CAMPUS & METRO
VOLLEYBALL
A&E
Little Szechuan plans to bring more authentic Chinese food to the U area.
Hannah and Paige Tapp are freshman middle blockers for the Gophers squad.
Sharon Stiteler brings her own brand of promotion to the world of ornithology.
New eatery aims to serve the real deal
Tapp twins bring Gophers team together
u See PAGE 3
u See PAGE 5
SHOWERS HIGH 54° LOW 43°
U OF M
Fraternity makes a comeback Alpha Sigma Phi is rebuilding its University chapter from scratch. BY MELISSA BERMAN mberman@mndaily.com
After being gone nearly 80 years, the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity is returning to the University of Minnesota campus this fall. The fraternity is star ting recruitment this week, rebuilding the organization from scratch. National Vice President Matt Humberger said the University chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi is the fraternity’s
u See PAGE 6
MINNEAPOLIS
GREEK LIFE
Meet your new favorite bird blogger
MONDAY
ST PAUL
OCTOBER 15, 2013
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
COLUMBUS DAY
Students stake a claim
17th oldest. “Anytime we have the opportunity to restart such a historic chapter of ours, it’s definitely something we’re really excited about,” he said. Staffers from Alpha Sigma Phi’s national headquarters will be recruiting for members on campus until Nov. 18. As part of recruiting, fraternity leaders will hold weekly informational meetings at the 17th Avenue residence hall. The University’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi doesn’t have any members right now, which makes the process challenging. u See FRATERNIT Y Page 3 Alpha Sigma Phi has been in talks to return for two years.
BRIDGET BENNETT, DAILY
Seniors Stephanie Zadora and Laura Serrano place flags in the ground for the La Raza Student Cultural Center and American Indian Student Cultural Center’s Anti-Columbus Day on Monday at Coffman Union.
On “Anti-Columbus Day,” student groups raised awareness of the holiday’s checkered origins.
HIGHER ED
More e-learning, but low interest The U is upping its online courses, but many prefer faceto-face learning. BY KATELYN FAULKS kfaulks@mndaily.com
Students and faculty are divided about the value of e-learning, despite the University of Minnesota’s goal to expand learning opportunities by creating more fully and par tially online courses. While online course enrollment has steadily increased in recent years, only about 13 percent of students and about 7 percent of faculty members said they prefer online classes to traditional ones, according to a 2012 sur vey from the University’s Office of Information Technology. Senior Vice President
for Academic Af fairs and Provost Karen Hanson said the University is expanding its online course offerings because they benefit students by adapting to different learning styles and allowing more scheduling flexibility. “If we develop more robust learning, we can improve student understanding,” she said. “They can go back over something a professor has already gone over.” Students said they dislike online courses because it’s dif ficult to learn the material when they can’t interact with their professor face-to-face. “I dropped one this year because it was confusing,” bachelor of individualized studies senior Rachel u See ONLINE Page 3 Students said there are stricter expectations for online courses.
NOBEL PRIZE
BY HAILEY COLWELL hcolwell@mndaily.com
Christopher Columbus’ first contact with America and to celebrate indigenous
Pressing a small white
resistance.
flag into the ground outside
Though students may
of Coffman Union on Mon-
have been taught to cel-
day, urban studies senior
ebrate the discover y of
Stephanie Zadora claimed
America with Columbus
the land for herself.
Day on the second Monday
She was one of several
of each October, they’re
University of Minnesota
rarely taught about the im-
students who planted flags
pact of Columbus’ arrival
in front of Cof fman to
on indigenous people, said
symbolize how colonists
AISCC vice president Chris-
claimed land as their own
topher Hammerly.
when they first arrived in America.
The student groups, b as ed al o n g s i d e o ther
The demonstration was
multicultural groups on
part of Anti-Columbus Day,
Cof fman’s second floor,
an event held by the Ameri-
want to spread awareness
can Indian Student Cultural
about why celebrating Co-
Center and La Raza Student
lumbus Day can be hurtful
Cultural Center to highlight
to indigenous people to-
lesser-known facts about
day, he said.
u See COLUMBUS Page 10
BUSINESS
Alumnus wins Nobel Prize Lars Peter Hansen is one of a growing list of U-affiliated economists to be honored. BY BRYNA GODAR bgodar@mndaily.com
A group of prominent economics professors were known as the “four horsemen” during their time at the University of Minnesota, and all except one have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for economics. This year, one of their students, Lars Peter Hansen, followed in their footsteps and joined two other American professors in receiving the award Monday for research on asset prices. In addition to Hansen, now a University of Chicago professor, the trio included fellow University of Chicago professor Eugene Fama, 74, and Yale University professor Robert Shiller, 67, who was an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota from 1972-74. u See NOBEL Page 10 Hansen received a doctorate from the University in 1978.
Ban lifted, but few flea markets hop to it The Minneapolis City Council lifted a nearly 60-year ban on flea markets last spring. BY ALEXI GUSSO agusso@mndaily.com
Anthony Shane’s shop on Cedar Avenue features treasures like vintage troll dolls and mounted deer antlers, but he said his favorite items to collect are unique clocks because they remind him of his grandmother. Shane has owned Flamingos Divine Finds, an “occasional sale” shop, for four years. It now features flea markets once a month after the City Council lifted a nearly 60-year ban on them last spring. Flamingos and the Cabooze Music Club were the only two businesses in Minneapolis to apply for and be granted flea market licenses this summer despite the recent legalization, said Patrick Hilden, a city district supervisor for business licensing. “It was kind of surprising and a little disappointing because we heard so many people who were interested,” he said. Businesses may not have had enough time to prepare for this season or maybe were unaware of the new ordinance, Hilden said.
JULIET FARMER, DAILY
Sellers at Flamingos Divine Finds in Minneapolis do business Sunday at a seasonal flea market. The Minneapolis City Council lifted a 60-year ban on flea markets last spring.
At the flea markets, vendors display and sell items ranging from antique plates and paintings to prom dresses and purses.
u See MARKET Page 10 Council members voted unanimously to lift the ban in April.
VOLUME 115 ISSUE 25
2
Daily Review
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1917 Mata Hari, the archetype of the seductive female spy, is executed for espionage by a French firing squad at Vincennes outside of Paris. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH
SLIDESHOW Vol. 115 Tuesday, October 15, 2013, No. 25
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Wannabe zombies took over the West Bank neighborhood Saturday night during the seventh annual Zombie Pub Crawl. Attendees drenched themselves in fake blood to drink at neighborhood bars, eat local food, hear live music and ride a Ferris wheel. See more at mndaily.com.
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WORLD BRIEFING
Vatican hears about high-spending German bishop BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY — The head of Germany’s bishops conference warned Monday that the Catholic Church must act quickly to deal with a bishop under fire for lavish spending now that German prosecutors are involved in the case, a tacit acknowledgment that the church’s finances were on the line. Archbishop Robert Zollitsch is in Rome this week to brief Pope Francis on the situation in the diocese of Limburg, where Bishop FranzPeter Tebartz-van Elst has
caused an uproar with the $42 million construction of a new bishop’s residence complex and related renovations. In a countr y where a church tax provides the Catholic Church with billions in euros in revenue each year, there have long been calls from church reformers for greater transparency in church finances. Those calls have mounted in recent weeks as the Limburg scandal has grabbed headlines and Tebar tz-van Elst has faced calls for his resignation. Zollitsch told reporters Monday that the decision by Hamburg prosecutors to ask
the court to fine Tebartz-van Elst for providing false testimony in a related case was deeply worrisome. “It represents a decisive step for us,” he told reporters at the Vatican. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Monday the situation in Limburg was “very difficult.” “Of course, it is not the German government’s place to give any advice, but I may express the hope that it will be a solution for the faithful, for people’s confidence in their church,” Seibert said. Last year, the church tax
provided the German church with some $6.9 billion in revenue. Zollitsch said a canon lawyer was on a committee that has been set up to review the costs of the renovation, the financing and how decisions about the restoration evolved. The lawyer, he said, would determine if Tebarz-van Elst had violated canon law regarding the use of church money. Tebartz-van Elst told the Bild newspaper that the bill was actually for 10 projects and there were additional costs because of regulations on buildings under historical protection.
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Iran talks of new proposals in nuclear talks BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GENEVA — Iran is promising a new proposal to break the deadlock over its nuclear program when it resumes talks Tuesday with the U.S. and five major world powers — the first since the election of a reformist Iranian president. The U.S. and its partners are approaching the talks with caution. They are eager to test Tehran’s new style since the June election of President Hassan Rouhani but insist that it will take more than words to advance the negotiations and end crippling international sanctions. Iran has long insisted it does not want nuclear weapons and that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful — a position received with skepticism in Western capitals. But Iranian officials from Rouhani down say their countr y is ready to meet some international demands to reduce its nuclear activities and build trust. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of Iran’s negotiating team, said Sunday that Tehran is bringing a new proposal to the talks to dispel doubts about the nuclear program. While offering no details, he told Iran’s student news agency ISNA that the Islamic Republic should “enter into a trust-building path with the West.” “In their point of view trust-building means taking some steps on the Iranian nuclear issue, and in our view trust is made when the sanctions are lifted,” Araghchi said. No final deal is expected at the two-day session. However, if the Iranians succeed in building trust, the talks — including the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — could be the launching pad for a deal that has proven elusive since negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program began in 2003.
