Prints among thieves PAGE 11
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U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
THURSDAY
JANUARY 31, 2013
HIGHER ED
BIKING
A push to publicize graduates’ earnings BY JACK PARKER jparker@mndaily.com
Most students attend college to get a job, but information on how that investment is likely to pay of f hasn’t typically been available. A bill intr oduced in Congress would require colleges to reveal graduates’ ear nings, among
other information. At the University of Minnesota, only some colleges r elease that data publicly. C u r r e n t l y, c o l l e g e s that receive federal funding already have to repor t similar information to the U.S. Depar tment of Education, but they’re not required to make it public. But more students are questioning the value of
their college investment. Of first-year students at the University in fall 2012, about 88 percent of students cited “to be able to get a better job” as a “ver y impor tant” reason in deciding to go to college — an all-time high, according to University data. This is up from about 75 percent in 2005.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
Bike crash data shows problem areas
The Student Right to Know Before You Go Act, introduced by Sen. Ron Wy d e n , D - O r e . , w o u l d require all colleges and universities to disclose the average cost of each program, students’ average accumulated debt and post-graduate earnings. u See PAY Page 3 CSE currently makes average graduate earnings data available.
BUSINESS
A study identified three problem areas near the University of Minnesota. BY JANICE BITTERS jbitters@mndaily.com
Earlier this month, the city of Minneapolis released the results of a 10-year bike-crash study that highlights problem areas around the city, including several spots around the University of Minnesota. The study, which analyzes bicycle accidents from 2000 to 2010, noted three major trouble spots near the University campus that totaled 43 accidents in the 10-year span. One problematic area, the intersection of University Avenue and the Interstate 35W exit ramp, saw 14 crashes, the seventhhighest in the city. Bill Lindeke, a doctoral candidate in the geography department who has studied student biking patterns around the University, said the intersection is the most concerning for him. He said more infra-
structure and road design are the solution to problem intersections around the University, which would provide a clear-cut path for bicyclists. “There needs to be more green paint on those streets,” he said. Steve Sanders, alternative transpor tation manager for the University, said though the University works with Minneapolis closely to help implement bike routes on and around campus, what happens is not always in the University’s control. “Our hands are a bit tied,” Sanders said. “Because we don’t own all of this infrastructure, we can consult with the city and advise them, but we really are kind of in an advising role.” Finding a solution to problem areas in the city is not always easy due to u See BIKING Page 6 In some crashes, both the cyclist and driver were at fault.
RESEARCH
FDFADS
Lavvu Coffee House owner Chris Pesklo sits in a Scandinavian Sami lavvu tent at the Swedish Institute on Friday in Minneapolis. Plesko said visitors to the new coffee house will be able to “enjoy a latte in a lavvu.”
Sharing Sami culture
U researcher creates first artificial enzyme The enzyme can be used to research the origin of life. BY BRANDEN LARGENT blargent@mndaily.com
BY MARION RENAULT mrenault@mndaily.com
Sweden and Russia — Lavvu is expected to open its new location Feb. 4.
There’s no shortage of coffee shops on
Chris Pesklo, University alumnus and
the University of Minnesota campus, but
owner, said he’s had his eye on the Dinky-
none of them let customers drink coffee un-
town location for some time now.
der an 8-foot-tall tent — yet.
“I’ve lived in Dinkytown for over 25
That’s just one of the ways Dinkytown’s
years,” Pesklo said. “I know the environ-
newest addition, Lavvu Coffee House, is
ment of Dinkytown and the student life-
celebrating its Scandinavian culture.
style. When I saw this store open, I knew it
Inspired by the Sami people — a nomadic culture of Northern Finland, Nor way,
was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Sami culture is also being featured at the
u See LAVVU Page 6
A University of Minnesota discover y could lead to industrial innovations and a deeper understanding of how life developed. University assistant professor Burckhard Seelig and other collaborators spent years determining the str ucture of the first artificial enzyme through test tube evolution. “Our artificial enzyme was basically just born in the test tube,” Seelig said, meaning the enzyme is similar to ones that origi-
nated billions of years ago. It’s primitive and doesn’t look anything like modern enzymes found in nature. Enzymes are proteins that break down food in the human body, break down dir t in soaps and help yeast make bread. Seelig originally created the enzyme as a post-doctoral candidate at Harvard University, but he wasn’t able to see what the structure looked like until now, with the help of College of Biological Sciences professor Gianluigi Veglia and doctoral candidate Frank Chao. Claudia SchmidtDanner t, a University Distinguished u See ENZYMES Page 4 This is the first time anyone has evolved enzymes in a lab.
Three students vie for open Board of Regents seat One University of Minnesota student will serve a sixyear term. BY ALEXI GUSSO agusso@mndaily.com
After six years, three University of Minnesota students have the chance to ser ve on the most power ful gover ning body at the school. Drew Coveyou, Abdul
Omari and Chris Tastad are all looking to fill the open at-large position on the Board of Regents reser ved for a student. The seat, cur rently held by Maureen Ramirez, is one of four open positions on the board this semester. The state Legislature will choose the next four regents in late Febr uar y. Until then, the students are meeting with legislators and getting plenty of
face time at the Capitol. Of the 12 seats, state law requires at least one member be a student at the time of appointment. “It forces a seat at the table that would allow a student perspective to be in place,” said Pat Duncanson, chair of the Regent Candidate Advisor y Council. After announcing the vacancies this fall, the RCAC received a large number of student appli-
cants, which Duncanson said was “impressive and relieving.” Ramirez, who did not r eapply for an at-large position, said having a student on the board is impor tant, and she never found it dif ficult to speak up when she felt it necessar y, despite being the youngest person on the board. “I always felt that my colleagues were grateful to have [a student] per-
COVEYOU
OMARI
spective,” she said. “It’s nice to have someone on the board who has been in school since there were computers.”
TASTAD u See REGENTS Page 5 One candidate is a former student representative to the Board of Regents.
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 64
2
Daily Review
Thursday, January 31, 2013
THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1950
U.S. President Harry S. Truman publicly announces his decision to support the development of the hydrogen bomb, a weapon theorized to be hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during World War II. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH
SLIDESHOW Vol. 114 Thursday, January 31, 2013, No. 64
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More than 100,000 people attended Red Bull Crashed Ice, a three-day event featuring the world’s top ice cross downhill racers, over the weekend in St. Paul. Two former Gophers hockey players were part of the event — Charlie Wasley as Team USA’s coach and Brian Schack as a U.S. athlete. View the full slideshow and others online at mndaily.com/multimedia/slideshows.
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WORLD BRIEFING
Vietnam frees American activist after 9 months BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HANOI — Vietnamese authorities on Wednesday released and depor ted an American pro-democracy activist detained since April, a move that contrasts with the long prison terms given to Vietnamese activists who are members of the same U.S.-based dissident group. The release of Nguyen Quoc Quan came after U.S. diplomatic pressure and removes an obvious thorn in relations between the former enemies. Both countries are trying to strengthen their ties in large par t because of shared concerns over China’s emerging militar y and economic might,
but American concer ns over human rights in onepar ty, authoritarian Vietnam are complicating this. Vietnam’s Foreign Ministr y said in a statement that Quan had “confessed to his crime” and asked for leniency to be reunited with his family. His wife, Huong Mai Ngo, said she doubted this was the case, suggesting that Hanoi was seeking a face-saving way of allowing him to go home. “I don’t believe it. They say that about ever ybody,” she said via telephone from Sacramento, Calif. “If my husband was prepared to do that (confess), he could have been released nine months ago.” Given the diplomatic
sensitivities around the case, most obser vers had expected Quan to be released and quietly deported. Quan, an American citizen, was arrested at Ho Chi Minh City’s airport in April after arriving on a flight from the United States, where he has lived since fleeing Vietnam by boat as a young man. The 59-yearold is a leading member of Viet Tan, a nonviolent pro-democracy group that V ietnamese authorities have labeled a terrorist organization. He was detained in 2007 in Vietnam for six months, also on charges relating to his pro-democracy activities, before being deported.
Authorities initially accused Quan of terrorism, but he was later charged with subversion against the state, which carries penalties ranging from 12 years in prison to death. Earlier this month, 14 Vietnamese activists associated with Viet Tan were sentenced to up to 13 years in jail. Ngo said she had yet to speak to her husband, who was on a plane home, but that the U.S. consulate had informed her of his release. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “I cried over the phone when I was told.” Asked whether she believed Quan would try to return to Vietnam again, she said: “I can’t stop him, but I hope not.”
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Russia scraps anti- Gulf leads UN appeal for boost in Syrian aid crime deal with the US BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOSCOW — Russia pulled out of an anti-crime accord with the United States on Wednesday in a move the U.S. called “selfdefeating,” the latest sign of rising tensions between Moscow and Washington. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order to scrap the 10-year-old agreement “because it was no longer relevant,” his office said. The agreement covered fighting terrorism, corruption and cross-border crimes such as drug smuggling and human trafficking. Alexei Pushkov, head of Russia’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said the decision reflected Russia’s ability to manage its affairs without outside help. “Russia is changing the format of its relations with the U.S.,” he tweeted. “We are ending our dependence on ‘the country No. 1.’ ” The Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the U.S. for providing $12 million in aid for crime-fighting projects under the accord, but said Moscow no longer needs such assistance. “From a recipient of Western aid for anti-crime projects, Russia has turned into a donor for such programs in Central Asian nations and Afghanistan,” it said in a statement, adding that Moscow was ready to continue cooperation with the U.S. in fighting crime, including drug-trafficking. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed regret about the Russian move, saying that the agreement provided a framework for “very fruitful cooperation with Russia on rule of law, counter-corruption efforts, preventing trafficking in persons, counter-narcotics and strengthening our mutual legal assistance cooperation.
KUWAIT CITY — An emergency U.N. appeal to raise $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid for Syria exceeded its goal Wednesday at a conference with dire predictions of rising civilian costs and Jordan’s king saying the refugee crunch has pushed his nation’s resources to the breaking point. “We are sending a message to Syrians: You are not alone,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon even as he described Syria as caught in a “death spiral” and the conditions for many civilians a “living hell.” Wealthy Gulf nations — traditionally on the sidelines as major donors to U.N. aid efforts — took the lead in the latest drive with at least $900 million offered in a sign of their expanding political profile since the Arab Spring and their role as critical regional backers of the Syrian rebels. But the success of swiftly pulling together the funds was tempered by reminders that the aid is expected to cover the relief costs only until summer, highlighting the massive burden to cope with needs from Syria’s civil war and its spillover in a region where refugees are sometimes pouring into camps at the rate of 3,000 a day. The concern was evident from Ban even as he lauded the current outpouring, noting that more nations will be asked to give and others may have to dig deeper as the Syrian crisis grows. The current pledges also will likely face close scrutiny on how quickly the money will reach over-stretched aid groups directed by the U.N. and other agencies. Officials in Egypt and elsewhere have complained that many generous international offers for help after the Arab Spring upheavals have not yet materialized. Another serious challenge is trying to gain access to civilians in rebel-held territory, aid officials said. The U.N. and other international groups must operate out of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and can be left struggling to arrange convoys through battle lines and making contacts with opposition groups.
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HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DAILY Freelance audio/video: Contact Multimedia Editor Mark Vancleave at mvancleave@mndaily.com. Letters to the editor: Email submissions to letters@mndaily.com Guest columns: Emails submissions to Editorials & Opinions Editor Eric Best at ebest@mndaily.com. All submissions are welcome, but there is no guarantee of publication. THIS WEEK’S POLL What do you think about the changing face of Dinkytown? 4We should embrace the new, modern parts of Dinkytown, like the luxury apartments and chain businesses. 4As more and more luxury apartments replace old gems, Dinkytown is losing the charm that makes it so special. 4Dinkytown needs a face lift -- I want to live close to campus. 4I don’t think Dinkytown is changing. 4I don’t care -- I won’t be there for more than I few years to attend the U anyway. CORRECTIONS
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
3
U study finds drop in Wiki contributors The drop was caused by the website’s own quality control tools. BY MERITTE DAHL mdahl@mndaily.com
Wikipedia contains more than 4 million articles, written by tens of thousands of users for more than a decade. In fact, the user-edited encyclopedia has become so massive, it may be collapsing under its own weight. Since 2007, the number of active W ikipedia contributors has steadily dropped, according to a new study released by the University of Minnesota earlier this month. The study blames the decline on Wikipedia’s strict and ef ficient editing protocol, which discourages newcomers. According to Aaron Halfaker, a graduate student and lead study author, the automated quality control tools used by Wikipedia
are ef ficient at reversing vandalism but also dishear ten new users whose changes or additions are rejected automatically. Because of this, the number of new editors to W ikipedia has declined steadily since 2007, when the automated tools were put into use. “I would be surprised if the trajector y changed at all,” Halfaker said. The lack of retention has not af fected Wikipedia’s quality levels, Halfaker said, which are “just as healthy as they ever were, if not more.” Though many professors discourage Wikipedia use, Gar y Nelsestuen encourages it. The biochemistr y, molecular biology and biophysics professor uses W ikipedia in the classroom often. Some information on Wikipedia is more current than textbooks, Nelsestuen said, par ticularly on environmental issues and chemical structures.
“These are enrichment tools that you cannot find in a textbook,” he said. Because so much information is freely available to students on Wikipedia and sites like it, Nelsestuen said, he instead uses his lectures to teach concepts that aren’t as easy to simply look up. Some of Nelsestuen’s classes also include a lesson wherein students look for and correct faulty information on Wikipedia. “Wikipedia is free, and often you get what you pay for,” he said. “Consumer beware.” Electrical engineering fr eshman T im Pollnow said he studies from Wikipedia often but never cites it. “Roughly half the stuff I tr y to learn, I end up finding on Wikipedia,” he said.
