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EARLY WEEK MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019
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SERVING THE UMN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900
FOOTBALL
‘LET IT GO’
Gophers fans react to a Badgers touchdown at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30. Wisconsin won 38-17, reclaiming Paul Bunyan’s Axe in the process. (Parker Johnson / Minnesota Daily)
Questionable calls throughout the game cost the Gophers Paul Bunyan’s Axe. BY JOHN MILLER jmiller@mndaily.com
Big-time moments call for big-time play calls. Head coach P.J. Fleck admitted he didn’t make them. “I apologize to our fans for not being able to get it done, because it falls on my shoulders,” he said. “I did not get it done for our fans.” When the Gophers needed a big play, too often they chose to be conservative. Questionable decisions would be Minnesota’s downfall as
they fell 38-17 against Wisconsin to lose Paul Bunyan’s Axe, the Big Ten West and a chance for more. With the loss, the Gophers’ regular season is over and they await a bowl game assignment. “We weren’t a good enough team to win the Big Ten West today,” said Fleck. “You got to take your hat off to Wisconsin.” Things were looking good for Minnesota as they jumped out to
an early 7-0 lead over Wisconsin after quarterback Tanner Morgan found wide receiver Rashod Bateman for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Minnesota forced the Badgers to punt on the ensuing drive, giving the Gophers’ offense the opportunity to go up by two scores in the first quarter. Minnesota’s offense continued to roll, as they made their way to the Wisconsin 35-yard line. On
SAFETY
third-and-two, the Gophers ran the Wildcat formation with Seth Green. As he ran up the middle, the stout Badger defensive line was there to meet him for no gain. Minnesota had a chance to assert its authority early on in the game by going for it on fourth down for a chance to extend their lead. Fleck decided against it, u See FOOTBALL Page 4
BUSINESS
After an uptick in tresspassing, U tightens security Dessert shop The number of trespassto take place related incidents more than doubled from 2017 of Oishii Poké to 2018 at the University. BY YVES DE JESUS ydejesus@mndaily.com
Honk Kong inspired Mango Mango Dessert will likely open in Dinky early next year.
The University of Minnesota is ramping up security to clamp down on trespassing incidents, which have increased in recent years. From January to September of this year, there have been 200 trespass-related incidents in University campus buildings, according to University of Minnesota Police Department crime data. The numbers have risen in previous years — the University saw a record number of trespass-related incidents in campus buildings in 2018 with 258 cases, more than doubling the total in 2017. An incident is defined as trespassing when a person enters or remains
BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com
lucky to have policies that affirm our First Amendment rights,” said Margaux Granath, a MSA at-large representative. “However, they are in no way comprehensive.” Granath said she is concerned that current policy does not expand enough on student rights, only stating that they exist. While public universities are not required to have their own free speech policies, MSA is looking for the University to adopt what is known as the Chicago Statement. A policy regarding free speech adopted by about 60 universities nationwide, the Chicago Statement states it “will help hold [an] institution accountable for protecting the free expression of rights of students and faculty.” Granath said MSA would like to see University administration adapt the statement to meet the specific needs of the University. Maggie Towle, interim vice provost for student affairs and dean
A new Dinkytown venture could be a fruitful addition to the area’s dessert offerings. Mango Mango Dessert,a Hong Kong-inspired dessert restaurant specializing in mango flavors, will replace Oishii Poké by early next year. Those involved in bringing Mango Mango to Dinkytown said it will offer a unique product to the business landscape. “We’re excited to bring something new to everybody to enjoy,” said Marshall Nguyen, real estate adviser to the shop’s owner, Sam Zheng. “It’s what people have been asking for.” The dessert shop will likely open the first week of January. The site currently houses Oishii Poké, which will close to make way for the dessert establishment. Oishii Poké owner Zheng, who also owns Bonchon next door, is turning the space into a franchise with Mango Mango. New York-based Mango Mango currently has 26 locations across the United States, serving a variety of mango-flavored desserts: fresh fruit dessert cups with ice cream or rice balls, slushie drinks, slices of cake, waffles and crepes. Most items include mango flavors, while some have other fruit flavors. The restaurant will have an atmosphere conducive to studying, well-fit for Dinkytown’s student population, Nguyen said. “They can come and study and eat desserts while they study, this is a great opportunity to bring something new to the marketplace,” he said. “The best place to start is Dinkytown.” Student and mango fan Julia Whitman said she is looking forward to having a new dessert concept in Dinkytown, especially one featuring mangoes. “It would be sweet,” she said.
u See MSA Page 3
u See MANGO Page 3
u See SECURIT Y Page 3
NEIGHBORHOODS
FREE SPEECH
Undergrad student gov. continues push for stronger speech policies Current policy upholds University students’ free speech rights, but MSA seeks specific guidelines. BY SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON shendrickson@mndaily.com
ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
Prospect Park drafts plan to meet City climate action goals, set standards Prospect Park’s climate action plan aims to meet citywide sustainability goals. BY EMMA DILL edill@mndaily.com
A Prospect Park group has drafted its own goals to help the community do its part in meeting citywide energy reduction metrics. The Prospect Park Association’s environment committee adopted a climate action plan draft Tuesday. u See CLIMATE PLAN Page 3
In what some call a divisive culture on campus, the Minnesota Student Association is pushing for First Amendment education and a stronger University of Minnesota free speech policy. While current University policy affirms that students have freedom of speech rights under the First Amendment, some MSA members say that the policy lacks guidelines for how students can exercise that freedom. The undergraduate student government, in an effort to outline for students what their constitutional rights are, is currently in the process of pushing for a more comprehensive policy. It will also encourage campuswide education, like panels and listening sessions. “We, as a University, are very
VOLUME 120 ISSUE 27
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019
MN DAILY
Daily Review
MNDAILY.COM
CAMPUS EVENTS CALENDAR MONDAY
Campus Bands Concert
7:30 p.m. in Ted Mann Concert Hall Join the Maroon and Gold Campus Bands for a night of free music.
TUESDAY
Compass Holiday Party
4 p.m. in CSOM 1-136 Join Compass to celebrate the season over cookies and sparkling beverages.
WEDNESDAY
Threads
THURSDAY
3 - 7 p.m. in the Nolte Center Visit this pop-up thrift shop hosted by the International Justice Mission.
OSHUN
7 p.m. in the Whole Music Club Listen to this independent hip-hop/soul duo will perform Afrofuturistic music.
Monday, December 2, 2019 Vol. 120 No. 27
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THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1954 The U.S. Senate condemns Senator Joseph McCarthy for his investigation of suspected communitsts in the U.S. government, military and civilian society.