No African leader wins $5M governance award BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NAIROBI, Kenya — Accountability on the African continent did not have a good 48 hours. On Sunday, the continental body, the African Union, said an international court should delay its trial of Kenya’s president. And on Monday, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation declined to give its annual good governance award — and $5 million prize — to any former African leader, saying none had earned it. A new measurement released by the foundation on Monday found that 32 countries on the continent have seen a decline in the categories of safety and the rule of law since the year 2000, as violence inside borders rises. Mo Ibrahim, a British mobile phone magnate who was born in Sudan, said his foundation should not lower its standards in order to present the award ever y year and that young Africans are taking leadership more seriously now. “Africa is changing, and the young African generation is different,” he said. “It is a better educated people, better informed people. ... The sense of duty, the whole political atmosphere around the issue of leadership is changing.” Still, some of the more than 50 countries in Africa are still ruled by men who stay in office for decades. Others are accused of backing deadly wars or committing war crimes. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto both face Inter national Criminal Court charges for allegedly helping to orchestrate 200708 post-election violence. Kenyatta is due in The Hague, Netherlands-based ICC next month, but there are growing indications that he will not go. In a summit of African leaders on Sunday, the African Union said it would petition the U.N. Security Council to have Kenyatta’s case be deferred.
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SATURDAY HIGH 48° LOW 34° Mostly cloudy
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
New eatery aims to serve the real deal Little Szechuan plans to bring more authentic Chinese food to the U area. BY NICOLAS HALLETT nhallett@mndaily.com
Another Asian restaurant is opening near campus soon, and despite their prevalence near the University of Minnesota, international students say they have a hard time finding an authentic meal. Little Szechuan, which specializes in dishes from China’s Sichuan province, is opening at 304 Oak St. SE in Januar y. It’ll be owner Rong Bai’s third location in the Twin Cities, replacing the Vietnamese and Thai restaurant Jasmine Orchid. Bai said she wanted to open a location in Stadium Village because many students bus to the Little Szechuan down University Avenue in St. Paul. Bai, a Sichuan native, said she prides herself on authenticity. “I was born Sichuan and grew up Sichuan,” Bai said. “That’s why I know how to make authentic Sichuan food for customers.” There are many Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai restaurants around campus, but some students said the area is lacking authenticity. “Nothing is authentic here. It’s ter rible, but we have no choice,” said Ray Shi, a statistics graduate student from China. Shi said a lack of regional ingredients and dated recipes could be the cause. Many Chinese chefs have been in America so long, they are disconnected from contemporar y cuisine of the countr y and are creating dishes from 30 years ago, he said. While eating lunch at Shuang Cheng Restaurant,
STUDENT LIFE
statistics graduate student B o x i a n g Wa n g s a i d h e chooses his Chinese cuisine based on ser vice and price because he’s learned not to expect genuine dishes. At the end of the day, Wang said, inter national students will settle for the “Americanized” dishes offered here. “All of the [Asian] restaurants around here are similar,” he said. “But we don’t have much choice.” Camdi Restaurant owner Camdi Phan has been in business more than 26 years. She said that tenure is a testament to her home cooking. “We put into it what we would at home,” Phan said. “I tr y to cook like that for the students.” Phan said it’s dif ficult to stay in business with so many options in the area. “It’s so competitive her e,” she said. “Other kitchens have fancy options, but our cooking is unique.” Nghi Huynh, publisher and editor of the Asian American Press, located on University Avenue, said there are few options for authentic food near the University. “I think it is ver y important because we need food and we have to go find restaurants,” Huynh said. Communication studies junior Kevin Liu and economics sophomore Vincent Sun, both international students from China, said they just cook their favorite dishes at home. “Asian supermarkets have ever ything we need, so if we have time, I will cook myself,” Liu said. Sun said real Chinese food isn’t popular in America, and if restaurants cooked dishes the way they wer e supposed to, they wouldn’t be as successful. “You can’t expect too much,” Sun said. “This is a different countr y.”
JULIET FARMER, DAILY
Junior Lucas Arneson and sophomore Zach Engle relax in hammocks on a sculpture near Folwell Hall on Friday.
Fraternity makes a comeback Fraternity u from Page 1
Nursing junior Charis Lo was a founding member of the University’s Phi Beta Chi sorority when it came to campus in 2011, also starting from scratch. She said it is “difficult” to get a new greek organization star ted on campus. “There are definitely growing pains just because you start off not knowing what you’re doing,” she said. “Then you’re with such a small amount of people who also don’t know what they’re doing.” Though the first years were difficult, Lo said, it’s easier now that members are settling into their roles. Now they can focus on recruiting and smaller details, she said. “If you put in the work, it’s a slow process, but it’ll come together,” Lo said.
A rich history Alpha Sigma Phi’s first University chapter was established in 1916, but declining membership and financial troubles because of the
Great Depression shuttered the fraternity in 1935.
“There have been times when we have considered thinking about joining because it seems like so many people here are in greek life, but we have decided to stray away for now.” EMMA MCBRIDE Family social science freshman
The frater nity has a histor y at the University. Northrop Auditorium, Morrill Hall and Wangensteen Historical Library are named for Alpha Sigma Phi men. But now, the fraternity will start anew, becoming a part of the University’s overall push to add 1,000 new greek members by 2018. Family social science freshman Emma McBride said she’s noticed a strong greek presence at the 17th
Avenue residence hall, where Alpha Sigma Phi plans to recruit. McBride said this has made greek life attractive to her and her friends. “There have been times when we have considered thinking about joining because it seems like so many people here are in greek life,” she said, “but we have decided to stray away for now.” Matt Levine, director of the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life said the fraternity has been in talks to return for nearly two years, but a decision wasn’t made until the spring. Levine said the Interfraternity Council has been in charge of the process, while the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life, played a supporting role by connecting both groups, helping Alpha Sigma Phi make space reservations and connecting the fraternity to campus resources, like the 17th Avenue residence hall. After the fraternity’s national staff leave, Humberger said it hopes to have around 40 to 50 members and begin functioning like other campus fraternities.
ALPHA SIGMA PHI’S HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY 1914
13 upperclassmen organize the Omar Club, which would later become Alpha Sigma Phi.
1916
Alpha Sigma Phi first installed at the University
1921
The fraternity buys a chapter house in Dinkytown.
1935
Due to debt caused by the Great Depression, the chapter becomes inactive.
Winter 2012
Talks about the fraternity returning to the University begin.
Spring 2013
Decision to return to the University is finalized.
Fall 2013
Alpha Sigma Phi begins recruitment of new members at the University.
SOURCE: ALPHASIGMAPHI.ORG
University ups e-learning, but student and faculty interest is low FACULTY VS. STUDENT PREFERENCES FOR ONLINE CLASSES 2011–12
SUPPLEMENTED, HYBRID AND ONLINE COURSES TOTALLY ONLINE COURSE
PERCENT OF FACULTY WHO HAVE TAUGHT AT LEAST ONE
63.9%
STUDENTS FACULTY
HYBRID COURSE
47.4%
84.5%
80% 74.8%
71.5%
SUPPLEMENTED COURSE
PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN AT LEAST ONE
82.7%
83.5%
88.3%
84%
84.5%
73.4%
60% 59.8% 51.7% 25.2% 15.1% 14.3%
2.5%
5.2%
STRONGLY ONLINE
14.3%
27% 20%
7.9% 4.2%
u from Page 1
Herme said. “Our teacher didn’t tell us what was expected.” Graduate student Erika Prater, who teaches an online art history class called “Why Art Matters,” agreed that the most challenging part of online courses is communication. She said it’s difficult to gauge what students are learning, and she finds they seem discouraged from asking questions. “I think that [online] courses really lose a lot from not having the in-person interaction,” she said. But biomedical engineering professor David Odde said he never
19.1% 6.5%
SOMEWHAT NEUTRAL SOMEWHAT STRONGLY ONLINE FACE-TO-FACE FACE-TO-FACE SOURCE: OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Nobel
41.9%
40%
had a problem with communication in the several online classes he’s taught. “It’s online, but it’s actually live,” he said. “They can ask me questions during class.”
0%
9.2%
8.8%
2004
2007
Hanson and Bob Rubinyi, the University’s eLearning director, said watching videos, reading lessons and discussing materials through forums offers a learning alternative
16.6%
39.8%
42.1%
44.3%
29.8%
19.3% 11.3%
10.2%
3.8% 2001
2009
2011–12
2001
2004
2007
2009
2011–12
SOURCE: OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
for students who struggle to learn by lecture. A national survey released in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Education showed students in online or partially online courses performed “modestly better” than students getting face-to-face instruction.