Gender and language bias
T im Pilquist, a hor ticulture junior and active W ikipedia contributor, said he hasn’t r un into
problems when he edits articles on the site. Pilquist star ted editing Wikipedia in high school and said the process is “pretty straightfor ward.” But other research has identified possible gender and language bias in Wikipedia’s quality control. A 2011 study from a group of Minnesota researchers and one Chinese researcher showed that W ikipedia r ejects changes from female editors more often than male ones. “Female editors enter at a relatively reasonable rate, but then get pushed out of the system at a higher rate,” Halfaker said. “So it’s likely this decline is biased towards female editors.” A University of Oxford study published late last year showed that the automated quality control was biased against nonEnglish sources as well, Halfaker said. “If you’re citing an African newspaper that isn’t
DECLINE IN WIKIPEDIA EDITORS 50,000 ACTIVE EDITORS 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 2002
0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
SOURCE: AARON HALFAKER
PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME WIKIPEDIA EDITORS* WHOSE CHANGES ARE REJECTED
2004
2006
written in English it’s probably just as reliable as a resource, but you’ll have a hard time getting that information into the encyclopedia,” Halfaker said. W ikipedia has an ex-
2008 2010 *EXCLUDES VANDALS SOURCE: AARON HALFAKER
perimental team that’s currently working to solve the problem of the decline in participation, he said. “They have already had a bunch of success,” he said.
A push to publicize graduates’ earnings Pay u from Page 1
But focusing solely on post-graduate ear nings, cost and debt may deter some college-bound students from pursuing lesser-paying jobs. Economics freshman Logan Podbielski said he thinks students should evaluate whether a degree would financially
make sense before attending college. “I don’t mean to say you shouldn’t choose what you love, it just has to make sense,” Podbielski said. “College is just so expensive.” The College of Science and Engineering currently makes average graduate ear nings data available. “It’s been something a lot of students ask about,” CSE career center direc-
tor Mark Sorenson-Wagner said. Job and ear nings information are impor tant recr uitment tools often included in college and university rankings, Sor enson-Wagner said. Prospective students and future employers use this data to help guide their decisions, he said. “When our students are negotiating job of fers with companies, it’s good for them to have that kind
of salar y data so they can benchmark to see what is a fair or good offer,” Sorenson-Wagner said. “We get a lot of inquiries from businesses, too … because they want to make sure they’re making good offers so they can attract the best talent.” Some colleges, like the College of Liberal Ar ts, find this type of data difficult to gather and interpret. “I think, for us, the challenge is students go
in so many directions with their careers,” said CLA career ser vices director Paul Timmins. “It’s more a matter of what is their total package.” He said the wide range of majors and careers that CLA graduates have make it hard to develop a firm benchmark when talking about post-graduate earnings. “When we go through our data there is an incredible range in salaries …
and it’s just because we have such a diverse collection of majors and such a diverse collection of students,” Timmins said. Although that data is not published by CLA, Timmins said it’s “a piece of the puzzle” for students to understand their career choices. “The more information we can get students about future career possibilities,” he said, “the better decisions they can make.”
4
Thursday, January 31, 2013
U $84 million tech upgrade chugs along The project is still in the planning stages after six months. BY REBECCA HARRINGTON rharrington@mndaily.com
Although it’s been half a year since the University of Minnesota’s $83.5 million technology upgrade began, there’s still a long way to go. Visible changes to University web pages won’t take place until the end of 2014, when the Enterprise System upgrades all at once. The University’s massive Enterprise System includes the computer programs that handle ever y transaction, like financial aid, registration for students, payroll and purchasing for employees. University Chief Financial Of ficer Richard Pfutzenreuter said the administration decided how to pay for the upgrade early this fall. Currently, the Universi-
ty pays for the Enterprise System by assessing each depar tment a fee equal to 1.25 percent of its salaries. Pfutzenreuter said the rate will rise to 1.75 percent, which will pay for the project by 2019. “Units will have to find this additional half a percent in their existing budget; there’s not money to pay for that,” Pfutzenreuter said. “So it’ll be another example of the University having to tighten its belt financially.” The last major upgrade to the system was in 1999. Since then, the University has made its own upgrades, customizing things when companies didn’t have what they needed. A study identified the University’s system as the second-most customized in the countr y. While customization was necessar y at the time, project director Andy Hill said each difference between the University’s system and the new version now has to be analyzed. This includes re-evaluating historical decisions,
he said, like all satellite campuses having different academic calendars. “We don’t do this ver y often,” he said. “Basically, we’ve done deferred maintenance, for lack of a better word.”
Planning Most of the upgrade teams are finishing up the “Plan and Discover” phase, where they identified all of the processes that will have to change in the upgrade. William Dana, project director for the student team, said they had about 80 meetings in the last six months. In these meetings, the team filled a 500-page book with processes they have to evaluate. The teams have their calendars posted online and encourage University community members to attend the meetings, but the majority of those in attendance were required to go, Dana said. This was because this phase looked more technically at each individual
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM
BY THE NUMBERS
2CLASS million REGISTRATIONS 36,000 PAYCHECKS 114,000 ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS 50,00 BILLING STATEMENTS more than 500 PAGES IN THE STUDENT TEAM’S WORKBOOK ON PROCESSES TO EVALUATE
80 MEETINGS THE STUDENT TEAM
HAD IN PLAN AND DISCOVER PHASE SOURCE: ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS UPGRADE PROGRAM
process, he said. “The next phase will have a dif ferent sor t of approach toward doing this work, because this is where we’re going to be changing,” Dana said. “So there’ll be a lot of dif fer-
ent outreach mechanisms for students, faculty and staff.” Dana said he hopes students, faculty and staf f attend more sessions in the future so they can tailor the best end product for them. The finance team hasn’t started its first planning phase yet because it last updated its system in 2008. Finance project director Dan Hemauer said because of this, they’ll have fewer changes when the upgrade happens. Hill said the teams are following the plan from CedarCrestone, the consultant company working on the project, and that they are on schedule and on budget.
Decisions The biggest challenge, Hill said, will be deciding whether to continue with any given customized process that the University uses, or upgrade the software. In upgrading to the new software, the University will have product sup-
port from the company that makes it. When the University customized programs — like Graduation Planner — staf f members had to maintain them. This meant that the University didn’t receive the occasional update or help from the company because they didn’t make it. Hemauer said he’s looking for ward to having the complete support. “The idea that we’re going to be on a suppor ted version of the software from the vendor will be a comfor ting thought,” he said. But they’ll keep some processes that University staf f developed, Hill said, if the change might be too drastic that it would sacrifice usability. Once the majority of the system is upgraded, Hill said it’ll be easier to make smaller upgrades since it won’t be making as large of a jump. “That’s the new model,” he said, “so we don’t have these gigantic, super costly upgrades.”
U researcher creates first artificial enzyme Enzymes u from Page 1
M c K n i g h t P r o f e s s o r, said the discovery is “a major step forward.” “His research could lead to new proteins, new enzymes and new functions,” Schmidt-Dannert said. Seeing what the enzyme
looks like could be useful in creating ever ything from biofuels to prescription drugs, Seelig said, in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. This is the first time anyone has evolved enzymes in a lab setting, he said. Other researchers use computers to design what they think the enzyme would look like, but this
poses a problem, Seelig said, because they don’t know enough up front about how it’s supposed to look so it’s functional in the end. “Our approach is the opposite,” he said, “because we say ‘Hey, let’s assume we don’t know anything of how this thing will look like. Can we still make it?’” Seelig said enzymes are
the “engines of any life” and that the artificial enzymes can be used to research the origin of life on Earth — the primary reason why NASA partially funded the research, he said. “We’re going to learn how life has developed, how enzymes have evolved in terms of specific functions in the organism,” said Veglia, who co-advised the proj-
ect. Seelig also wrote a grant proposal to the National Institutes of Health to use its enzyme-creating method to synthesize drugs in a similar, cheaper and environmentally friendly way. “Enzymes can be ver y clean machines to synthesize dr ug molecules,” Seelig said. Sometimes chemists
who are synthesizing prescription drugs cannot find the enzymes they need in nature, so Seelig said the researchers are planning to create “designer enzymes” for them using their test tube evolution method. Eventually, Seelig said the team wants to simplify the process of creating enzymes so people can create their own.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
5
Three students vie for open Board seat
AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY
Abdul Omari discusses his strategy for getting the seat on the Board of Regents on Monday at the state Capitol. Omari is a third-year doctoral candidate and teaches a class for the leadership minor.
Regents u from Page 1
‘Hometown boy’ Minneapolis native Abdul Omari is quick to use the word “love” when speaking about the University. Omari, a third-year doctoral student studying international and comparative development education at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, has a storied histor y of involvement in University programs. The self-proclaimed “hometown boy” admitted that in high school he originally didn’t want to come to the University but has since attained two degrees from it and is now seeking a third. “I wanted to leave state like a lot of minorities do,” he said. “It wasn’t until I got here and started branching out and seeking leadership oppor tunities that I really fell in love with the place.” A member of the historically black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, Omari was also involved with the Black Student Union during his time as an undergraduate. As a master’s student, he ser ved as the vice president of Public Af fairs Students Association at the Humphrey School and now teaches an undergraduate course called Personal Leadership in the University. Omari also ser ved as a student representative on the Board of Regents for two years, which he said sparked his interest in applying for the at-large position. Omari earned his bachelor’s degree in global studies with a minor in AfricanAmerican and African studies before completing his master’s degree in public policy from the Humphrey School. He eventually hopes to start his own mentoring organization focused on creat-
ABDUL OMARI
From Minneapolis, Minn. Education Third-year doctoral student studying international and comparative development, B.A. in global studies with a minor in African-American studies, master’s degree in public policy Leadership Experience Student representative for the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, former vice president of Public Affairs Student Association at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, teaches undergraduate course Personal Leadership and the University
CHRISTOPHER TASTAD
From Montevideo, Minn. Education B.S. in biochemistry, first-year master’s student studying biology with focus in stem cell biology Leadership Experience Founder/first chair of Minnesota Student Legislative Coalition, co-founder of Face-to-Face Organics
DREW COVEYOU
From Ottawa, Ill. Education Journalism sophomore Leadership Experience Works in the University Office of Admissions, member of University Honors Program
ing opportunities for minority youths to go into higher education. “It’s really important to find ways to grab as much of the talent in the state as possible and really find pipelines to grab minority students in the state,” he said. “That’s definitely something [the University] needs to find interesting ways to do.” Despite his positive view of the University, Omari is critical of it as well, especially when it comes to becoming a diverse institution. The biggest step, he said, is making higher education more affordable. “Student tuition is always going to be a concern if it’s rising, and I think we need to be ver y cognizant of that,” he said. “I think that we also need to continue to think about our goals for becoming a diverse institution. That means not just diversifying to diversify.”
A familiar face When he first came to the University, Chris Tastad’s main focus was going into medicine. Tastad, who is working toward a master’s degree in biology, said that it wasn’t until later in his undergraduate career that he developed an interest in advocacy. This interest eventually led to founding the Minnesota Student Legislative Coalition, a student-based legislative lobbying group for the University. “The MSLC expanded the scope of what I found I could carr y into my career,” he said. “Going into the medical field, my hope is that I would be able to pair things like working with the MSLC and potentially working on the Board of Regents to foster those fields as a whole and advocate on behalf of those greater initiatives while also serving the University.” Tastad said his experience with the MSLC paired with his research experience have helped him develop a broad understanding of the University’s missions. Despite lacking the level of experience relative to other regents, Tastad said he brings an understanding of the impact policy issues have on students. Recently, Tastad started a personal care product start-up company with two friends. The business, Face to Face Organics, currently sells lip balm. For ever y tube sold, the company donates $1 for a facial reconstructive surgery for a child in Ethiopia. “We’r e bringing our customers face-to-face with a giving mission that connects them with how they’re using the product and how they’re impacting the life of a child,” Tastad said. Last year, Tastad and the MSLC spent time at the Capitol during the legislative session advocating for a bill that would have required two students on the Board of Regents. The bill met staunch opposition and didn’t pass. Tastad said the candidate experience has been enjoyable and familiar. “Through my work with MSLC, I had the opportunity to testify several times last year during the legislative session,” he said. “To some extent, I’ve kind of felt at home in this
process.”
The undergrad Drew Coveyou is the youngest regent candidate and the only one not from Minnesota. The journalism sophomore from Ottawa, Ill., said he has a “wide variety of interests” revolving around advocacy and public policy, which influenced his decision to apply for the board. Coveyou first hear d about the vacancy after r eading about it in an “Undergraduate Update” email. “I thought, ‘There’s no reason I can’t apply,’ ” he said. “And after answering some application questions, I realized that I do have several things that I can bring to the table.” RCAC chair Duncanson said that an undergraduate student is “not necessarily” less likely to be recommended for a position. “When we look at the undergrads, we look at the amount of accomplishments they’ve made in a relatively short amount of time,” he said. Despite his shor t time on campus, Coveyou said he has a “pretty in-depth knowledge of the University” due to his work in the Of fice of Admissions, which offers training on all the different programs the University offers.
ICHIGO TAKIKAWA, DAILY
Chris Tastad, right, shakes hands with State Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, after a meeting at the Minnesota State Office Building on Monday in St. Paul.
Coveyou also works as a tutor and a peer research consultant and is involved in the University Honors Program. “I think that my ties with all the dif ferent programs and communities on campus give me an indepth knowledge of what the University has to offer and also what it needs to work on.” Coveyou said the main issues involve tuition, re-
cord numbers of student debt and making education accessible. Coveyou also noted a few issues highlighted by the late-December The Wall Street Journal article. “A lot of what the board can do depends on the funding that is secured from the state for the next year,” he said. “But right now, there are organizational issues and accountability issues that need to
be worked on.” The prospect of being a student on the board might be intimidating to the average undergraduate, but to Coveyou, the possibility of influencing policy is exciting. “These policies have ver y far-reaching ef fects, and if you want to be able to change them or to affect those policies, you have to get involved in the process.”
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sharing Sami culture Lavvu u from Page 1
American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. The exhibits opened last Saturday. On display will be some of Pesklo’s own lavvus, the 8-foot tents the indigenous people use when traveling, Pesklo said. He said the lavvu is a “ver y strong symbol for the Sami.” Cof fee also holds special traditions for the Sami. Pesklo said they often held superstitions about its brewing, used cer tain special spices in it and read its grounds for fortunes. While the store will sell these “secret Sami spices,” manager Jessica Carney said she hopes to introduce Sami drinks to the menu soon. The store, which Carney said has been in the works for a year, is actually the second location Lavvu has had. It closed its Nor thtown Mall location in October in anticipation of its new opening. “I’m so excited,” Carney said. “I’ve been dreaming about getting back in there.”
