January 18th, 2018 by The Minnesota Daily

NEW FUND AIMS TO HELP DACA STUDENTS PAGE 8 THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

LATE WEEK

TEMPORARILY PROTECTED STUDENTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE AID.

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ADMINISTRATION

STATE LEG.

Regents hope to close campus racial gap

Dayton bonding ask would fully fund U projects

Four-year graduation rates for students of color are currently far lower than for others. BY KELLY BUSCHE kbusche@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will vote on a resolution aimed at improving retention and recruitment of underrepresented students at its February meeting. The resolution includes five strategy points to increase undergraduate diversity on the Twin Cities campus and requires the

University’s president to give an annual report on the status of the strategies. Several University surveys show gaps in graduation rates and campus satisfaction between white students and students of color. Around 71 percent of white students graduated in four years, while around 58 percent of students of color, on average, graduated in four years in 2013, according to most recent available data from the Office of Undergraduate Education. The resolution would direct the University president to increase recruitment efforts in Twin Cities high schools, evaluate University recruitment efforts each year, reduce four-year and six-year

graduation gaps for African American and Latinx students, monitor local underrepresented groups to identify possible graduation gaps and improve campus climate for students of color. Although enrollment has increased for students of color over the past 10 years, the Student Experience in the Research University survey results showed a “concerning difference” in student satisfaction between students of color and American Indian students and white students. “We’re going to dial up those places where we think these underrepresented u See RETENTION Page 3

MUSIC

JACK RODGERS, DAILY

From left, Evan, Colin and Cameron Campbell of The Shackletons pose for a portrait in their home on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

SHACKLETONS’

family values BY SOPHIE VILENSKY svilensky@mndaily.com

Cameron (22), Colin (21), and Evan (17) Campbell, otherwise known as The Shackletons, met as children. Notice how they all have the same last name? That’s because they’re brothers. They met as babies.

The family outfit combines a mix of sounds in its bluesinfluenced second effort.

The Shackletons’ latest EP, “Second Attempt,” was released Dec. 27 with a sold out 7th Street Entry show. Add that University of St. Thomas student Sam Luloff said the Campbell’s house was ‘the place to go’ in high school, and it’s a wonder the band is still humble. Somehow, they transcend.

“We’re not trying to fabricate. We’re not trying to be trendy — but we’re not actively trying not to be trendy. We’re just trying to play music that we would want to listen to,” Colin said. The Shackletons’ origin story can be traced back to their parents’ meet-cute, but we’ll jump forward on the timeline. In middle school,

u See SHACKLETONS Page 5

The $1.5 billion request this week is greater than any in the governor’s tenure so far. BY MICHAEL ACHTERLING machterling@mndaily.com

Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a $1.5 billion bonding bill on Tuesday that includes nearly $300 million in spending for the University of Minnesota campuses. D a y t o n ’ s p u b l i c w o rk s p a c k a g e matches the University’s entire 2018 capital request of $238.5 million, plus an additional $60 million for c r i t ic a l f a c il it ie s m a in t e n a n c e a n d the design of a new clinical research facility on the University’s Twin Cities campus. “Since 2011, we have made many important investments in Minnesota’s aging classrooms, buildings and other critical infrastructure,” Dayton said in a statement. “But those investments have not kept pace with the enormous need for infrastructure improvements across Minnesota.” The University’s 2018 state bonding request includes: • $200 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) • $24 million for a Pillsbury Hall renovation • $10.5 million for the renovation and renewal of coordinate campus classrooms and laboratories • $4 million for repairs of Duluth’s Glensheen mansion. Dayton’s proposal also includes $243 million for the Minnesota State system. In his statement, Dayton said his plan will help invest in the state’s future, adding that underinvestment in past years has “shortchanged” higher education. University President Eric Kaler issued a statement Tuesday urging the Legislature to pass the governor’s proposal in order to address the University’s infrastructure needs. “Gov. Dayton’s public works proposal supports improvements on our campuses, helping to reduce a backlog in deferred building maintenance while making strategic investments to renew facilities,” Kaler said. Last year, lawmakers approved around $120 million of the University’s $245.1 million bonding request. “I am pleased the governor released an aggressive bill,” said Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, DFL lead on the House Capital Investment committee, in a statement. “Minnesota communities are counting on the legislature to help them fund and improve water infrastructure facilities, housing, higher education and upgrade unsafe railroad crossings among other critical requests.” The 2018 Minnesota legislative session begins Feb. 20.

CAMPUS

Student government leaders lay out plans for spring semester, including legislative efforts Minnesota Student Association members want to build on last semester’s successes and goals. BY MARAYA KING mking@mndaily.com

As the spring semester begins, the Minnesota Student Association at the University of Minnesota plans to improve

food, transportation, immigration and sexual assault awareness on campus. Additionally, MSA is increasing involvement with the state legislative process this semester, said MSA President Trish Palermo. Minnesota’s legislative session begins Feb. 20. MSA partnered with Rep. Ilhan Omar, DFL-Minneapolis, last semester to draft legislation addressing three main goals identified by MSA: short-end leases, limiting

mandatory arbitration clauses and requiring leases to be unit-specific. These goals seek to protect students from signing confusing leases and getting trapped in restrictive housing situations. In immigration efforts, student body presidents from the Big Ten conference gathered last weekend to film a video encouraging Congress to act in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Palermo said. The video will be released

Feb. 2. As part of a sexual assault awareness campaign launching in April, MSA proposed an amendment last semester to the medical amnesty law. The amendment would give immunity to nonalcoholic drug related incidents and victims of sexual assault, Palermo said. She added that MSA’s Sexual Assault u See STUDENT GOV. Page 3

HOUSING

New micro-apartment building proposed in Marcy-Holmes neighborhood Some in the area have voiced concern that the 27 new units could cause parking issues. BY CARTER BLOCHWITZ cblochwitz@mndaily.com

A new four-story apartment proposal could bring tiny living to Marcy-Holmes. Developer Go Gopher Rentals, LLC is looking to construct a 27-unit micro-apartment building in the neighborhood. The micro-unit complex would be the second of its kind in Marcy-Holmes if approved by the City of Minneapolis. But the project has drawn criticism from local residents concerned about its effect on area parking. The micro-apartments, which would be built at 408 4th St. SE, are part of a twophase proposal that includes modifying an adjacent townhouse. “We’re very confident that this is going to be very popular,” said William Wells, project architect and applicant on behalf of Go Gopher Rentals. Wells said their target markets are

students at the Aveda Institute and those who work in Northeast Minneapolis. Similar apartments in the area include Coze Flats and another development Wells designed that is pending City approval. Chad Kraft, owner of Go Gopher Rentals, proposed a rent of $900 to $1,100 for the apartments that typically range from 400 to 500 square feet. Kraft said the development’s location will be ideal for city living. “[Tenants] have… all the amenities and sensibilities that they need to take advantage of the urban living that is thriving here in Minneapolis,” Kraft said. Despite its small size, the apartment has drawn concerns over the developer’s requests for fewer parking spots than required. “We struggle for parking,” said Cerise Lewis, representing the Church of Minneapolis, which has a location west of the proposed development. “[Marcy Open School] does not have a parking lot, we do not have a parking lot and there are limited parking lots for the apartment buildings u See APARTMENTS Page 2

COURTESY OF GO GOPHER RENTALS, LLC

A rendering of a 27-unit micro-apartment building proposed by Go Gopher Rentals, LLC.

VOLUME 118 ISSUE 31

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

MN DAILY

EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST THURSDAY FRIDAY HIGH 37° HIGH 41° LOW 25° LOW 25° Mostly sunny

Daily Review

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SATURDAY HIGH 38° LOW 27° Cloudy

SUNDAY HIGH 35° LOW 25° Snow

MONDAY HIGH 28° LOW 9° Snow

THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1862 Former U.S. President and Confederate congressman-elect John Tyler dies at age 71 in Richmond, Virginia. To this day, Tyler has living grandchildren.

