.”
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MN DAILY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019
FOOD
Here’s the scoop: the best unexpected ice cream flavors in Minneapolis
JASMIN KEMP, DAILY
CLOCKWISE FROM THE LEFT: (1) Clara Samper-Zelaya licks her ice cream on Saturday, July 20 at Izzy’s Ice Cream in Minneapolis. (2) Customers order ice cream after waiting in a long line at Izzy’s Ice Cream in Minneapolis on Saturday, July 20. (3) Milkjam Creamery as seen on Friday, July 19 in Minneapolis.
A&E explored and found the local ice cream spots you should check out. BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com
With weather creeping into the high 80s this week, ice cream is becoming more of a necessity than a summer treat. To help you combat the heat wave, A&E visited a few ice cream shops near campus to scout out the shops with the most unique flavor combinations. Izzy’s Ice Cream 1100 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis First on the list is Izzy’s ice cream, home of the tiny Izzy scoop. With 32 rotational flavors, including Strawber-
ry Mint Mojito and Sage Brown Butter, Izzy’s had by far the most flavors for customers to sample. Charlotte Wolf, a University of Minnesota sophomore studying acting and social justice, said that every time she comes into work at Izzy’s there is a different flavor on display, often something she’s never even tried before. As the line of customers snaked out the door, it was clear Izzy’s was doing something right. Many enjoyed their cones on the grass of Gold Medal Park outside while others huddled in the safety of the air conditioning. Flavors to tr y: Mango Django (mango, pink peppercorns, cayenne pepper, poppy seeds, honey, balsamic vinegar) and Butter Queen Cof fee (brown butter, cof fee-based ice cream,
chocolate-covered espresso flakes) Sonny’s Ice Cream 3403 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis Decorated like an Italian cafe, Sonny’s Ice Cream exemplifies the deliciousness of local ingredients in a beautiful location. Employee Annie Dexheimer said Sonny’s gets a lot of repeat customers, some even coming on the same day every week. When one regular was moving out of state and said he’d miss their Chocolate Habanero ice cream, the owner was sure to have a batch ready for his departure. With flavors like Candied Ginger, Cardamom Black Pepper and Blood Orange Sorbet, it’s clear that Sonny’s creativity and hospitality makes it worth
the trek. Flavors to tr y: Cucumber Sorbet with Pinot Grigio and Fresh Mint and Sur fer Dude (cold press cof fee and Surly’s Bender brown ale) Milkjam Creamer y 2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis Next is Milkjam Creamery, whose line on most evenings stretches a block or two away from their door. With 16 rotational flavors, including PB vs. Everybody, Hibiscus Lemonade and Thai Tea, Milkjam is well known in the Twin Cities for their rich and creamy dessert. Although they carry the usual ice cream toppings of chocolate fudge and whipped cream, Milkjam also offers extra virgin olive oil, vegan black
caramel and rum butterscotch for customers to splurge on too. Last August, Milkjam added something you might not expect to see — an ice cream and hot dog stand (1848 E. 38th St, Minneapolis). Serving multiple flavors of ice cream and specialty dogs like the Guacever Dog, this could be a spot to go if you’re looking for a little something extra. Flavors to try: Uma Thurman (Greek yogurt with passion fruit lychee swirl), Black (a vegan dark cocoa) La La Homemade Ice Cream 3146 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis a La Homemade Ice Cream specializes in simple and seasonal flavors
using local produce. With fan favorites like Sweet Basil Vanilla, Rhubarb and Raspberry Honey, La La’s ice cream doesn’t fuss around with preservatives or artificial flavorings. Kajal Ondich, a University student who works at the shop, said La La gets their strawberries from a local farm, and owner Jennifer Lisburg hand-picks the rhubarb needed for their recipes. For those who maybe aren’t looking for flavors too far outside their comfort zone, La La offers a sweet release from the summer sun with good flavor and nice company. Flavors to tr y: Good Girl (almond, lavender and burnt honey) and Marzipan Chip (almond ice cream with chopped dark chocolate)
DIGGING IN
Central Avenue’s El Taco Riendo is a tried-and-true community favorite
“Corriendo means running, because we are a fast food restaurant. ‘Está corriendo’ means ‘it’s running.’ The word riendo means smiling. Everybody walks out of here smiling and happy because they have a great meal.”