An odyssey Pesklo hasn’t always been so well-versed in Sami culture. He was raised Nor wegian Jewish, but discovered that was a stor y created by his grandparents to hide the Sami roots they were ashamed of. “It was better to be Jewish in the Nor wegian eyes
than to be a Sami,” he said. The Sami have a long, str enuous r elationship with Scandinavian governments, according to Matti Jutila, visiting political science professor. Until the 1970s, he said, the government took steps to assimilate and disenfranchise the indigenous people. Since then, though, the Sami have gained support. “Now the tide has kind of tur ned,” Jutila said. “There has been an ideological change from assimilation to suppor ting farmer culture.” While researching his genealogy, Pesklo discovered the family secret. Pesklo’s subsequent research inspired him to create Lavvu. “Since then it’s been a complete odyssey of discovering this culture that I have,” he said.
‘A cultural exchange group’
The T win Cities area is one of a few major Sami hubs in Nor th America, Pesklo said. According to Jutila, the Sami presence in Minnesota relies on Nordic immigration to this region for economic and climactic reasons. The community makes up for small numbers with their active involvement, Pesklo said. On Feb. 6, they will celebrate Sami National Day. “Because the Sami are spread out across four countries,” he said. “It’s the one event that brings us all together.” Another local Sami and for mer University stu-
dent, ar tist Kur t Seaberg said the Sami culture as a whole is ver y connected. “We’re kind of like a cultural exchange group,” he said. Seaberg’s work, as well as Sami family memorabilia he’s inherited, is being featured in both of the American Swedish Institute’s exhibits. He also noted that the Sami are ver y invested in suppor ting other indigenous groups worldwide. “The Sami themselves ar e ver y active in the worldwide indigenous movement,” he said. “They share a common histor y … so it’s just a natural fit and feeling of solidarity.” Pesklo said he hopes to extend this sor t of suppor t by using the Lavvu Cof fee House as a meeting place for Minneapolis indigenous groups as well as Sami. “We’re providing a platform for the Sami community to do events,” he said. Pesklo also plans to hold “indigenous” and “stateless persons” nights where other local indigenous groups can gather and perform music. And while original Sami migrators, like Pesklo’s grandpar ents, felt ashamed of their histor y of oppression, Seaberg said that attitude has changed. Now, he said, SamiAmericans are excited to discover their culture’s rich traditions. “It’s oftentimes just a journey of self-discover y,” he said. “We’re constantly learning new things all the time.”
Biking u from Page 1
the variety of factors that contribute to accidents. The report by the public works depar tment of the city found that bicyclists and drivers were nearly equally at fault for accidents with drivers contributing to 64 percent of accidents and cyclists contributing to 59 percent. In some cases, both the cyclist and driver were at fault. Indiscretions leading to an accident had a common theme between drivers and cyclists. The study found both drivers and cyclists commonly failed to yield the right-of-way and were often in the wrong lane. Distracted driving was a big contributor to crashes for cars as was disregard for traffic control devices for bikers. Regardless of where in the city, the study found that the more bicyclists that use a road, the safer it was. To prevent accidents, many biking advocates rally for more infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes — like a physical barrier between cyclists and cars. Nicole Campbell is a volunteer for the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and a graduate student in urban and regional planning at the University. She is an advocate for infrastructure and creating additional protected bike lanes around the Twin Cities. “To see the streets and scenes in the repor t, we know how to make things better for all users,” Campbell said. “I think this is screaming that we need more protected bike lanes and education. I think drivers and cyclists will feel more comfortable if we can keep them separated.” On the other end of the spectrum, Ben Fulner-Erickson, coordinator of the
University Bike Center, said he has doubts about the effectiveness of these lanes. “I think that the idea of separated bike lanes is cool, but I see just as many problems arising with them as solutions,” he said. “The reason being that the more separated bike traffic is from car traffic, the less aware drivers are going to be of the bicyclists.” Erickson advocates more for education about bike safety for cyclists and drivers alike. However, Lindeke said he thinks education around the University is uniquely challenging. “We need to start blaming the intersection and road design rather than the cyclist or the driver,” he said. “The reason it is difficult is that it is hard to start training people on safety and rules, especially in this area, because we have such high turnover in population.” In planning for the University, Sanders said he recognizes issues that arise from protected cycling lanes, but ultimately thinks they do ser ve a valuable purpose to the biking community. “If you look at the report, protected lanes in and of themselves don’t really mitigate the biggest problem areas in that they offer no additional safety benefits at intersections,” Sanders said. “But what they do is increase the number of people who bicycle, which makes it safer for everybody.” The University has implemented several initiatives to encourage people to bike around campus, including the ZAP program, which offers rewards for students and faculty who frequently ride their bike to campus. In addition, safety classes and other resources are offered at the Hub Bicycle Coop, located near the Super Block. The University not only wants to train cyclists on safe riding, it also wants to educate professional driv-
ers, which Sanders said should help keep riders safe. This fall, the University, along with the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, put on “Behind the Big Wheel,” a training that reinforces looking for cyclists. “If you look at the fatalities in Minneapolis, all of them have been that the cyclist have been struck and killed by a large vehicle, often times a commercial truck,” he said. In 2011, a University student died when a semitruck turned into her path as she rode toward campus. According to the repor t, there were 12 fatal bike accidents between 2000 and 2010. In the 10-year span, only bicyclists reported being injured in accidents with cars. Andrew Rankin, the city’s projects and communications coordinator for commuter connections, recommended cyclists ride defensively and confidently on the road to avoid injury. “One of the key things is moving yourself out into the lane so ever yone can see you,” Rankin said. “Make sure that you are communicating your intent and where you are going to ride next through those intersections.” Though the Minneapolis study shows there is still work to be done at intersections around the University, Sanders said a little courtesy would go a long way to ease some of those issues. “We can’t say, ‘You’re a cyclist, so you are taking your chances. Whatever happens, happens,’ ” he said. “Drivers also need to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Same for pedestrians. We all need to be respectful of each other.”
MINNEAPOLIS BIKE CRASHES BY TIME OF DAY, 2000-10 16% BETWEEN 9 P.M.-6 A.M.
50% BETWEEN 3-9 P.M.
34% BETWEEN 6 A.M.-3 P.M.
SOURCE: CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
NUMBER OF BICYCLE-CAR ACCIDENTS NEAR THE U, 2000-10 7 Eig
hth
14
Fou
rth
Uni
ver s
venue
gton A Washin
10
Riv ers
ide
Ave
nue
So
et S
Stre
ity
35W
Stre
out
et S
Ave
hea
9
out
nue
st
hea
st
Sou
the
ast
east
South
uth
eas
t
94
20 SOURCE: CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
Editorials & Opinions www.mndaily.com/opinion
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The Editorials & Opinions department is independent of the newsroom. The editorial board prepares the editorials labeled “EDITORIALS,” which are the opinion of the Minnesota Daily as an institution but not representative of Daily employees’ opinions. Columnists’ opinions are their own.
EDITORIALS
STUDENT LIFE
No gin, just juice Data show drinking rates among freshmen are on the decline.
T
Thursday, January 31, 2013
he University of California-Los Angeles recently released this year’s results of the largest and longestrunning survey of American college students — the Cooperative Institutional Research Program Freshman Sur vey. Congratulations, class of 2016 — you’re drinking at all-time low levels. Rates of 2012 freshmen “frequently” or “occasionally” drinking alcohol stood nationally at 33.4 percent for beer, 39.2 percent for wine or liquor. University of Minnesota CIRP data is only slightly higher than the average, but reflects significant drops from previous years. Compared to 2001, the number of freshmen drinking dropped by 16.3 percentage points for all types of alcohol. Within a media climate saturated with concerns of alcohol overconsumption that are particularly focused on college students, these results are surprising — and induce
BRONWYN MILLER columnist
skepticism. The release of the CIRP results coincides with a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls binge drinking among young women a “serious, under-recognized problem,” noting that 24 percent of women ages 18 to 24 now report binge drinking, or the consumption of more than four drinks at a time, three times per month. Though young men are still engaging in binge drinking more often than females, the closing of the gender gap — as well as newfound, unique risks for women — is a primary concern. The discrepancy between the CIRP and CDC data is curious. Perhaps freshmen are waiting longer to take their first drinks. But to construe the CIRP data as representing a decrease in the partying habits of college students — as several
media outlets have — is naive, ignoring other dangerous realities of current drinking trends. We are a culture that reveres excessiveness, and alcohol use in college reflects this. Getting drunk is the main event. The party is secondary; the details may change, but the goal remains the same. These days, beyond the traditional Hollywood depictions of wild college parties, we have other models: Websites like Texts From Last Night normalize risky behavior in a way that could affect our perceived peer norms. Social norms theory illustrates that much of our behavior is influenced by our perception of how other members of our social group act — and if everyone else seems to “Blame It” on the alcohol, why shouldn’t we? We embrace a vernacular that normalizes drinking in excess: “browning out” is considered standard practice, “go hard or go home” is our motto and a “walk of shame” is just as easily a “stride of pride.” We wear our blackout stories as a badge of honor, chronicling what we “apparently” did after our friends have filled in the blanks for us. Woven so intrinsically into college culture is a great enthusi-
DEATHS IN IRAQ: U.S. & COALITION TROOPS: 4,802 — IRAQI CIVILIANS: 110,991- PLUS DEATHS IN AFGHANISTAN: U.S. & COALITION TROOPS: 3,245 — AFGHAN CIVILIANS: UNKNOWN
asm for the activities that serve to authenticate our status as an undergrad. Keg stands! Shots! Poor decisions! Statistics show that levels of binge drinking among college students remain relatively constant, about 40 percent. Importantly, the majority of young people who report alcohol use also report binge drinking, the frightening consequences of which are more understood each day. The 2012 CIRP data also shows that young people are as stressed out as ever. Nearly 40 percent of female and 18 percent of male freshmen reported feeling “frequently overwhelmed” — which other studies have shown is a clear motivation for alcohol use. Lower rates of freshman alcohol use are cer tainly praiseworthy, but the critical issue is controlling the drinking that occurs if and when college students start using alcohol. Memories are in fact a lot sweeter when recollections don’t have to end with “and then I threw up into my own hair.” Bronwyn Miller welcomes comments at bmiller@mndaily.com.
TELEVISION
A reality check The Oxygen Network pulled the plug on a reality show amid moral and ethical concerns.
Making tough choices University administrators should be ready to make sacrifices as lawmakers decide its funding.
S
elling an 8.4 percent increase in funding for the University of Minnesota in the middle of a $1.1 billion state budget shortfall is no small task. Add to that the recent media criticism of the University’s administrative costs and the likelihood that it will receive its requested $1.2 billion from the state decreases. Though Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget includes an $80 million increase in funding for the University, legislators are calling for the administration to answer tough questions before deciding how much the state should invest in the University. Two senators requested the University conduct a short-term analysis to determine whether it has an administrative bloat problem and report to the Legislature by March 15. Despite the heat, University President Eric Kaler has remained optimistic about the University’s proposal to the Legislature. In an interview with the Minnesota Daily last week, Kaler said working with lawmakers in light of The Wall Street Journal article is “a great opportunity to talk about what the University is doing.” However, one legislator criticized all of this talk earlier this week. “The University of Minnesota has apparently no problem, in the course of any legislative session, showing us how successful it has been in any given area,” said Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFLWinona. “Where it appears to have great difficulty is showing us where it’s had to make tough choices.” While Kaler and other University administrators have become regulars at the Capitol and cooperated with the state Legislature, we agree that the message needs to be less about the “rara … glittering, sparkling snowflakes” of the University. Instead, the administration needs to work with lawmakers to take an honest look at the University’s finances and its needs. It is only through an honest and thorough analysis that the best budget decision can be made for students and Minnesotans.
A better way to invest
Reforming how students pay for college is necessary to correct the loan crisis. HEMANG SHARMA columnist
Maxwell Smith welcomes comments at msmith@mndaily.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Revisiting a misguided gun control agenda This will be my final response to Earl McDowell’s letter to the editor in the Jan. 22 Minnesota Daily, “Guns kill people, Mr. Pier re” and his letter in the Jan. 29 Daily, “Guns kill people, revisited,” and it is obvious that this exchange could go back and forth for some time. In my first letter to the editor Jan. 24, “A misguided gun control agenda,” I responded to McDowell’s call for more gun control laws. In that letter, I outlined the fact that “assault weapons” and “high capacity” magazines are nothing more than media-manufactured terms. The “assault weapons” are or dinar y semiautomatic rifles — not machine guns — identical in function to rifles that have been in existence for more than a centur y. The “high capacity magazines” are actually standard magazines that have been manufactured for more than 70 years. Both these rifles and the magazines are owned and used by tens of millions of law-abiding citizens for competition, hunting and self-defense. I also detailed how the proposed gun bans have a proven track record of failing to reduce violent crime.
I cited several academic studies that reached this conclusion, including Department of Justice and the National Research Council studies. I also referenced some broader academic studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, in which researchers were unable to find evidence that gun control laws reduce violent crime with firearms. In his latest response, McDowell criticizes these studies but provides no credible evidence or references as to why they are flawed. Instead, he labels me as some sort of National Rifle Association stooge and suggests I watch an inter view with a politician. Apparently, the fact that the studies challenge his viewpoint is enough evidence for him to dismiss them. He also casually refutes professor Gar y Kleck’s research, which indicates approximately 2.5 million cases each year of defensive firearms use. He proclaims that this research is “flawed” but provides no credible evidence to support his claim. Instead he implies that the numbers are just too high and suggests that they cannot be true because he does
not know anyone that has defended themselves with a firearm. This is faulty logic. Just because a phenomena is outside of McDowell’s frame of reference it does not mean it does not exist. In my first letter, I referenced the recent case where a woman in Georgia used a handgun to successfully defend herself and her children. This past week, an 82-year-old in Missouri used a firearm to defend himself when a man broke in and assaulted him. Self -defense with a firearm is a common occurrence, as much as McDowell would like to deny it. Too often this is a debate about opinions. However, what matters is finding strategies that actually work to reduce violent crime. There is no credible evidence that gun bans or gun control laws improve public safety. The studies I mentioned above, as well as others, demonstrate that more gun control laws would mean revisiting the same failed policies at the cost of infringing on millions of law-abiding gun owners. In other wor ds, we would exchange no public safety benefit for fewer individual liberties. That is an unacceptable tradeoff. Stuart Baker University student
Send comments and letters to letters@mndaily.com.