“I think that [online] courses really lose a lot from not havDifferent expectations ing the in-person Some students said they interaction.” ERIKA PRATER graduate student
14.4%
30.7%
33%
45.1%
found online courses more difficult than traditional courses because of stricter deadlines and higher engagement expectations. “If we were a minute late submitting assignments, it would automatically deduct five points,” animal science senior Alexandra Schiller said. “[The website] went
down a lot, so it was frustrating.” Economics junior Aymen Chalbi said he learned very little from the five or six online classes he took last year, although they did fit in his schedule. Political science sophomore Jackson Fate said he doesn’t like online classes because he can’t ask questions immediately. “If I can avoid it, I won’t take one,” he said. “But if I have no other option, I’ll be stuck.” Rubinyi said because online courses often require students to complete more assignments and readings, they can be more intensive than traditional courses. “Students are surprised,”
he said. “It’s a lot harder in an online course because in a classroom experience they don’t have to be engaged all the time.” The different workload — as well as worries about student performance — also extends to faculty members. Some are concerned about the upfront work required to design an online course, as well as the possibility of student cheating. The University has implemented e-proctoring, which identifies students by webcam to make sure they stay on their screen and don’t use cheat sheets.
A wider reach The biggest benefit to online classes, faculty mem-
bers said, is that a variety of students who live off-campus or have busy schedules can enroll. “I have a student who lives in the United Arab Emirates,” Prater said. “This credit is the last thing he needs to complete his degree.” Epidemiology Coordinator Sarah Keene, who teaches the one-credit class “Success Over Stress,” said the online format is a good way to disseminate information without capping enrollment. “We can have the ability to reach as many students as possible,” she said. “It helps us achieve that goal. … Everybody has access to it. It’s accessible and approachable.”
4
Editorials & Opinions www.mndaily.com/opinion
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 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
RESEARCH
Advertisers target women’s insecurities All dorms
Research suggests ways to capitalize on women’s vulnerable moments.
D
epending on the time of day or week, advertisements are targeted at your mood. If you’re a woman, those adver tisements are targeted at your insecurities, too. Resear ch fr om media planning agency PHD offers advertising strategies aimed at women when they feel the least attractive. PHD sur veyed women 18 and older across the U.S. to deter mine when they felt most vulnerable about their appearance in order to choose the best time to advertise beauty products. The results show nearly half of women feel most insecure during Monday mor nings. The fir m suggested concentrating media during “prime vulnerability moments.” It’s no surprise adver tisers pay attention to consumers’ emotions in order to
SAM JASENOSKY columnist
sell products. Their job is to convince people to purchase, and they’re completely justified in seizing emotional opportunities. However, the blatant exploitation of women’s most insecure moments in an attempt to make profit is not justified. Only 2 percent of women described themselves as “beautiful” in a sur vey conducted by global polling firm StrategyOne. More than 65 percent of those same women agreed that media and advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty that can never be achieved. If most women hold adver tising at least par tially responsible for unrealistic standards of beauty, then
predator y adver tisements feed off the same insecurities they help produce. Adver tising targeted at vulnerable women becomes especially problematic when compared to men. The PHD study didn’t mention men as subjects whatsoever. A YouGov survey said that only 16 percent of women don’t typically use any skin or style products to get ready in the morning, compared to more than 50 percent of men. Beauty product adver tisers tar get women, and it works. Regardless of how unethical exploiting women’s insecurities may seem, it’s perfectly legal. In fact, many businesses take it a step further — they charge women more than men for the same product. In a phenomenon known as gender pricing, products and ser vices like lotion, shampoo, health insurance and car repairs are purposely more expensive when women buy them. California found that women paid $1,351 annually in extra costs and fees.
DEATHS IN IRAQ: U.S. & COALITION TROOPS: 4,802 — IRAQI CIVILIANS: 114,973- PLUS DEATHS IN AFGHANISTAN: U.S. & COALITION TROOPS: 3,380 — AFGHAN CIVILIANS: UNKNOWN
Though laws prohibit gender-based discrimination in job and house hunting, there aren’t any federal laws banning gender-based discrimination in the sale of goods and services. Ultimately, the current advertising system perpetuates vulnerability in women and then legally exploits it to its fullest advantage. In April, Dove ran a campaign called “Dove Real Beauty,” which demonstrated a new marketing technique. The campaign asked women to describe themselves to a sketch artist, have someone else describe them to the ar tist and compare the sketches. Most women were surprised at how harshly they judged themselves in comparison to an outside opinion. Instead of reinforcing the stereotype of an insecure woman, adver tising companies should consider campaigns that empower women to feel beautiful. Sam Jasenosky welcomes comments at sjasenosky@mndaily.com.
STUDENT LIFE
Students must protect their character It is up to University students to drown out false attacks on student character.
W
Collin Randloph welcomes comments at crandolph@mndaily.com.
GUEST EDITORIAL Change federal budget policies Why it matters: More sensible, modern budget policies could reduce chaos to the republic in times of political dysfunction. The malady of U.S. political dysfunction isn’t likely to react to even a dose of strong medicine, so we should consider preventive strategies that could stem the onslaught of our chronic fiscal condition. The current breakdown of negotiations in Washington over budgets and debt limits will continue as long as we’ve got a political system that allows small groups of lawmakers to obstruct the process because they come from extremely safe political districts. The power of caucus leaders like Speaker John Boehner has been diminished, and the conflict industry including big media adds gasoline to these fires of discontent and creates a chaotic situation where almost nothing gets done. Routine political appointments are held up. Seemingly uncontroversial laws like the farm bill and transportation bill don’t get renewed. The prevention policies the U.S. political system needs ar e not rocket science.
Other modern western democracies connect spending policies to debt policies and don’t operate them separately. That’s how it used to work in the U.S., too. Going back to the strategy makes sense, as we are one of the few industrialized nations that do spending and debt decisions so separately. But there are also simpler strategies that would protect the average taxpayers and others who rely on consistent federal policy. On budget resolution issues, we need to simply require that budgets currently in place will continue at current spending levels should we not be able to approve a new budget in a timely fashion. This simple provision would show taxpayers that while lawmakers might need time to work out their differences, they will not make the rest of us pay for their dawdling or obstruction. The farm bill is a case in point. It appears the lack of a farm bill will push us back into policies of the 1940s, possibly doubling the price of a gallon of milk to $6 or $7. Bankers who need a cer tain amount of certainty on farmers’ financial state can’t approve routine loans if the law reverts to 1949.
Taxpayers not only have to put up with the frustration of a political stalemate; they often pay a price in jobs and business. The cost of the shutdown was estimated during the first week at $1.6 billion in lost economic activity, according to IHS Inc., a market research firm in Lexington, Mass. And Bloomberg news repor ts that of fice closur es ar e costing the U.S. economy about $160 million a day. Those figures are just hard for taxpayers to accept. It’s no surprise the congressional approval rating is down to 5 percent. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It seems both parties would have an interest in creating preventive policies that protect hard-working people from the devastating economic impact of a government shutdown. That’s the least our leaders should be willing to do. They all say they don’t want a shutdown. There’s one way to prove it. The Mankato Free Press editorial staff This editorial was published in the Mankato Free Press on Oct. 8. Comments should be sent to letters@mndaily.com.
e are taught from a young age to respect the First Amendment. On campus, however, protesters unethically abused their freedom to LUIS RUUSKA speak. columnist I saw many students looking shocked last week by a small group of religious protesters in front of Coffman Union. Protesters told students — whom they referred to as sinners — that God was angry with us because of our drunkenness, premarital sex and provocative dress. Where is the line between hate speech and free speech, or a peaceful assembly and one filled with vicious vitriol? Of course, these people were well within their legal rights to protest. The University of Minnesota campus is public land, and people have a constitutional right to express their views on campus within legal limits. However, these protestors did not attack any single group or idea. They blindly attacked an assumed identity of all students. This is not and should not be acceptable. There is no way for protesters to know how all University students lead their lives. There is no way for them to know what values or beliefs University students adhere to. The University is home to more than 100 political, religious and social action-oriented student groups. If this doesn’t suggest a student population concerned with not only bettering itself but improving the community as well, then I don’t know what does. The University should have some authority to step in and protect its students from such unwarranted character assassination. Realistically, the laws protecting such protesters on campus are unlikely to change. Therefore, it is up to students to protect the collective University identity and show through actions that attacks on our character do not reflect reality. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Words may show a man’s wits but actions his meaning.” It would be silly to combat attacks on our character with slander of our own, so we must display the values of the University through our actions because they will be loud enough. Luis Ruuska welcomes comments at lruuska@mndaily.com.
not created equal Some dorms on campus require upgrades for health and accessibility.