El Taco Riendo has brought inexpensive, tasty Mexican food to the Twin Cities for over a decade. BY LIV MARTIN omartin@mndaily.com
El Taco Riendo is a mainstay on Central Avenue, a street lined with restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. In the span of a few blocks, one can find Thai, Ecuadorian, Middle Eastern, Americanstyle food and some deliciously authentic Mexican food. The restaurant opened just over a decade ago. Owner Miguel Gomez’s philosophy has been the same since the start: to serve inexpensive, efficient and fresh food. Even on a recent 93-degree day, there was a long line of customers at the counter. Joey Himmelspach, who lives nearby, was eating their usual order: a vegetarian quesadilla. Not only is the food lowcost and good, they said, but eating at a local chain helps the community. “It’s supporting small businesses. It’s helping POC,” Himmelspach said. Their friend, Kevin James, agreed. “Here the money goes back into pockets . . . back into the community. You know where it’s going,”
MIGUEL GOMEZ Owner of El Taco Riendo TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Customers line up for the late afternoon rush at El Taco Riendo on Central Avenue in Minneapolis on Friday, July 19.
James said. Himmelspach eats at El Taco Riendo at least once a month — and they aren’t alone. Gomez says the restaurant has many regulars. Cashier Vanessa Ramos says there are some who come every day. “We are surprised sometimes, because we can have a winter storm and yet we still have customers coming in,” Ramos said.
The menu has been reliable for a long time, too. Favorites include “elote” (roasted corn with toppings), “pastor” (a marinated barbecue pork) and the famous foot-long burrito, made with two 6-inch tortillas (which weighs between 2.5 and 3 pounds). Though Gomez is from Mexico City, the menu has influences from all over Mexico.
General manager Carlos Morales, from Oaxaca, had a hand in making the special salsa used in the pastor and barbecue dishes. “I [brought] the recipe from Mexico,” he said. The recipe is secret, but Morales says it has pineapple and is more sweet than spicy. The restaurant’s walls are painted bright yellows and oranges — “colors
from Mexico,” said Gomez, — creating a festive atmosphere. In March, a new location in the northwest suburb of Crystal, Minnesota, opened. It’s much smaller, having previously been a Subway, but the concept is the same. It, too, features the business’s logo: a laughing, running taquito — an image hidden in the name “El Taco Riendo.”
“Corriendo means running, because we are a fast food restaurant. ‘Está corriendo’ means ‘it’s running,’” Gomez said. “And the word riendo means smiling. Everybody walks out of here smiling and happy because they have a great meal.” This is the sixth article in “Digging In,” a series about the stories behind beloved Twin Cities restaurants.
6 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
Editorials & Opinions
COLUMN
The green line extension should have gone to low-income neighborhoods The route goes to affluent suburbs, but it should have been designed to benefit underserved populations.
LEW BLANK columnist
L
ast November, when the U.S. government approved an extension of Minneapolis’ Green Line light rail route to Eden Prairie, it was touted as a massive victory for economic justice in underserved communities in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey applauded the public transit expansion in a tweet for its commitment to “advancing economic justice and building a stronger
workforce, responsible climate policy, and access to more affordable housing options,” But while the new route is a clear positive from an environmental lens, allowing suburban commuters to travel to and from the city in eco-friendly electric trains instead of gas-guzzling SUVs, I believe it fell short from a lens of economic equity. In practically every level of public office, from mayor to governor to president, elected leaders will face decisions of whether to invest in business growth or to allocate resources for low-income communities. Should a city construct a sparkling business plaza or build hundreds of affordable housing developments? Should it create a tax haven for corporations or invest in grocery options for poor neighborhoods? In many cases, pro-business decisions will line up with the interests of the working class by expanding employment and economic growth. But in other cases, too strong of a focus on business growth can overshadow potential investments that would be substantially more beneficial to the communities that need it most: low-income neighborhoods. When the Twin Cities’ Metropolitan Council drafted its Green Line expansion route, it may have fallen into this mistake. According to interactive data from the Urban Institute, Twin Cities areas in the bottom 10 percent of socioeconomic status are clustered near the city centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and typically contain a large percentage of people of color. This includes majority-black neighborhoods in North Minneapolis and majority-Hmong communities in St. Paul. The Green Line’s new southwest extension avoids all of these neighborhoods.