A
n upcoming reality show starring rapper Shawty Lo called “All My Babies’ Mamas” may never see the light of day due to complaints from groups who call the show too stereotypical and irresponsible. The show would have walked viewers through the chaotic lives of rapper Shawty Lo and his 11 kids with 10 dif ferent mothers. What prompted a backlash and caused culture warriors to emerge out of the woodwork and charge right into the fictional and morally bankrupt world of reality TV and demand decency? Well, Shawty Lo is black and so are all his “baby mamas.” Naysayers argue that the show would perpetuate negative racial stereotypes of African-Americans and set a bad example. Reality TV is undoubtedly the lowest form of entertainment. This is the format that has given shining American pieces of cultural capital such as “Toddlers & Tiaras,” “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” “Teen Mom,” “Jersey Shore,” “The Real Housewives” of god-knows-where and many other gems. Since when did we begin to have a moral standard or expectations of basic human decency from this format of television? This is where we see uncontrollably obese children, strangers marrying strangers for money, obnoxious New Jersey folks drinking, clueless 16-year-olds bringing children into this world as teens and our country’s most abundant natural resource — rich housewives yelling. Last I checked, most people in these shows weren’t black. None of these shows were cancelled due to ethical issues — in fact, they have become a part of a national conversation. Shawty Lo is a hardworking man, who provides for all his kids. Why do we have a unique problem with this? I despise reality TV. I enjoy my own life way too much to care about teen moms or pawn stars. But to demand and bully the Oxygen Network into cancelling the show because people suddenly have a conscience is unacceptable. Oxygen TV should let this show run its course and let the ratings be the judge. Hemang Sharma welcomes comments at hsharma@mndaily.com.
W
hen government considers spending money on education, it justifies the expense as an investment in human capital. However, when students pay for higher education, they pay tuition — a fee for a service. In turn, colleges and universities operate in a marketplace to recruit college students — the consumer, on whom the risk in the investment ultimately rests, not the state that claims to be making an investment. Ever y freshman economics student learns that when more money is available for consumers to spend on a product, the higher the cost will be. Reform is necessary to correct the coming student loan crisis that may soon precipitate economic catastrophe much like the housing crisis. Student loans are widely available because very little calculable risk lies on the lender, akin to banks that failed to properly account for the risk on home loans should the market experience a contraction. No matter a student’s actual success, there is very little they can do to avoid the loan obligation — student loans are ineligible for discharge via bankruptcy. Because such loans are so easily available, the costs of education in the marketplace rise the same way the price of homes rose during the housing bubble. Instead of the students-as-consumers model, a model focused on transferring broad investments to individual students may correct the problem. Instead of a flat tuition rate, colleges and universities could instead recover their costs over the long term through a percentage of students’ eventual earnings. Such a model would provide the benefits of the income-based repayment loan programs without the economic forces causing excessive cost increases.
LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS
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. Readers may also submit guest columns. Guest columns should be approximately 350 words. The Daily reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication. letters@mndaily.com Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414
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@mndailyopinions
EDITOR IN CHIEF CALI OWINGS = EDITORIAL EDITOR ERIC BEST = SENIOR EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER WILLIAM BORNHOFT = BOARD MEMBERS CASSANDRA SUNDARAM, JONATHAN MORRIS
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sports
@MNDAILYSPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Historically rough month begins with Iowa
ICHIGO TAKIKAWA, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minnesota guard Andre Hollins defends Nebraska guard Dylan Talley on Tuesday at Williams Arena.
The Gophers have a 2-13 record in February the last two seasons.
ny thought was Smith’s best team in his six-year Gophers tenure. Four straight losses later, the Gophers needed just one win to return to the accelerated form they had held three weeks earlier. “We played our game more [Tuesday],” junior Austin Hollins said. “We were laid back, but we still played hard.” The Gophers opened up the floor, using their athleticism to physically dominate the Cornhuskers. Smith stripped the offense down to the basics, leaving sophomore point guard An-
BY ANDREW KRAMMER akrammer@mndaily.com
February is a historically bad month for head coach Tubby Smith and the Gophers men’s basketball team. No. 23 Minnesota will host Iowa on Sunday to kick off one of Smith’s most critical stretches as the Gophers’ head coach. A decisive win against Nebraska on Tuesday helped simmer talks of another midseason collapse, but it doesn’t erase the Gophers’ 2-13 record during their past two February stretches. Smith has never had a winning record with Minnesota in the month leading up to the postseason. On Jan. 9, Minnesota was ranked in the top 10 of the country and boasted a 15-1 record, backing up what ma-
TUBBY’S UNLOVABLE FEBRUARY RECORD Feb. 2012 Feb. 2011 Feb. 2010 Feb. 2009 Feb. 2008
1-7 1-6 4-4 2-5 4-4
SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
dre Hollins with less to facilitate and letting Rodney Williams attack the rim on many possessions. Smith said Williams’ aggressive play takes a lot of pressure off Hollins. “[Andre] knew what we were running, didn’t have to call a bunch of plays,” Smith said. The Gophers looked mentally fresher Tuesday after four losses that Smith attributed to mental mistakes. “Our psyche had been shaken pretty bad,” Smith said. “I thought we had shot ourselves in the foot in just about every loss we had.” Minnesota, which averages 14 turnovers, has averaged 7.5 in its past two games. Williams said turnovers were one of the main culprits during Minnesota’s four-game skid. “Taking care of the ball is key for us,” Williams said. “You can see what it did for us [in beating Nebraska].” The Gophers and Hawk-
eyes are two of the Big Ten’s best at rebounding and getting to the free-throw line. In Minnesota’s two road losses at Northwestern and Wisconsin, the Gophers combined for 29 free-throw attempts. They attempted 23 free throws during Tuesday’s win. Austin Hollins said freethrow attempts help Minnesota on defense, as they stifle any fast-break opportunities for their opponents. “It really helps when we’re trying to press,” Hollins said. “We can set up on our press [after free throws] and pressure them full court.” But Smith said Minnesota’s fluid, up-tempo offense won’t work against ever ybody, and it’s on a game-bygame basis. Minnesota starts a string of seven February games in which its opponents have a .635 conference winning percentage. The Gophers’ past five Big Ten opponents currently hold a .571 mark in the conference.
Minnesota went 1-4 against those opponents. “Everybody scouts everybody to try and take things away from you,” Smith said.
“We’ll still run our [plays], but it depends on the competition.” @dailyinthebarn
MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
VS NO. 23 MINNESOTA
IOWA
Noon, Sunday at Williams Arena
MINNESOTA: The Gophers returned to the friendly confines of Williams Arena and ended a four-game losing streak Tuesday, beating Nebraska 84-65. Minnesota revived its scoring ways, as they combined to score 92 points in the previous two losses. Rodney Williams will try to stay up-tempo after a Big Ten careerhigh 23 points against the Cornhuskers that included a barrage of dunks. IOWA: The Hawkeyes are looking to bounce back after back-to-back losses and have one contest against Penn State before hitting the road to play the Gophers on Sunday. Iowa is 2-5 in the Big Ten and beat two squads Minnesota lost to — Northwestern and Wisconsin. Sophomore forward Aaron White and junior combo-guard Roy Devyn Marble are the Hawkeye’s two top scorers and both shoot over 40 percent from the floor. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Slow starts, finishes have Gophers in a hole Missed chances have contributed to a four-game losing streak.
game execution. Both of the Gophers women’s basketball team’s last two games were decided in the final minutes. But untimely fouls, turnovers and poor offensive execution doomed the squad (13-8), which now sits 2-5 in Big Ten play. Minnesota held late leads in both of its last two losses. “We are lacking discipline [late in games],
BY SAM GORDON sgordon@mndaily.com
What’s the dif ference between a four-game losing streak and back-to-back wins? For Minnesota, it’s late-
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
VS MINNESOTA
MICHIGAN
7 p.m., Thursday at Williams Arena
MINNESOTA: The Gophers will look to snap a four-game losing streak Thursday. Facing Illinois in their last game, guard Rachel Banham scored 37 points and eclipsed the 1,000 point plateau. But no other Minnesota player scored more than 11 and the Gophers lost 91-86. “She needs someone to help her,” head coach Pam Borton said. MICHIGAN: The Wolverines (16-4), who recently fell out of the top 25, are one of the top teams in the Big Ten. Guard and Minnesota native Kate Thompson leads the way with 15.1 points per game. The Wolverines are 6-1 on the road this season. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
whether it’s the four fouls, five fouls, five turnovers,” forward-center Micaëlla Riché said. “Opponents know us better than we know ourselves at this point. You’ve got to figure it out quick.” Head coach Pam Borton attributed Minnesota’s recent late-game struggles to turnovers, fouls and not playing smart. Bor ton said the team is focusing on correcting those issues, and the last two games have been a good teaching point. While the late-game struggles are a relatively new problem, slow star ts have plagued the Gophers at various points throughout the season. In its most recent loss to Illinois on Monday, Minnesota fell behind by double digits midway through the first half and spent much of the game playing catch-up. “We’re always digging ourselves out of a hole,” junior forward Kionna Kellogg said. “Once we dig ourselves out of that hole, we have to have a next gear.” Kellogg added slow starts have been a problem on and off throughout the last three years.
MARK VANCLEAVE, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Ohio State guard Raven Ferguson defends Minnesota forward Micaëlla Riché on Jan. 10 at Williams Arena.
Bor ton said the coaching staff has been trying to figure out why the team is slow out of the gates. “At home, we have not come out with the same sense of urgency defensively,” she said. On Monday, the Gophers allowed a seasonhigh 91 points. Illinois’ big Karisma Penn was a terror
down low, and she helped space the floor for shooters, who seemingly couldn’t miss. The Gophers made a late push and eventually took the lead, and although they lost, Kellogg said the comeback was encouraging. “We see how much potential we have,” she said. “We have to figure out
how we get that and start the game off and finish the game of f with that intensity.” Riché said the team remains motivated amid its struggles. “We’re getting hungrier and hungrier for the next win.” she said. “It’s not too late to get to 20 wins and reach our goals this year.”
Thursday, January 31, 2013
9
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Top WCHA goalies present challenge for undefeated Gophers, Räty down usually occurs between the pipes. “The league that we’re playing in … has become so strong that a lot of the times it has come down to the goaltending,” Rigsby said. Räty leads the WCHA with a 0.90 goals-against average. Rigsby ranks second with a 1.70 GAA, and Black ranks third at 1.97. Against Wisconsin, Räty allowed one goal and also had a shutout. She is four games shy of breaking the NCAA shutout record. But she said her counterpart played just as well, even if the score line didn’t show it. “She wasn’t the reason why they lost,” Räty said. “She made 30-plus saves each game. It’s just hard to stop our offense.” Räty said she tries to stop Kessel and Brandt in practice whenever possible because “I feel like if I can stop our
BY MEGAN RYAN mryan@mndaily.com
The No. 1 Gophers women’s hockey team may have the best goaltender in the nation and the WCHA in senior Noora Räty, but it has to face the Nos. 2 and 3 goalies in the conference in consecutive series. Last weekend, Minnesota swept Wisconsin and its junior goaltender Alex Rigsby to set a new NCAA Division I unbeaten record. Räty also tied the NCAA Division I career wins record. This weekend, MinnesotaDuluth’s freshman goaltender Kayla Black will look to prevent the Gophers from clinching the regular-season conference title. While the Gophers’ offense, led by WCHA-leading scorers junior forward Amanda Kessel and freshman forward Hannah Brandt, will make a difference, the show-
TRACK & FIELD
Different runners collide in mile event Docher ty — who r uns mainly 3,000 and 5,000 meters — led a sweep of the top four spots. Mincke said that type of performance displayed the depth of the team in track events. She said it also helps that there’s an overlap in a single event. “We definitely help each other with pacing,” Mincke said. “Going into something that you’re not as familiar with, it’s nice to … have that kind of reassurance from teammates.” Vo l u n t e e r a s s i s t a n t coach Sarah Hesser coaches distance r unners and said training in the mile can foster better results in the longer distances. “In the grand scheme of things, a lot of the longer races do come down to … the last mile,” Hesser said. She said that this weekend at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind., the distance team will have a lot of strong competition. She said the of f-event training really reaps benefits at meets like these. “It’s not like football or basketball where if you’re a quarterback, you’re going to play quarterback ever y weekend,” Hesser said. “In track, if you’re a mile-r, you’re not going to run the mile ever y weekend just because it’s not good for training.” Ritter said she just enjoys the boost her teammates in the mile give her. “We just feed off of each other,” Ritter said. “It pushes us.”
BY MEGAN RYAN mryan@mndaily.com
Many runners specialize in a specific event on the track. Whether they’re a sprinter, a middle-distance or a distance runner, they usually compete in only a few events at end-of-season meets. Yet at any given track and field meet, it’s common to see 5,000- and 400-meter runners alike competing in a ver y dif ferent event — the mile run. The Gophers women’s track and field team uses the mile for training purposes to help sprinters build endurance and distance r unners improve their speed. “The mile is an event where speed is important, but you also need to have that endurance to be able to keep up your pace for eight laps in indoors,” senior Kathryn Ritter said. Ritter races in the 800-meter r un, the mile r un and distance medley relays. Junior Kaitlin Mincke is also a traditional mile and distance medley relay competitor. “I feel like there’s a certain kind of energy when you’re running the mile,” Mincke said. Ritter and Mincke said they both tr y to help teammates who are moving up or down in distance adjust to the mile. At the Jack Johnson Minnesota Classic two weeks ago, Minnesota fielded 19 runners in the mile event. Junior Laura
offense, I can stop any offense.” Head Gophers coach Brad Frost said the main aspect that separates Räty, Rigsby and Black from each other is experience. Black is one of the few freshman goaltenders in the conference who has played significant minutes this season. “I think Ridder Arena is a tough place to play for any opponent,” Frost said. “And when it’s her first time, it becomes even a little more difficult.” Räty had already played in the Olympics with the Finnish national team before starting college, and she said she was still nervous as a freshman. But Rigsby said Black is capable of pulling off an upset. “She’s the perfect example of a goaltender who stole the show this year against us,” Rigsby said. “She shut us out
both games when we played them the first weekend.” Black said she is anticipating the Gophers’ fast and aggressive offense and is preparing to block a lot of shots on goal. To prepare for situations like these, Black looks to both Rigsby and Räty for ways to improve her game. “I can learn from [Räty] even just by watching videos,” Black said. Räty said she can see Rigsby making the U.S. Olympic team next year and Black as one of the best goalies in the nation in a few years. As for herself, Räty doesn’t get caught up when people use her name and “best goalie in the world” in the same sentence. “I hear it quite often. Like even my teammates,” Räty said. “I’m never satisfied. I just want to get better ever y day because I know I’m not there yet.”