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Gabel talks climate, UMN history
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University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel fields questions in her office on Thursday, Sept. 5. (Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily File Photo)
She also discussed football and her favorite moment so far as president. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com President Joan Gabel spoke about reckoning with the University of Minnesota’s past, the school’s role in combating climate change and what Rachel Croson, the next provost, will bring to the University, in a conversation with the Minnesota Daily last month. It’s been a really exciting season for Gopher football. You, coming from a place where you haven’t been part of Gopher football before, what is this like for you, being part of this season? Well, it’s really fun. I’m having fun. I’m also very pleased to see that this all happens in an environment of off the field success — high GPAs, great graduation rates. … It has a momentum that the rest of us pick up on. But also it has brought a lot of people to the University in the excitement of it. … It gives us a platform to talk about other wonderful student programs and some of our research and some of our community engagement, so it’s great. Some changes in graduate student health insurance resulted in some things unexpectedly not being covered anymore. How can the University make changes like this smoother
for grad students in the future? … We had, I think, as much of a communication challenge as a substantive challenge that left students unaware of how to navigate. In each of the cases where students experienced a change where a particular thing they needed treatment or medication did not appear to be covered, those students eventually were taken care of one-on-one, to have their situations resolved in at least a mutually satisfying way. But the idea that our students felt for one minute like we didn’t care and like we did this in a way that didn’t include them … was very upsetting to a lot of people, including me, and I am sorry that that happened. I think the most important thing we do is commit to better communication going forward, and additionally maintaining the consultation that led to the original decision. What do you see as the University’s responsibility in combating climate change? I think we have a lot of scholarship that we have the potential to deepen and support that can provide at a minimum mitigation and, with any luck, some solutions. I think we also are a community of curiosity ... who can pose questions [and] be active in service and volunteerism. … [When] we have legitimate opinions about policy based on subject matter expertise, we need to allow the academic voice to speak on those issues. I think that totality of scholarship, expertise, education,
community engagement and volunteerism is where and how we best fulfill our obligations and responsibilities as any citizen would. Do you think the University should be tr ying to set a model for how it conducts its own energy usage? Yes. I think that we have improved greatly in our efforts to be more, broadly speaking, more green. We have work to do. ... I think we get better every year and we should continue to get better. With every decision we make, take into consideration the footprint of that decision. … There’s, for better or for worse, still a lot of opportunity for us to continue to get better. You just hired a new provost. What qualities do you hope she’ll bring to the job? [Rachel Croson] has a spectrum of really interesting qualities. So in addition to just being a very lovely person, ... her area of expertise really puts her in a position to see things from multiple points of view, which I think from per s onal experience is critically important to that role. ... She has a large body of undergrad, graduate, professional and doctoral students. So she sees that point of view of student engagement. … She also has spent time in a leadership position on a system campus when she was in Texas. So I think she has a really good perspective on that, on top of being an incredibly accomplished scholar
herself. … I think she’s really got exactly what we need. Last [month] the Depar tment of African American and African Studies hosted a lecture about the University’s histor y with slaver y. What ar e some ways that the University can reckon with this aspect of the past? I think not the least of which is to host speakers like Dr. [Christopher] Lehman and bring people like him in who have subject matter expertise and a point of view. What I really liked about that event is that he was the primary speaker on his book ... but we had a panel with a variety of points of view. The president’s office was really honored to co-sponsor that … and to have it be a part of an ongoing sense of how we as an institution lean into our ability to educate and inform as part of reckoning. We need to understand our history in order to develop either indicia or programs and that allow us to heal. ... So I think reckoning comes with an understanding and Dr. Lehman and others help us deepen our understanding. Last [month] there was also a campus community discussion about the education opportunities to reckon with the University’s past following renaming. How is the development of those opportunities going? This is hard stuff but really important. And so in the context of a painful
history, I think it’s going well, in that we’re working really closely with a lot of different constituencies on campus and with community partners, to think about how we fulfill the [Board of Regents’] charge as the floor, but it doesn’t have to be the ceiling. We can think about other ways … expanding the knowledge base, developing curricula, exposing our students to multiple points of view and then allowing them to discern and become their own critical analysts, have their own opinion. ... I think that it would be better if we had no pain in our history, if our history wasn’t complicated, but it is. And so we need to learn about it, study it, educate about it and do our best to be preventers of further pain. We’re in your fifth month as president now. What has been a specific moment that you consider your favorite? … I would say the inauguration. After getting married and having my children, it would probably be the biggest day of my life. … Part of why it was such a happy day is because of the way the community rallied, and the fact that the community could. That we set it up in a way where everyone could come and it was really joyful and fun, and it allowed us to showcase a lot of really good things that we do. This interview has been edited for length, grammar and clarity.
Five dead after high-rise apartment fire The apartments in Cedar-Riverside are designated as public housing. BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com Five people have died after a fire broke out in a public housing high-rise apartment building in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on Wednesday morning. Minneapolis Fire Department crews responded to a fire around 4 a.m. on Wednesday at the 25-story
Cedar High Apartments located at 630 Cedar S. in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. “We are a resilient community, we will overcome this tragedy,” said Ward 6 City Council member Abdi Warsame at an afternoon news conference. News conference references were sourced from a live video streamed by Star Tribune reporter, Libor Jany, on Twitter. The 191-unit apartment building is operated by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, home to many low-income residents.
The most recent count of residents living in the 1960’sera building at the time was 198, with mostly single adults, said Jeff Horwich, a spokesperson for MPHA at the news conference. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they were unable to see the building above the eighth floor, said Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel. Smoke was venting out from the windows, he said. “I’d like to express our department’s condolences to the families,” Fruetel said at the news conference. “We had such a
horrific loss of life today.” The fire started on the 14th floor of the building and extended down the hallway. Four people were found on the 14th floor and pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth person was found in the stairway of the apartment building, where they later died at the hospital. Details on which hospital have not yet been shared. Three others were also taken to the hospital for medical concerns, and one firefighter for a minor injury. The fire was extinguished in about 30 min-
utes. Workers with the American Red Cross were also on the scene early to aid those impacted. Tracey Scott, interim executive director for MPHA, said most people in the complex were not affected by the fire. Fewer than nine households have been displaced temporarily due to water or fire damage. MPHA will provide them with housing in the meantime, she said at a news conference. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Fruetel said as of now, it looked like the cause is accidental.
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Monday, December 2, 2019
MSA u from Page 1
Pedestrians make their way into Moos Tower on Wednesday, Nov. 20. As temperatures drop Moos Tower sees an increase in foot traffic. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily)
Security u from Page 1
inside University property even though they are not supposed to be there, according to UMPD. While only health sciences buildings such as Moos Tower and Diehl Hall have new security restrictions, Vice President of University Services Mike Berthelsen said the University is “trying to learn from what we’re doing in health sciences [so] we could apply it more broadly.” Berthelsen, who manages University operations including public safety, facilities management and other system-wide services, said the measure is part of the University’s progress in increasing security on campus. Berthelsen worked with the health sciences deans to finalize the plan. “Just as keeping patients safe in our hospitals and clinics is fundamental to the care we provide, so too is keeping students, faculty, and staff safe and secure on our campus. If we cannot do this, nothing else matters,” Medical School Dean Jakub Tolar said in a statement to the Minnesota Daily. The security changes for health sciences buildings, taking effect Dec. 2, will limit public access to three different entrances staffed by front desk security. Students will need their U Cards to enter the buildings but will not be required to wear them, unlike faculty and staff who will need to wear visible University identification. “The health sciences [buildings] are so open — and it’s good for us students because we get to travel freely,” said Juveria Tabassum, a
third-year student who frequents the Bio-Medical Library in Diehl Hall. “But it also has lots of security openings. If someone were to come in and do something, then [we’re] vulnerable.” Exploring all options In 2014, the University took a major step toward building security, restricting skyway and tunnel access to certain hours. Card-swipe access systems allowed for those only affiliated with the University to enter during building hours otherwise closed to the public. Bethelsen and his team explored other ideas before arriving to the final security changes for the health sciences buildings. One idea was whether the University could lock down public spaces within buildings to keep them separate from private spaces, such as offices or medical labs. “The problem is that we’ve built a set of buildings as open and inclusive as we possibly could,” Berthelsen said. “The number of doors is in the thousands, the number of stairwells is in probably hundreds and … trying to lock all that down inside became impossible, or enormously difficult and very, very expensive.” In October, a student was stabbed with a needle in the Bio-Medical Library. The suspect was immediately apprehended. Berthelsen said that the plan has been in the works for months and is not in direct response to any recent security incidents in campus buildings. University students and staff who frequent the buildings were supportive of the security changes overall. Some, like second-year pharmacy student Nick Wagner, said
they believed changes in security were inevitable. “I feel like they’ve kind of exhausted all the things that they were going to try, and now it’s come to this,” Wagner said. “I think it’s a good step in the right direction.” Manny Taranco, a custodian who works in the buildings at night, said he welcomes the upcoming changes because it ensures that people unaffiliated with the University will have restricted access. “After 7 p.m., it’s only the people that should be here that are going to be here,” Taranco said. Security ahead Other parts of campus have also received a number of reported trespassing incidents. While the health sciences buildings have received 77 in 2019, trespassing incidents on campus buildings between East Bank, West Bank and St. Paul total 200. University Services, alongside UMPD, will have to continue to wait and see whether the same type of measures could be applied to other parts of campus, depending on its success. “I’m not assuming that this is exactly the plan that would be applied everywhere. Because the truth is, we have different kinds of buildings,” Berthelsen said. “This is about trying the right size, the right amount of security for each of our buildings.” The goal is to provide a safe and productive place for patients, students, staff and faculty, without worrying about security concerns, Berthelsen said. “Time will tell whether this works,” said UMPD Officer Chris Fonseca. “But I think everyone’s pretty optimistic that this is going to help a lot.”