Instead, it glides along Lake of the Isles, stopping in the affluent neighborhood of Kenwood, which is in the upper 10 percent in the U.S. in terms of socioeconomic status. The suburban route then meanders through majority-white, low-density suburban areas to Eden Prairie. The Metropolitan Council came to this decision because of a lot of factors, including the constraints of President George W. Bush’s cost-effectiveness rating system, which prioritized suburban transit options, and the appeal of opening up opportunities for city-dwellers to commute to suburban jobs. The issue is that the Council focused too much on cost-effectiveness and suburban business growth and too little on the massive benefits of connecting people of color in Minneapolis and St. Paul directly to the light rail transportation grid. As a result of these misguided priorities, the new light rail could widen the alreadyexisting gap in economic development between urban and suburban parts of the Twin Cities. Suburbs are already growing at much faster rates than Minneapolis’ and St. Paul’s urban cores, according to a 2017 data analysis from the Star Tribune. The Green Line expansion will likely invigorate this dynamic, whereas bringing a light rail line to lower-income neighborhoods could have instead revitalized the economies of places like North Minneapolis. Evidence of the power of reaching lowincome communities with the Twin Cities’ light rail system can be seen in the existing Green Line route from Minneapolis to St. Paul, which connects multiple lower income communities to economic hubs. Although local residents had valid concerns about the possible gentrification the
COLUMN
No peace, but more police? Communities with high crime rates need more resources and long-term crime prevention goals, not more policing.
CAROLINE SKOOG columnist
M
inneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo requests that 400 officers be added to the Minneapolis Police Department by 2025. Arradondo contends that the current police force, consisting of 888 officers, is stretched too thin to adequately respond to the amount of 911 calls in the Minneapolis area. Given the MPD’s repugnant past, including, but not limited to, the murders of unarmed 28-year-old David Smith in 2010, 24-year-old Jamar Clark in 2015 and 40-year-old Justine Damond in 2017, it’s
difficult to envision that adding more police will be the harbinger of de-escalation. Moreover, murders committed by police officers hardly represent the totality of departmental misconduct. With its history of brutal discrimination, not to mention the fact that Minneapolis cops haven’t been required to live in the precinct that they police since 1999, increasing law enforcement’s presence doesn’t seem like a move to strengthen community ties, but rather an effort to subjugate marginalized communities. To argue that these murders were the result of a few bad-apple cops is to ignore the systemic enforcement by the police force that is designed to criminalize and incarcerate marginalized communities — specifically communities of color. Similarly, arguing that criminals are instances of individual misbehavior neglects the social, political and economic structures in place that corner a person into criminal activity. Poverty and lack of resources are the root causes of crime. Because these issues correspond to geography, neighborhoods with higher levels of crime endure perpetual neglect of resources, in effect fortifying economic disparities between communities. Justice for a community is not simply “locking up the bad guys.” Crime reduction is more than a matter of police patrol, which prioritizes reactionary work. Investing in long-term crime reduction means supplying the resources linked to crime prevention: workforce development, youth and neighborhood programs, accessible substance abuse treatment facilities and public education. A study conducted at New York University demonstrated this hypothesis when researching the impact of new crimeprevention-oriented nonprofits on crime rate in 264 cities from 1990 to 2013. The results showed that, in a city of 100,000,
each nonprofit organization accomplished a 1.2 percent decrease in the homicide rate along with a 1 percent decrease in violent crime and 0.7 percent decrease in property crime rates. Arradondo’s emphasis on 911 calls as the reason for increasing the police force raises the question of what the police are currently tasked with. 911 calls consist of varying crises, many of which do not require an armed police officer. For example, in situations involving mental or behavioral health, 911 can be called without the need of an armed officer present. Granted, police do possess some form of mental health training, but the presence of law enforcement officials can be intimidating and stigmatizing for people with mental illness. Wouldn’t a response from a specialized mental health professional be more effective? If the police force is as stretched as Arradondo says, why not delegate certain responsibilities — which don’t require a gun and badge — to specialists like social workers within the community? As of 2019, the police force comprises 11 percent of the city budget. Allocating more funds to the police department, by nature of a budget, divests from community resources that focus on disrupting patterns of crime. More cops is a reactionary maneuver rather than a proactive solution. The rate of crime in Minneapolis cannot be addressed without taking its underlying causes into account.