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everal first-year University of Minnesota students woke up to a new life form growing in their dorm rooms this fall: an outbreak of mold in Frontier Hall. The Minnesota Daily reported Oct. 7 that 16 rooms were found with mold in the freshman dorm, forcing students in half of them to temporarily relocate. Though freshmen may anticipate the transition to college life to be something of a struggle at first, most wouldn’t predict they’d have to pick up their stuff and move within the first few months of school. Contrast this experience with that of students lucky enough to be living in the new 17th Avenue residence hall this year, which boasts its own restaurant and greek life student space for the Theta Chi fraternity and Chi Omega sorority. 17th Avenue also has air conditioning and is accessible to students with disabilities, which is more than can be said for older dorms on campus, like Pioneer Hall in the Superblock. Though it looks inviting enough from the outside, rooms in Pioneer Hall are difficult to get to given its labyrinth-like hallways; rooms are not carpeted, and there are no elevators or air conditioning, making already crowded move-in and move-out days that much more uncomfortable. Mouse infestation has also been an issue in Pioneer. While living in 17th Avenue and Middlebrook halls is slightly more expensive, a couple hundred dollars does little to make up for the vast difference in quality. The University should promote greater amenity equality among its sponsored student living spaces; students in one dorm should not have to live with mold, mice and impractical hallway design while many of the University’s greek students in another dorm have access to air conditioning, elevators and made-to-order food.
Protecting representative democracy The Supreme Court should uphold the aggregate limits on campaign contributions.
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arlier this month, the Supreme Court heard a potential landmark case involving campaign finance regulation. It’s been several years since the court handed down its controversial decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, ruling that the government may not ban political spending by corporations or unions. With political spending now defined as a form of protected speech, the justices will weigh in on McCutcheon v. FEC, a case which challenges the aggregate spending limit that prevents an individual from giving more than $123,000 to various political candidates and election committees during a two-year federal election cycle. Shaun McCutcheon, an Alabama businessman, contends that the overall cap on contributions is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment right to free speech. The government argues that the limits play an important role in preventing political corruption, adding that without the aggregate cap, an individual could donate up to $3.6 million to various candidates and committees in a single election cycle. The limits put in place on campaign contributions act as a reasonable method of ensuring fairness in our democracy. Without them, wealthy donors could have a disproportionate amount of influence on elections, and the principles of equal representation are that much more difficult to achieve. Specifically, the aggregate limit works to prevent donors from influencing numerous elections around the country, in places he or she does not even live. With the limit in place, wealthy donors are more likely to use the $123,200 they are allowed to spend on races closer to home. In Buckley v. Valeo, the court ruled that contributions to specific candidates may be regulated because of the potential for political corruption. The court should not go back on that logic.
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 600 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 Look for online exclusive columns at Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 www.mndaily.com/ opinion. Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE @mndailyopinions Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TONY WAGNER = EDITORIALS & OPINIONS EDITOR ERIC BEST = SENIOR EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER WILLIAM BORNHOFT = BOARD MEMBER CASSANDRA SUNDARAM
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Sports
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@MNDAILYSPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
Tapp twins bring team together Hannah and Paige Tapp are freshman middle blockers for the Gophers squad.
WITH SAM GORDON
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wish the Daily published on Fridays; then I wouldn’t have had to wait so long to weigh in on Jerry Kill’s leave of absence. It’s old news now, but the Gophers’ third-year head coach stepped away from the team to focus on his epilepsy treatment. Minnesota athletics director Norwood Teague and Kill’s longtime defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys made the announcement last Thursday. “He has made this decision to try this before, but as he’s felt better, he’s put it off,” Claeys said. “It’s a big step for him.” And absolutely the right decision. Kill’s fier y approach to coaching helped get him a Big Ten gig. He’s as tough-minded as any coach I’ve been around. The fact that he has battled through his condition without missing a game day until now is a marvel in and of itself, especially with all the stress involved in coaching in a power conference. I’m no doctor, but I know stress is bad for anybody. And it certainly can’t be good for someone with a pre-existing medical condition. That stress, coupled with the significant local and national media attention surrounding Kill and the program, is more than enough to make this a good call. Kill’s leave from the team will give him a break from football. A break from the exceedingly long work days. And a break from the public eye. Kill’s seizures have been a talking point for fans, critics and journalists since his first public seizure in his second game at Minnesota. He’s had to field questions about his health on and off for the past three years. Now, that burden will be left to his assistant coaches and his players. And from the sounds of things, that’s something they’re more than willing to do. “As a staff, we are all happy that he has made this decision to do this,” Claeys said. “We support him 100 percent, and we will represent him well … for however long it is.” Neither Teague nor Claeys gave a definitive timetable for Kill’s return. I’m fine with that. Kill’s absence against Michigan is tangible proof that he couldn’t meet all of the demands his job requires. He’s said repeatedly that if he couldn’t coach, he would step away. Teague was supportive of Kill’s decision at the press conference Thursday, but when asked, he evaded questions about Kill’s long-term future with Minnesota. “When it comes down to Jerr y and his health, tr ying to move the program forward … that’s all we can rely on right now,” Teague said. “And I’m confident that we’re making the best decisions.” Because of those decisions, Kill can finally focus on his health and the Gophers can focus on football. Ya feel me? Sam Gordon welcomes comments at sgordon@mndaily.com or on Twitter.
@SamuelEGordon
BY MEGAN RYAN mryan@mndaily.com
Freshmen Hannah and Paige Tapp may be twin sisters and Gophers volleyball players, but they’re not exactly the same. Hannah is a true middle blocker while Paige plays on the right side. Hannah is an inch taller at 6 feet 2 inches. Paige is a blonde, but her sister is a brunette. Amid the subtle differences, there’s a resounding similarity between the two sisters — their dedication to the game. “They want very badly to be good at volleyball,” Gophers head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “So they care a lot about the process of improvement, and that’s nice to have.” The Tapp twins wanted it so badly that they gave up two other sports in their junior year of high school to join powerhouse club volleyball team Northern Lights in Burnsville, Minn. They made a nearly two-hour drive from their home in Stewartville, Minn., three to four times a week for practice. “They obviously really wanted it,” Northern Lights head coach Adam Beamer said, “in order to drive two hours each way to practice for two years.” Beamer said the twins’ infectious attitude stepped up the level of play across his entire team. And while the time commitment was intense and the drives to practice were long, Hannah Tapp said she wouldn’t know where she and her sister would be without the high-level playing experience gained at Northern Lights. “It was one of the best decisions of my life,” Hannah Tapp said. While some people found it hard to believe the two were willing to sacrifice so much for volleyball, Paige Tapp said it easily became part of their routine. “It kind of just became life,” she said.
Dribbles for digs Before the Tapps started playing volleyball competitively in middle school,
they were dribbling basketballs. So when the time came their junior year to focus on volleyball, the decision was difficult. “The hardest par t was probably just giving up basketball and track,” Paige Tapp said. “We always wanted to play basketball. I wanted to play for Pat Summitt my whole life. And then as I got older … basketball wasn’t cutting it [and] volleyball was.” Hannah Tapp said she didn’t want to let her teammates in other sports down, but she said they understood that she and her sister needed to focus all of their attention on volleyball to play collegiately. That dream didn’t take long to come true once the Tapps star ted playing for Northern Lights. While they signed a national letter of intent in the fall of their senior year, Beamer said they chose Minnesota back in late winter of their junior year. “They actually committed before going to one of the biggest tournaments of the year that we would attend, which would have been a big recruiting tournament,” Beamer said. “A lot of times, kids would wait until after that to see what comes in.” Paige Tapp said once she and her sister had visited Minnesota, it was pretty much a done deal. “We had to base ever ything of f how awesome Minnesota was,” she said.
The Minnesota Twins
Hannah Tapp, as a true middle blocker, has been a consistent starter for the Gophers this year to fill the hole in the lineup left by Dana Knudsen. While Hannah has been seeing more cour t time, there’s no jealousy between the siblings. “It doesn’t seem like there is much animosity between the two,” sophomore outside hitter Karlie Hauer said. “They both work really hard. “Even though Hannah is starting, Paige still works hard, and she still is suppor tive of her sister, and Hannah is suppor tive of Paige. And it’s cool to see them out there, working together and getting along.” But just because the twins are suppor tive
CHELSEA GORTMAKER, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minnesota middle blocker Hannah Tapp attempts to block the ball against Purdue on Sept. 28 at the Sports Pavilion.
doesn’t mean there isn’t a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.
“They want very badly to be good at volleyball, so they care a lot about the process of improvement, and that’s nice to have.” HUGH MCCUTCHEON Gophers head coach
“They crack me up because they were best friends and sisters, but they were so competitive with each other,” Northern Lights assistant coach Jennifer Jacobs said. “They kept tr ying to one-up each other all the time.” Paige Tapp said the competition is the best part about having her sister on the same team because they push each other to work harder and improve. “I always have to beat her out … do as much as she’s doing,” Paige Tapp said. Hannah Tapp said while
it’s not always rosy having her sister around, the pros outweigh the cons. “It’s nice that you can always have an honest person holding you accountable,” she said. Head coach McCutcheon said the twins have been a great addition to his team this season. “They’re twins, but they’re ver y dif ferent, so they bring dif ferent stuf f that’s good,” McCutcheon said. “Hannah is a little more kind of goofy, and Paige is cer tainly a little more driven. … They are ver y dif ferent, and yet, they’re still ver y connected.” Beamer said while the twins are both athletic — with touches higher than 10 feet — they have different personalities on and off the court. “Paige is a little more analytical than Hannah is,” Beamer said. “Hannah just plays.” Sophomore outside hitter Daly Santana said she’s noticed in practice Paige is more serious when tr ying to fix an aspect of her game, whereas her sister will make fun of herself while making the change.