Thursday, January 18, 2018 Vol. 118 No. 31

An Independent Student Newspaper, Founded in 1900. 2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (612) 627-4080 Fax: (612) 435-5865 Copyright © 2018 The Minnesota Daily This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

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Steve Fletcher hones in on issues The city council member discussed parking, safety and housing issues. BY MADELINE DENINGER mdeninger@mndaily.com

Ward 3 Minneapolis City Council member Steve Fletcher outlined his priorities and fielded questions from constituents at a Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association meeting Tuesday. The meeting marked one of Fletcher’s first opportunities to engage with the neighborhood since taking office earlier this month. Fletcher discussed parking, housing and safety issues in MarcyHolmes and how he’ll address them as a new council member. “Every neighborhood association is different, and that’s one of the great things that civic engagement at that level does,” Fletcher said. “It lets you focus on the hyper-local issues of that area and look at what’s important to the people who live right there.” MHNA President Robert Stableski said he was happy to see Fletcher engaging with constituents on the neighborhood’s key issues. “[Fletcher’s] very articulate, and I think he under-

stands the issues really well. He’s not unwilling to say what he thinks about that even though it may run against the grain,” Stableski said. Limited parking in MarcyHolmes was a concern brought up at the meeting. Parking access will likely decrease as the neighborhood’s housing density grows, Fletcher said. Fletcher said he hopes to address the neighborhood’s parking woes by increasing access to public transit and improving bike lanes. “I think we have a need to balance the immediate impacts of new constructions with the shifts we’re trying to make as a city to be less cardependent,” he said. “For me ... if we’re looking at over four years, if I was successful, one thing I’ll be looking at is, ‘did we improve transportation options so people don’t have to live with cars?’” Grant Simons, Minnesota Student Association’s representative to MHNA’s board, said pedestrian traffic in the neighborhood is a safety issue that needs to be addressed, especially as density increases. “He understands as a pedestrian how dangerous this city can be, and especially this neighborhood, which does have a large mass of people that are walking and biking and taking the bus,”

EASTON GREEN, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Ward 3 City Council Member Steve Fletcher poses for a photo at Gold Medal Park in Minneapolis on Sept. 27.

Simons said. Fletcher also discussed at the meeting his desire to bring more affordable housing options to the ward. Though Fletcher doesn’t serve on the City of Minneapolis’ housing committee, he said he plans to work with its members to push for more affordable housing. But Fletcher is a member of the Economic Development and Regulatory Services Committee, which he

Some plastics may revert back to pureest components, U of M study finds.

CHRIS DANG, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Utility worker Jeff Berry sorts plastic, aluminum and tin at the Como Recycling Facility in Minneapolis on Feb. 3.

works. So this is one of those examples where something cool happens.” Going forward, Fahnhorst hopes a university’s engineering department or company will pick up and apply the project’s findings. While these findings could lead to progress in plastic sustainability, the process would require a lot of energy — like any form of recycling, Hoye said. Hillmyer said consumers shouldn’t expect these types of recyclable plastics in stores anytime soon. “From this discovery to something in Target, that would be a decade,” he said. “And that would be pretty fast.”

Democrats dig in on immigration NEW YORK — Congressional Democrats on Wednesday dug in on their threats to reject any government funding bill that isn’t paired with protection for thousands of young immigrants — a hard-line stance celebrated by liberal groups who have shrugged off risks of a government shutdown. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said there’s “very, very strong” sentiment among his party’s lawmakers to oppose GOP-drafted legislation that would only keep

the government’s doors open for four weeks past a looming Friday deadline. Schumer did not say his caucus was entirely unified, but the rhetoric signaled growing chances that a stop-gap measure could come up short of votes in the Senate and federal agencies could begin closing their doors Friday at midnight. “The overwhelming number in our caucus have said they don’t like this deal and they believe if we kick the can down the road this time we’ll be back where we started from next time,” Schumer told reporters. “So there’s

very, very strong support not to go along with their deal.” The hardening stance reflects the influence of an emboldened Democratic base clamoring for a showdown with a president many on the left view as racist and untrustworthy. The fight over the fate of the “dreamers” — some 700,000 people who were brought to the U.S. as children and are now here illegally — is increasingly becoming a test of Democrats’ progressive mettle, surpassing health care or taxes as the top year-two priority for the liberal base.

Many events leading up to the game will take place in Ward 3. Fletcher acknowledged the event may be disruptive to residents of the ward, and added that he was critical of Metro Transit’s decision to close light rail service on game day. “Stepping in when I am, the decisions have been made. There are definitely things that, had I been in office a year ago, I would’ve done differently,” he said.

Micro-apartment building proposed in Marcy-Holmes area u from Page 1

BY WESLEY HORTENBACH whortenbach@mndaily.com

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

says can help improve rent inspection standards in student housing developments. “There’s a lot of student housing that often doesn’t get maintained the way we’d like it to,” Fletcher said. “That’s something that’s really important that we’ve heard a lot about, and we’ll have a chance to weigh in on that.” Just over a month into Fletcher’s first term, Minneapolis will host Super Bowl LII.

Apartments

“Do we send it out to the ocean … or can we maybe reclaim it, break it back down to the same monomer, so then in principle you could then reuse it, and if it were perfectly efficient then it could last forever?” The researchers’ findings show some plastics can be reverted back to monomers — single molecules — which are their purest components. This makes it possible to reuse the materials. “It was a pet project,” said University graduate student Grant Fahnhorst, who worked on the study and was surprised by its outcome. “Grad students do things in labs that we don’t necessarily tell our boss, unless it

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UMN study sheds light on plastic sustainability

A study published this month by University of Minnesota researchers identified methods to recycle certain molecules found in plastics. The researchers spent about a year searching for ways to convert plastic materials back to their original molecules for reuse. While these findings could allow for more sustainable plastic use, researchers say consumers shouldn’t expect to see products like recyclable plastic forks in stores in the near future. Plastics are made of polymers — chains of molecules — which determine physical properties like rigidness, said Marc Hillmyer, director of the University’s Center for Sustainable Polymers. The polymers are typically made from nonrenewable sources, like oil, and don’t break down, he said. “After the plastic has reached … end of use, what then happens to it?” said lead researcher Thomas Hoye.

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already in the area.” At the Jan. 8 meeting of the Minneapolis City Planning Commission, Wells requested a variance that would allow the building to have 10 parking spaces below the building, down from the 14-space minimum. Chris Lautenschlager, executive director of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, expressed concern that the apartment’s parking wouldn’t match its number of units.

“While our association fully appreciates that this building is on a transit route and along existing bike lanes … the fact remains that the aforementioned groups still heavily bring cars into this pocket of our neighborhood,” Lautenschlager said at the meeting. A vote on the property is set for the Jan. 26 meeting of the City’s planning commission, with a final decision to be made Jan. 27. If approved, Lautenschlager said Go Gopher Rentals plans to begin construction in March, with the second phase slated to begin in July.

Parents held 13 siblings captive who were likely coerced to remain quiet BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — When a 17-year-old girl jumped out a window from the house where her parents allegedly starved and tortured their 13 children, she broke a silence that had likely lasted years. It’s not clear why the teenager waited so long to act, but psychiatrists say such behavior is not uncommon even in cases of extreme deprivation. Most people would recognize milder forms of the same inaction that is a coping mechanism, whether it’s failing to speak out against off-color jokes, enduring sexual harassment or staying in an awful marriage, said Dr. Bruce Perry. “This happens all the time. The number of individuals who would immediately respond to an opportunity where they could get away is very small compared to the number of people who would have that paralysis and insecurity and confusion

about what to do,” said Perry, a psychiatrist who is a senior fellow at the ChildTrauma Academy in Houston. The vulnerable girl might have been shamed, beaten or threatened with violence and only after many missed opportunities did she probably work up the courage to act, Perry said. “It’s pretty remarkable that she’d do that,” he said. “The power that must have been exerted to keep an entire family like that for so long must have been pretty sophisticated.” David Turpin, 56, and his wife, Louise Turpin, 49, were arrested Sunday after authorities found the malnourished children in their home in suburban Perris, 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They were jailed on $9 million bail each and are expected to appear Thursday in Riverside County Superior Court on charges that could include torture and child endangerment, authorities said.

EDITORIAL BOARD Anant Naik Editorials & Opinions Editor anaik@mndaily.com Aleezeh Hasan Editorial Board Member ahasan@mndaily.com Ray Weishan Editorial Board Member rweishan@mndaily.com Mike Hendrickson Editor-in-Chief mhendrickson@mndaily.com BUSINESS Genevieve Locke Sales Manager glocke@mndaily.com David Keane Controller dkeane@mndaily.com Corrections The Minnesota Daily strives for complete accuracy and corrects its errors immediately. Corrections and clarifications will always be printed in this space. If you believe the Daily has printed a factual error, please call the readers’ representative at (612) 627–4070, extension 3057, or email errors@mndaily.com immediately. THE MINNESOTA DAILY is a legally independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is a student-written and student-managed newspaper for the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. The Daily’s mission is: 1) to provide coverage of news and events affecting the University community; 2) to provide a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University community; 3) to provide educational training and experience to University students in all areas of newspaper operations; and 4) to operate a fiscally responsible organization to ensure its ability to serve the University in the future. The Daily is a member of the Minnesota News Council, the Minnesota Associated Press, the Associated Collegiate Press, The Minnesota Newspaper Association and other organizations. The Daily is published Monday and Thursday during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and it is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn. Midwest News Service distributes the 13,000 issues daily. All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste. U.S. Postal Service: 351–480.w

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Events add to UMPD’s spring schedule UMPD anticipates increased security, campus engagement and crime this spring. BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com