A note from the family of Dylan Christy The former University student passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 11, 2019.
Dylan was born in 1997 to Dale and Misty Christy in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 2016 and was a junior at the University of Minnesota.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation for all the kindness and generosity shown to us at the time of Dylan’s death. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support. It gives us comfort knowing that Dylan built his second home at the University of Minnesota, where he was surrounded by loving friends. We would especially like to thank Dylan’s brothers of Delta Tau Delta Beta Eta Chapter, the University of Minnesota, the Gopher Athletics Department, and those who shared messages of sympathy, flowers, gifts of money, and acts of kindness. We truly appreciate you honoring Dylan’s life.
Dylan loved his family, traveling, music, sports, volunteering, his brothers from Delta Tau Delta and spending time with all of his friends and his best friend “who he loved like a brother,” Alex Rajala.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHRISTY FAMILY
Lew Blank welcomes comments at lblank@mndaily.com. SHARE YOUR VIEWS The Minnesota Daily welcomes letters and guest columns from readers. All letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. The Daily reserves the right to edit all letters for style, space, libel and grammar. Letters to the editor should be no more than 500 words in length. Guest columns should be approximately 350 words. The Daily reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication.
letters@mndaily.com Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414 EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.
Caroline Skoog welcomes comments at cskoog@mndaily.com.
OBITUARY
The family of Dylan Christy Dale, Misty, Brielle, and Marriah
original Green Line would cause, the project overall delivered a major boost in job opportunities for low-income residents by reaching them directly with the light rail. Overall, while the Green Line’s southwest expansion will likely bolster economic growth in a macroeconomic sense, it might do less to alleviate disparities between Twin Cities residents than other routes focused on low-income urban neighborhoods. In other words, while the new extension might improve quality of life for some Twin Cities residents, its benefits might not reach the residents who need it most. In fairness, the Metropolitan Council is now pursuing a Blue Line extension through parts of North Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center. This project, however, has been a second priority to the Green Line extension, even though its recipients are significantly more diverse than those of the suburban route to Eden Prairie. With the Green Line extension set to cost about $2 billion overall — more than quadruple Metro Transit’s annual revenue — the Metropolitan Council should have used its limited resources to invest in public transportation options in a way that maximizes its impact on low-income communities. A transit-way to wealthy suburbs might not have been the best way to do that.
Dylan was preceded in death by his grandfather, Robert Christy. He is survived by his parents, Misty and Dale; sisters, Brielle Christy (Zac Quammen) of Minneapolis and Marriah Christy of Grand Rapids; grandmothers, Jean Christy of Grand Rapids and Michele Gooch of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandfather, Robert (Carol) Marcella of Grand Rapids; and special aunts and uncles, Deron (Kristeen), Gina, Mike (LeAnn), Abe, Britta, Tony and
THE EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPARTMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEWSROOM
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019
MN DAILY
HOROSCOPES
Today’s Birthday (7/24): Prioritize family, fun and romance this year. Persistent action grows your stamina and skills. A summer fitness challenge or test comes to a satisfying conclusion by next winter, when new circumstances require adaptation. Energy and romantic collaboration surge again next summer. Play together.