Hauer said the two have never been afraid to speak up and help older teammates. “They just kind of stepped into practice, and they’re really dedicated,” Hauer said. “It’s nice to know that even as freshmen, they’re not afraid to just come in and say, ‘Hey, I’m here. I’m going to do the work I need to do to try and help myself out, help the team out.’ ” That caring attitude is something that extends beyond just wanting the team to win, Jacobs said. “I’ve never met two more nice young women in my life than those two,” she said. “They cared about ever ybody they met. [It] didn’t matter who it was, how little, small, big, tall.” Beamer said he expects to see Hannah and Paige Tapp sharing the cour t at Minnesota more often in the coming years. And the two can already picture what that future might look like. “If Paige were to be playing right side, and I were to be playing middle, then sometimes we can block together,” Hannah Tapp said, “which I guess is cute.”
ATHLETICS
U students, staff weigh in on ‘pay-to-play’ Some believe that athletes should be compensated for generating revenue. BY JAKE STARK jstark@mndaily.com
While college athletics is a full-time job, athletes don’t turn any profit. At least, not for themselves. While revenue spor ts generate a lot of money for their respective schools, many traditionalists think student-athletes receive enough compensation already. But others see lucrative television deals and coaching contracts and say athletes in revenue-generating spor ts deser ve more. And the debate rages on nationally, including at the University of Minnesota. “I wouldn’t think paying student-athletes is a good idea,” said journalism Senior Fellow Keith Moyer. “They’re already getting scholarships and getting their education paid for.” Moyer, who teaches a spor ts journalism class at the University, said most athletics depar tments across the countr y are not capable of paying athletes directly or providing them
with stipends. Paying student-athletes would essentially turn college spor ts into a profession, he said. “It gets to a point where the amateurism is gone,” he said. “Do we really want agents and athletic directors sitting down to negotiate contracts with players?” Spor t management senior Lewis Smith agreed with Moyer’s concer ns about paying student-athletes directly. He said he’s par ticularly concer ned about how such a policy would ruin the balance of college sports. “It would mess up recruiting,” he said. “It would create an even bigger gap between major schools and the little guys.” NCAA officials have adamantly refused to install a “pay-for-play” program in the past. And recently, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany spoke out publicly against paying studentathletes. Histor y senior Sam Neisen said although he agrees that student-athletes make a lot of money for the University, he worries about payments possibly getting out of control. “Where do you draw the line?” he said. “Paying athletes isn’t the solution
that’s just going to fix ever ything.”
Other ways to compensate
About two weeks ago, video game manufacturer Electronic Ar ts, Inc., and Collegiate Licensing Company agreed to pay current and former studentathletes tens of millions of dollars to settle a lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon. The settlement has left the NCAA as the sole defendant in the antitrust case. The lawsuit alleges the NCAA and its member schools conspired to sell the names and likenesses of student-athletes without proper compensation in return. While Moyer was adamant about not paying college athletes just for playing, he said he thinks athletes should receive some compensation for the use of their likeness in video games, apparel and other memorabilia. “If you’re using my face on an EA Spor ts college video game box, I should be able to get something for that,” he said. He said the NCAA needs to have a well-defined set of criteria that
lists what athletes can make money on and what they can’t. Biology senior Alex Braaten said keeping limits on the way athletes can make money would please those on both sides of the argument. Braaten said it’s OK for student-athletes to make money off of their likeness and apparel, but he said they shouldn’t be allowed to make money through autograph sessions. T h i s s u m m e r, t h e NCAA investigated Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel for signing autographs for money. The NCAA found no wrongdoing in the case but reiterated that college players cannot receive payments for signing autographs. “Autographs are more of a sentimental thing for fans,” Braaten said. “Anything that has to do with them doing their thing as an athlete should be compensated.”
Developmental leagues?
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was an elite NFL draft prospect last season. But Clowney, then a sophomore, wasn’t allowed to enter the draft be-
cause NFL r ules require athletes to be three years removed from high school in order to be eligible. Moyer said allowing football players to be drafted right out of high school might help eliminate the controversy around compensating student-athletes. “The NFL is getting its talent developed for free,” he said. “At some point, the pro football league needs to have some skin in the game.” He suggested the NCAA and the NFL make an agreement that allows high school players to be drafted and still play college football. While the players develop in college, the NFL team could compensate the player with insurance policies and other payments. Neisen said the NFL should eliminate the age restriction altogether and allow student-athletes a shot at the pros immediately. “If someone thinks he can make it as an 18-yearold going up against 30-year-old men, good luck,” he said. “Maybe that’ll be a way to preser ve the integrity of college sports.”
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
A&E EDITOR
Sarah Harper (612) 627-4070, ext. 3237 sharper@mndaily.com
ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR Spencer Doar (612) 627-4070, ext. 3060 sdoar@mndaily.com
RADIO K TOP 7 1. Arcade Fire “Reflektor” 2. The Orwells “Who Needs You” 3. Crystal Stilts “Star Crawl” 4. Deleter “Kings and Queens of Sympathy” 5. Oneohtrix Point Never “Americans” 6. King Khan & The Shrines “Born to Die” 7. The Cloak “King Rope”
ONLINE WWW.MNDAILY.COM/AE
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NATURE
Meet your new favorite bird blogger Sharon Stiteler brings her own brand of promotion to the world of ornithology. BY THOM Q. JOHNSON tjohnson@mndaily.com
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n the all-ages world of bird watching, the Birdchick strives for a PG-13 rating. At birding conferences, you may see her cracking a smile at the mention of the blue-footed tit or the master cock. “I don’t know why ornithologists always seem to come up with such dirty names for things,” she said. “I feel like I’m 13 years old sometimes.” The Bir dchick, also known as National Parks Service ranger Sharon Stiteler, has been an activist for the birding world for years. She’s got all the geeky credentials: personal beekeeper to fantasy writer Neil Gaiman, co-owner of the “Disapproving Rabbits” franchise with her husband, and blogger at birdchick. com, where she writes and produces videos as a cheeky bird devotee. Stiteler came into the world of birding quite by accident after taking a job in a birdseed store and landing a gig at KARE 11 as the resident “bird lady.” After a tattoo artist suggested she get her own website, Stiteler decided to change her style and adopt the “Birdchick” identity she uses today. “Birds are just the way I’m wired,” she said. ”I had no idea that I could make a career of it.” Since then, Stiteler has
WHAT CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE: BIRDING FOR THESE MODERN TIMES WHEN 7-9 P.M., TUESDAY WHERE BRYANT LAKE BOWL, 810 W. LAKE ST., MINNEAPOLIS COST $5-12 ON A SLIDING SCALE
traveled the world researching birds. She estimates that she spends approximately 40 weeks on the road each year doing everything from counting ducks from a plane to consulting about the effects of development on bird habitats and traveling to remote areas to determine whether a species exists. On the rare occasions when she’s home, she’s proselytizing her craft to fellow birders, including the audience of the Café Scientifique program, a monthly conversation on rotating science-based topics. It’s organized by Kevin Williams and Leah Peterson of the Bell Museum of Natural History and held at the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. This month’s program runs alongside an exhibit, which opened this month, featuring the Bell’s collection of early explorer John James Audubon’s bird drawings. Williams and Peterson, like Stiteler, are trying to dispel the thinking that their science isn’t as cool or approachable as it should be. “We try to get real science out to the public in a venue where you can drink,” Williams said. “Being in a venue like the Bryant Lake Bowl
HOLLY PETERSON, DAILY The Birdchick, also known as National Parks Service ranger Sharon Stiteler, writes and produces videos on her blog, birdchick.com.
HOLLY PETERSON, DAILY Bird watcher and blogger Sharon Stiteler looks for birds in nearby trees on Sunday outside the Bell Museum of Natural History.
lets speakers be more candid than they could be on campus.” In particular, said Peterson, the Birdchick was a perfect way to bridge the gap of bird watching as “something for grandfathers with binoculars with this amazing thing that an adventurous, selfmade woman is involved in.” For Stiteler, one of the appeals of bird watching is its
accessibility as a hobby. You can do it pretty much anywhere, even in the middle of an urban college campus, she said. The Mississippi River is a major bird migration corridor, and “if you look, you’ll always find something cool,” Stiteler said. “It’s like an Easter egg hunt, except the eggs move and sometimes change color.”
FASHION
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARON STITELER Stiteler said that we can expect to see yellow-rumped warblers all over the University of Minnesota campus right now.
MUSIC
The fashionista is in: costumes Boy will be boy ripped from the headlines Being a lazy person shouldn’t stop you from having the Halloween of your hyper-relevant dreams. BY SARAH HARPER sharper@mndaily.com
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re you always refreshing T witter? Are you the first to say something beautiful (or crass) when a celebrity passes away? Do you run out of free articles on the New York Times website at the start of every month? We’re about two weeks (16 shopping/sewing/crafting days) away from the big ‘ween, so it’s high time we all start ripping costumes from the headlines. Smar t money says the streets will be crowded with Walter Whites and Miley Cyr uses this year; smar ter money will get spent on more original (yet still topical!) ‘stumes. Here are a few quick ideas for the big night, soaked in the cultural zeitgeist and tailored to your time/energy sitch.