dean of students, who has been working with MSA since spring 2018, stressed the importance of this issue since “divisiveness” is “really starting to affect all [University] students.” “There are many different viewpoints. I think people need to understand how to listen and have dialogue versus just shutting people down, and getting violent, or hiding behind social media,” Towle said. One of those specific needs is a more “proactive” rather than “reactive” approach to campus incidents, said MSA Campus Life Committee Chair Levi O’Tool. “We see discussion of it only after events, like if there’s a controversial speaker that comes to campus or
Climate plan u from Page 1
If approved by the organization’s board, Prospect Park will be one of the first neighborhoods in Minneapolis to adopt a formal climate action plan. The City of Minneapolis adopted a climate action plan in 2013 and plans to announce a climate emergency on Monday. City officials and committee members say they hope the plan will serve as a model for other neighborhoods. Mary Britton, PPA environment committee chair, spearheaded efforts to develop the plan. She drew inspiration from Transition Towns, an international network of communities and neighborhoods that aim to be more self-reliant and reduce their environmental impact. But Britton, who has a background in data science, said she also wants PPA’s climate plan to put more of an emphasis on measurable energy reduction. “I literally want to see the numbers drop,” she said. “From just the numbers viewpoint, this is going to be fascinating to see what we can do.” Britton collaborated with Prospect Park resident Jon
something like Paint the Bridge, and then we talk about it, rather than proactively having the conversation,” O’Tool said. In September, the UMN College Republican’s panel on Washington Avenue bridge was defaced for the fourth consecutive year. The mural was vandalized for its political messages, and the incident has sparked some controversial conversations about what is protected and what is not under freedom of speech. Advocacy efforts surrounding freedom of speech are not new to MSA. In spring 2018, a resolution on freedom of speech failed to pass in MSA forum due to a lack of student group representation on the issue. However, the Student Senate passed a resolution asking the University to adopt formal freedom of speech guidelines. This year, however, MSA
says it is dedicated to gathering those voices and educating the student body as a whole. “We want to have a culture and stance amongst students and the University that we acknowledge that there’s going to be some different speech and different ways of people expressing themselves, yet acknowledge that they have that right,” said Blake Paulson, a member of the MSA campus life committee. Towle emphasized that administration is open to seeing what students want to see changed in the policy. “It’s really important that we as a community here on this campus have a conversation on ... how we talk about free speech issues, and work with students so that they understand the First Amendment, and what role they can play in these conversations,” Towle said.
Urban, who has experience organizing grassroots efforts around climate change. Urban helped Britton develop a draft of the plan and suggested strategies for community engagement. The plan outlines goals for partnering with groups already working in the community, like South East Seniors, local churches and the University of Minnesota, to find new ways to reduce energy. He also stressed the importance of creating concrete metrics that the neighborhood can work toward. “Sometimes the mistake that the local grassroots organizations make is they kind of focus on education, and they don’t necessarily have real clear, measurable goals,” Urban said. “You can really easily spin your wheels if you don’t have clear, tangible, measurable goals.” Britton also wants the environment committee to provide Prospect Park residents with the information and resources they need to reduce their environmental impact. “I want [residents] to be able to come to the committee and say, ‘What can I do?’ I want them to be aware that they can get energy
audits. I want them to know what rebates are out there. I want them to feel part of the community,” Britton said. During its first year, the plan will focus on encouraging residents to have energy evaluations and take steps to increase the efficiency of their homes. In future years, the group also aims to extend this outreach to businesses. Some large student apartments are operated by management outside Prospect Park, which makes outreach more difficult, Britton said. Kim Havey, the director of the City’s Sustainability Office, said focusing on home energy usage is the first step in creating a larger impact on the environment. “We need everybody on deck and I encourage every neighborhood and every organization that has capacity or time and willingness to think about what they could do as an organization to do climate action and reduce our emissions,” Havey said. “The city can lead, but it’s all of us together that’s going to make it happen.” After gathering resident feedback, the environment committee plans to introduce the climate action plan to the community during a kick-off event this spring.
Puberty may be able to change the body’s stress response The study shows that adolescence can help kids adapt to trauma. BY NATALIE CIERZAN ncierzan@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota researchers recently found that the way the body responds to stress can change during puberty. The body’s stress response typically becomes set during childhood and does not change. For children who have experienced adversity early in life, this can lead to a stress response that does not work properly. The study, which was published last month, shows that during puberty the response can change and adapt to a
new environment. “We thought that was really promising because obviously a lot of people were thinking that early childhood was the end-all, be-all,” said co-author Carrie DePasquale, a doctoral student in the University’s Institute of Child Development. “Now what we’re showing is adolescence and puberty is actually potentially another time where the system can re-calibrate.” The main findings of the study revolve around the body’s hormonal stress response system, commonly referred to as the “HPA axis,” she said. When the human body undergoes stress, the hormone cortisone is produced to adapt to different life experiences. “When the stress
response systems are overactive, and they have chronic, prolonged activity, this can be really damaging,” DePasquale said, and can lead to attention issues or problems with self-regulation. This can happen to children who grew up in orphanages or in neglectful environments where they may have lacked a proper caregiver, she said. “Even if they’re adopted into [a] supported, well-researched home,” DePasquale said. “They’re still not able to activate their stress response in a way that’s helpful.” The study showed that over a period of five years, the stress response systems for children who grew up in a more positive environment were
Oishii Poke, soon to be the Mango Mango dessert shop, in Dinkytown as seen on Sunday, Dec. 1. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)
Mango u from Page 1
“[Dinkytown] definitely changes with trends … I’m wondering if [the shop] does well, if more dessert places will come up.” Other places offering desserts in Dinkytown include Insomnia Cookies, Wonders
Ice Cream, which opened fall 2018, and The Purple Onion, which sells Grand Ole Creamery ice cream. Besides adding a new dessert option to the area, the store’s ownership favored a switch from Oishii Poké because it will allow other poke restaurants in the area, like The Cove and JJ’s Poké, to thrive, Nguyen said.
Dinkytown is a good place for a concept like this, said Kent Kramp, owner of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers near the University of Minnesota campus. “There’s a reason we built in Dinkytown, it’s such an awesome neighborhood,” he said. “It’s such an active community with students … it’s a good recipe for success.”
able to adapt and begin to look like a typical child’s response, she said. “We’re such a long-lived organism, and the world can change, and puberty is a time of heightened plasticity of the brain,” said Megan Gunnar, the study’s co-author and director of the University’s Institute of Child Development. Throughout the five stages of puberty, researchers saw gradual changes to support this. “It’s telling us that if there’s not a sensitive period, there’s at least another very open and plastic period,” she said. “That’s a hopeful sign for kids that have experienced a lot of adversity early in life.” Researchers are still looking for additional evidence that this is the
case in humans. “The next question is really, how far does this extend? To what other systems does this extend?” Gunnar said. There’s also the question of whether this can occur in all children said Laura Stroud, a psychiatry and human behavior professor at Brown University. “Would we see these changes if they were in situations where there wasn’t such extreme deprivation in the past?” she said. Puberty can also be a troublesome time when things like depression or other disorders surface, Stroud said. This can change that narrative. “Starting to think of adolescence as a time of opportunity, I think, is just
important as a society,” she said. “Perhaps studies like these that help us understand the positive aspects of pubertal development may help us as a society sort of make life better for adolescents.”