WOMEN’S HOCKEY PREVIEW
VS NO. 1 MINNESOTA
NO. 10 MINNESOTA-DULUTH
6:07 p.m., Friday and 2:30 p.m., Saturday at Ridder Arena
MINNESOTA: The No. 1 Gophers broke another record last weekend in their sweep of Wisconsin. Minnesota won 2-0 and 5-1 to break Wisconsin’s NCAA Division I unbeaten streak record of 32 games. The Gophers are 26-0-0 this season and have won 34 games in a row. With one more win, they would clinch the WCHA regular-season title. If the Gophers clinch Friday against UMD, they would do so faster than any team in WCHA history. The title would also be Minnesota’s first since the 2009-10 season. MINNESOTA-DULUTH: The Bulldogs climbed back into the national rankings at No. 10 this week. UMD had dropped out of the poll in early October. But after a 10-game unbeaten streak, six-game winning streak and sweep of previously ranked Ohio State last weekend, the Bulldogs’ season seems to be gaining momentum. UMD beat Ohio State 7-5 and 3-2 last weekend, improving its overall record to 13-8-3. “They’re playing really well,” Gophers head coach Brad Frost said. “They always play well in the second half. … It’s going to be a big challenge for us.” SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
WRESTLING
Reduced senior class sticks together amid adversity Gophers wrestling had the top-ranked recruiting class in 2008, but only three members of that class remain. BY DANE MIZUTANI dmizutani@mndaily.com
Minnesota boasted the No. 1 wrestling recruiting class in 2008, according to InterMat. It featured nine wrestlers that were wellrespected in their high school realms. Five years later, three wrestlers from that class remain. Some transferred, and others quit. Jake Deitchler, who headlined the 2008 class, was forced to retire last season because of recurring concussions. C o d y Yo h n ( 1 6 5 pounds), Matt Mincey (149) and Thane Antczak (133) have stuck with the Gophers, but Sunday against Michigan State will mark the end of an era. It’ll be Senior Day at the Sports Pavilion — the final home match of the seniors’ careers. Minnesota will host the National Duals in late Februar y, but that will not be a true home dual for the team. “In ever y match this year, it’s … been in the back of my head that it’s my senior year and it’ll be over
soon,” Yohn said. “It’ll definitely be weird now that it’s here.” Yohn, Mincey and Antczak all came to Minnesota for different reasons, but they’ve all stayed for the same one. They each mentioned the team atmosphere as a type of glue that has held the three together. Yohn spoke in cliche at times, but he said Minnesota’s wrestling program is different from others. “I’m a completely different … person than I was the moment I joined the team,” he said. “I’ve come to realize our program … builds men [as] opposed to just focusing on the athlete.” Yohn is the only starter from the senior class, but Antczak and Mincey said they try to find ways to contribute to the team away from the score sheet. Both wrestle in open tour naments for the Gophers, but neither man is a staple in the starting lineup. Antczak admitted the season turns into a grind without a spot in the starting rotation, but he said he remains focused on the overall success of the team.
WRESTLING PREVIEW
VS NO. 4 MINNESOTA
MICHIGAN STATE
11 a.m., Sunday at Sports Pavilion
MINNESOTA: The Gophers enter this matchup in need of retribution after a 16-15 loss to rival Iowa last weekend. Minnesota is still 11-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Big Ten. Minnesota’s lower weights have been underwhelming in the past two matchups. However, the upper weights have picked up the slack and are 8-0 in the last two matches with Illinois and Iowa. The Gophers will likely be favored in every single match on the weekend, but Spartans heavyweight wrestler Michael McClure could pose a threat. MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans need this win more than the Gophers, though it is unlikely they will get it. They’re 4-9 this season and haven’t won a match in the Big Ten. Michigan State is fresh off a 22-16 loss to Ohio and has not won a dual since Jan. 6. The Spartans were crushed by Penn State and Iowa in their meetings with two of the conference’s big dogs. Michigan State battled Northwestern tough in an 18-15 loss, but that doesn’t serve as much a confidence builder because the Gophers beat the Wildcats 33-7 in December.
“I ’m tr yin g to pus h those guys as hard as I can, so whether I get that star ting spot is not the most impor tant thing to me,” Antczak said. “And when my teammates perfor m well, that’s what keeps me going on this team.” Mincey said the seniors on the roster are close because of the str uggles their class has gone through. He said the
SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
tough times are the reason the group is so close. Yohn is a starter, but he said Antczak and Mincey might have a tougher role on the team as reser ves. “That takes such dedication to never stop,” Yohn said. “They are willing to invest in our program when they’re not getting any of the glor y that they should be.” @dailyonthemat
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD PREVIEW
@
FRANK SEVIGNE HUSKER INVITATIONAL
NO. 7 MINNESOTA TBA, Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
PREVIEW: The No. 7 Gophers men competed last weekend at the Bill Bergan Invitational and won the team title by more than 50 points. This weekend, most of the team will skip competition to train. But the throws group, which rested last weekend, will travel to the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD PREVIEW
@
NOTRE DAME MEYO INVITATIONAL AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY FILE PHOTO
MINNESOTA TBA, Friday and Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
PREVIEW: The Gophers women will travel to Notre Dame for the Meyo Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Minnesota will encounter some of its first Division I competition this season after competing against mostly regional schools at meets such as the Jack Johnson Minnesota Classic. Most Gophers team members took last weekend off while a small group traveled to the MSU Open in Mankato, Minn. “This is going to be the first real, big race weekend,” volunteer assistant coach Sarah Hesser said. “There’s a lot of good teams there. … Year in and year out, we’ve always had really good performances this weekend.” SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
Minnesota’s Cody Yohn (left) attempts to take down Iowa’s Nick Moore on Saturday at Williams Arena.
10
Thursday, January 31, 2013
GYMNASTICS
Experience guides seasoned sophomore As a freshman, Sean Bauer competed in the NCAA championships.
MEN’S GYMNASTICS PREVIEW
VS
BY NICKALAS TABBERT ntabbert@mndaily.com
NO. 6 MINNESOTA
VS NO. 9 NEBRASKA
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
John Roethlisberger Iceberg Invitational 7 p.m., Saturday at Sports Pavilion
Most freshman athletes at the University of Minnesota aren’t expected to play a large role in a team’s success. The men’s gymnastics team has been an exception in recent years, as many of its freshmen have contributed at early stages in their careers. Sophomore Sean Bauer knows all about contributing as an underclassman. The St. Louis native competed in three events for most of last season — floor exercise, vault and still rings — and competed in the Big Ten championships and NCAA qualifier meet last spring. Head coach Mike Burns said Bauer made an impression right away by competing in the top session for rings at the NCAA meet. “That’s not an easy thing to do for a freshman,” Burns said. Bauer said he entered the program thinking he could make an obvious contribution right away. But he got a wakeup call when his name wasn’t in the lineup the first weekend. “I was like, ‘All right, I’m not good enough right now. I’ve got to work my butt off and prove to the coaches that I can help the team get better,’ ” Bauer said. When Harris Coleman injured himself on floor exercise last year, Bauer had the opportunity to compete on both floor and vault. Bauer became a mainstay in the lineup and eventually added rings while improving his consistency. He was one of three freshmen to compete in both the Big Ten championships and NCAA championships last season.
MINNESOTA: Minnesota is coming off its highest point total of the season in a win over Air Force last Saturday. The Gophers beat Nebraska three times during the regular season last year and beat Illinois-Chicago earlier this season at the Windy City Invitational. Minnesota has the third-highest high bar scoring average and fourthhighest floor exercise and vault scoring average in the nation. NEBRASKA: Nebraska claimed its first victory of the season last week against UIC. The Gophers will be Nebraska’s first Big Ten opponent. The Cornhuskers finished last at the Big Ten championships last season. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO: UIC is winless on the season through three weeks. The Flames fell to Illinois before hosting the Windy City Invitational, where they posted their highest team score of the season, 401.6 points. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS PREVIEW
@ NO. 10 MINNESOTA
MICHIGAN STATE
6 p.m., Friday in East Lansing, Mich.
MINNESOTA: The Gophers improved two spots in the national rankings after beating top-ranked Michigan last Saturday at the Sports Pavilion. In that meet, Minnesota scored its fourth-highest point total in school history (196.8). The Gophers are ranked in the top five in average score for vault and floor exercise. Minnesota will get a preview of the site of this year’s Big Ten championships by competing at Jenison Field House. MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans are winless in three tries this season after a loss to Illinois last weekend. Michigan State did have its highest team score of the season, however, at 193.35. Freshman Lisa Burt and sophomore Alina Cartwright have the Spartans’ highest all-around scores this season. Burt scored a 39.125 against Nebraska two weeks ago, while Cartwright scored a 38.95 in the team’s season-opener against Western Michigan. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
The biggest dif ference between last season and the current season for Bauer is experience. He said going to the season-opening Windy City Invitational last year was eye-opening and that he had trouble focusing. This year he knows what to expect at every meet. “I know what my feelings are, I know how to
control it,” he said. “I know how to relax and just focus on what I need to do to hit a nice set.” Bauer said in high school he let his emotions get the best of him. A bad routine would leave him down for the rest of the meet. At Minnesota, however, he has learned to focus on what lies ahead instead of
MARK VANCLEAVE, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minnesota’s Sean Bauer competes on the rings Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the Sports Pavilion. Bauer competed in the NCAA championships as a freshman in the 2012 season.
reflecting on a poor performance. “It seems like when the heat turns up, he turns it up a notch,” Burns said. “He doesn’t let it bother him.” A torn labrum in his left shoulder, which he suffered in high school, has slowed Bauer since last semester. He is limiting his routines in practice in hopes of be-
ing healthy for the Big Ten championships and NCAA championships later this spring. “It’s a slow process and a little bit frustrating,” Bauer said. “I might not be able to get as many numbers [of reps] in as I’d like.” Bauer said his goal is to make the Big Ten finals in two of his three events,
preferably on floor and rings. Bauer said he gauges his improvement each week by thinking about adjustments on his routines, like sticking passes and landings. “If I’m doing that, then I know at least I’m making small adjustments,” he said. “The scores will be there. They always are.”
SWIMMING & DIVING
Spencer, Smith carry on breaststroke tradition The Gophers have historically swum well in the breaststroke. BY NATE GOTLIEB ngotlieb@mndaily.com
When it comes to the breaststroke, chances are Minnesota has you beat. Women’s swimming senior captain Haley Spencer won the 200-yard breaststroke at the 2011 NCAA championships, and she may not be the Gophers’ best swimmer in the event.
Freshman breaststroker Kierra Smith has the seventh-fastest 200 breaststroke time in the NCAA this season, the third-fastest of all freshmen. Spencer and Smith are part of a longstanding tradition of breaststroke success at Minnesota. “We’ve always been really balanced,” men’s and women’s head coach Kelly Kremer said. “But I think in breaststroke, maybe we’ve just been more consistent over the years.” Minnesota’s breaststr oke success star ted
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING PREVIEW
VS NO. 15 MINNESOTA
VS NO. 18 PURDUE
WISCONSIN
5 p.m., Friday and 10:45 a.m., Saturday in Madison, Wis.
MINNESOTA: The Gophers defeated Wisconsin 191-100 at home on Oct. 26. Swimmer Greg Nortsen earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors Tuesday after winning two races in Minnesota’s victory over North Dakota last week. PURDUE: The Boilermakers are 5-2 in dual meets this season. They are led by junior freestyler Danny Tucker, who earned All-American honorable mention in the 200-yard freestyle relay last season. WISCONSIN: The Badgers are 4-7 this season and have lost their last three dual meets. Senior Michael Weiss finished 16th in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA championships last season. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING PREVIEW
VS NO. 13 MINNESOTA
VS PURDUE
VS WISCONSIN
ILLINOIS
5 p.m., Friday and 10:45 a.m., Saturday in Madison, Wis.
MINNESOTA: With about three weeks until the Big Ten championships, the Gophers will look to solidify their spot atop the Big Ten. Diver Maggie Keefer earned Big Ten Diver of the Week honors Tuesday, her fourth such honor this season. PURDUE: The Boilermakers are 5-1 in dual meets this season after losing to Indiana last weekend. Junior Emily Fogle won the consolation final of the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA championships last season. WISCONSIN: The Badgers are 5-6 in dual meets this season and lost to the Gophers on Oct. 26. ILLINOIS: The Illini lost to Nebraska at home last weekend. They are 2-4 in dual meets this season. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
back in 1997 as Gretchen Hegener won the NCAA championship in the 100 breaststroke. The women’s program broke through again in 2011 when Jillian T yler won the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA championships and Spencer won the 200 breaststroke. Not to be outdone, the men’s team has had multiple All-American breaststrokers since 1999. One of them, Mike Brown, finished fourth in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. The cur rent men’s breaststrokers have made more modest contributions. Jared Anderson, a senior captain, has placed in the top-six in the Big Ten championships in the 100 breaststroke the last two seasons. Senior Josh Hall finished third in the 200 breaststroke at last season’s Big Ten championships. A strong breaststroke tradition has helped Minnesota recruit top breaststrokers, Tyler said. “When you have one or two good breaststrokers on a team, it kind of draws other top breaststrokers in from across the countr y,” she said. Smith said that tradition was a big reason she came to Minnesota. The Gophers have a specialized training program for their breaststrokers, who often practice separately from the rest o f t h e t e a m . K r e m e r, who has coached Minnesota’s breaststrokers for more than a decade, has the swimmers break the stroke down into components while practicing. “I don’t really allow them to swim a lot of bad breaststroke, where they’re tired and just swimming poorly,” he said.