If you have time to go shopping We’r e all busy over here. But if you can spare an afternoon on a shopping spree (Wal-Mart is at 1450 W. University Ave. in St. Paul; Target is at 900 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis), pick up some cheap stuf f and call it a day. Stefon’s last episode: New York’s hottest club is ... this key piece of “Saturday Night Live” history, for which you’ll need a tacky
graphic T-shirt and a tacky graphic long-sleeved shirt. Toss some cheap rings on your fingers and throw a little hair gel in the mix. Cover your mouth and giggle. If you can get a friend to dress up as Seth Meyers, marry him. Uncle Si: Are you “Duck Dynasty” crazy? You might be a redneck if … you’re wearing a long false beard (or a real one, sprayed with gray dye), a camo hat and vest, some blue jeans, a Tupperware cup full of iced tea and glasses with a cord to hold ‘em on your dang head.
If you’re lazy and have a suit Calling all Carlson guys and gals! Break out your best internship fair duds and get ready for some party debates. Edward Snowden: This one is perfect for you if your suit isn’t actually all that nice. Wear some kind of gross, shiny, gray collared shirt and some half-rimmed glasses. Make sure you have Reddit pulled up on your phone all night, an (ex-?) NSA badge and a tiny travel guide to Moscow in your pocket. Carrie Mathison: Button up your sharpest gray suit for a look that’ll blow any “ K i l l Bill” holdovers right outta the water. (By t h e w a y, ladies, 2004 called…) The finishing touch on your “Homeland” costume will be a tiny boom box bumping a Thelonious Monk CD at all times. If someone asks you who you
are, commence the trademark crying. Congress: While dressing up as a furloughed park ranger will get you a blue ribbon in any costume contest, that’s not the kind of suit (or the kind of effort!) we’re talking about here. Go for the literal route and print out a “Sorry, We’re Closed!” sign to hang around your neck. Don’t forget your American flag pin.
If you have energy and art supplies I know you don’t need my help — you are the 1 percent of Halloween, probably cutting out patterns already. Here are backups. Super Bowl XLVII power outage: Remember when the power went out on half the stadium during the Super Bowl? Be that outage. Dress in all black and fashion two bleachers out of cardboard to attach to your shoulders. Paint one bleacher purple and gold for the Baltimore Ravens and the other red and gold for the San Francisco 49ers. Beyoncé hair is optional. New Goldy statue: The goofy gopher statue outside of Coffman Memorial Union spurred hot debate during its fundraising, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a crowd-pleaser in the Mesa line. Paint your face like a gopher (think: big teeth that go down to your chin, big black eyebrows, an extension to your smile) and toss on some ears. Wear a school-spirited sweater and construct a maroon ‘M’ out of cardboard to strap onto your side. Let families take their picture with you.
Flip to Backtalk on Page 8 for some cutouts to color!
German-Swiss pop duo Boy whisks you away to a happier place to be sad. BY SPENCER DOAR sdoar@mndaily.com
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onja picked her out the moment she opened her mouth. Her soft but powerful croon stood out amid a field of tested musicians. That was the simple, rightplace-right-time meeting of bassist Sonja Glass and vocalist Valeska Steiner, who would quickly form the duo Boy. “We complete each other somehow, musically,” Glass said. “She was so special to me.” Maybe that’s part of why their debut album is called “Mutual Friends.” Out since 2011 in Germany, “Mutual Friends” only showed up in the United States at the beginning of 2013. But Glass insists it hasn’t become tedious because the two have been able to spread the word to so many places and audiences, making every “album debut” and tour feel different. Forget notions of raging German techno beats or serious metal. The women of Boy put forth a light, bouncy variety of seemingly American indie pop — see their single “Little Numbers.” Steiner’s lyrics are exclusively in English, and it isn’t ‘til Glass opens her mouth, emitting a heavy German accent, that their background becomes evident. “Valeska was already singing in English when I met her,” Glass said. “Her language is Swiss-German, and no one understands that — we don’t like the sound of her voice when she sings in German.” They say they’re normal, uninteresting people off the stage. But Glass’ sly asides and affable personality, mixed with the eclectic emotional range of their music, suggest otherwise. She alludes to long peri-
WHAT BOY WHEN 7 P.M., TUESDAY WHERE FIRST AVENUE MAINROOM, 701 N. FIRST AVE., MINNEAPOLIS COST $18 AGE 18+
ods with Steiner spent forging the friendship that comes across in their music — the tough childhood spent with three siblings and a single mother in Hamburg, Germany, and the long slog of multiple bands before meeting Steiner. On the sur face, they may seem like just another pleasant addition to the indie scene, but there’s something going on behind the scenes with Boy — subtle and touching clues about their close relationship that make them different from your average indie act. There’s Glass, who’ll laugh off the fact that a female duo is called Boy but won’t go any further. It’s like they enjoy the facade of being two women with a nice disc, all while subversively laughing at some inside joke about pop sensibilities that no one in the audience cares about because the tunes are so fun. There are songs like “Oh Boy,” which sounds almost sarcastic with its over-the-top descriptions of an alluring female. But it’s not all layered meaning — there are plenty of endearing, Paul Simonesque moments of lament and melancholy. Then there are more upfront songs like “Skin,” an ode to the inescapability of superficiality. Steiner’s chorus: “You can feel like part of something if you’re part of the scene / You can make your life feel pretty add a little ice and gin.” Lyrics like this are drizzled over the album like chocolate icing on an unexceptional, but delicious, vanilla cake — certainly enough to bring you back for seconds.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
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Alpine Ski Team: An experienced racer? Never skied before? Join the alpine ski team! We take any skill level and it’s a *blast* to be a part of! info sessions: STSS 420B, Oct. 16/17th @ 8:30pm
Gleason’s Gymnastic School is looking to fill several positions in Maple Grove. Must be energetic, athletic, reliable, & love to work w/ children. Gymnastic’s/coaching exp a plus but not req’d. Candidate must posess exceptional comm skills. Call 763-493-2526 to interview
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HOUSING DINKYTOWN 2 Bed, avail. 11/1/13, upper unit in duplex, 1 car garage, coin wash/dry onsite, util. incl, $1000/month call Cindy at 763-355-4829 For the new school yr 2014/15: 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 BR houses available for the next school year Please call 612-708-0529
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UPCOMING EVENTS WHAT: Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It’s Too Late WHO: Humphrey School of Public Affairs WHEN: 4:30–6 p.m., Tuesday WHERE: Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, West Bank, Minneapolis PRICE: Free Joe Cirincione is widely seen as the foremost nuclear non-proliferation advocate in the United States. A member of the Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board, he will address nuclear proliferation challenges — and avoidance of nightmares — surrounding Iran, North Korea, India, Pakistan and other parts of the world.
WHAT: 2013 Silha Lecture WHO: Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law WHEN: 7:30–9 p.m., Wednesday WHERE: Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, West Bank, Minneapolis PRICE: Free Everyone has heard of the “Pentagon Papers” case, but only a few know what happened behind the scenes. Join author James C. Goodale as he digs into the scandal. Do the government’s claims of secrecy and national security stand up to scrutiny today? Have we learned the lessons of the Pentagon Papers?
WHAT: Devon Worley Band CD Release Party WHO: Devon Worley Band WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday WHERE: Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues Club, 300 S. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis PRICE: Free It has been said that 15-year-old Devon Worley must be seen to be believed. Make your way to Famous Dave’s in Uptown Minneapolis for the “Silver Creek” CD release party. Worley wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. Check her out at www.devonworley.com.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
BACKTALK sudoku
horoscopes
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. Visit mndaily.com to see the solution to today’s puzzle.
10/15/2013
Yesterday’s solution © 2013 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Today’s Birthday (10/15): Home, finances, romance, travel and career highlight this year. With Mars in Virgo (until Dec. 7), provide great service. Channel energy toward invention, study and research.
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 a 7 — Mars, the action planet ruling your sign, enters organized Virgo until Dec. 7. For about six weeks, research and sort information.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 7 — Listen to your dreams. It’ll be easier to throw things away. Weed out unused stuff. Create space, and imagine the potential. Fancies turn to love.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 6 — Jump up a level. Actions speak louder than words; pay close attention to details. Get the family to help. Take a leap of faith, and travel.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 5 — You’re keen to understand and learn. Share important data with your team. Don’t give it all away. Take care of family first.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 6 — Imagine a fun, profitable adventure. Renovation takes your physical effort. Don’t be intimidated. Do what you promised and create a marvelous illusion.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 5 — Consider all possibilities. Advance in your career. Romance sparks creativity to surmount any complications.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 5 — Sort the numbers. For about six weeks, education and research play a crucial role. You’re spurred to action. Heed recommendations and warnings.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 6 — Get yourself a little treat. You’ll have severe wanderlust, itchy to start an adventure. Don’t officially begin your project, yet.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Get creative with presentation. Glam it up. You’ll find lots to buy, but earn extra points (and respect) for cutting expenses.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 6 — You’re inspiring folks. Make plans with great detail to the financials. Move a dream forward. Don’t break the bank.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 6 — Trust intuition. Focus on personal growth and partnership. Accept a challenge. Take action on a long-held dream.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 6 — Spend time in contemplation. Increase your efficiency. Delegate as much as possible, and increase physical activity. Partnership aids your work.