“We thought that was really promising because obviously a lot of people were thinking that early childhood was the end-all, be-all.” CARRIE DEPASQUALE doctoral student
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Sports
SCOREBOARD NOV 28
Men’s Hockey Minnesota: 3 North Dakota: 9
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019
FOOTBALL
GOPHERS COME UP SHORT
NOV 29
Women’s Hockey Minnesota: 2 Boston College: 2
Men’s Basketball Minnesota: 68 DePaul: 73
Volleyball
Minnesota: 3 Rutgers: 0
Men’s Hockey Minnesota: 2 North Dakota: 3
Linebacker James Gordon leaves the field after losing to the Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30. Wisconsin won 38-17 reclaiming Paul Bunyan’s Axe. (Parker Johnson / Minnesota Daily)
NOV 30
Football
Minnesota: 17 Wisconsin: 38
Minnesota: 4 Harvard: 0
Minnesota wraps up its season at 7-2 in conference play.
Volleyball
BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com
Women’s Hockey
Minnesota: 3 Penn State: 1
UPCOMING DEC 2
Men’s Basketball vs. Clemson 8 p.m.
DEC 4
Swimming
Minnesota Invitational 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Source: Gophers Athletics. Times and scores accurate as of time of publication.
A morning of excitement and anticipation for Gophers fans turned into an evening of disappointment as Minnesota’s regular season ended on the doorstep of the Big Ten Championship game. Paul Bunyan’s Axe will return to Madison as No. 9 Minnesota (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) fell victim to a beat down at the hands of rival No. 13 Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten), 38-17. The Gophers reached the end zone less than three minutes into the game but would not do so again until the game was out of reach and fans had mostly dispersed. “It came down to, they made the plays when they presented themselves,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “We did not make the plays when they presented themselves and usually all year we made those plays. When you don’t make those plays, a game like
this happens.” On their second offensive snap, the Gophers showed that inclement weather conditions would not deter them from passing the ball. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman beat the Wisconsin secondary with a post rout and quarterback Tanner Morgan delivered with a 51-yard touchdown throw. “Beginning of the game, I thought we executed.” Bateman said. “Our details on that play worked, we were having fun out there. After that, I felt like the offense lost control of our details and we didn’t execute well as a unit.” Early in the second quarter, the teams traded turnovers. Wisconsin receiver Aron Cruickshank fumbled in Gophers territory, ending the Badgers’ most promising drive to that point. Three plays later, Morgan forced a pass into coverage which was intercepted by defensive back Caesar Williams. The Badgers could not find the end zone after the pick, but did get on the board with a field goal. “I just have to fold,”
Morgan said of his interception. “You can’t shape it over the linebacker when you only have five yards of space... I should have just taken the sack or found the check-down.” On its next possession, Minnesota could only move the ball to midfield before punting again. The Badgers then jumped in front after driving 82 yards, scoring on a 28-yard pass from quarterback Jack Coan to running back Jonathan Taylor. Coan led Wisconsin down the field once again after Minnesota opened the second half with a punt. The Badgers drove 91 yards in four plays as Coan connected with receiver Quintez Cephus for gains of 31 and 47 yards, the latter going for a touchdown. Cephus ended the game with 114 receiving yards. A 36-yard run from redshirt sophomore Mohamed Ibrahim helped move the Gophers into Wisconsin territory but they had to settle for a 38-yard field goal from kicker Michael Lantz. The Badgers ran a reverse on the ensuing kickoff that brought
the ball to the Minnesota 40-yard line. Another run around two plays later went for a 26-yard touchdown that made the score 24-10. “It’s hard to predict trick plays, it’s hard to predict reverses,” Fleck said “They did a good job calling them in the right position, right execution.” Needing to score, Minnesota drove the ball inside the Wisconsin five-yard line. With their best chance to score since the first quarter, Morgan threw consecutive passes to senior Tyler Johnson on third and fourth down, both of which fell incomplete. “We did not play well enough to win the Big Ten West today,” Fleck said. “It doesn’t mean we were not a good enough team to win the Big Ten West this year, we weren’t a good enough team to win the Big Ten West today.” Following the turnover on downs, Wisconsin delivered the decisive blow to the Gophers’ conference championship hopes. A third-down screen pass to running back Garrett Groshek gained 70
yards and Taylor carried the ball for an 11-yard score on the following play. Morgan fumbled on the Gophers’ next play from scrimmage, which quickly led to one more Wisconsin touchdown, once again from Taylor. Johnson also scored a touchdown for the Gophers, a score which had no effect on the game’s outcome, but did tie him with Ron Johnson for most receiving touchdowns in program history. With the defeat, the Gophers will sit at home next week as Wisconsin plays No. 2 Ohio State for the Big Ten title. Minnesota will now have to wait to learn its next opponent until bowl game matchups are announced. “We are going to get some time to regroup, to go ahead and get better,” senior defensive end Winston DeLattiboudere said. “If I want to see this program go where it needs to go, I need to spend this time instilling values and morals and work ethic into the younger guys because they are going to be the guys changing the page next year.”