Members of the breaststroke group push each other to swim faster, even in practice. “The great thing about our breaststroke group is it’s not just when you get to the NCAA championships [that you are] competitive with one another,” Spencer said. “It’s ever y day in practice.” While Kremer’s coaching style helps the breaststrokers refine their technique, he said the relationships formed between Minnesota’s breaststrokers have been the cr ux for their success in the event. “W ithout [T yler], I don’t think Haley [would have] had the success she would have,” he said. “Without Haley and Jill, I
EMILY DUNKER, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Haley Spencer swims the women’s 100-yard breaststroke Dec. 1, 2012, at the University Aquatic Center. Spencer has won the 200 breaststroke in back-to-back years at the Big Ten championships.
don’t think Kier ra Smith will ultimately have the same success.” Spencer said she thinks she and Smith could finish
strong at the NCAA championships this spring. “We have the possibility to go one-two this year,” she said.
CHUCK’S CORNER
Sports editor Charlie Armitz’s predictions for Gophers sports games this weekend
GOPHERS VS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
GOPHERS
WIN
IOWA
VS
WIN
MICHIGAN STATE
GOPHERS VS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
LOSS
MICHIGAN
GOPHERS MEN’S TENNIS
@
LOSS TULSA
GOPHERS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
@
LOSS NEBRASKA
GOPHERS @ MEN’S TENNIS
WIN
ARKANSAS
GOPHERS WOMEN’S HOCKEY
VS
WIN WIN
MINNESOTA-DULUTH
GOPHERS WOMEN’S TENNIS
VS
WIN
LOUISVILLE
GOPHERS
WRESTLING
VS
GOPHERS WIN
WOMEN’S TENNIS
@ VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE
LAST WEEK: 10-1 SEASON: 78-17
WIN
Thursday, January 31, 2013
A&E EDITOR
Sarah Harper (612) 627-4070, ext. 3237 sharper@mndaily.com
ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR Joe Kleinschmidt (612) 627-4070, ext. 3198 name@mndaily.com
RADIO K TOP 7
11
ONLINE
1. The Growlers “One Million Lovers” 2. Foxygen “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic” 3. Toro y Moi “Harm In Change” 4. Flume “Sleepless” feat. Jezzabell Doran 5. Crystal Castles “Affection” 6. The Babies “Alligator” 7. Dead Luke “Oh My Lord Can’t Help”
WWW.MNDAILY.COM/AE
CORRECTIONS
errors@mndaily.com 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414
MUSIC
Q&A: Lucinda Williams A&E TALKS WITH THE LEGENDARY SINGERSONGWRITER WHO BROUGHT RIGHTEOUS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TO A NEW TWANGY LEVEL.
BY LUCY NIEBOER lnieboer@mndaily.com
L
ucinda Williams has enjoyed career longevity that many only dream of. Rising to fame with “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” in 1998, the Los Angeles-based singer developed a following of country fans pining for music with soul. The tunes from the bluesy songstress hit the county-rock sweet spot. Releasing albums steadily, Williams’ work continues to garner praise from critics and fans alike. Her 2011 album, “Blessed,” earned a Grammy nod and renewed her reign on the country and folk scenes. After marrying her Minnesota-native manager, Tom Overby, in 2009, Williams is finished singing the blues about Minneapolis and is looking forward to her fivenight stint at the Dakota Jazz Club.
Are you working on a new album now?
Well, we haven’t started in the studio yet, but I’ve just been getting some songs together. We’re getting ready. We’re looking for ward to getting back in March, hopefully. So that’s kind of the plan. I’m just introducing some new songs to the audiences, and those have been going over really
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCINDA WILLIAMS
Williams croons edgy, poetic songs with a blend of folk, rock, blues and country.
well.
What’s your writing process like when you’re writing a new song? Well, I get ideas all the time and jot them down. I collect a lot of different ideas and lines and all that, and I put
them in a folder. Then, when I get in the mood or whatever, I sit down with everything and see what pops out or pops up. It kind of varies. It depends. Sometimes I’ll be working on a song; like I’ve got another new one called “A Place in My Heart.” And it’s about “there will always be a place in my heart for you” kind of thing
— real pretty, kind of a ballad thing. I wrote it fairly quickly after I’d been working on some other stuff. Sometimes one thing will spur something else on.
Do you have a theme for this next album coming up?
I don’t really have a theme. I don’t really think in those terms that much ahead of time. I write the songs, then, when we get a bunch of songs, sit down and talk about them. A lot of times we don’t really know until after we get in the studio, playing the songs, and see how things unfold. It usually all falls togeth-
er at that point. Some songs will take off, and some songs record to put them [on the record]. I’ve got this one song, “Port Arthur,” about Janis Joplin. A lot of people really like it. I’m really proud of u See WILLIAMS Page 14
ART
Prints among thieves BY JOE KLEINSCHMIDT jkleinschmidt@mndaily.com
An escape from the icy tundra looms in the distant future — the alluring spring break. Meanwhile, we count down the weeks to warm weather and Coronas on the beach (or at least on our parents’ couches). To slip away from the harsh reality of practice problems and lab questions, make like a D&D nerd and flee to the world of fantasy. Stroll through the series of miniature gardens fit for forest sprites and wild pixies. Your palm tree daydreams will hopefully be momentarily curbed as you take in all the tropical plants the arboretum hosts.
u Where: University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum,3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, Minn. u Cost: $12
POWER BALLADZ — THE ULTIMATE ’80S SING-A-LONG We all have that I’m-a-big-powerful-person song. Tweens have David Guetta’s “Titanium.” Old geezers have Bruce’s “Born to Run.” Chic mo-hawk kids have La Roux’s “Bulletproof.” The rest of us settle for the tried and true ’80s power ballad. Feet planted, hairbrush in hand we belt the corny lyrics for all our neighbors and roommates to hear. I know. I can hear you singing under your breath, “Til now, I always got by on my own,” but it’s time you stop being such a loner and join your fellow ’80s enthusiasts. This show will get you more than “High Enough” to sing along with the whole crowd. Plus, nothing is funnier than “cool moms” reliving their glory days. Big hair optional.
u Where: 501 W. 78th St.t, Chanhassen, Minn. u When: 8 p.m. u Cost: Show $40; dinner and show $55
SUNDAY
TINY TREASURES: FAIRIES AND GNOMES
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
JAAK JENSEN, DAILY Friday is the beginning of 2013’s Lowertown First Fridays where illustrator David Witt will be releasing his first hardbound book, “Portraits Volume One.” Witt is the official artist of the annual Zombie Pub Crawl poster and has done extensive screen-printed poster work throughout the years.
After needing an advertisement for his college band’s show, he designed a comic book-inspired flyer that would eventually carve out his career path. Plastered on various dive bars’ bathroom stalls and entr yways, ar tist David Witt’s first “exhibitions” prompted an explosion of output. “I figured it’s a way to get my work out there without going through the galleries,” Witt said. “I just stick it up in a bar.” Early on, his emblazoned insignia (“DWITT”) marked the touring posters for Dillinger Four, among other local punk outfits filling the Triple Rock. He even made flyers for a 30day run for the venue, an undertaking he attributes to both caf feine and alcohol. His beer-fueled designs, depicting demonic skulls, monstrous faces and comic juxtapositions, now hold reverence among collectors and music fans alike. “People will either walk by and ignore it or they’ll see it and like it or they often times, nowadays, they u See WITTS Page 14
TROPICAL ZONE ORCHESTRA In Minnesota, February is typically the driest month of the year. Get wet n’ wild with a couple cocktails and some salsa dancing. Nothing gets the heart pumping and bod sweating like dancing the merengue. This 12-piece band blasts a big and soulful sound. They’ll get people on the floor busting a move in no time. Worried your foot work isn’t up to snuff? Don’t worry: A little twostep and some twirly arm motions should have you leading the pack of the suburban barscene.
u Where Santorini: Taverna 13000 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, Minn. u When: 9:15 p.m. u Cost: $5
CULTURE COMPASS BY LUCY NIEBOER
12
Thursday, January 31, 2013
JT likes his dress classy and his lyrics trashy. As the intro will assure you, he is on his “suit and tie [expletive].” This swinging track has the horn section of a big band, the ethereal synthesizers of house music and obvi, the voice of an angel. The perfect getting-ready song, this tune inspires visions of America’s favorite southern gentleman all dressed up and ready to hit the town. Your morning wardrobe choices will improve tenfold, guaranteed.
@SHAQ We knew Shaq was big, but who would have guessed that this baller had such a large web presence? Sitting at a pretty 6.5 million followers and counting, he’s got more than 12 times the cyber cred than the vice president of the United States. His bio, in unapologetic caps states, “VERY QUOTATIOUS, I PERFORM RANDOM ACTS OF SHAQNESS.” Ver y quotatious, indeed. Spor ts fans will love this legend’s take on today’s game, and even non-athletes will “laf f” occasionally. His spelling is great, too.
And of course Jay-Z had to get in on this swanky ditty because he too is totally on that suit and tie-ish.
EAT
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FT. JAY-Z, “SUIT AND TIE”
FOLLOW
LISTEN
CULTURE COMPASS BY LUCY NIEBOER BREAKFAST Febr uar y is National Hot Breakfast month. Now listen, I’m not tr ying to be anybody’s mama, but breakfast is for real the most impor tant meal of the day. What kicks star ts metabolism? Breakfast. What keeps you focused in class? Breakfast. What helps you avoid spending five bucks on a cof fee-shop muf fin? Breakfast. Eat it. Things that you can indulge in to celebrate: oatmeal, fried eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, egg whites, eggs Benedict, eggs Florentine, an omelette, waf fles, grits, cream of wheat, Malt-o-Meal, bacon, pancakes, sausage, turkey sausage, mini-quiches, a frittata, French toast or hash browns. If you’re feeling really wild, go for a breakfast burrito.
THEATRE
Rolling out the “Reefer” MINNEAPOLIS MUSICAL THEATRE SAYS HELLO TO A BRAND NEW SPACE, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST AND THE “DEVIL WEED.” BY JOE KELLEN jkellen@mndaily.com
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ver since the middle of December, Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s production of “Reefer Madness” has been cr ystallizing in Nor theast Minneapolis’ Waterbur y Building, and it’s ready to move. Director and artistic director Steven Meerdink is raring to go as well. “We’re going to bring the audience much closer to the characters and make them feel like they’re in the middle of the scene,” he said. Newly partnered with local promotional giant Hen-
nepin Theatre Trust for seasons to come, the company will be moving into the intimate 250-seat New Century Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. The new space for the larger-than-life romp has the potential to be quite the spectacle, Meerdink said. “The scenic components are playing kind of an almost car toonish, comic book element,” he said. “Reefer Madness,” framed as a lyceum for concerned parents in an i m a g i n a r y c o m m u n i t y, tells the ludicrously overblown stor y of Jimmy, his girlfriend Mar y Lane and the consequences they receive from what they call “the devil weed.” The zany satire based on the notorious 1936 propaganda film hasn’t been produced in the Twin Cities for a number of u See REEFER Page 14
CHELSEA GORTMAKER, DAILY Daniel Ray Olson and Kurt Bender rehearse for “Reefer Madness” at the New Century Theatre on Monday in Minneapolis. The musical comedy inspired by the 1936 film premieres Feb. 1.
FOOD
College kitchen: strange soups
ICHIGO TAKIKAWA, DAILY
This sugary blueberry lemon soup is an ideal hot soup for skiers and is filled with spices.
ONE SOUP, TWO SOUP, RED SOUP, BLUE SOUP. BY LUCY NIEBOER lnieboer@mndaily.com
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oup has the ability to turn the coldest of days into the coziest. A bowl of creamy tomato basil makes a tall stack of readings bearable. A mug filled with vegetable beef alongside the first paper of the semester lessens the blow of readjusting to the real world. Obviously, this Kitchenista has a thing for soup. The question to you, fellow college cooks, is this: Why remain stagnant in the soup safety-zone? There is a wide, wide world of soup out there to explore, and canned chicken noodle doesn’t begin to graze the cusp.
BLUEBERRY SKIING SOUP Bridget Jones taught us one unfortunate way to make blue soup. Nordic
skiers have shared a much more delicious recipe. Used as an all-natural energy shot during long, cold races in Sweden, this sweet soup is a great outdoor warm-up for those less athletically inclined, too. 1 pound frozen unsweetened blueberries 1 cup water 5 tablespoons sugar 1 cinnamon stick Pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 lemon Wash lemon, and slice it into wedges. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Once dissolved, continue to cook the mixture until the berries have softened. Remove the lemon slices and cinnamon stick. Blend the mixture with an immersion blender. Enjoy with a Swedish rusk. Adapted from Bon Appetit’s Blueberry Soup.
GREEN VEGAN SOUP Vegetarians and vegans get very nervous eating soup at a restaurant. For those who prefer a meat-free diet, cautiously slurping a spoonful of unidentified soup can be dangerous. Meat can hide in small chunks at the bottom of the bowl or be masked as a murky stock. Tell your animal-conscious friends to come over and bring a mug. This vegan dish slowly simmers all the flavor of rich vegetables and herbs into a stock while the potatoes and spices keep this soup hearty. 3 large leeks 2 carrots 1/2 bunch parsley 3 potatoes 1 onion 3 tablespoons butter 2 teaspoons black pepper 2 tablespoons salt 1 tablespoon herbes de Provence 6 1/2 cups water
To begin, carefully wash leeks. This vegetable has a sneaky way of holding onto gritty dirt, which can turn a smooth soup into a gravelly stew. Cut the leeks into small pieces, and let them soak in a bowl of cold water for five to10 minutes. Rinse. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add the leeks, and saute them until soft. Finely chop the parsley, carrots, potatoes and onion. Add them to the pot. Toss in the spices, and add water. Cover, and let simmer for at least two hours. Use an immersion blender to turn this chunky peasant stew into a refined feast for royalty. Blend until very smooth. Enjoy with a crusty baguette. Freeze leftovers in gallon freezer bags.