W
elcome to the back of the newspaper, Halloween geniuses! Whip out your crayons and color in these free accessories for some snappy, homemade additions to your costume. Cut them out and use string and/or safety pins to attach them. Happy ‘ween, y’all!
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
overheard “Should we just make this a joint interview, ‘Step Brothers’ style?”
—Carlson School of Management
“Wait guys, I need to call my babysitter. I told her I’d be home at midnight!”
—Applebee’s
Homeless man to police officer: “HEY! Can I buy a Taser off you?”
—Unknown
“¿Cómo se dice ‘Spanglish’ en español?” “Spannilingus?”
—Folwell Hall
Guy 1: “Hey, is that a rocking chair making noise upstairs?” Guy 2: “Yeah, man. Sounds like those type-C retinal cells.”
—Como neighborhood
“Cherry, use chlamydia. It’s super effective.”
—Centennial Hall dining hall
“I’m preparing you for the real world where pterodactyl attacks are common.”
—Bailey Hall
“I really have to go work on my weed collection!”
—Unknown
Professor: “Now we need to find a way to cut the D in half.”
—Unknown
“Oh my God! We make out with the same people!”
—Dinkytown
“You have to multiply 3 times potato.”
—Centennial Hall
Professor: “So next time you go to a bar and some guy pulls some bogus biological argument for why men need to be more promiscuous, slam your fists on the table and say, ‘Show me your [expletive] penis bone!’ ”
—Anthropology class
What did you overhear? 4Post submissions on 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 OCTOBER 15, 2013
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Medicine-testing org. 4 Brief chat 8 Destructive insect 12 Tolkien henchmen 14 Astrological Ram 16 Days of old 17 Frequent prank caller to Moe’s Tavern 18 Snicker 19 Ostrich cousin 20 Put on trial, in the military 23 Forrest Gump’s Army friend 24 “Nifty!” 25 Chowed down 26 One of the Gulf States: Abbr. 27 Springsteen’s “__ to Run” 30 One who hems but doesn’t haw? 32 Fruity loaf 35 Séance sounds 36 Even-steven 37 Indian prince 40 “Nerts!” 43 Caption under a monkey covering its eyes 48 Casual comment 51 __ helmet: safari wear 52 “__ Yankee Doodle ...” 53 Sleeve filler 54 Broadcasts 56 Parachute fabric 58 End dramatically 62 Catches some rays 63 Freeze over 64 Committed perjury 66 “Miss __ Regrets”: Porter song 67 Perform brilliantly 68 Long-tailed 8Across 69 Approach 70 Sinusitis docs 71 Darn or baste DOWN 1 Watch chain 2 Bram Stoker’s count
10/15/13
By Gareth Bain
3 Nimble circus performer 4 Light bulb unit 5 Utah city 6 One-named Barbadian singer 7 Brand that “Nothing runs like” 8 British pianist Hess 9 “C’est magnifique!” 10 “Rock-a-bye baby” spot 11 Painful-looking soccer shots 13 Puny pencil 15 Tuned to, as a radio dial 21 Synagogue leader 22 Call __ day 23 Defective 28 Miner’s discovery 29 Wine shop section 31 “Dies __”: hymn 33 Jones of jazz 34 Half of sechs 38 Colony crawler 39 Sloop in a Beach Boys hit
Monday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2013 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
40 Seems to last forever 41 Require to detour 42 Strong-smelling cleaner 44 Oscar-winning “Casablanca” co-screenwriter Julius or Philip 45 Lithuania’s capital 46 Comic Coca who worked with Sid Caesar
10/15/13
47 PC-to-PC system 49 Wharf rodent 50 Fuzzy green fruits 55 Wealthy, in France 57 Southern pronoun 59 U.S. ally in WWII 60 Follow the game? 61 “Planet of the __” 65 Margery of nursery rhymes
Visit mndaily.com to see the solution to today’s puzzle.
dr. date Dr. Date,
I’m visiting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time this weekend. I’ve never met them before, so I’m pretty nervous about making a good impression. I’m also nervous about spending so much time together — what if we have nothing to talk about? What if they don’t like me? My boyfriend insists that they’ll love me, but I feel like that’s what he’s supposed to say. Any ideas for making sure the weekend goes smoothly?
—Nervous Guest
Parental Fear,
You need to come to terms with the fact that there is more than one appropriate outcome to this situation. Some people are impossible to please or impress. His parents could be idiots. They carry clout for no better reason than that they spawned him — which isn’t to say they don’t have tremendous sway. What I’m getting at is that regardless of what happens, this is not a verdict from on high, but rather the opinion of two potentially odd birds. But that’s just mental preparation for the weekend, and here’s hoping you won’t need it. That being said, there are certainly a few things to do (or not do) that can make this a pleasant sail rather than the perfect storm: Avoid politics like it’s Thanksgiving dinner. Treat them like normal people you might meet in line at Macy’s or at the bus stop. Folks older than you are more receptive to talking on their level than you might think. Don’t let your opinions fly willynilly without first having a feel for their thoughts (and potential reaction). Ask your boyfriend about them first just to get a sense of what they’re interested in (this may help you avoid the awkward silences). Rock a firm, but not tight, handshake for his pops (dads love that). Dress a half-step better than what the situation merits. Lastly, BE YOURSELF. Parents can smell phony. They’ve had years to decipher their son’s whims and activities,
so don’t think you can pull the wool over their eyes. Plus, you want their honest reaction; putting on a façade for the duration of a relationship is no pleasant experience. If they like you, they like you. If they don’t, they don’t.
—Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
I need your help. My girlfriend has, out of nowhere, become a conspiracy theorist. She’s always been a pretty level-headed woman, but now she’s constantly trying to convince me of crazy theories about everything from the JFK assassination to the moon landing. I think some of it may be coming from her friends (a lot of her friends were older and graduated last year, so she’s been hanging out with a new group), but I’m not completely sure. I’ve tried to question some of the things she’s telling me, but she gets very defensive. What should I do?
—Crazy Town
Runnin’ Off The Rails,
I’m confused. What do new friends have to do with conspiracy theories? I fail to see the correlation unless they constantly talk about the New World Order (not the wrestling organization), are constantly paranoid and have encyclopedic knowledge of “The X-Files.” But really, how drastic are her newfound beliefs? I like to think that any well-rounded member of society ought to be aware of ideas about the Mafia killing JFK or the latest in tinfoil fashion accessories. Takes all kinds, right? Really, you need to do some more investigating into what’s bringing this on before moving forward. What’s her reading list been like? Have there been any other milestones or big events in her life? Has the government shutdown sent her on a quest for meaning? Is she trying to actually convince you, or is she just telling you about it? Then again, it’s also worth considering that maybe this is just her new shtick, and you guys are drifting apart.
—Dr. Date
Need relationship advice? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Bill would change orchestra ownership Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, proposed public ownership. BY CODY NELSON cnelson1@mndaily.com
As negotiations continue in the Minnesota Orchestra lockout, a state legislator announced plans Monday for a bill that would turn the world-
renowned ensemble into a publicly owned corporation. Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFLMinneapolis, unveiled a bill she plans to introduce for the 2014 legislative session to make the orchestra a community-owned entity in which any individual or group could buy stock. Though Kahn said she hasn’t discussed this proposal with orchestra management, she hopes it will
push negotiations forward. “The purpose of this bill is to begin the conversation,” Kahn said. “It’s not to say that this is the perfect model and this is exactly what we want to do.” Sen. Scott Dibble, DFLMinneapolis, will author the Senate version of the bill, Kahn said. The measure proposes “broad-based local ownership” of the orchestra, similar to when a private
company transitions to public ownership and sells its first stocks. Kahn said this would gauge public suppor t for the orchestra, in addition to keeping it financially afloat. An initial version of the bill stipulates that no individual or entity may own more than 5 percent stock in the orchestra corporation, and at least half of the shares must be sold to the general public.
Individual members of the general public wouldn’t be able to own more than 1 percent of the stock, according to the initial version of the bill. The bill may allow members of the orchestra’s management to have the option of getting preferred stock. The lockout began in fall 2012 when orchestra management proposed cuts to musicians’ salaries,
bar ring the group from Orchestra Hall for more than a year. Earlier this month, contract negotiations between or chestra management and musicians came to a head when longtime director Osmo Vänskä resigned b ecau s e a d eal was n ’t reached. Left without a director or contract for musicians, the orchestra’s future is unclear.