The Gophers’ offense falls flat against Wisconsin After a promising first drive, the Gophers’ offense wasn’t the same. BY NOLAN O’HARA nohara@mndaily.com Points were hard to come by for the Gophers football team in snowy Minneapolis, as No. 9 Minnesota (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) fell to rival No. 13 Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten), 38-17. In a game that decided the winner of not only Paul Bunyan’s Axe but also the Big Ten West, the Gophers’ offense fell flat, especially after the loss of right tackle Daniel Faalele. Faalele did not return after getting carted off in the first quarter. Without Faalele, the Gophers’ offense stalled entirely, turning the ball over and getting shut out in the first half after their opening drive when redshirt sophomore Tanner Morgan hit sophomore receiver Rashod Bateman for a 51-yard touchdown. Despite
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however, choosing instead to take a delay of game penalty to give punter Jacob Herbers more room to avoid kicking the ball into the end zone for a touchback. “The biggest thing is the field position battle,” Fleck said. “It’s a fourth and a long two, you give Jonathan Taylor and that offense really good field position, now all of sudden if we don’t get that, now they march down the field – it’s 7-7. I felt like our defense was playing lights-out at that particular time.” Despite dreadful weather conditions, Fleck didn’t believe the snow or cold had an effect on the game. The Gophers defense could only contain Taylor and the Badgers offense for so long before they put points on
Running back Mohamed Ibrahim runs the ball during the Gopher game against the Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30. (Sydni Rose / Minnesota Daily)
the early Minnesota strike, Wisconsin went into the half with a 10-7 lead. “When we lost [Faalele], there’s no excuses,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “We got to do what we got to do, but it took a whole package away
from what we were going to do.” Getting the ball first after halftime, the Gophers looked to recover from their lackluster offensive performance, but failed to do so in their first offensive posses-
the board. “Their offensive coordinator, give all props to him,” redshirt senior defensive lineman Winston DeLattiboudere said. “Their offensive line, those guys were firing off the ball coming up hard. Of course you guys know about their running backs, I mean they get that ball and they’re going to make something happen with it.” Minnesota wouldn’t pass the opposing 35-yard line the rest of the first half and Wisconsin scored 10 unanswered points, going up 10-7 into halftime while going two-for-two on fourth downs in Gophers’ territory. “Offense just kind [of] lost control of our details and we just didn’t execute well as a unit after that,” Bateman said. Morgan had the chains moving as the Gophers would near Wisconsin territory on the opening drive of the sec-
ond half, making it all the way to midfield. On third-and-10, Minnesota opted to hand the ball of to Rodney Smith, who was contained for a one-yard gain, forcing a Minnesota punt. The conservative play calling would come back to sting the Gophers. Four plays later, the Badgers finished a 91-yard drive as Jack Coan threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Quintez Cephus, extending the lead to 17-7. Needing to rally before the game got out of hand, Minnesota’s offense tried to answer the call. A 36-yard run by sophomore Mohamed Ibrahim set up the Gophers right outside of the red zone. After two incomplete passes by Morgan, the Gophers called a timeout to contemplate what to call on third-and-10. Out of the timeout, Minnesota again
sion. Minnesota punted, setting up a 91-yard Wisconsin touchdown drive that put the Badgers on top 17-7. The Gophers had a promising ensuing possession, but a run for no gain on third-and-10 halted the Minnesota drive as they
settled for a field goal, making it a one-possession game. The Minnesota points didn’t phase the Badgers, returning the kickoff deep into Gopher territory and punching in another touchdown to extend their lead 24-10. Toward the end of the third, the Gophers finally put a drive together, pounding the run up the middle and hitting senior receiver Tyler Johnson down field. Minnesota closed out the third deep in Wisconsin territory with a chance to make it a one-score game right away in the fourth. But ultimately, the Badgers made a goal-line stand, keeping the Gophers out of the end zone and maintaining their two-score lead. “I think there were some critical plays. When it was 24-10, we don’t get the touchdown,” Fleck said. On their following possession, Wisconsin notched their third straight touchdown, as Jonathan Taylor finally broke through, scampering 11 yards for the score. A blowout was in the making as
Head coach P.J. Fleck observes the game against the Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30. Wisconsin won 38-17 reclaiming Paul Bunyan’s Axe. (Sydni Rose / Minnesota Daily)
handed the ball off, this time to Ibrahim who picked up two yards, forcing a Minnesota field goal try. Kicker Michael Lantz hit the 38-yard field goal to cut the deficit to a touchdown. Wisconsin wasted no time
in putting up more points on the board. After a kick return made its way to the Minnesota 39-yard line, the Badgers scored two plays later on a 26-yard rush by junior wide receiver Kendric Pryor to give the Badgers a 24-10 lead.
Wisconsin led 31-10. The offensive troubles continued for Minnesota on their next drive. Morgan got sacked for a fourth time in the game, fumbled and Wisconsin jumped on it, getting the ball once again deep in Minnesota territory. “I can’t turn the ball over, can’t have a sack, can’t throw an interception,” Morgan said. “That’s all on me. I got to be better in the pocket.” Taylor punched it in from one yard out, extending the lead 38-10 and embarrassing the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Morgan hit Johnson for a score late in the fourth, in which Johnson tied the program record for most receiving touchdowns with 31 for his career. Unfortunately for Minnesota, it came too late. The Badgers leave Minneapolis with the Axe and the Big Ten West crown. The Gophers will now anxiously await the announcement of their upcoming bowl game, Minnesota’s final chance at redemption this season.
Needing a score to start the fourth quarter to keep the game within reach, Minnesota’s offense made their way inside Wisconsin’s fiveyard line. After being stopped on the first two downs, Minnesota attempted a pair of back-shoulder throws to Tyler Johnson, both of which fell incomplete. Wisconsin scored quickly on the next possession, sealing Minnesota’s fate. While the regular season came to a disappointing end, the team far exceeded preseason expectations, going 9-0 for the first time since 1904 and winning seven Big Ten games for the first time in school history. They remain in the running for a New Year’s Day bowl game. “We’ve restored people’s beliefs of what we can do, let’s not go back,” Fleck said. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore, so let it go.”
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019
MN DAILY
Sports
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VOLLEYBALL
5
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
No. 1 Minnesota comes out undefeated in the 2019 Country Classic
Forward Sarah Potomak chases after the puck at Ridder Arena on Sunday, March 10. Wisconsin beat the Gophers 3-1 to win the 2019 WCHA Final Faceoff. (Jack Rodgers / Minnesota Daily) Head coach Hugh McCutcheon speaks with his team during a timeout at the Maturi Pavillion on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Gophers defeated Rutgers three sets to one. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)
Gophers close with pair of wins Minnesota finishes the regular season with a 23-5 record.
BY MATTHEW KENNEDY mkennedy@mndaily.com
The Minnesota women’s hockey team traveled to Nashville this weekend to compete in the 2019 Country Classic. Friday was a bit of struggle for the Gophers as they faced off against No. 8 Boston College, which resulted in a 2-2 tie. Saturday, the Gophers rebounded against a talented Harvard squad that was previously ranked in the top-10 and secured an impressive 4-0 victory.
BY NOLAN O’HARA nohara@mndaily.com
Gophers serve up Rutgers Friday The Gophers volleyball team swept Rutgers Friday behind their dominant performance from the service line. The Gophers won: 25-14, 25-15 and 25-22 after getting off to a quick start. Minnesota opened the first set 12-6 after outside hitter Airi Miyabe landed the Gophers second ace of the set. The Gophers extended their lead after middle blocker Regan Pittman dropped three aces in a row, giving Minnesota a 19-11 advantage. A kill from outside hitter Adanna Rollins got the Gophers to set point before a Rutgers error gave Minnesota the 1-0 lead. Minnesota’s dominance from the service line continued in the second. Libero C.C. McGraw added another ace to bring the Gophers within one and Minnesota began to pull away. A Rollins kill put the Gophers up 106 and Pittman again landed three aces in a row, giving Minnesota a 21-13 advantage. Her six aces led the Gophers on a night they had a season-high 15. The final point of the set was fitting, as setter Kylie Miller closed the second with yet another ace. Rutgers forced Minnesota to grind out the third, coming within one as Minnesota led 12-11. But Miyabe added a flurry of kills for Minnesota, one putting them back on top 15-11. Miyabe added another dose of kills late, the last giving Minnesota a narrow 23-22 lead before the Gophers added the last two, getting the sweep and opening their final regular season weekend off
After a tie against Boston College, the Gophers won against Harvard.
Rachel Kilkelly dives for the ball at the Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Nov. 22. The Gophers took Nebraska to five sets but ultimately fell 3-2. (Jack Rodgers / Minnesota Daily)
with a win. Miyabe had eight kills in the third on the way to her team-high 13. Gophers upset Penn State Saturday In their last match of the regular season, the Gophers upset No. 7 Penn State, beating them in University Park for the first time since 2004. The Gophers dropped the first before winning three consecutive sets: 1925, 25-20, 25-20 and 25-23. Minnesota opened the first set with an early lead before PSU stormed back and took a four-point advantage. The Gophers cut the lead back down to three multiple times, but Penn State pulled away late, taking a 1-0 lead over Minnesota. Penn State built on that momentum early in the second. They opened the set 14-9, giving Minnesota all they could handle. Slowly the Gophers came back, tying the set at 16 off an ace from defensive specialist Rachel Kilkelly. Kilkelly added another ace to give
the Gophers an 18-16 advantage. One night removed from its season-high 15 aces, Minnesota recorded five more, stringing together two excellent matches from the service line. The Nittany Lions tied it back up at 18, but opposite hitter Stephanie Samedy landed three kills in a row to put Minnesota back up 21-18. She added another to get the Gophers their 23rd point and two Penn State errors closed out the set, tying the match at 1-1. Similar to the second set, PSU built another early lead in the third, opening the set 8-3. But Samedy continued to be a force for the Gophers. She added another flurry of kills as the Gophers cut the Penn State lead to one, 1110. Middle blocker Taylor Morgan tied the set at 16 with a kill and Minnesota pulled away. Samedy added another pair of kills and an ace as the Gophers closed out the third, taking the 2-1 lead. After winning consecutive sets, the Gophers were
rolling, opening the fourth 14-9. The Nittany Lions crept back, going on a 3-0 run that cut the Minnesota lead to two before tying the set at 19. Minnesota and Penn State traded points until Samedy’s kill gave the Gophers match point and Pittman and outside hitter Alexis Hart stuffed the last Penn State attempt. Samedy finished the match with a 21 kill double-double. “That was probably the biggest difference for us, being able to get [Samedy] back into a rhythm, front row and back row,” head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “She had a ton of range and obviously really big numbers, so that was great.” The Gophers are finally at full strength as they approach the playoffs, and the win at Penn State proved how scary of a team they can be moving forward. “Having everyone be back in there and getting chances to find that gel again, I think that’ll definitely help a lot,” Samedy said.