Large-scale events and increased engagement will add to the University of Minnesota Police Department’s usual responsibilities this semester. The UMPD will have an increased presence to monitor Super Bowl-related events and other campus activities. The department will also look to increase engagement by promoting mental health resources and community outreach. “There are a lot of great things happening on and off campus,” UMPD Chief Matt Clark said. The department is collaborating with multiple agencies such as the Minneapolis Police Department, the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County to help patrol events leading up to Super Bowl LII. UMPD will be staffing the NFL Honors show at Northrop Auditorium on Feb. 3 — an event dedicated to the NFL’s players and moments from the past season. Following the Super Bowl, Clark said UMPD will begin

Retention u from Page 1

minorities are having some trouble in succeeding,” Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Bob McMaster said. As more University resources and attention are given to lessen the gap, McMaster said, “the better chances you’re going to have of making sure that students … are not leaving after the third or second year.” McMaster pointed to his office’s work with multicultural campus groups — including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program, Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence and President’s Emerging Scholars Program — as one way to reduce the disparity in graduation rates. Regent Michael Hsu said he hopes the administration will also focus on counseling. “If you don’t have good

preparations this spring for Minneapolis’ next big event, the 2019 NCAA Final Four. “There haven’t been other huge events like these in recent history, so it’s exciting for UMPD,” said Lacey Nygard, a University of Minnesota spokesperson. Increased police presence may also be needed at an event next month. Ben Shapiro, a popular conservative figure, will speak on campus on Feb. 26. Shapiro’s speeches have spurred protests at colleges like the University of California, Berkeley, costing the school around $600,000 in security. “We always staff up for stuff like this,” UMPD Lieutenant Erik Swanson said. Nygard said UMPD is working with the conservative student groups sponsoring the event for security. Engaging the campus community Off-campus events will garner large amounts of attention this spring, but certain changes will be implemented in daily campus life as well. UMPD’s newly added

counseling, then it’s easy to kind of find yourself in stressful situations,” Hsu said. McMaster said improving campus climate will help recruit more students. The SERU evaluates campus climate with questions asking students whether they feel students of their “race/ ethnicity are respected on this campus” and whether campus stakeholders value diversity. McMaster said his office has been involved in conversations about campus diversity since March 2016, when the Enrollment Management Plan was approved. Part of the plan’s goal was to increase undergraduate diversity. “We’ve been making good progress in the recruitment and enrollment of students of color,” McMaster said. At the December board meeting, University President Eric Kaler said passing the resolution is important

ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY

The exterior of the University of Minnesota Transportation and Safety Building as seen on November 26, 2017.

mental health officer, Kari Quast, will work with campus partners like Boynton Health and Student Counseling Services to offer support to students in crisis. UMPD’s community engagement team will also look to increase its presence on

UMN-TC FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATES AMERICAN INDIAN 44.6% ASIAN 65.9% AFRICAN AMERICAN 44.2% HAWAIIAN 70.8%

campus through events and outreach, Clark said. “Our community engagement team continues to host events on campus to encourage positive interaction and engagement between the police and campus community,” he said.

AVERAGE STUDENT OF COLOR 57.7% WHITE 71.1% SOURCE: SERU

for campus diversity. “I think the need for a resolution is really an opportunity to put a clearer flag in the ground and state that this is important to us going forward,” Kaler said at the meeting.

Former U professor’s art hits campus

The new office will be created for postdoctoral associates and fellows at the U.

Post-doctoral associates at the University of Minnesota are finally getting an office in Johnston Hall specific to their needs. The new office initiative was introduced early last year and has been in the planning stages for close to a year. Graduate school staff will appoint an assistant dean to maintain resources and services for post-doctoral students. Advertisements for the new position will be posted by the end of January. “This is the person who I expect to become the expert ... on best practices in post-doctoral advising and training,” said Scott Lanyon, dean of the

Student Gov. u from Page 1

EASTON GREEN, DAILY

A new exhibition in the University’s Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library features artwork by retired professor Thomas Rose. Rose’s artwork centers around themes of architecture, gardens and shadows.

The exhibit that features Thomas Rose will be open through March 23. BY KATRINA PROSS kpross@mndaily.com

A new art exhibition by a former University of Minnesota faculty member opened Tuesday at the University’s Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library gallery in Rapson Hall. “Mysterious Beauty,” presented by the College of Design, features work by artist Thomas Rose. The free exhibit will be open to the public at the library gallery until March 23. Rose was hired as a professor at the College of Design in 1973 and retired last year. An internationally recognized artist, Rose’s work has been featured in the Weisman Art Museum, the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Joslyn Museum, and has been displayed in coun-

tries around the world including China, Iran and Poland. The exhibit — not Rose’s first at the library gallery — was set up in a matter of weeks, said Arts, Architecture and Landscape Architecture Librarian and Exhibit Curator Deborah Ultan. The library gallery gives priority to faculty members to showcase their work, she said. Rose’s artwork centers on themes of architecture, gardens and shadows and is inspired by French and Italian gardens as well as late 19th and early 20th century architecture. His pieces also use elements from Asian art. “Mysterious Beauty” features 14 botanical prints and nine collages, Ultan said. “I think this artwork is unique because of his plays with architecture, shadows and objects. He can blend these elements together to create a mysterious image,” she said. Rose’s art is also influenced by childhood imagination, Rose said, where memo-

ries are fragmented and unclear. He also believes in the power of isolating a single simple object, which can hold different meanings for different viewers. Ultan said the exhibit will “awaken your perspective in things you have never seen or thought about before.” Looking at something as simple as a flower in a garden can present something unexpected because of Rose’s technique, she said. Rose frequently works with delicate handmade papers and canvases. For this particular exhibit, Rose printed on Moab Kozo paper, which is made from fibers of mulberry bark, Ultan said. This makes his photographs of botanicals look like saturated ink drawings. Rose said his work as an artist offers him an opportunity to combine his interests in both architecture and art, as well as explore other creative outlets. “It is the possibility to live a life where you think about the things that motivate you,” he said.

the department anticipates a spike in service calls and enforcement. “What we do is kind of seasonal,” Miner said. “When it’s cold in the wintertime, students tend to stay inside more, and so do the criminals who target the campus.”

UMN post-doc students get office in Johnston Hall BY KAYLA SONG ksong@mndaily.com

HISPANIC 63%

As spring approaches, the University’s public safety department will promote services to protect students from potential area crime, Clark said. Crime typically increases as the weather gets warmer, UMPD Lieutenant Chuck Miner said, adding that

Task Force has been in conversation with the University of Minnesota Police Department about plans to survey students in the coming weeks. The goal of the campuswide poll is to gauge students’ comfort level when it comes to reporting sexual assault, Palermo said. Starting at the end of February, after a successful MSA safety proposal last semester, Gopher Chauffeur will provide rides to students

graduate school. Post-doctoral associates are at the University to conduct research and work as temporary employees for usually 12 to 24 months. The existing graduate school office in Johnston Hall primarily serves graduate students and encourages post-docs to take advantage of grad student services, Lanyon said. With the new assistant dean for post-doctoral affairs, post-docs will have a centralized place to raise concerns, Lanyon said. Post-docs make up three percent of the University population, while grad students make up nearly 30 percent, said Nick Ames, a graduate student in the agriculture department and Student Senate Consultative Committee Representative for grad students. Because of the size and nature of the post-doc group at the University, they have

traditionally been excluded or overlooked, Ames said. “Because they’re so shortterm, it’s very difficult to get any sort of organization ... there’s so much turnover,” Ames said, adding that postdocs have had trouble with getting access to U-Passes in the past, among other issues. “I think creating an office shows that the University is taking a greater interest in post-docs,” said Ben Campbell, a post-doctoral fellow in the agriculture department. Campbell said obtaining information can sometimes be hard, especially if he has questions specific to his postdoc status. Though there is a post-doc organization on campus, he says some concerns are not being addressed. “If you have someone charged with thinking about post-docs, then at every meeting they’re in, they’re looking out for the best interest of post-docs,” Lanyon said.

Monday through Wednesday in addition to the existing Thursday, Friday and Saturday night schedule. MSA’s first forum of spring semester, on Jan. 23 at 4 p.m., will focus on diningrelated issues. Will Macheel, Director of MSA’s Sustainability Committee, said dining advocacy is important to MSA. “We had students from different perspectives and backgrounds working on what they wanted to see in the future of campus dining,” Macheel said of last semester’s implementation of kosher and halal foods in

dining halls. Dominic Christensen, CFANS Student Senator, worked with the Sustainability Committee by reaching out to local farmers and identifying food sources that adhered to certain criteria. “[MSA] is looking to the future of campus dining, whether it’s nutrition, dietary restrictions or sustainability,” Macheel said. The current dining contract with Aramark expires in 2020. MSA will provide their potential replacement recommendation at next week’s forum.

Sports

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Washington struggles in freshman year Isaiah Washington has shot 32 percent from the field and 18 percent from 3.

MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com

Minnesot a’s p op ular guard is going through something many players on Minnesota have dealt with early in their collegiate careers — a struggle to adjust to Division I play. Heading into this season, the Gophers received a commitment from New York’s Mr. Basketball, a top-100 recruit — Isaiah Washington — and so far he has shot 32 percent from the floor and a team-low 18 percent from three-point range through the first 20 games of his freshman season. Head coach Richard Pitino has seen this before. Pitino compared Washington’s situation to the Gophers’ season two years ago when young players had to step up and get minutes. “I equate it to when Nate [Mason], Dupree [McBrayer] and [Jordan Murphy] two years ago were in the game,” Pitino said. “And as painful as it was at times, it was helpful

MARYLAND WHERE: College Park, Maryland

MINNESOTA WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

VS OHIO STATE WHERE: New York City, NY

MINNESOTA WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday

SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

JACK RODGERS, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Guard Isaiah Washington looks to drive towards the hoop at Williams Arena on Sunday, Nov. 19.

to them in their growth.” Murphy, before he earned All-Big Ten Freshman honors, was held to single-digit scoring totals his first five games. McBrayer averaged just 5.9 points per game in his first season. Mason’s first year was the only time he averaged less than double-digit scoring totals in college. With two Gophers

starters out — Reggie Lynch suspended and Amir Coffey injured — Washington has had more opportunities to display why so much hype has been generated around his name. He played only two minutes in the Gophers win at Penn State on Monday after starting the game before. Freshman Jamir Harris got

his first start and tallied a career-high 16 points — 10 of those points coming in overtime — in the Gophers first win in four games. Washington’s lone contributions were one turnover and personal foul at Penn State. In the 81-47 loss against then-No. 5 Purdue, Washington led the team in scoring with 11 points. It was

the first time Washington had led the team as Mason struggled to find his game. “These are all great learning experiences for [Washington],” Pitino said. “He’s just a freshman. [Harris], same thing. [Michael Hurt], just a sophomore, so they’re getting some good quality reps in difficult play. They’ll learn from it, and I think [Washington] will. He’s got a long way to go.” The Harlem, New York native is the co-creator of the JellyFam movement: a group of young basketball players from the same area in New York and New Jersey who

do a signature layup. There is also a clothing line of the same name inspired by the group. Washington and his group have attracted national media attention and the Minnesota guard has more than 500,000 Instagram followers. Minnesota hopes his level of play will eventually be equal to his popularity. “I think he’s doing a better job making plays,” Murphy said. “I think that as the season went on he’s done a good job maturing his mentality and his mindset just making sure trying to make the right plays, make the right shots.”

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

MEN’S HOCKEY

Inspired by an olympic gymnast, Hitchcock looks to make mark

Minnesota suffers losing skid in conference play

Hannah Hitchcock placed 10th on the bars last season at the 2017 regionals. BY ERIK NELSON enelson2@mndaily.com

The 2004 Olympics was a big event for Hannah Hitchcock. Hitchcock wasn’t competing in the games, she was watching them. She saw Carly Patterson win gold for the United States in the all-around exercise. After that, Hitchcock was inspired — she knew she loved gymnastics. “I always liked being upside down. I always had a lot of energy,” Hitchcock said. “Gymnastics was the right fit for me.” Now, more than 13 years after Patterson won gold, Hitchcock is trying to leave her mark at the Division I level. At the 2017 NCAA Regionals, she placed 10th on bars, earning a score of 9.850. She also recorded a personal best on bars at last year’s Big Ten Championships with a score of 9.875. The senior has higher hopes this year. “The biggest goal is for our team to make nationals,” Hitchcock said. “I just want to compete [in] vault and bars [at the NCAA

championships] and contribute the best I can.” In 2015, Hitchcock did not compete because she was recovering from an ankle injury. Hitchcock said it was hard to be a spectator for one season rather than a gymnast. “It was different, but it was rewarding to cheer my team on from the sidelines,” she said. Senior Rachel Rowland met Hitchcock the fall before their freshman year and the two have been friends ever since. Their favorite hobbies include shopping and going to sushi restaurants. She said the two have never fought and Hitchcock remains a consistent part in her life. “[Hitchcock is] known for a really good attitude and being a positive influence in every aspect,” Rowland said. “I enjoy that I have a person for everything. On a good day or a bad day, I have

somebody to go to, and that really never changes.” Head coach Jenny Hansen said Minnesota saw much potential in Hitchcock. “We saw some abilities that she probably didn’t even realize that she had,” Hansen said. “She’s been key for us. [Hitchcock’s] been consistent and helping our team become what we are right now.” Outside the gym, Hitchcock likes to ski and decorate cakes. Hitchcock is from San Ramon, California, and is a fan of the Oakland Athletics and the Golden State Warriors. She is majoring in elementary education and plans to attend graduate school one day. Hansen said Hitchcock brings passion to the team. “She loves gymnastics. She lives and breathes it,” Hansen said. “The team identifies with her and appreciates her passion.”

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS PREVIEW

VS MINNESOTA (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday

MAX OSTENSO, DAILY

Forward Leon Bristedt maneuvers the puck behind the goal line during a game against Michigan at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Friday, Jan. 12.

The Gophers have gone 1-8-1 in their last 10 games with 10 more games left. BY DREW COVE dcove@mndaily.com

MICHIGAN STATE (0-2, 0-1 Big Ten) WHERE: Maturi Pavillion SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

The Gophers are in unfamiliar territory. Minnesota is 1-8-1 in its last 10 conference games, even though the team has won the Big Ten four years in a row. Now, the Gophers sit one game above .500 in the final stretch before the NCAA tournament. Minnesota will look to bounce back in an attempt to save its season. “We’ve put ourselves in a tough spot within the league,” said head coach Don Lucia. “You don’t realize it almost because there’s been such a mix of nonconference games where we’ve done well and all of the sudden, boom, you’re not where you want to be.” The Gophers collected one of their most complete wins of the season in the second game against St. Cloud State, with the Huskies holding the No. 1 rank at the time. Just a week later, Minnesota lost two consecutive games to unranked Michigan, when the Wolverines entered the weekend below .500. “It’s something we preach about all the time and I think there’s definitely a sense of urgency,” defenseman Steve Johnson said. “At the same time, we’ve got to understand who we are

and play our game.” The urgency for Minnesota comes on the precipice of the last 10 conference games of the season, while holding a 4-9-1-1 record so far in the Big Ten. Generating consistent offense has been a concern all season for the Gophers. Minnesota has no skaters in the double-digits for goals, yet, while they have a few on the brink of that with forwards Rem Pitlick with nine and Mike Szmatula with eight. Minnesota’s skaters have historically scored more than they have this season, in particular two forwards — captain Tyler Sheehy and assistant captain Leon Bristedt. Each player has had a 20-goal season at the college level, yet Sheehy has seven goals and Bristedt has three this season. Lucia joked that he might need a psychology degree for his struggling forwards.

“That’s the hardest part at every level,” Lucia said. “You have guys that go through stretches. There’s not much you can say for somebody to score.” The power play for Minnesota has also been another area of concern. Though the Gophers lost both games against Michigan, they broke a streak of 29 power play attempts with no goals. The power play goals did not lead to wins over the weekend, but Minnesota hopes it will at least jump start the offense. “Our power play just hasn’t been good enough for the guys that we have,” said forward Casey Mittelstadt. “Hopefully, going forward here, we can get a few big goals from our special teams. It’ll be nice to get the power play going [to] help us out.” Jack White contributed to this report.

MEN’S HOCKEY PREVIEW

VS MICHIGAN STATE

NO. 13 MINNESOTA WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: East Lansing, Michigan

VS NO. 13 MINNESOTA WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday

MICHIGAN STATE WHERE: New York City, New York SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

CULTURE TO CONSUME BY GUNTHAR REISING

Listen to this: “Friday Morning” by Khruangbin What kind of music does Khruangbin make? It’s something between funk and elevator music, with some soul, but sparse lyrics and a considerable sprinkle of rainforest dew. It’s difficult to describe. Influenced by Thai funk, the Texas band makes their music over Skype. They recently released a new single “Friday Morning.”

Read this: “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders “Lincoln in the Bardo” is Saunders’ first foray into novel territory, and by all measures, a successful one. The novel won the Man Booker Prize, and is on the Time’s list of top ten books of 2017. The story, which takes place during a single night, is about Abraham Lincoln coping with the death of his son during the Civil War.

Ingest this: An orange It’s the start of the semester and the flu is everywhere on campus. Don’t miss syllabus week because you didn’t take care of your immune system. Oranges provide vitamin C, which helps your immune system do some science and fix your body.

CULTURE COMPASS BY GUNTHAR REISING

Friday Princess Nokia @ The Cabooze Princess Nokia, the New York City-native rapper, is coming to share her fierce individualism with Minneapolis. A self-described “unapologetic feminist,” Princess Nokia is one of the few rappers on the scene who can make a song about “little titties” (“Tomboy”) into a work of feminist art. Head to The Cabooze for a dose of heavy beats and inspiring lyrics.