HANGOVER BORSCHT Used as a cure-all hangover treatment in much of Eastern Europe, this red borscht will have you feeling
rehydrated and back on your feet after a night of heavy boozing. The vitamin-dense beets will give you a boost while you’re down, and the rich, salty marrow will satisfy those hangover flavor cravings. 1 pound cubed beef stew meat 1 marrow bone 1 clove garlic 1/2 an onion 1 carrot 1 stalk celery 1 leek 1 bay leaf 12 whole black peppercorns 8 cups water 6 red beets 3 cups shredded cabbage Salt In a large pot over high heat, combine half the beef with the bone, garlic, onion (peels intact), carrot, celery, leek, bay leaf, peppercorns and water. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer. Sim-
mer covered for two hours. In a small sauce pan, cover beets with water and bring to a boil. When beets are tender to the jab of a fork (about 30 minutes), remove from heat. Let cool. Peel the beets and cube into small pieces. Strain beef broth, removing all solids and saving the clear liquid. Return to the large pot. Add the cabbage, remaining meat and beets. Cook over medium heat until the beef is done and the cabbage wilted. Salt to taste .Enjoy with a ver y large glass of water and some Advil. Adapted from Kate Ramos’ Borscht. A soup can be so much more than the MSG-laden goo Campbell’s doles out in the grocer y store. Get creative in the kitchen, and experiment with chowders, broths and consommés. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to list soup connoisseur in the “special skills” section of your résumé.
Thursday, January 31, 2013 MUSIC
THEATRE
A whole bunch of hound dogs
The Lady Divine: Ms. Judith Stein
FAMOUS DAVE’S UPCOMING ELVIS IMPERSONATOR SHOW AND CONTEST REVEALS WHAT ONE MIGHT THINK: THE WORLD OF ELVIS TRIBUTES IS STRANGE. BY SPENCER DOAR sdoar@mndaily.com
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he King passed more than 35 years ago, and his legacy lives on in the form of hundreds of impersonators and tribute artists, not to mention the likes of die-hard fans whose stand-by karaoke songs are “Blue Moon” and “Love Me Tender.” There is no model for who can and cannot show their appreciation for that hip-shaking mega-star of musical legend, though there are a number of professional and amateur associations for those Elvis tribute ar tists, or ETAs, who care to join. Anthony Shore, for example, dons a jumpsuit and sideburns for a typical late-1960s Elvis look, but his heavy London accent prompts a double-take. “I loved the flashy clothes,” Shore said. “I used to wear these clothes as a kid thinking I looked cool, and I looked like an idiot.” The colorful, iconic image of Elvis aids impersonators who have a wealth of costumes to choose from. Some impersonators focus on late, post-comeback Elvis, while others go for the younger, Army-era Elvis. Everett Ather ton has $20,000 in his closet in the form of Elvis costumes and apparel. There is a company, B&K Enterprises Costume Co., Inc., that exclusively deals in reproductions of Elvis’ wardrobe. “I’ve been mastering this voice for 40 years,” Atherton said. “I’ve had women cr y. Peoples’ jaws drop. A lot of people never got to see him.”
Seeing Elvis per form can leave people so shook up; they feel propelled to jump on stage and try their hand at the Pelvis’ discography. “I saw [Elvis] in concert here in Minneapolis on Oct. 17, 1976 — that sealed the deal,” Robert Foley, a par ticipant in last year’s contest, said. “When I look back at all the shows and concerts I’ve ever been to or involved in, nothing ever transformed an audience like that one guy.” For many, the desire to do Elvis is a natural byproduct of childhood nostalgia. “I don’t have any aspirations to be famous; I have the talent to sound like him, but I don’t tr y to be Elvis,” Chuck Dillinger, another contest par ticipant, said. “I’ve been singing with his records so long, people say when I try to sound like myself I still sound like him.” Yet, there remains a certain degree of showy tackiness to the world of ETAs. It stems from the meta-caricature that Elvis was and is, especially in his later life. If Elvis were alive, it’d be an intriguing exercise in perception to see if he could be as Elvis-y as some of his award-winning impersonators. Not to be cr uel — as Elvis asks — but the realm of ETAs car ries with it the same atmosphere as a great-aunt showing off the baubles on her crowded living room shelves, all while wearing her favorite faux mink stole.
WHAT “CROWN ME THE KING” WHEN 8 P.M., THURSDAY WHERE FAMOUS DAVE’S CALHOUN BBQ AND BLUES CLUB, 3001 HENNEPIN AVE., MINNEAPOLIS COST $5-15
SHE’S PLAYFUL, PROVOCATIVE AND BARING IT ALL FOR A DOUBLE-NIGHT PERFORMANCE AT THE RITZ. BY SHANNON RYAN sryan@mndaily.com
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hen University of Oregon student Judith Stein answered a “help wanted” ad for topless gogo girls, no experience necessar y, she began her rollicking, rousing and lucrative car eer in the world of performance. “I was quite horrified, but I applied for the job,” said Stein. “As soon as I got on stage and took my top of f, I thought, ‘This is fun.’ So I stayed.” Stein made burlesquing a career for 17 years of her life, stopping at the age of 40 to see what else the world had to of fer her. The landscape of the burlesque field began to ascend into naughty promiscuity during the five years before her resignation, becoming too frenetic for her taste.
“It was star ting to get quite explicit,” she said. “Hardly any costume, if any at all, and the G-string was of f. One girl was shooting ping-pong balls out of her vagina — quite a good act, actually — but it got funky, and I was 40, and I was ready to quit.” The former burlesque star began a business selling Victorian flannel nightgowns for women, though she put that project on hold to star t a job, complete with benefits, caring for the elderly in her native Canada. Stein’s depar ture from burlesque and entrance into a 9-to-5 was accepted among her Canadian peers, and whatever flak was received she strongly brushed off. “When feminists got their knickers in a knot referencing women’s independence and freedom, I was like ‘Wait a minute, I was free, and I was independent when I was dancing,’” she said. “I have no shame.” After receiving countless inquiries about her past profession, complete
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with a few patients who recognized her in her old days, Stein began sharing her profession for the ar t of burlesquing through teaching classes, beginning her revival into the entertainment industr y. Stein was recognized by the Burlesque Hall of Fame and inducted in as Canada’s only Legend of Burlesque. S h o r t l y a f t e r a n a ssumedly stimulating perfor mance in Minneapolis this weekend, Judith Stein will tur n 65 with the sharpness of a feline and the spirit of a child — though innocence is in question. “This r evival is just such a hoot because it’s like, oh my god, here I am, 65 years old, taking my clothes of f,” she said, “and I’m saying suck your stomach in, and keep your hands above your head so your tits aren’t dead!” Her r esurgence into the burlesque world is met with a warm welcome from the enter tainment community, and she feels honored to be performing at the Ritz this weekend.
We can expect two dif ferent types of performances this festive weekend from the legend herself — one a traditional tease, the other a self-proclaimed comedic routine. “I never felt like I was par ticularly sexy on stage, I was more playful,” she said. “I used to say I did comedy; I took my clothes of f and people laughed.” Stein’s humor and talent in the burlesque industr y ar e what make her a legend in the craft. She’s cer tain to make an impression at the first ever Minneapolis Burlesque Festival this weekend.
be funny,” Wood Jr. said. That all changed when he went to Florida. Not only did he have the shelter of a dif ferent state, he also had the nearby Florida State campus to exploit. Wood Jr. took advantage of lax enforcement of “student-only” policies and would per form at talent shows and open mics. “I’d come in a Florida State shir t, do the tomahawk chop, and they’d never ID me,” Wood Jr. said. All of his self-reflection as a child now had a means through which to escape. “I was forced into my own head,” Wood Jr. said. “Some people feel the need to talk through silence, they can’t go to the movies alone, they always have to have a friend around. I embrace it.” Combine his penchant for introspection with his major in broadcast journalism, and Wood Jr. was prepared for a life in comedy.
By keeping abreast of current events and learning academically how to tell a stor y, Wood Jr. was developing all the tools he’d need to see him through to this point in his career. He’s ready to wax about anything. “Like now, I don’t like this anti-Lance Armstrong sentiment,” Wood Jr. said. “We need to quit acting like steroids are bad — steroids are the best thing to happen to spor ts since ESPN. We need a Tour de Steroids.”
WHAT MINNEAPOLIS BURLESQUE FESTIVAL WHEN 8 P.M., THURSDAY AND FRIDAY; 7 P.M. AND 10 P.M., SATURDAY WHERE RITZ THEATER, 345 13TH AVE. NE, MINNEAPOLIS PRICE $30-$150 AGE 18+
CULTURE
Get the Wood out ROY WOOD JR. HAS TOO MUCH ON HIS PLATE, BUT WOULD PROBABLY GO BACK FOR SECONDS. BY SPENCER DOAR sdoar@mndaily.com
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ailing from Birmingham, Ala., stand-up Roy Wood Jr. owes a lot to his alma mater, Florida A&M University. “When you go to school out-of-state, you can get a whole new identity,” Wood Jr. said. “It’s like witness protection.” Wood Jr. was tr ying to shed his shy kid persona, whose sense of humor only emerged while playing sports. “That’s when I knew I had a smidgeon of a sense of humor, riding the bench a lot,” Wood Jr. said. Now Wood Jr. is far from a benchwarmer. In fact, he’s tr ying to pare
down the amount of action that he sees. Besides touring the countr y doing stand-up, Wood Jr. has a recurring r ole on TBS’ “Sullivan and Son” as a bar regular. He hosted his own radio mor ning show and is widely recognized for his prank calls. The calls star ted as simply a means to get his foot in the door on a dif ferent radio show and have since morphed into three albums. “My biggest transition has been acting — I’m lear ning via osmosis,” Wood Jr. said. “As a comedian, you are used to the laughs coming from you. Now I pass the ball to make ever yone else better.” While his initial instinct on the sitcom was to embody all the humor, growing up was a dif ferent stor y. “Once I was accepted [in school] I wasn’t about to r uin that by tr ying to
WHAT ROY WOOD JR. WHEN 8 P.M.THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY; 10:30 P.M., FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WHERE ACME COMEDY CLUB, 708 N. FIRST ST. G31 COST $15 AGES 18+
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROY WOOD JR. Roy Wood Jr. takes the stage in the hopes that he’s not the only one with crazy ideas bumping around his brain.
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Williams u from Page 11
it. I had it written and was going to do it on the last album, “Blessed,” but it just wasn’t clicking for some reason, and I’m glad now because I’ve been playing it live on this tour and I got some more ideas for it. The arrangement grew, and it’s been developing more, so it’s a better song now.
Last year you played the Dakota solo, and this time you’re bringing a guitarist? Yeah, I’m bringing my longtime guitar player, Doug Pettibone.
How do you think it will be a different show?
It’s easier for me. I’m usually a little bit more relaxed when I’ve got somebody with me. It’s a little more fun for me because he does a lot of cool guitar playing and solos and stuf f, and when I’m by myself it’s pretty straightahead. We interact a lot with each other musically. It’s a big dif ference even having just one other person. I’ve got someone to work with and play of f of. We’re real comfor table working together.
Your song “Minneapolis” that you wrote in 2003 describes the city as kind of a dark, bleak place. Do you still feel the same way about Minneapolis? No, no. I love Minneapolis. That’s just where my head was at the time. I wrote that about a busted-up, broken-up fantasy of a love-af fair thing that never really took of f. It was the dead of winter,
Thursday, January 31, 2013 and I didn’t know anybody there at the time. I liked the town then but didn’t have the chance to explore it or anything.
Now you’ve made some happy memories there — you got married at First Avenue. What was that like?
It was pretty cool. It was pr etty fun. It was cram-packed full of people. We invited ever yone in the world we knew, and most of them showed up. The wedding par t was pretty simple. It was like a regular show except at the encore we exchanged our vows. That was all pretty easy because we were on stage.
I know some fans have wondered if your music will sound the same now that you’re in a steady relationship. Do you think your sound is the same? I’m better than ever. My voice is better than it’s ever been. I’m as prolific if not more so than I’ve ever been. With age, I’ve gotten more confident and focused. The fact that I am in a stable relationship has given me the freedom to explore other topics and other subjects — different things to write about. For me it’s been a good, positive thing. WHAT LUCINDA WILLIAMS WHEN 7 P.M., FRIDAY, SATURDAY; FEB. 1-2, FEB. 4, FEB. 6-7 WHERE DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB AND RESTAURANT, 1010 NICOLLET AVE., MINNEAPOLIS COST $50-$60
Reefer u from Page 12
years now, and this is the first time it’s been produced on Hennepin Avenue. This excited a great number of local actors including Kur t Bender, who plays the good-boy-turned-stoner Jimmy. “When I saw they were doing it, I knew I had to audition.” he said. It won’t just be “Reefer’s” first time at the New Centur y. It’s also Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s first production there since their move from the Illusion Theater down the street, and it’s all due to their budding relationship with the Hennepin Theatre Trust. “We’ve gone through the process of feeling each
other out — there’s always growing pains and a learning process, but it’s gone smoothly. We’re really excited to get in the space,” Meerdink said. That excitement doesn’t stem exclusively from the added local presence (there are “Reefer” posters splashed all across Hennepin) and bigger mailing lists. Founded as a touring troupe in 1992, MMT grew from humble beginnings as a poor DIY theater company and didn’t find a home until 1997 when they began a residency at the Br yantLake Bowl. Since then, the company has moved four times in 13 years, sometimes leaving a venue without being able to secure a new one. “The rug was pulled out from under us, and we had nowhere to go. We’ve been
really lucky with people who stepped up and helped us,” Meerdink said of their unexpected move from the BLB to the Hey City Theater in early years. The theater group is glad to find some security in the Hennepin Theatre Trust. It will give them the opportunity to continue producing the obscure, goofy musicals they’ve been known for. “Reefer Madness” is the most recent in a long line of eccentric, of f-Broadway shows Minneapolis Musical Theatre has tried (the repertoire of the company has contained ever ything from “Zombie Prom” to “Jerr y Springer The Opera” and Meerdink wants to keep the weird streak going because it’s what makes musical theatre interesting to him. “You can put your own stamp on things — and not
just as a director — actors can bring unique energy to characters and play with a bunch of ideas,” he said, and as far as “Reefer Madness” goes, Bender agrees. “All of the actions and emotions are huge — it’s the style of the show. I’m not naturally like that, so I’m pushing myself to go big.” WHAT “REEFER MADNESS” WHEN 7:30 P.M., THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY; 2:30 P.M. AND 5 P.M., SUNDAYS; FRIDAY THROUGH FEB. 24 WHERE THE NEW CENTURY THEATRE, 615 HENNEPIN AVE., SUITE 145, MINNEAPOLIS COST $24-$29, OR $15 STUDENT RUSH (WITH ID)
CHELSEA GORTMAKER, DAILY The cast of “Reefer Madness” rehearses at the New Century Theatre on Monday in Minneapolis.