Gophers outshoot Eagles by a wide margin, but come away with a tie Boston College struck first on Black Friday, scoring with a short-handed goal from Delaney Belinskas. Not long after, the Gophers responded as Taylor Wente scored to even the game. Early in the second period, the short-handed Eagles scored again with a goal from Kelly Browne. Neither team scored again before heading into the final period, where the Gophers rebounded once more. A much-needed goal was made halfway through the period on a power play from leading scorer, Grace Zumwinkle. The game went into overtime and both goalies held their ground for a 2-2 tie. Minnesota outshot the Eagles in the third period and overtime 19-2, yet only came out with one goal. “A really good hockey game here tonight, I’m really proud of our team,” head coach Brad Frost told the media. “They played really well in particular in the third, outshooting BC 15-1 and then 4-1 in the overtime. We had some great chances, hit some pipes.” This marks the Gopher’s third tie of the season. Minnesota also tied Minnesota-Duluth and scored in an overtime shootout after tying Wisconsin in regulation.
Gophers put together a complete game to stifle Harvard Minnesota’s offense on Saturday started out slow against the Harvard Crimson, with a 0-0 tie heading into the second period. However, that’s when the Gophers started to take the game over, once again showing why they have been coined “a secondperiod team.” The scoring was quick, and in a blink of an eye the score was 2-0 with goals from Sarah Potomak and Alex Woken only five minutes into the period. The Harvard Crimson failed to score again in the third while the Gophers kept rolling with two more goals from Abigail Boreen and Sarah Potomak. Frost praised his team’s offensive efforts after the game. “I thought we were really good tonight, defended well, were able to apply the pressure to a really hot goaltender and we’re really happy with the win,” he said. Goaltender Sydney Scobee finished with 21 saves in the afternoon. The senior netminder has become a consistent force in between the pipes this season, keeping almost every game in reach for the Gophers. Minnesota will take on the Minnesota State Mavericks in Prior Lake for the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Game on Dec. 7. This is the last game before a long break with no games until the Gophers return home in early January.
“I thought we were really good tonight, defended well, were able to apply the pressure to a really hot goaltender and we’re really happy with the win.” BRAD FROST head coach
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Gophers lead offensive attack early in their season Minnesota has five players who each average doubledigits in points. BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN bobrien@mndaily.com Despite a solid season last year for the Minnesota women’s basketball team, junior forward Destiny Pitts thought the Gophers were missing something offensively. What the team was missing was more shooting and better offensive performances. Pitts was one of only two players who averaged double-digits points per game last season along with senior guard Kenisha Bell. In addition, Pitts was the only Gopher to shoot 35 percent from the three-point line who took at least 70 shots from behind the arc. But the beginning of this season has been a different story for the Gophers. The team has had at least three players score double figures
in every game this season. Pitts has been Minnesota’s primary scorer, but she is one of five different players who are averaging doubledigits in points per game and many of them bring different skills to the table, making life difficult for opposing defenders. “When you have two really great drivers and shooters spot up, they kind of have to pick their poison,” Pitts said. “Their defense has to see if they can stay in front of our guards one-onone and if they can’t, then we have drive and kick opportunities, whereas last year I don’t think we had as many opportunities.” The two drivers Pitts mentioned are guards Jasmine Brunson and Jasmine Powell. Both Brunson and Powell play similar styles of basketball by controlling the pace offensively, driving to the basket for layups and distributing to their teammates. Brunson has a knack for turning defense into offense, recording 13 steals through the first six
Guard Jasmine Powell dribbles the ball through defenders at Williams Arena on Saturday, Nov. 23. The Gophers went on to defeat Montana State 71-60. (Liam Armstrong / Minnesota Daily)
games of the season. Powell has come off the bench every game to provide some energy for her team, averaging about 12 points per game in her first season as a Gopher. “I really want to give out
as many assists as I can because I am a firm believer that an assist is just as good as two points,” Powell said. “I’m always looking to get my teammates involved and that opens things up for me.” As a freshman, Powell
is also doing a good job of protecting the ball as one of the team’s primary point guards. She only has five turnovers early in the season. Guards Gadiva Hubbard and Sara Scalia have added
the shooting Pitts said was missing last season. Hubbard shot nearly 35 percent from three as a sophomore but did not play last year due to a foot injury. However, she has come back to shot well from three for the Gophers. Scalia was known to be a 3-point shooter coming out of high school and has been an immediate influence for the team. Starting in five of the six games of the season, Scalia has helped the Gophers space the floor when she is on the floor with Pitts and Hubbard. Minnesota’s scoring presence also travels inside as senior Taiye Bello has recorded four double-doubles this season. Bello also provides the Gophers with plenty of second-chance opportunities, grabbing a team-leading 26 offensive rebounds. The Gophers will look to continue their balanced scoring attack this week as Minnesota will play at Notre Dame on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m.
6 MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
Editorials & Opinions
EDITORIAL
Hero worship of politicians is unhealthy Politicians shouldn’t have fans the same way celebrities do.
P
oliticians should not have fans. There is a difference between being a supporter of a party, an agenda or even a candidate, and being part of their fan base. Blindly supporting a politician and sticking with them no matter what is an unhealthy, unproductive dynamic. We see symptoms of fan culture permeating politics constantly. A study by the University of Kansas showed that partisans treat elections like sports rivalries, caring more about who wins the election
rather than actual policy or ideology. In the recent impeachment hearings, NBC wrote that the hearings lacked “pizzazz” and therefore didn’t garner public attention. Presidential candidates are judged on “likability” more than policy. When you’re considering who you’re going to vote for, you don’t have to be in love with a candidate. However, the culture surrounding political coverage encourages hero-worship. Supporting a candidate, or even admiring the work they do, shouldn’t be a blanket endorsement of everything they’ve ever done or ever will do. Blind devotion to a specific politician based on their personality rather than substantive work they’ve done does not help democracy. Politicians are not your friends, nor should they be. It doesn’t matter if an elected official is someone you want to go get a drink with. Elected officials are civil servants, not rock stars, and you’re their constituent. They’re beholden to you, not the other way around. Worshiping the ground they walk on doesn’t do any good. Even if you do admire a politician or their work, there should be a level of separation that doesn’t exist in other forms of fan culture. You can identify yourself within a musician’s songs and love them for it, but politics cannot
work the same way. You shouldn’t love a politician — and you especially cannot make loving them a part of your own personality. “Stan culture,” or the culture that emerges from highly invested fans, isn’t healthy when it comes to any public figure. Everyone does wrong, including your favorite actor. But it’s especially important to remember that politicians will not keep all of their campaign promises, no matter who they are, even if they want to. Politics are messier than that. If you don’t worship them, then you won’t feel betrayed later. Politicians’ new propensity for using social media doesn’t help this blurring of lines between celebrity and politician, and neither does their constant grouping together, either. Ariana Grande and Bernie Sanders may have taken a photo together, but that does not make them the same kind of famous. The worst side effect of hero-worshiping politicians is when it leads to attacking the other side or treating them like they’re immoral for supporting someone you do not. This happens within parties as well as across party lines. This isn’t just an issue of partisanship. An example of the unhealthiness of hero-worship of politicians was best
provided by candidate Trump when he claimed that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters. Whether you believe it would hold true or not, it rings true that many people would find a way to still be a fan of President Trump. Fan culture should not extend to politics. Your admiration of a politician should only go so far as their policies — not their personalities. Unlike with movies and music, lives are at stake in what the Oval Office and Congress do daily. If we’re going to hold the people in office accountable for their actions, then we can’t treat them like a rock star.