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

MUSIC

What Jonas Brothers reunion? Meet Minnesota’s own band of brothers

Shackletons u from Page 1

Cameron Campbell had a band. When the band’s singer was sick, little brother Colin was asked to step in. Little-er brother Evan wasn’t invited because he was annoying. (He’s gotten better with time.) As they do, Cameron’s middle school band eventually split. The brothers — Evan included this time — soon joined for a gig. Originally dubbed “Colin Campbell and the C-Notes,” the brothers eventually rebranded as “Colin Campbell and the Shackletons.” “Then we had a phone conversation with [a local producer] and it was the last straw,” Colin said. “He was like, … ‘No one wants to wear a dude on their shirt. Bands are cooler than dudes.’” So the Shackletons they became. Today, the Shackletons have two EPs under their belt and a full-length record somewhere on the horizon. Colin, a third-year media culture major at the University of Minnesota, is the band’s lead singer and guitarist. Cameron is on bass, and Evan plays drums. Raised on blues-jams, none of the brothers know how to read music. Their mom, the “best person in the world,” is the closest thing they have to a stylist. Counting The Replacements, The Weakerthans, The Hold Steady, Hüsker Dü, Los Campesinos! and “not Bono” among favorite acts, the band falls somewhere on the Minneapolitan music scene spectrum between playing the First Ave mainroom (though not for a solo show — that’s still on the bucket list!) and frequenting crust-punk basement shows. Hannah Hubbell, a fourthyear elementary education major at the University and Colin’s girlfriend, is often asked to define the band’s sound. She doesn’t have a definite answer. “They like such a wide

JACK RODGERS, DAILY

From left, Colin, Evan and Cameron Campbell of The Shackletons pose for a portrait in their home on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

range of genres,” Hubbell said. “There are days when we’re listening to outlaw country and then days when we’re listening to a super famous blues guitarist.” Hubbell describes both the band’s sound and their relationship as cohesive. Much like how their genre interests perpetually play off each other, the band is “in constant communication.” “They’re like, ‘What can you do, what can I do, what can we all do,’” Hubbell said. Of course, this fraternal cohesiveness also comes into play onstage. There’s more you can get away with when you’re a bit of a novelty. “We always do a stupid cover. A ‘there’s-no-way-weshould’ve-been-able-to-pullthat-off’ type cover,” Colin said. “‘Surrender’ by Cheap Trick, [the Elvis version of] ‘Burning Love.’ At the last EP release show we did AC/DC’s ‘It’s A Long Way to the Top’ and we had a bagpipe player.”

Like any good boy band, each Shackletons member has a “thing.” Cameron’s the quiet one, Evan’s the bad boy and Colin’s the dreamboat. Just kidding. “We’re all the asshole,” Evan said. Because of their similar genes, traditional band drama is not Shackleton style. As far as theatrics go, the brothers fall “between Oasis and The Osmonds.” “If one of us gets mad you’ll just look at them and say ‘fuck you,’” Colin said. “And then ten minutes later you’ll be like, ‘Wanna watch this?’” While a lot is in the works for the band (it’s off the record, but it’ll be exciting), The Shackletons can confidently say they look forward to touring this summer. “We’ll go to cities and play empty bars and no one will know who we are,” Colin said. “But that’s just what you do.” “Our future is bright,” Evan added. “Is that a saying?”

ART

Where The Cabooze, 917 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis Hours 8 P.M. Cost $20

‘ArtWords’ competition celebrates 20 years of poetry

Saturday

Weisman’s ‘ArtWords’ contest returns for the 20th consecutive year.

Art Shanty Project @ Lake Harriet Minnesota winter isn’t typically the time of year you think of “lake days,” but this weekend will be an exception. The Art Shanty Project is a gathering of artists out on the ice. They build little huts where they showcase new projects that might not get displayed at traditional galleries.

Where Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis Hours 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Cost Free

Sunday

“Lawrence of Arabia” @ Trylon Cinema On Sunday, Trylon Cinema will be exchanging ice for sand. The 1962 historical epic tells of T. E. Lawrence’s rise to fame during World War I. As Lawrence becomes a hero and politician, the relationship between his ego and his humanity grows more and more complicated.

Where Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33 St., Minneapolis Hours 6:30 P.M. Cost $8

BY SOPHIE VILENSKY svilensky@mndaily.com

ometimes a piece of art just speaks to you. Entrants of “ArtWords,” an annual contest put on by the Weisman Art Museum, are encouraged to transcribe whatever it is they hear. Established in 1998, “ArtWords” invites undergraduate and graduate students to pick a work of art in the Weisman permanent collection and respond to it with an original piece of prose or poetry. Winners are awarded prizes, published online and invited to perform their piece in the gallery. They often go on to publish more work, regardless of major. Undergraduate winners are also honored with publication in the University’s art and literary magazine “The Tower” (previously “Ivory Tower”). You know the section in the back of the magazine that often features Georgia O’Keefe’s “Oriental Poppies”? That’s the spot. Entrants love the O’Keefe. The contest began 20 years ago with a simple enough proposal: to have students write about art. “We were always holding events at the Weisman — creative writing events, readings,” University

MAX OSTENSO, DAILY

From left, “ArtWords” judges Hannah Nelson, Tripura Talagadadeevi and Laurel Darling pose for a portrait in Lind Hall on Tuesday.

creative writing department head and 2018 contest judge Julie Schumacher said. “And [former WAM curator and director of education Colleen Sheehy] said, ‘Let’s think about some collaboration that’s more about using the space,’ so we dreamed it up together.” “It’s a way to get people to not segregate the arts on campus,” Schumacher said. “You have one form inspiring or commenting on another — whether that’s a critique or more of a reflection.” Fifteen years later, The Tower joined the party. Contest winners are now an-

A&E EDITOR

RADIO K TOP 7

Gunthar Reising greising@mndaily.com

1. SEE THROUGH DRESSES, Pretty Police 2. NABIHAH IQBA, Zone 1 to 6000 3. BROCKHAMPTON, Sweet

nounced at the magazine’s launch party (this year’s will be held April 26 at WAM). “We made the decision as a class to partner in 2013,” University English professor and faculty instructor for The Tower, Jim Cihlar, said. “It turned out to be a wonderful thing.” Contest judges are representatives of the studentbased Tower staff, WAM, the English and creative writing department and local publishing houses. More often than not, favorite pieces are the same across the board. Disagreements, however, are what make the

time valuable. “To have two or three undergraduates sitting in a room arguing with an editor from Graywolf — I just think that’s good experience. Luckily, we’re all Minnesotans so we’re polite and it works out,” Cihlar said. Well, for a group of art and prose lovers, the judgement process is hardly work. (That’s not to say it’s easy, though. Cihlar noted the contest always receives a number of impressive entries.) “We choose the winners, but before making it official, we go out and read the work in front of the pieces that inspired them,” Cihlar said.

4. DAWN PEOPLE, Get Life 5. THE PRIDS, Mangled Hearts 6. 4TH CURTIS, Anjali 7. BEN FROST, Eurydice’s Heels (Hades)

Third-year English and art history major Laurel Darling, a member of both WAM Collective and The Tower, will act as a judge for this year’s contest. While entries are beginning to trickle in, she plans to sit down with the pieces at the museum closer to deadline. “[I’m looking for] something that sparks my interest and changes what I’ve seen before,” Darling said. After the contest, entries are displayed in the Weisman. “You can have an abstract sculpture associated with two extremely different works of writing,” Schumacher said. Along with the O’Keeffe, Ed and Nancy Kienholz’s “Pedicord Apartments” seems to offer endless inspiration. This may or may not have something to do with the piece already having a voice of its own. “People have written pieces about the characters that might be behind the doors,” Schumacher said. “It’s a terrific act of imagination to start with one art form and think of how another might change or enliven or enrich it.” This year’s contest closes Jan. 31, so there’s still time for inspiration to hit. Schumacher’s advice? “Stand in front of something and — rather than trying to analyze it — allow your mind to wander ... Think: ‘What is it saying to me … and what would I like to say back to it?’”