Witts u from Page 11
see it and they take it,” he said. Funding his most ambitious project to date via Kickstarter, Witt’s increasing visibility also marks his entrance into the fine ar t landscape. The book, “Por traits Volume One,” houses a wide collection of sharp-edged abstract faces against ghostly pastels. Without the constraints of a band or company’s vision, he sees “Portraits” as a culmination of his artistic growth. “There’s no pressure,” he said. “I’m just drawing and just tr ying to make something that makes sense in the end. But I don’t have a vision of what it will look like when I start.” “Por traits” showcases the true boldness of Witt’s
science-fiction abstractions as well as his singularity as an ar tist. Citing his early exposure to ’80s Mar vel Comics illustrators to punk music, he creates an ethereal world with just ghoulish portraits of faces in his first book. “I see faces ever ywhere — in bricks, a cracked window, ever y car that drives by,” he said. “The whole idea for ‘Por traits’ came from making scribbles, looking at it for a little bit, seeing a face and star ting to flesh it out.” Countless black-andwhite menacing faces explode from one canvas in his cramped studio, a far cr y from his band flyers. Witt strives to transfer the fine detail of his “Por traits” and posters to large-scale panoramas. “It was exciting and ter rifying. It took a long time,” he said. “But I definitely want to see how far
I can go and bring this amount of this detail to this size.” His ink and brush still define his artistic arsenal, increasingly rare among graphic designers. W itt refuses to create his work via digital means. “I just wouldn’t be as satisfied working on a computer because when you’re done you can’t actually hold a finished product,” he said. “Anything you hold after that is a reproduction.” Imper fections form a crucial and welcome par t of his process, a byproduct of the physicality he relishes. Stacks of drawings accumulate instead of digital layers on a computer screen. “I’m happy to leave flaws in my prints and just be comfor table with it because I don’t want to insult the printing gods,” he said. Adding his hand-drawn
strokes to ever ything from Guitar Hero II’s fier y menu screen to each undead-infused Zombie Pub Crawl flyer, he continues in the tradition of a DIY aesthetic that landed him gigs in the beginning. Meanwhile, “Portraits” expands his ar tistic endeavors still true to his motivations. “That’s always been a huge draw for me — to not copy myself too much,” he said. “I always want to keep building on what I’m doing.” WHAT LOWERTOWN FIRST FRIDAYS: PUBLIC DEBUT OF “PORTRAITS VOLUME ONE” WHEN 6-10 P.M., FRIDAY WHERE JAX ART BUILDING NO. 411, 253 E. FOURTH ST., ST. PAUL COST FREE
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Classifieds
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EMPLOYMENT
HOUSING
$$$Bartending$$$ Up to $300/Day No Exp Nec, Training available. Age 18+ OK. 1-800-965-6520 xt114
DUPLEX & HOUSING
Great Pay!!!!Downtown parking facility looking to fill AM shifts in valet parking garage. Must be able to drive a manual transmission and have a valid driver’s license. Contact Jay at 612-337-5109 Email jkuvaas@614co.com PT cashiers/stock help. Must be 21. Westwood Liquor. Call Jim 952-544-7878
HOUSING CLASSIC CITY APTS Dinkytown/Stadium Village AVAIL FALL 2013 Rooms, Studios 1 BR, 2 BR, 5 BR Units OPEN HOUSES Check our website at WWW.classiccityapartments.com for Dec/Jan Dates & Times. 5BR/2BA Lofts incl 46 inch TV starting at $2700/mo. Call 612-623-1888 for appt. Email info@classiccityapartments.com WHY share a room when you can stay in an apt for around same price??? Studios and 1 BR, avail ASAP, Crpt, A/C, ldry, sec, pkg, $660 and up, heat pd 612-237-6941. www.uofmhousing.com
DINKYTOWN *Studio,1 br, 2 br Avail 9/1 4 blks to U. 813 University Ave SE. Hdwd flrs, french doors, wifi, garage, Pics: www.813university.com 612-379-1843
3 BR Home for Spring Semester 2013Newly-refurbished, clean, unfurnished, bright, 3 bedroom house, New Brighton area. Available for Spring semester close to U of M.HOUSE FEATURES* 3 bedrooms; main floor* Refinished wood floors, CLEAN inside & out* Fenced backyard, great neighborhood, 1 mile from Hwy 35* 1-1/2 bathrooms* Huge finished family room in basement* 2-car garage with door opener.* Washer and dryer* Central air Email troy@primestaff.com DUPLEX & HOUSE DINKYTOWN *Now Renting For Fall* The Lodges of Dinkytown Gorgeous 5BR 2BA unit laundry. Off st pkg. Starting at $630/BR. www.dinkytownrentals.com or 612-378-2413 4 5 & 8 BR houses avail for rent for the next school yr. Please call 612-708-0529 Rent now for fall. The last of the big kahunas!!!! 528 14th Ave. 9BR+ $650/BR all util paid. www.dinkytownrentals.com or 612-378-2413 DUPLEX & HOUSE COMO 3 4 5 6 7 & 8 BR houses avail. for rent for the next school yr. Please call 612-708-0529
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UPCOMING EVENTS WHAT: National Student Exchange Info Session WHO: NSE Office WHEN: Noon-1 p.m., Friday WHERE: 240 Appleby Hall PRICE: Free Study away in the U.S. (and Canada)! Choose from nearly 200 schools across the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico and Canada. Pay University of Minnesota tuition!
WHAT: Sustainability Film Series 2013: Dirt! WHO: Bell Museum of Natural History and Sustainability Education WHEN: 7 p.m., Feb. 7 WHERE: Bell Museum of Natural History PRICE: Free The third annual Sustainability Film Series kicks off Feb. 7 with the production of Dirt! This year’s theme, Edge of Civilization, focuses on non-traditional sustainability topics.
WHAT: CFANS Scholarships Workshop WHO: CFANS undergraduate students and CFANS scholarship coordinator WHEN: 4-5 p.m., Feb. 12 WHERE: 365 Haecker Hall, St. Paul Campus PRICE: Free Learn what scholarships are available to CFANS undergrads, how to impress scholarship reviewers, and when to apply. Questions? Contact Lauren McCarthy at lfmccart@umn.edu.
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
BACKTALK sudoku
horoscopes Complete the grid so each row, clumn and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. Visit mndaily.com to see the solution to today’s puzzle.
1/31/13
Wednesday’s solution © 2013 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Today’s Birthday (1/31): Travel plans advance, and writing flows. A fun, creative phase sparkles with exploration until summer, when productivity and a career rise occupy your time.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Written By Linda C. Black
Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is an 8 — There’s more room for love. If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s a good time to pop the question. Reality clashes with fantasy.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 9 — Follow your heart, and take on a leadership role. Abundance is available, but don’t let your friends spend your money.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 7 — Accept the gift of laughter from a loved one or a child. Relaxing helps you work. Balance your job and your family. Launch a new project now.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 6 — Don’t rush it, more work will come soon enough. But don’t procrastinate either, as there’s not time for that. The situation may be confusing.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 9 — Unexpected confrontation and bureaucratic delays interfere with your plans. Use the tension to make something beautiful.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is an 8 — Collect old junk at home, and give it away in a clean sweep. Consider replacing it with something you’ve long wanted.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 9 — Your mind moves more quickly than you can. This work is fun, really. It’s not the time to throw your money around. Entertain outside opinions.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is an 8 — Offer encouragement to others and to yourself. Then start studying the next subject. Balance career and family like a pro.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Something works gloriously. Stop for a minute, and let it soak in. It’s easier to concentrate. Don’t speculate with love or money.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — A great adventure lies ahead. Inspire those who love you. The trick is to balance work and fun; get your homework done.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 7 — Learn from a master of finances, and continue improving your net worth. Don’t let it slip through your fingers.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 6 — You’re entering a two-day transformative cycle. Go for the gold. Consider your plan well. Friends help you find the best partner. Aim high, and get into action.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
overheard “Let us back in, you douche!”
—Outside Comstock Hall during a fire drill TA: “Just push that button on the upper right.” Student: “This one?” TA: “That’s a USB slot.”
—Rarig Center
“I want you to be sexy — a creepy sexy!”
—Barbara Barker Center for Dance ‘I have a penis; it’s purple.’’
—University Village
Man [talking on the phone]: “Do I LOOK like I eat pizza?” —Bus Girl 1: “I love your pendant! What is it?” Girl 2: “It’s my roommate’s DNA ...”
—Unknown
Guy: “I didn’t slap your ass, I highfived it.”
—Middlebrook Hall
“She’s kinda cute, I’d give her body a ‘meh.’”
—Dinkytown
“I was the first person to tell the federal government they should be giving pot to kids with Tourette’s.”
—Moos Tower
Professor: “Does it help if you shake it? I always thought that would work when I was playing with my cellphone.” Student 1: “What did he say?” Student 2: “It sounded like he said ‘self,’ but I’m pretty sure he said ‘cellphone.’”
—Tate Laboratory of Physics
What did you overhear? 4Post submission son the “overheard at U of M Facebook group. 4Visit mndaily.com and look for the “Connect with the Daily” box on the homepage. 4Email submissions to overheards@mndaily.com.
crossword
FOR RELEASE JANUARY 31, 2013
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Treehouse feature 7 Matured, as cheese 11 Some condensation 14 For one 15 One who’s all action 16 Eggs in a clinic 17 Illusionist’s effect 19 Bushranger Kelly 20 Novelist Wiesel 21 “Days of Thunder” org. 23 Duck 26 Diplomat’s forte 28 Feeds without needing seconds 30 Arrive 31 Major bore 33 Pull (for) 35 Kicked oneself for 36 BBQ heat rating 37 County fair competition 41 Flooring wood 43 Busy time for a cuckoo clock 44 Italian soccer star Maldini 47 Many towns have one 51 “Voulez-__”: 1979 ABBA album 52 Big name in foil 53 Make a fine impression 54 Outer limit 55 Discipline involving slow, steady movement 57 Toppled, as a poplar 59 Goose egg 60 1967 #1 hit for The Buckinghams, which can describe 17-, 31-, 37- or 47-Across 65 Traditional London pie-andmash ingredient 66 New newts 67 Stereo knob 68 Funny, and a bit twisted 69 One way to run 70 Nine-ball feature DOWN 1 Slurp (with “up”)
1/31/13
By Paul Hunsberger
2 “Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?” singer 3 “Makes no __” 4 Lawyer, at times 5 Renewable energy subj. 6 Equips afresh 7 Nelson, e.g.: Abbr. 8 Hit the road, musically 9 “__ mouse!” 10 In one’s Sunday best 11 Make a bank deposit? 12 Top of the world 13 Lump 18 He played James 22 Half-__: coffee order 23 2002 Olympics host, briefly 24 “As if!” 25 How shysters practice 27 Small crown 29 Onetime Beatles bassist Sutcliffe 32 Led __: “Stairway to Heaven” group, to fans 34 One who turns a place upside down 38 Foldable sleeper
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
39 Blasted 40 Purple hue 41 Org. with an oftquoted journal 42 More racy, as humor 45 Tote 46 Sugary suffix 48 “Oh, __ won’t!” 49 Tunnel effect 50 Five-finger discounts, so to speak
1/31/13
56 Audiophile’s setup 58 Witch costume stick-on 59 Wet behind the ears 61 “Spring forward” letters 62 One of four in a grand slam 63 Wildspitze, for one 64 “__ willikers!”
Visit mndaily.com to see the solution to today’s puzzle.
dr. date Dear Dr. Date,
I think I want to take the dive and say the L-word to my man. I definitely have the feelings, but the only thing holding me back is whether he does, too. I want to say it, maybe on V-day, but I don’t want him to a) freak out at how serious I am getting or b) say it back just because I said it first. How do I know?
—The L Word
Love Bird,
When it comes to the L-word, there aren’t any rules for how soon is too soon or when the right moment is. Some people wait a year and then spell it in M&M’s on a giant cookie, others blurt it out at the grocery store two weeks in. Either way, what matters is how you’re feeling and how you’ll feel if your boy doesn’t answer the way you want him to. Obviously, the response we all hope for is, “I love you, too! I’ve been wanting to say it but was scared you didn’t feel the same way!” This could happen, and I hope it does. However, your boy may do it differently. Imagine him saying something along the lines of, “I really like you, but I think it’s too early to say ‘love,’” or just straight-up, “I don’t feel the same way.” Decide if that’ll make you upset. More importantly, decide if you’ll believe him. It sounds like you’re not sure he’ll mean it if he says he loves you back, which is more of a problem than worrying he won’t say it at all. Figure out why you think this is a possibility. Has he said he wants to take it slow? Does he worry about commitment? Weigh these things out, and decide if telling him how you feel is worth the possible disappointment. No matter what he says, take it at face value. You’re being
honest, so assume he is, too. As for saying it on Valentine’s Day, maybe don’t. Setting a date will just make you nervous. Say it when it feels right, say it with authority, and don’t backtrack once it’s done.
—Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
Could you give some general Valentine’s Day gift advice? I’ve been with my girl for three months or so, and I want to plan something special. What are romantic, non-cheesy things to do? What about gifts? How much money is too much to spend?
—Gifter
Romeo,
Gifts are nice on Valentine’s Day, but a romantic date is better. It doesn’t have to be anything major — last year, my S.O. and I spent the evening eating candlelit takeout on my dorm room floor, and it was great. If you want something a little more fancy (or just have a weird roommate), book a table at a nice place (do it now), and pay for her dinner (no excuses). Of course, fancy dinners aren’t for everyone (ahem, see above). If your girl is more easy-going, make her dinner and rent her favorite movie or get tickets for the show she’s been talking about. Whatever you do, put in your best effort, but don’t stress out too much. As for gifts, the smallest ones are often the sweetest. Flowers or cupcakes are nice. Avoid anything that’s super-personalized, like perfume or jewelry, unless you know for sure that she wants it. After that, just focus on making it a nice day for her, and you’ll both be happy.
—Dr. Date
Need relationship advice? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com.
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Thursday, January 31, 2013