Elected officials are civil servants, not rock stars, and you’re their constituent. They’re beholden to you, not the other way around.
COLUMN
We don’t need any more heroes Encouraging martyrdom in stories of gun violence depoliticizes the gun control discussion.
Caroline Skoog columnist
A
ccording to the Gun Violence Archive, 387 mass shootings have occurred in the United States in 2019. With more shootings than days in a year, media saturated with bloody headlines seems to discourage some of us from reading it. It’s depressing and familiar. When we hear about a mass shooting, it seems that the only detail we’re interested in hearing is the location. It’s no longer a matter of what is
happening, but how many deaths this time and where. However, some media outlets have circulated stories of thwarted school shootings, extending a hopeful lens over a dark reality. Authorities in Los Angeles County say they prevented at least two potential school shootings in a news conference last week. After students reported hearing threats from a 13-year-old boy at Ánimo Mae Jemison Charter Middle School, police investigated and found an AR-15-style rifle, ammunition, a list of named targets and a map of the school’s layout at the boy’s home. This incident upholds the “see something, say something” principle, and it’s exceptionally fortunate. Exceptional, as in “see something, say something” is a flimsy method of protection. It shifts the responsibility of keeping children safe onto the students. That’s a lot to ask of seventh graders. Surveillance footage of a high school coach disarming a prospective shooter earlier this year has also made its rounds on social media. The video shows football and track coach, Keanon Lowe, taking the gun out of the student’s hands and embracing him in a long hug. Two students reported the suspect’s concerning behavior to school officials prior to this incident. Nobody was physically hurt. Still, I wouldn’t call this ‘heartwarming’ or a best-case-scenario. Best-case-scenarios aren’t almost-school shootings. Adding protagonists to stories of gun violence not only diverts attention away
from gun control but also encourages a sense of martyrdom in civilians. This year Riley Howell, 21, lost his life attacking a school shooter. His actions, undeniably brave, likely saved numerous lives. The New York Times covered the story: “WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — He kept charging. A bullet to the torso did not stop Riley Howell. A second bullet to the body did not prevent him from reaching his goal and hurling himself at the gunman who opened fire last week inside a classroom at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.” When deeds like Howell’s are sensationalized, it could encourage martyrdom in active shooter situations. Rather than calling
Stories championing an individual or police force for obstructing mass violence are a distraction from the fact that mass shootings shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
for deliberate policy action, we can celebrate brave lives cut short on behalf of the government’s inaction. There’s also been cases of false saviors, such as David Briscoe, who claimed to have valiantly barricaded his classroom’s door and instructed students to lie down as a shooting took place at Santa Fe High School in 2018. Following this statement, the school district discounted the claim and announced no one by that name had been employed by the school. The U.S. doesn’t need martyrs. It needs gun control. There is no protagonist in a mass shooting. However successful an individual may have been in stopping one tragedy, there is no hero that can ensure this won’t happen again. Preventing mass shootings is good but only in the context of a society where this is commonplace. Stories championing an individual or police force for obstructing mass violence are a distraction from the fact that mass shootings shouldn’t be happening in the first place. These are not ‘heartwarming’ accounts, they are insidious anecdotes normalizing domestic terrorism.
Caroline Skoog welcomes comments at cskoog@mndaily.com.
COLUMN
Historical literature, timeless value Old books are minefields of political incorrectness.
K
Sidney Clarke columnist
nown to be somewhat cantankerous, Ernest Hemingway would be incredibly satisfied with the collective dislike millions of students share for his work. At one point or another, upon finding ourselves hopelessly lost in a labyrinth of Shakespeare or Hawthorne, each of us has searched for loopholes, either by CliffsNotes or fever dreams of dropping out. Hemingway, Harper Lee and Faulkner cheerfully stood in the way of our high school diplomas, but even in college, we haven’t escaped them. Whether students admit it or not, English classes offer more substantial skills than the ability to navigate Old English prose; the subject matter has less to do with literature, and more to do with living. However, the vast majority of the works we semi-voluntarily consume were published decades ago. While their literary merit may withstand the course of time, some novels have aged better than others. The intractable flaw older classic novels carry, which are standardized in schools and universities across the
country, is thematically evident. Even the greatest works of fiction, the ones that capture the essence of the human experience and tragedy, often disguise subliminal elements of homophobia, racism and sexism. In recent years, a public school in Duluth removed both To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain from their standard curriculum, noting that their use of racial slurs made students uncomfortable. The list of questionable reading does not end there. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is an incomparably beautiful work of historic and romantic literature, but reads like a neo-confederate fan fiction. Even The Awakening by Kate Chopin, which was once celebrated as a feminist laureate, is criticized by today’s activists for failing to represent women outside of the white upper class. As a population of academics, we could opt to move away from historically flawed literature — certainly books without questionable biases exist. There might even be an argument that our failure to move forward is a reflection of laziness. However, others point out that recognizing these fallacies is essential for community growth. Professor of English, Sybil Durand, at
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is an incomparably beautiful work of historic and romantic literature, but reads like a neo-confederate fan fiction.
Arizona State University writes, “When we choose to abandon books that deal with issues of race, sex, abuse, gender identity, discrimination, disenfranchisement, or similar topics, we hurt the people who live with these issues every day by implying that their life experiences are not worth talking about, or are an embarrassment.” The dichotomy of censorship and social progress stipulates a challenging debate about which texts are classroom-appropriate. At the University of Minnesota, students are only required to take three credits of literature, or approximately a single, one-semester English class. This means that professors have a very limited window to make an impact on their students. Old books are minefields of political incorrectness, sometimes causing classroom chaos, and requiring in-depth analysis beyond the comfortable restrictions of artistry and plot. So, why take the chance on a 50-yearold, potentially problematic book? Every year, good educators accept the challenge, because frankly, there might not be a better American novelist than John Steinbeck, even though a significant portion of his writing is blatantly sexist. Dated literature is an uncomfortable reminder of distasteful history, but in another sense, it is also an uncomfortable reminder of modern issues. Although we prefer to reference certain social issues as figments of the past, they are seldom truly historical. Contemporary authors and publishers don’t usually release materials which are blatantly politically incorrect, but the issues still exist in a cultural sense. Old novels which display the discriminatory nature of humanity demand a level of critical thought and societal awareness which can’t be achieved elsewhere. Injustice is not a figment of the past, and comfort is scarcely a mechanism for change.
Sidney Clarke welcomes comments at sclarke@mndaily.com.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019
MN DAILY
HOROSCOPES
Today’s Birthday (12/2): Experience a personal blossoming this year. Consistent action increases the flow of silver into your accounts. Cash flow surges this winter, prompting new directions with shared finances. Personal changes rearrange your perspective this summer before a joint venture hits gold. You’re flowering and radiant.