6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

Editorials & Opinions

COLUMN

EDITORIAL

Put the fun in mutual funds this semester

Democrats should not wait to reach immigration deal

Affordable, frequent investments early provide substantial payouts in the future.

anuary is famous — or infamous — for being a month of implicit regret. We’re all coming back to campus after no schoolwork, no deadlines, no rules and weeks of eating good food, staying up UMA VENKATA all night and sleeping past columnist noon. (Or whatever’s your idea of a good time.) Since a lot of us had all that time on our hands, we probably let a lot of money go with it. The last month of the year is a nationwide spending spree, as we’ve known since we got our first pack of socks for Christmas. If buying things for the people you love brings you happiness, then it’s an expression of love. When I got home, I bought all kinds of things for my friends and family. My father ended up with six sweaters for Christmas. Our shopping habits are supported by

our jobs — or parents, or really good significant others. But if we earned the money ourselves, there’s something we’re responsible to do: invest. Remember in Mary Poppins, when the workaholic father Mr. Banks takes his children to the bank? His colleague tries to convince — or coerce — Mr. Banks’s son Michael into investing his tuppence, rather than donating to the birds outside. Michael prefers the latter, a kind thing to do. But if Michael were closer to getting his bachelor’s degree, leaving home and starting a career, he would be far more interested in the bank’s return on his investment than the opinion of saints and apostles, who do not pay his rent. All fiduciaries recommend to start saving early, Michael. The money we spent this break and that which we’re about to spend this semester and summer doesn’t all have to go — we can save some and let it work for us. Here’s how it works. When we save money, we put a principal amount into a mutual fund or an ETF, for example. (Vanguard, T. Rowe Price and Fidelity are some examples of

investment houses you can check out.) That fund will then buy stocks, bonds, etc. because diversified investments are safer; our principal appreciates because we leave it untouched in the market. And then we retire. For example, say I’m 19, and I’ve saved $3,000 from odd jobs. Since I was born after 1960, at 67 I can retire with full federal benefits. We can assume that the annual return in the Standard & Poor’s 500 will be 11 percent. So, if I add just $100 per month, then hop out of the workforce on my 67th birthday, I will have $2,026,896 waiting for my retirement in the south of France. Sound too good to be true? The Big Short is right — it’s not as complicated as Wall Street likes us to think. Plus, if we save 15 percent of our income toward retirement, it’s only $100 a month if we make $8,000 a year — meaning we can amp the savings way up when we work full-time. With these significant figures, saving sounds fun to me. Uma Venkata welcomes comments at uvenkata@mndaily.com.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted during their time at a university or college. National Sexual Violence Resource Center

LETTER TO THE EDITOR As research funding changes, spirit remains the same

It is 2018 and a time of new beginnings — among them, of course, a new semester here at the University of Minnesota. We closed out 2017 with good news on the research front. The University continues to be one of the nation’s leading research institutions, driving advances in knowledge that improve the health, environment and quality of life not just for Minnesotans, but for people around the world. The latest numbers, highlighted in our annual State of Research report last month, show the University ranks eighth among U.S. public research universities in research spending, with $940 million spent on research systemwide. Federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation still fund nearly 60 percent of research at the University, but overall federal funding for research declined nearly 9 percent from 2006-16, when adjusted for inflation. Last year supporters in Congress helped NIH secure a funding boost, but many other federal agencies, including NSF, were left flat-funded, and some, such as the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, took significant cuts. Federal funding remains key to our success, and we need to convey its importance to our federal representatives. In this uncertain environment, the University seeks to keep innovative research going by balancing out the diminishing federal dollars with support from other sources. We have seen success from University efforts to expand public-private partnerships. Research funding from business and industry has grown to about 11 percent of all research awards due to efforts like our Office for Technology Commercialization’s MN-IP program, which simplifies the process of sponsored research by industry and has garnered nearly $65 million in sponsored research commitments since 2011. We are also grateful for the state’s investment in research. Minnesotans, represented through their legislature, have continued to support MnDRIVE research into some of the state’s key and emerging industries, including a new effort to expand cancer clinical trials availability throughout the state, giving more residents a chance to try experimental treatments and accelerating research toward effective treatments and, hopefully, cures. In the end, research success isn’t just about the numbers. Take, for example, the Sustainable Healthy Cities research network led by the University’s professor Anu Ramaswami, of the Humphrey School and CFANS. It isn’t the $12 million grant fueling this network that’s so exciting, but the potential that lies in connecting universities, cities, governments, nonprofits and industry partners around the common goal of developing healthy, environmentally sustainable urban infrastructure. Research is about advancing knowledge, contributing to society and changing lives. This is why our Scholar’s Walk depicts great ideas, discoveries and inventions, not funding ledgers. These are testaments to the creativity, dedication and ingenuity of our research community, the faculty, staff and students driven to know more and push the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s part of what defines the University of Minnesota as a major research university. This letter has been lightly edited for clarity and style. Allen Levine is the vice president for research at the University of Minnesota.

CONTACT THE EDITOR Anant Naik anaik@mndaily.com EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.

Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.

COLUMN

Trump’s ‘shithole’ remark should be a wakeup call President Trump’s disrespect and racism is not something we should tolerate any longer.

hat I’ve taken away from President Donald Trump’s “ s h i t h o l e ” r e m a rk s is that he is ignorant and oblivious. Under ELLEN SCHNEIDER the Trump admincolumnist istration, behaviors that previously would never have been allowed are repeatedly written off because we simply don’t expect more of Trump. Everything from connections with Russian oligarchies to engaging in pissing contests with North Korean leaders has been swallowed by the public despite obvious corruption and danger. While President Trump has denied the claims, he was recently accused of describing certain African countries as “shitholes” during a meeting regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. According to senators who were present, the president questioned the benefit of more people immigrating to the U.S. from African countries and Haiti, specifically demanding Haiti be removed from protected status, CNN reported. The Republican response to Trump’s vulgar comments prove they are complacent and willing to allow his salacious behavior in the interest of partisanship. While some Republicans have overtly denied that Trump said anything offensive, others have attempted to address the comments. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan called the president’s comments “unfortunate” and “unhelpful,” as reported by Time Magazine. This is one more example of blatant understatement issued by Republicans in an attempt to downplay the severity of Trump’s behavior. Trump’s remarks prove not only his lack of respect for these countries, but the prejudices he harbors for them as well. The president made these comments because he doesn’t believe Haitians are desirable immigrants. Trump was also allegedly making the case that the U.S. should instead focus on white European countries like Norway. The Norwegian population is in fact overwhelmingly white. Approximately 83 percent of the country’s

Trump’s remarks prove not only his lack of respect for these countries, but the prejudices he harbors for them. population is white, while the countries Trump called “shitholes” are predominately black. Our President is an undeniable racist. The diplomatic backlash the U.S. has faced in the days since Trump’s remarks proves that even if we are willing to put up with his behaviors, other countries are not. We cannot expect countries that are being blatantly disrespected to continue to have diplomatic relations with the U.S. The Haitian government issued a statement stating that Trump’s remarks reflected racist views that are woefully inaccurate, according to ABC News. Other countries have also spoken out. Botswana condemned the remarks, stating they let U.S. citizens into their country, as reported by Politico. They urged other countries in the Southern African Developmental Community to rebuke Trump and his vulgar comments. Even if we as a country continue to overlook the dangerous bigotry of our president, it is becoming clear that other countries will not. Trump is simply wrong about the countries he condemned as “shitholes.” The U.S. has had mutually beneficial relationships with several of these countries for many years. These comments ignore the ways in which Haiti and the U.S. have benefited one another. The Haitian people fought alongside the U.S. during multiple wars, and in turn, the U.S. stood by them during devastating earthquakes and political coups. Not to mention that these countries also contain some of the most beautiful places, with the richest cultures and most lively people. I can no longer stomach this behavior. Only Trump could take a bipartisan meeting with congressmen and use it to degrade entire African nations and commend white European countries in comparison. This behavior is abhorrent for anyone, and it is especially outrageous given that this person is our leader. We need to expect more of our president. Ellen Schneider welcomes comments at eschneider@mndaily.com.

he battle for the livelihoods of millions of people within the country continues as Congress introduced a bipartisan bill centered on extending the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, immigration and border security. The bill was eventually shot down by President Trump when the bipartisan Senate group went to the White House for approval. In what, in any other instance, would be a presidency-defining incident this past week, Trump stated his hope that more people would immigrate from places like Norway and called countries, such as El Salvador and Haiti, as well as the entirety of Africa, “shitholes” (or “shithouses,” as several Republican sources have made known in effort to defend Trump). Despite the racist, ignorant and xenophobic nature of these words and presidential disapproval of the bipartisan bill, Sens. Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin, among others, continue to push the bill in Congress. Not long before comments from the Oval Office became headlines, there was a discussion regarding political strategy and DACA. Congressional Democrats seemingly had two options: play hardball and not compromise with GOP leaders or try to pass a bill that would almost certainly include funding for Trump’s famous border wall. Refusing to accept a compromise on the issue would force a government shutdown (the bill is interwoven with government funding) and, in turn, would likely benefit Democrats in the long run by putting blame on the Republican-controlled Congress and the “Art of The Deal” author. However, several lawmakers chose the latter option and brought a bill that extended DACA, added a pathway to citizenship, partially funded extensive border security and decreased legal immigration over time. Fortunately, the bill is not “probably dead” as Trump tweeted. Unfortunately, it is clear that the president is willing to disparage millions of people and unwilling to work with both GOP and Democratic lawmakers on this issue. The argument of bipartisanship or gaining political advantage is ever present in the Democratic party with many issues, not just immigration. Standing ground and sticking to liberal principles and policies may gain Democrats a political advantage in the upcoming 2018 midterms. However, right now, the battle wages to stop the deportation of DACA recipients, renew the Child Health Insurance Program and many other policy issues. Despite a Democratic congressional minority, some battles are being won. Democrats, now more than ever, must decide if the long-term is more important than the short-term, and the issue is far from black and white. On one hand, a Democratic takeover of even one house of Congress in 2018 would challenge many harmful policies. On the other hand, millions of Americans are counting on lawmakers to come to conclusions on many policies, ending this time of uncertainty and ideally improving lives. Both schools of thought may become net positives, however, there needs to be serious discussion about which path is correct and whether certain issues need immediate attention. The people of America are depending on lawmakers and, hopefully, we can find a better world in 2018, 2020 and beyond. As always, you can find your representatives’ contact information at callyourrep.co. We implore you to voice your thoughts, concerns and opinions with them. Also, with the 2018 midterm elections approaching, learn how to register to vote at usa.gov/register-to-vote. Your vote counts.