Brokers simplify, confuse health exchange shopping BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
This month’s glitch-filled rollout of the health insurance marketplaces created by federal law is a business opportunity for brokers and agents, but regulators warn that it also opened the door for those who would seek to line their pockets by misleading consumers. New Hampshire’s insurance commissioner sent a cease-and-desist letter last week to an Arizona company he accused of building a website to mislead health care shoppers into thinking it was the of ficial marketplace. The site was taken down Friday. Regulators in Washington state and Pennsylvania also have told agents to change websites that seemed likely to convince
consumers they were connecting to government-run sites. Connecticut’s insurance depar tment warned agents and brokers this summer that it will take action against agents who mislead consumers or design sites to replicate the state-run exchange. An organization run by the top insurance regulators in each state recently issued an alert on the potential for scams related to the marketplaces. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners advised consumers that bogus sites have been spotted and warned people to beware of unsolicited calls by people claiming they need personal information to help them enroll in insurance. Not all insurance agents are licensed to sell insurance on the exchanges,
and buying a policy from one of them could leave consumers without the tax subsidies that make the health insurance af fordable. Consumers who seek an insurance professional’s help are urged to make sure they know who they’re dealing with. “We all need to be on the lookout right now. We don’t want consumers to get confused,” said Jessica Waltman of the National Association of Health Under writers, a trade association representing agents and brokers. Susan Johnson, the Northwest regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said while some brokers are passionate about helping, others are seeking to take advantage. In one such case, a
state-licensed broker in suburban Seattle bought the domain name washingtonhealthplanfinder.org and built a website with fewer computer glitches than the state’s new health insurance marketplace, wahealthplanfinder.org. The brokerage’s site told customers: “Welcome to the Exchange!” in big print until the state insurance commissioner asked for changes to avoid confusion. “ Yo u d o n ’ t w a n t t o go to the wrong por tal,” Johnson said. The insurance broker, Jef f Lindstrom, said he thought he was being creative when he bought 40-50 domain names to bring in new customers. He said he is not trying to confuse the public. Lindstrom’s toll free phone number was also very close to the official call
center number, said Stephanie Marquis, a spokeswoman for Washington’s insurance commissioner. In New Hampshir e, newhampshirehealthexchange.com of fered free price quotes on insurance, but it wasn’t affiliated with the state or the federal government, which is running New Hampshire’s official online market. The site was taken down days after the state sent a cease-and-desist letter. “It put itself for ward as of fering health insurance through the exchange, and consumers are naturally misled by that into thinking it’s the gover nment site,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Alex Feldvebel. The insurance depar tment took action after getting a complaint from a small business owner who
called a phone number on the misleading site. “He called and ended up talkng to someone who said, ‘Unless you make a choice today, the price is going to go up,’” Feldvebel said. A man who answered the phone declined to comment at the company identified as running the site, Arizona-based Steffen Financial. In Pennsylvania, a consumer law group this summer tipped of f regulators about a licensed broker’s website that featured a logo mimicking the state seal and telling visitors: “Welcome to the Pennsylvania Health Exchange!” The broker took down PAhealthexchange.com a day after the state insurance department’s enforcement bureau called.
To protest Columbus Day, multicultural student groups stake a claim Columbus u from Page 1
When they ar rived in America, European colonists introduced disease to indigenous people and forced many to relocate. Some scholars estimate the indigenous population decreased by tens of millions. Historical trauma to indigenous people stemming from Columbus’ arrival in America still resonates today, said Gabriela Spears-Rico, a University academic adviser and University of CaliforniaBerkeley doctoral candidate who led an Anti-Columbus Day discussion on campus Monday. Columbus Day is often thought about as a celebration of progress, Spears-Rico said, but some disagree with that idea. “Along with that comes a set of stereotypes that we have preserved about indigenous people,” she said. One such stereotype, she said, is that indigenous people are uncivilized or didn’t make significant contributions to civilization after Columbus’ arrival.
Market u from Page 1
“Our thoughts are that it will probably be bigger next year,” he said. Shane said businesses and sellers may have been put off by the high licensing fee, which could cost up to about $1,000 depending on the number of vendors par ticipating in the flea market. “That’s one thing I wasn’t happy about with the or dinance,” Shane said. “But that’s the price of doing business, I guess.” Shane decided to challenge the original city ordinance last spring after getting a “verbal warning” from city officials for operating a flea market in 2010. “Up until then, I didn’t know it was illegal,” he said. After the mishap, Shane reached out to Ward 9 City Councilman Gar y Schiff to try to legalize flea markets in the city. Schif f presented the proposal to the full council in April, and after it passed committee hearings with ease, council members voted unanimously to lift the ban.
‘A recycle market’ Last Sunday afternoon, thrifty Minneapolis
Spears-Rico supplemented Monday’s discussion with videos about local indigenous resistance and the wider movement to replace Columbus Day with a holiday celebrating indigenous people. In the past, the AISCC and La Raza held a luncheon to discuss group members’ stances against the national holiday’s celebration of colonialism. The groups added the flag demonstration this year to fur ther illustrate their message; draw more students, faculty and staf f to the discussion; and make the issue more visible. Hammerly said he hopes Anti-Columbus Day prompts students to star t thinking about how they lear n histor y and what might be left out of those lessons. Zadora said planting the flags was a good way to bring the issue of colonialism past Coffman’s second floor and to the rest of campus. “The activity really brings the discussion out,” she said.
shoppers strolled behind Shane’s hot pink vintage store during its final flea market of the season. Within its first hours of opening, he said, some of his favorite clocks had already been sold. Flamingos operates five days per month, usually Wednesday through Sunday, and holds its flea markets on Sundays. Shane said flea markets corner a “dif ferent part of the market” of vintage and thrift shoppers. “We’re finding a lot of younger thrifty hipsters who are star ting to come in,” Shane said. “They’re loving the vintage stuff.” Ally Beattie, a vendor at Sunday’s flea market, said she’s been collecting vintage “treasures” from estate auctions, thrift stores and other sellers for most of her life. Beattie, a stay-at-home mother, said collecting is “a way of life” for her, though she started selling her finds only two years ago. Her flea market shop featured items ranging from pre-owned leather bags and boots to unopened 7-Up glass bottles from the 1970s. Resident Stephanie Rober tson visited Sunday’s flea market and
BRIDGET BENNETT, DAILY
Senior Laura Serrano paints a flag for the La Raza Student Cultural Center and American Indian Student Cultural Center’s Anti-Columbus Day on Monday at Coffman Union.
bought a vintage floral lamp “for a great price.” Rober tson said she stumbled upon Flamingos a year ago after “just driving by” and has since consistently visited the shop because of its low prices on unique items. Shane said he likes to call his business a “recycle market” because collectors can salvage items that would other wise end up in landfills. “It’s wher e you can buy items a little cheaper than what we have in the store, things that are a little more in the rough,” he said. Flamingos averages about 75 new customers a month and has about 3,000 par ticipants on an email list, Shane said. To attract more people to the flea markets next year, he said he hopes to get food tr ucks to come by. “It’s taking a while for people to understand the concept, but I think next year will be better,” Shane said. With more costumers, he’ll have to part with some of his favorite finds on a more frequent basis. “I have about 35 clocks right now,” he said. “It’s tough, but I have to star t slowly letting them go.”
University alumnus Hansen wins Nobel Prize for economics research Nobel u from Page 1
The University’s Department of Economics boasts a growing list of Nobel ties, including former faculty members and students. “Lars Peter Hansen is one of our own, and, once again, we proudly celebrate a Nobel Prize won by another of our remarkable alumni,” University President Eric Kaler said in a statement. Hansen, 60, received his doctorate in economics from the University in 1978 under the mentorship of Christopher Sims and Thomas Sargent, two of the “four horsemen.” “They were the ones that were really prominent in the profession and getting a lot of attention nationally and internationally,” said Edward Foster, a retired University professor. Foster said Hansen is the first student of “those guys” to go on to win a Nobel Prize. “It feels great for Tom and me to have won together and then for a student
of ours to have won,” said Sims, who is now a professor at Princeton University. “It’s a great feeling.” Hansen was recognized for developing statistical models for testing theories of asset pricing — things like stocks, housing and bonds. “He’s a very careful and honest researcher. You can be sure that he won’t oversell his results,” Sims said. “And he’s also ver y technically powerful. He’s always at the frontier of research in the areas he’s working in.” Sargent, now a professor at New York University, said Hansen is ver y generous with his ideas and is a great teacher. “He’s a scholar’s scholar. He’s ver y smar t, extremely hard-working,” Sargent said. “When he was at Minnesota, he took math classes, and people in the math depar tment wanted him to get a math degree.” Shiller only worked at the University for two years at the beginning of his career. “His of fice was two
doors down from mine, and I have always been interested in his work,” said Craig Swan, a retired University economics professor. “I think it’s a welldeserved honor.” Shiller was recognized for his research on stock price fluctuation. “I thought he was wonderful, and he had some really important ideas, even in those days,” said Sargent, who helped hire him at the University. The University’s economics depar tment also lists connections with alumnus Daniel McFadden, who won the Nobel Prize in 2000, Edwar d Prescott, one of the “four horsemen,” who won in 2004, and former faculty member Leonid Hur wicz, who won the Nobel Prize in 2007 while still at the University. “It reflects ver y well on the way that the depar tment functioned then,” Foster said. “And since there’s continuing spillover, it helps attract faculty, and it helps attract students to have Nobel Prizes associated with the place.”