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 an 8 — Advance specific career goals as Jupiter enters Capricorn for the next year. Luck propels you to the next professional level. When opportunity knocks, open the door.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Jupiter’s benefits this year shift toward domestic expansion, renewal and beautification. Home and family flower. Nurture your garden with love.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 7 — Educational discovery beckons. Follow a yearning to see new places and study new things now that Jupiter transits into Capricorn for a year. Explore.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 9 — Communication is your golden key. Research, write and document your story with Jupiter in Capricorn for a year. Share your heart, network and connect.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is an 8 — Good fortune shines on your shared accounts this year with Jupiter entering Capricorn. For about the next year, responsible financial leadership pays rich rewards.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 9 — Your financial luck takes a positive turn. Practical efforts reap cash rewards with Jupiter entering Capricorn for a year. Take advantage to squirrel nuts away.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 9 —Step into new levels of partnership this year with Jupiter in Capricorn. Good fortune blesses your collaboration. Raise the romance factor and savor the results.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 9 — Experience a personal renaissance for a year with Jupiter in Capricorn. Grow and develop your skills, strengths and talents. Enjoy a flowering phase.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Jupiter, herald of good fortune, blesses your health, fitness and labor for a year in Capricorn. Disciplined practice prepares you for a lucky break.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 7 — Benefit from private introspection, planning and organization. Consider long-term goals and visions with Jupiter in Capricorn this year. Make long-term goals.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 9 — Family joy rises with Jupiter entering Capricorn for a year. Fall in love again. Play favorite games, sports and fun hobbies together. Expand artistic creativity.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — Luck flows through friendship and personal connection. Community action gets satisfying results this year with Jupiter in Capricorn. Teamwork raises the fun factor.
DR. DATE Dr. Date,
I’ve never been a big Black Friday person — my idea of the day after Thanksgiving includes a long nap and lots of leftovers. But my boyfriend’s family is big into getting deals, so I begrudgingly woke up at 4 a.m. to go to Best Buy. Gotta get that 75-inch TV for like $10, right? I figured everyone would be civilized, which was my first mistake. People are crazy when waiting in line! Second mistake was believing my boyfriend’s family would be the odd one out and would act like a decent person. Third mistake? Not running away as soon as the doors opened because holy god there was a stampede. But why is this a relationship problem, you ask? Well, my boyfriend got so excited he TRAMPLED A CHILD. Like, that’s the kind of thing you see in news articles with headlines like “We need to stop shopping Black Friday.” He totally got away with it (in a giant mass of people, who’s going to know?) and didn’t even look back to see if the kid was okay! I’m seriously reconsidering our relationship — I’m not a kid person, but who the hell goes so crazy over sales that they run over a five-year-old? (And also, who brings a kindergartner to Black Friday?!) I’m concerned my life is going to be a series of apologizing to mothers on double-coupon days. What should I do?
–Black and Blue Friday
Dear Black and Blue Friday,
Well, was he getting something for you? Your boyfriend might be a sociopath, but imagine the deals you’ll get for your wedding! Not everything has to be black and white, but you need to have a serious conversation about his empathy. If you explain what’s wrong with the situation and he apologizes, says he wasn’t thinking clearly and promises to shop Cyber Monday instead, it might be worth it. If he says “it was so worth it!,” break it off fast before he summons an army of his family to trample you.
Dr. Date,
I’m in kind of an awkward situation. See, my girlfriend and I have been dating for a few years now, and I know her family pretty well. I normally go home for holidays (my parents are weird about that stuff), but this Thanksgiving my girlfriend and I went to her place for dinner. I was pretty nervous to meet some of her extended family but thought everything else would be smooth sailing. Aaaaand of course there was a classic Thanksgiving fight — and this time, I was involved. I know, I know, number one rule of dating is not to argue with your partners’ parents or whatever, but I couldn’t help it. It started with a casual question about opinions on cranberry sauce and ended with her dad throwing the entire plate of sauce against the wall after I declared I “hated it.” I feel so stupid (what a dumb thing to fight about!) and I’m worried my girlfriend’s parents will never forgive me. I’m really serious about her and was hoping to be invited to future family events! How can I earn forgiveness without compromising my cranberry sauce morals?
–Berry Angry
Dear Berry Angry,
Send a few cans of cranberry sauce to his doorstep with a sincere apology note and offer to cook something next time. You’re both kind of the asshole, but one of you has to be the bigger person, and it should probably be you. At least it wasn’t about politics, right?
–Dr. Date
–Dr. Date
Dr. Date is a satirical advice column dissecting real-world situations. 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.
12/2/19
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.
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Monday, December 2, 2019
Next provost Rachel Croson values a multifaceted approach to leadership Pending Regents approval, she will start as provost at the end of March. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com Rachel Croson liked Star Trek growing up, but while most of her friends were in love with Captain Kirk, she was drawn to Mr. Spock. His logical and analytics-based approach appealed to her. Economics intrigued her for the same reasons. The problem she soon realized was that economics didn’t do a good job of explaining decisions that were more intuitive and ruled by emotion — decisions Captain Kirk would make. While Croson is datadriven and fact-oriented, she said she likes to view economics in an interdisciplinary way, taking these human realities into account. She said this interdisciplinary mindset will be an asset when she starts her new job as the University of Minnesota’s next executive vice president and provost. After publishing her hundredth research paper, Croson said she wondered if there was something she could do that would create more social value than writing paper number 101. This led her to become an administrator. “Maybe there was a way to take what I knew … and help a lot of people publish paper one,” Croson said. “Maybe I could help a lot of people become better teachers or better Ph.D. student mentors.” Two years as a division director at the National Science Foundation allowed her to test the waters of being an administrator, and
return to an academic role if she didn’t like it. She liked it, and since then has served in various administrative roles, currently as dean of the College of Social Science at Michigan State University. Her time at Michigan State has seen a lot of leadership turnover, part of the fallout of the Larry Nassar scandal, which put more responsibility on the deans. “She has been a pretty amazing leader throughout that time, somebody I have come to really respect and admire,” said Mark Largent, interim associate provost for undergraduate education at Michigan State. Largent said Croson is not a “technocrat,” rather her strong focus on outcomes and the inclusivity of her decision-making process are why she has been a good leader. “[Croson] is one of those people who doesn’t dominate conversations, but when she talks, everybody listens,” Largent said. “When you have a group of smart people together, the ones who are capable of talking less and saying more tend to be the ones that very quickly become trusted.” This is not just felt among her peers, as Croson has built relationships with students at Michigan State as well. Zach Brown, a recent Michigan State graduate who said he got to know Croson as part of a scholar’s program for the college, said she is interested in what students care about. “Her and I had quite a few deep thoughts about what my career path would be and how it relates to a variety of topics that are going on in the world around us,” Brown said. Croson said she was
ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN LA CASSE
drawn to Minnesota because of the strong value of research and its land grant mission. She said she is also excited about being a part of a University with system campuses. She spent time in the University of Texas system, but not at the flagship school. Croson said in Texas she saw how contributions of branch campuses can sometimes go “unleveraged.” “I think there’s a real
opportunity with the University of Minnesota system to think a little strategically about what those campuses bring, what they contribute, what their role is, and how we can work better together,” Croson said. The University being a land grant institution is important for Croson because of the access to education they provide to people of all income levels. “If you think about the
challenges our country is facing now with social mobility and high levels of income inequality, I think that kind of public education is exactly what we need to double down on,” Croson said. A reality of being a land grant school means requesting money from the Legislature. Croson said her experience securing funding for the National Science Foundation from Congress could be an asset
in St. Paul. Talk of funding from the state is often closely followed by talk of spending, a conversation Croson said she is eager to have. Pending Board of Regents approval, Croson will start her new role as the chief academic officer of the system at the end of March. “I am envious of the University of Minnesota for hiring her,” Largent said. “I think she is going to be a wonderful provost.”