SHARE YOUR VIEWS The Minnesota Daily welcomes letters and guest columns from readers. All letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. The Daily reserves the right to edit all letters for style, space, libel and grammar. Letters to the editor should be no more than 500 words in length. Guest columns should be approximately 350 words. The Daily reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication.

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THE EDIT ORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPAR TMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEW SROOM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM FOR RELEASE JANUARY 18, 2018

HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (1/18): Good things come through friends and social networks this year. Dedicate yourself to your teams. Shared financial limitations this winter motivate increased personal cash flow.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle CROSSWORD Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Written by Nancy Black

Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is a 7 — Don’t take action yet. Finish preparations before launching. Your social life is a whirl this month, with Venus in Aquarius. Enjoy peaceful privacy.

Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Resist the temptation to throw your money around. Tempers may be temporarily short; avoid stepping on anyone’s sensitivities. Let your heart guide you.

Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — Craft professional plans, and put wheels in motion later. Take charge of where you’re going and strategize for success. Hold your temper.

Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 6 — Proceed with caution in a domestic dispute. Stay objective in a tense situation. It’s OK to disagree. Withhold judgment or sharp words.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is an 8 — Stay flexible with travel plans. Have a backup option to relieve worry or frustration, and avoid an expensive mess. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is an 8 — Edit your words carefully before hitting “send.” Consider consequences, ramifications and differing views.

Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is an 8 — Find simple ways to save money for your family. Grow your emergency fund. You can conserve resources without discomfort.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 7 — A project with lucrative potential could hit a roadblock or delay. Coordination between you and your partner works it out.

Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Navigate changes with your partner. Silly arguments spark easily. Compromise for solutions. Let the little stuff go.

Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — You’re especially confident and strong. Avoid steamrolling quieter folk. Your personal values could get tested. Slow down and listen.

Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — Passions may be in high gear; look before you leap! Avoid automatic outbursts or expensive temptations. Stay cool. Figure out a good landing spot.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 6 — Contemplate your moves before making them. Avoid controversy or drama. Find somewhere peaceful to hide out and plan.

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ACROSS 1 It doesn’t go off 4 Dugong or manatee 10 Friskies sister brand 14 “Lookee here!” 15 Turkey’s secondlargest city 16 Enjoyed People 17 Singer Fogelberg 18 *Acting like the locals 20 Toughness 22 Stage great Hagen 23 White __ 24 Site of Napoleon’s exile 25 Accessories for many lawn mowers 27 Engrave with acid 29 Dalai Lama, for one 32 Sport with clay pigeons 34 Canapé spread 35 Husky follower 37 Part of SASE: Abbr. 38 Wartime prez 40 Sci-fi aviators 42 Shapiro of NPR 43 Exertion 45 Suburban trees 47 Picker-uppers? 49 Hole’s starting point for skilled golfers 51 Many a college graduate’s burden 52 Reel 54 Software glitches ... and, in a broad sense, small things hidden in the answers to starred clues 57 Trouble greatly 59 LG competitor 60 First name at Woodstock 61 *Try not to look bored 64 Lithium-__ battery 65 Pakistani tongue 66 Scoresheet slashes 67 Find fault to a fault 68 Mandarin discard 69 Siberian expanse 70 Some hot rods

1/18/18

By C.C. Burnikel

DOWN 1 Sidestep 2 Penske rival 3 *Google Code of Conduct motto 4 Succumb to gravity 5 “Cut it out already!” 6 Curly-tailed dog 7 Rummy game played with two decks 8 Suffix for NPR’s website 9 “You sure of that?” 10 Gallery VIPs 11 Hawaiian wedding rings 12 Tar 13 Neruda’s “__ to My Socks” 19 Top-ranked 21 Make full 26 Credits as a source 28 Commuter org. in the Loop 30 *“The Imitation Game” subject 31 Comic-Con attendee 32 Ready 33 Door opener

Last Issue’s Puzzle Wednesday’s PuzzleSolved Solved

34 Pequod co-owner 36 Belittle 39 Trial run designed to catch 54-Across 41 “__ Walks in Beauty”: Byron poem 44 Satyrlike 46 “You’ve Got Mail” co-star 48 “Fernando” pop group

1/18/18

50 Letters replacing unlisted items 51 Bureau unit 53 Internet greeting 55 Be a bad sport 56 iTunes downloads 57 Raison d’__ 58 West Wing staffer 61 “How’re things?” 62 “The Simpsons” clerk 63 Fort Meade org.

SUDOKU

DR. DATE Dr. Date,

I’ve kinda sorta been seeing this guy for about a week, and things are already starting off on a weird foot. We hooked up at a party and I spent the night, but nothing sexual happened between us because he refused to use a condom. So that was an immediate pass for me because I’m not trying to get pregnant. When we woke up the next morning and went for breakfast, though, things got truly weird. We were just casually eating, and things felt normal. Then out of nowhere, he drops the bomb that he’s a deeply religious person, who doesn’t believe in using birth control or accepting homosexuality — basically a whole gamut of things that I personally support with a passion. I straight-up told him how deeply his beliefs go against mine, but to be honest, I still wanted the ‘D,’ so I’ve continued to hang out with him in the hopes of maybe slightly adjusting his stance on a few things. Mainly, I’m just seeing if I can get him to wear a condom, so we can get it on. So far, though, he’s not budging, so I’m in a tough spot. I have the issue of hanging out with someone with fundamentally different beliefs, so is it even worth it to keep seeing him? Keep in mind, though, this guy is a 10-out-of-10 hottie, so try to sympathize with me a little here.

—Melinda

Melinda,

Listen, I feel you on this one. A hottie’s a hottie’s a hottie, end of story. That booty math is always gonna be foolproof. But you know what’s really not hot? Having totally incompatible beliefs about things that are important. This dude could be literally the finest guy around, but I guarantee you that after doing it, like, maybe five times, you’ll realize that you can catch a D-sesh just about anywhere without the added baggage of dealing with someone who is the opposite of you. And while we’re on the subject of the act of sex itself, let’s talk about how damn important it is to use some kind of protection. I know, I know — some belief systems reject any kind of birth control. It’s not my place to say what’s right and wrong, but you gotta do what is right for you, which is not getting preggo and not catching any kind of diseases. I don’t care how dope he is; if you’re tryna hit, then you gotta make sure you don’t wind up with some unintended consequences. Getting some ‘D’ can be a great thing, but even better is maintaining some SR — self-respect (aw).

—Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

My girlfriend’s great, but I’ve been having a really weird problem lately with her when it comes to getting intimate. Our sex life is generally pretty solid, but now she’s starting to make a habit of putting her fingers in places where I don’t want them to be. I honestly have no clue why this started in the first place, but sometimes she will be about to come, and then she either rams a finger into my, um, back door, or she tries to put her entire fist into my mouth. It’s bizarre, but more than that, I have no real idea why she likes it. I mean, can you imagine how surprising and graphic it is to have someone’s hand shoved into your mouth while you’re busy trying to breathe? I guess I can kinda see how it might make her feel powerful while we’re getting hot and heavy, and I appreciate that. But boundaries are boundaries, Doc. I want her to keep having fun and doing things she likes in our sex life, but I’m not sure about the best way to bring this up. Do you have any tips for me?

—No-Fly Zone

No-Fly Zone,

Sounds to me like you’ve already got too many tips that you’re dealing with. It’s time you and your sweet, invasive angel play a game called, “Talking About Boundaries.” The rules are hella simple: Just tell her she can’t put her fingers any damn place she likes, no matter how hot (Is that the right word?) it is. I’ll admit, it does sound vaguely scandalous in the best way that she’s into taking on a level of control when you two are going at it, so I’d caution you to make sure you don’t take that away from her. Maybe let her keep up some of the mouth action — at least, in a way that still allows you to breathe — while you completely cut out the butt stuff? Compromise and communication are the key, slugga. But before I completely let you off the hook, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention your other fun alternative. Call me sentimental, but I think it’d be a cute if you tried out seeing how she feels about getting some of the same treatment. Obviously, if she hates it, then don’t do it, but it’s totally possible this is just her way of showing what she’d like done to her. Just a thought.