MNDAILY.COM
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 — Financial challenges could seem daunting. Handle home repairs or other unexpected expenses. Your outlook improves later. Clean, sort and organize.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Evaluate shared financial options and opportunities. You may need to spend money to make more. Invest in your enterprise. Cut where you can.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — You don’t always feel beautiful, strong or witty. Keep doing what you know works, and confidence builds. Express your feelings, and get back in action.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 7 — An obstacle in your relationship could become apparent. Have patience with your partner. Think before you speak. Support each other.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 7 — Stay frugal. Avoid traffic and crowds. Unexpected expenses or delays could arise. Find a beautiful view, then rest and recharge.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 7 — Restraint serves you well. Push your body too far, and pay the price. Note your physical limitations and boundaries. You’re growing stronger.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is an 8 — Don’t stir up jealousies. Practice humility with your team. Emotions could seem close to the surface. Share support and compassion.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 6 — Get cozy. Be gentle, especially with children and animals. Short tempers could make a mess seem worse. Walk outside, and breathe deeply.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Focus on a professional objective. Keep your patience when confronting what doesn’t work. You may need to make a mess to create something beautiful.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 7 — Patiently unravel a tough situation at home. Listen more than you speak. Abandon a preconception that no longer serves. Prioritize family harmony.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 7 — Abandon preconceptions about your studies or travels. Avoid risk or hassle and observe what’s going on around you. Don’t set unrealistic expectations.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — Postpone important communications. Don’t offer suggestions yet. Poetry offers another perspective. Notice the underlying symbolism.
DR. DATE Dr. Date, How can it be? My love, today, he’s 23! And Dr. Date, he’s also far, far away, So today, all I can say, Is, Dear Jake: Happy birthday. It may be by design, but my dear, you deserve a rhyme: because as a kind of your own, always remember, you’re not alone. As a true truth teller, Smart advice seller, Tall, trusted and true bike peddler, You’re one who, speaking as a sender, Deserves nothing but candid splendor. So with these words, Remember this: Your friends in Minnesota think you deserve nothing but bliss. On a day so special, so true, because it’s crafted just for you. Just like the cake that I cannot make, for my dear Jake. It just about makes my heart break.
that. It’s definitely weird that she wants it in the first place, but I’ve never really had a girlfriend before and I like her so much it doesn’t really bother me. But then I got to the bottom of it. It said «other duties as assigned.» What does that even mean? Doesn’t that mean I have to do pretty much whatever she wants me to do? Help!
—The Contractual Lover
Dear The Contractual Lover,
First off, the University Student Legal Service’s phone number is 612-6241001. Get help. You’ve gotten yourself stuck between a rock and a lonely place. I’m sure the prospect of having a serious girlfriend sounds great right now, but I need you to stay strong for the City Boys. While you may think it would be worth your blood, sweat and tears, nothing is worth your integrity. If you sign that contract, you would be at her beck and call; you would have to constantly plan lavish dates, get that rid of that rank smell that comes from her bathroom from time to time and you may even be forced to write advice columns against your will. Take my advice, young one, and stay far away from her. Trust me — it isn’t worth it.
—Dr. Date
So today I hope this letter will suffice, And dear Dr. Date, I hope you’ll ensure that dear Jake’s birthday is nothing but full and pure.
—anonymous Dr. Date,
I just started dating my girlfriend last month, and I have to say, it’s amazing. She’s kind, she’s smart and I love being around her. We haven’t necessarily had any fights or anything like that, except for a few small things, and I’ve taken that as a positive sign that we have a great shot at staying together for a while. But last week, she brought me a contract to sign. It listed off my «duties» as her boyfriend in a job description. Most of it made sense to me. She wants me to be nice to her and her family, get her presents on her birthday, stuff like
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.
7/24/19
For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.