—Dr. Date

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. 1/18/2018

Last issue’s solution

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Fund hopes to support immigrants Small grants will be made available to help qualifying students at the U. BY MAX CHAO mchao@mndaily.com

Amid a national immigration debate, a new scholarship hopes to support students at the University of Minnesota who may be affected by proposed legislation. On Friday, the University of Minnesota’s Immigration Response Team launched the Dream Fund, which aims to support student immigrants whose legal status may be at risk, affecting their ability to earn money for college expenses. The donation-based fund is housed in the University of Minnesota Foundation and provides small grants to qualifying students, including recipi-

ents of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status, said Marissa Hill-Dongre, director of the IRT. Recent attempts to pass immigration reform as well as an impending March 5 DACA renewal deadline have led to uncertainty for some immigrant students, said Erika Lee, director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University. “Essentially, we don’t know what the status is for students and other [people] who have previously received DACA or are in the process of applying for DACA,” Lee said. The Minnesota Dream Act, passed in 2013, allows all students who graduate from Minnesota high schools to pay in-state tuition regardless of immigration status. However, many immigrant students pay for tuition by working jobs, and

the loss of the right to work legally could force them to drop out mid-semester, Hill-Dongre said. “The idea is that, perhaps, the Dream Fund would allow a student to at least get through a semester in which that happens … [and] try to figure out what their options are going forward,” she said. The fund is distributed by need, requiring applicants prove they have a financial need stemming from a change in immigration status. The money can be used for tuition, as well as certain necessities such as groceries. Other schools around the country, such as University of California-Berkeley, Western Michigan University and University of Utah have created similar funds, said Hill-Dongre. Several campus groups have expressed interest, she said, including the Minnesota Student Association.

CARTER BLOCHWITZ, DAILY

JaNaé Bates of ISAIHA documents the march against the repeal of DACA on Sept. 5.

MSA plans to promote the fund in early February as part of a DACA awareness video in collaboration with other Big Ten schools,

said student body president Trish Palermo in an emailed statement. “There is such an interest about immigra-

tion policy changes and the effects on immigrants. ... I really see it with faculty, staff and students,” Hill-Dongre said.

Evans Scholar house seeks to increase diversity A natl. scholarship for golf caddies is improving diversity at the University. BY ELIANA SCHREIBER eschreiber@mndaily.com

At age 15, Karah VueBenson didn’t see golf caddying as anything more than a promising summer job opportunity. Now, VueBenson is entering her final semester at the University of Minnesota, thanks to a scholarship from the Evans Scholars Foundation. VueBenson is one of just eight women in the 56-person Evans Scholar house this year at the University, which is home to the recipients of the scholarship. The Evans Scholars Foundation — a national scholarship program for mid- to low-income golf cad-

dies — is 25 percent female, while just 2 percent of all caddies in the U.S. are female. In contrast to the other 18 Evans Scholar houses nationwide, the number of women scholarship recipients is particularly low at the University’s house, despite national efforts to recruit more diverse caddies. Because caddying has been a predominantly white and male-dominated occupation, the Western Golf Association — which oversees the Evans Scholars Foundation — has implemented a series of initiatives in recent years to improve diversity, said Amy Fuller, WGA’s vice president of communications. “We’ve found that for young students of color, there are several barriers to entry for caddying,” Fuller said, which could include

proximity to golf courses, lack of transportation and unfamiliarity with the sport and its caddying opportunities. VueBenson, who is female and half Hmong, grew up in St. Paul and heard about caddying through her high school. Minnesota Evans Scholar Chapter President Jon Delaney said he thinks the diversity rates at the University might be lower compared to other houses because nationwide diversity efforts from the WGA don’t affect all houses equally. The WGA’s Caddie Academy, a summer program for high school students nationwide, is 90 percent minority individuals and many students are accepted into Evans Scholar programs at participating universities. The diversity seen in the Caddie Academy isn’t

evenly distributed across the 19 universities, since placement relies on a variety of factors including location, financial need and finding the right fit for each student. Natalie Burg — an Evans Scholar at Northwestern University and the outgoing vice president of communication for her house — said many of her female friends and about a quarter of the girls in her house learned about caddying through the Caddie Academy, adding she thinks it’s improved the gender gap within the Evans Scholars as a whole. Burg said the house dynamic at Northwestern is respectful of women, who have a larger presence than at the Minnesota house. “I’ve never felt less a part of the house because of my gender,” she said. Burg said half of the current executive board at the Northwestern Evans Scholars is female, and many women in her year have taken on leadership positions during their time in the house. And despite the change of environment from her hometown, VueBenson said she feels safe and comfort-

DIVERSITY OF EVANS SCHOLARS NATIONALLY

“We’ve found that for students of color, there are several barriers to entry for caddying.”

$100,000

AMY FULLER WGA vice president of communications

BY THE NUMBERS

IS THE AVERGAE VALUE OF AN EVANS SCHOLARSHIP

OF CADDIES ARE FEMALE

able in the house of predominantly men, and is grateful for the program. Alyssa Gohr, a graduate resident adviser for the Minnesota Evans house, said other houses typically have four to five women per grade, while the Minnesota house has only ever had eight to 10 women at a time. “I’d love to have more girls,” Gohr said. “In the house … I think we’re at a disadvantage.” Despite the low number of women in the house, Gohr said she feels the organization is doing a better job in terms of gender diversity than the caddying and golf world as a whole. “I think it’s a really great scholarship, and I’d love to see more activity with it and especially with girls, especially here,” Gohr said.

25%

OF CURRENT EVANS SCHOLARS ARE WOMEN

20%

OF CURRENT EVANS SCHOLARS ARE OF MINORITY STATUS

40%

OF CURRENT EVANS SCHOLARS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

About 15%

OF THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS HOUSE IS FEMALE

53%

OF THE MARQUETTE SCHOLARS HOUSE IS FEMALE

37%

OF THE NORTHWESTERN SCHOLARS HOUSE IS FEMALE SOURCE: WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION

WH claims ‘executive privilege’ BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s White House is relying on a sweeping interpretation of executive privilege that is rankling members of Congress on both sides of the aisle as current and former advisers parade to Capitol Hill for questioning about possible connections with Russia. The White House’s contention: Pretty much everything is off limits until the president says it’s not. The argument was laid bare this week during former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s interview with the House Intelligence Committee. As lawmakers in the closed-door session probed Bannon’s time working for Trump, his attorney got on the phone with the White House counsel’s office, relaying questions and asking what Bannon could tell Congress, according to a White House official and a second person familiar with the interview. The answer was a broad one. Bannon couldn’t discuss anything to do with his work on the presidential transition or later in the White House itself. The development brought to the forefront questions about White House efforts to control what current and former aides may or may not tell Congress about their time in Trump’s inner circle, and whether Republicans who hold majorities on Capitol Hill will force the issue. It was also the broadest example yet of the White House using executive privilege to limit a witness’ testimony without making a formal invocation of that presidential power. On Wednesday, White

House officials said that the phone calls with the counsel’s office were standard procedure followed by past administrations in dealings with Congress. They argued that Bannon, like every current and former member of the administration, starts under the assumption that he is covered by executive privilege and can only answer certain questions unless Trump explicitly says otherwise. But members of Congress, including Republicans, criticized the move. The House panel’s top Democrat called it effectively a “gag order.” The committee’s Republican chairman, Devin Nunes of California, served a subpoena on Bannon in an attempt to compel him to answer. Lawmakers will be closely watching another interview later this week to see how the White House responds. Trump’s longtime spokeswoman Hope Hicks is to appear Friday for a closeddoor interview with committee, according to a person familiar with the panel’s work. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The criticisms echoed those from last summer when Attorney General Jeff Sessions baffled some lawmakers by refusing to answer questions about his conversations with the president, while also maintaining he was not citing executive privilege. Following Sessions’ testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said, “As someone who served in the Justice Department, I would love to know what he is

talking about.” Michael Dorf, a constitutional law professor at Cornell University, said that while traditionally Congress has required a formal assertion of executive privilege in order for a witness to refuse to answer a question, more recently “we’ve seen people just not answer questions without asserting privilege.” “It’s kind of a game of separation-of-powers chicken that’s going on there,” he said. “Because nobody knows the full scope of executive privilege — other than that it’s not absolute from the Nixon case — no one really wants to push it.” Dorf referred to the court case surrounding the Supreme Court’s rejection in 1974 of President Richard Nixon’s assertion that he could use executive privilege to prevent the release of tape recordings involving him and other aides. Dorf said it does seem unusual for a witness’ lawyer to consult in real time with the White House about which questions can be answered, it is a “bit more respectful” than a pre-emptive blanket refusal to answer questions. Bannon’s attorney, Bill Burck, spoke with Uttam Dhillon, deputy White House counsel. Burck is also representing top White House lawyer Don McGahn in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia. The White House official and a second person familiar with Bannon’s interview who confirmed the conversations spoke only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.