Last issue’s solution
© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
8
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Trump seeks shift in education system White House policy hopes to create a workforce-geared education system. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com
As some Democratic presidential primary candidates are prescribing drastic higher education policy ideas, President Donald Trump sees pushing a workforce-oriented education system as the best way to “Keep America Great.” While specific proposals are not outlined on his campaign website, in March, the White House detailed policy goals to better align education with the workforce needs of a modern economy, to reform student loans and to continue reducing the regulative reach of the government. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, will ultimately face the Democratic candidate who survives a crowded primary race currently consisting of over 20 candidates, some of whom have proposed free college and forgiving all student debt. Citing the large share of non-traditional students who may work full-time or have dependents, Trump’s policy proposals call for higher education institutions to be innovative and career-focused, accusing the current system of being “slow to adapt to the changing nature of work.” University of Minnesota computer science major Sam Williams said while incentivizing career-focused education is reasonable and advertising to potential students interested in fields with labor shortages, such as computer science, is good, there are other education paths valuable to the economy. The policy goals urge Congress to increase access for skill development by creating pilot programs geared toward educating a workforce more in tune with a modern economy. Incoming junior Taylor Rivera said while she does
MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
not agree with Trump on much, she thinks careeroriented education “benefits everybody.” The proposal tells Congress to expand Pell Grant eligibility to include shorter certificate or license programs in high demand fields, increasing access to these programs that are completed faster than traditional 2- and 4-year degrees. Rather than extend Pell Grants, Nathan Harman, president of the University’s College Republicans, said in an email he would like to see these programs “wound down” because “the government doesn’t know what kind of return in the economy that [these grants are] going to
make on this investment.” Seeking to simplify loan repayment, the White House proposes capping all monthly payment plans at 12.5 percent of discretionary income and extending loan forgiveness programs after 180 months to all undergraduates, doing away with current forgiveness programs targeted solely at graduates who take a qualifying nonprofit or government job. They also seek to put “common-sense” limits on Parent and Grad PLUS loans, something Rivera sees as a “double-edged sword.” “You want people to have access to those loans because it might be the only way to pay for school long-
term,” said Rivera, who has taken out Parent PLUS loans herself. “But I also think they can be really destructive ... getting that to be refinanced to me and not be linked to my parents is virtually impossible right now.” The proposal also compels Congress to reform the current Federal Work Study program, shifting from subsidized student employment as financial aid to highlighting more job-focused opportunities for low income students. Last month, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos unveiled proposed regulations aimed to limit some of the regulatory burden of accreditor oversight and streamline approval for distance
education, which often comes in the form of online classes. The proposed rules fall in line with broader Trump Administration goals to slash regulation across the board, and DeVos said in a statement they allow schools to “spend more time and effort on serving students and less time, energy and money focused on bureaucratic compliance.” Last July, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded several Obama-era guidance documents encouraging schools to bolster diversity through the admissions process, outlining legal ways to consider the race of applicants by using a holistic approach to admissions. Harman said he would
like to see restrictions placed on using affirmative action in the admissions process. “Universities that aggressively use it to justify their admissions processes that use non-academic characteristics of [a] prospective student run the risk of mismatching otherwise very capable students with colleges that are still too rigorous for them,” Harman said in an email. Harman said these kinds of admission practices pose ethical concerns as it treats some students as “mere helpless diversity tokens rather than equal human beings that have the potential to contribute new and challenging ideas to the social climate on campuses everywhere.”
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Episode 1 - UMN President Eric Kaler's resignation announcement Episode 2 - Financial Aid and Scholarship Distribution Episode 3 - Proposed Gender Expression Policy at the University of Minnesota Episode 4 - Campus-area crime and WAM art rentals Episode 5 - UMN class designs clothes for girls in Uganda Episode 6 - Bug diets and Morris' tuition waivers Episode 7 - Conservative group's bridge mural vandalized Episode 8 - Women in STEM Episode 9 - Exploring the University's myth, legends and tall tales Episode 10 - Midterm Elections Roundup Episode 11 - UMN responds to football lawsuit, student tenant rights Episode 12 - Gen Z is the most stressed-out generation, study shows Episode 13 - How did the U bring home 'the axe' Episode 14 - Striving for diversity in CFANS Episode 15 - Living with diabetes as a student Episode 16 - The government showdown Episode 17 - Continued tuition hikes at UMN Episode 18 - The bittersweet life of UMN sugar babies Episode 19 - Connecting in Cedar-Riverside over free tea and pizza Episode 20 - The renaming of Coffman Episode 21 - Legacy taking over Morrill Hall Episode 22 - A fierce push for student data privacy Episode 23 - What to do with, how to manage all of the snow Episode 24 - Understanding eating disorders at UMN Episode 25 - Supporting students serving mandatory military time Episode 26 - Cedar-Riverside weighs safety priorities Episode 27 - Where does the U's water come from? Episode 28 - Students run free clinic for Minneapolis Episode 29 - How renaming was rejected Episode 30 - Controversy over pregnancy centers near campus