DEFENSIVE LINEMAN THRIVES AFTER POSITION SWITCH PG 3 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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CAMPUS
Demand for peer tutors up in 2017 SMART learning commons at UMN has seen record visits in the fall at campus libraries. BY CLEO KREJCI ckrejci@mndaily.com
EASTON GREEN, DAILY
Manager and projectionist Earl Luckes views out a screening window to make sure the movie is playing correctly for the audience at the Parkway Theater on Friday, Nov. 10.
A bizarro romp through film
One Twin Cities film society bases its appeal on the eclectic, the 3-D and the weird.
UMN rocketry wins Guinness World Record
Grindhouse, trash sci-fi and kung fu films, experimental 3-D — these are the territory of bizarro cinema. The Twin Cities Psychotronic Film Society, which has been operating since March, screens one-off hits like “RoboCop.” They also host mystery screenings and series like “Analog Assault” (screenings on VHS) and “Girl Gang Night.” TCPFS will be hosting a 12-hour “Masochist Movie Marathon,” a benefit for Scares That Care, that will take place at the Parkway Theater on Chicago Avenue Saturday at 2 p.m.
A team of Gopher rocketeers earned first place with a 430 foot launch in Houston, Texas. BY HELEN SABROWSKY hsabrowsky@mndaily.com
evolving MBA market. For other schools, adapting to the changing market has been challenging. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an attempt was made to shutter the program, but public and school backlash reversed the administration’s decision. Joel Waldfogel, associate dean of MBA programs at the University of Minnesota, said more students are opting to pursue specialty master’s degrees rather than full-time MBA programs. An increase in student debt is partly to
Using only Alka-Seltzer tablets and water, the University of Minnesota Rocket Team launched a rocket 430 feet in the air — setting a Guinness World Record — as part of a national competition last week. The team placed first in the Bayer AlkaRocket Challenge, held at Space Center Houston on Nov. 8. They took home a prize of $25,000 for accomplishing what team members called a challenging task. The Alka-Rocket Challenge, new this year, is sponsored by Bayer as part of their ongoing initiative, “Making Science Make Sense,” which aims to increase youth interest in science. Carolyn Bender, Bayer spokesperson, said the company decided to start the collegiate competition after bringing similar small-scale experiments to elementary schools. “We thought, ‘Why not try this on a larger scale and see how high these can go?’” she said.
u See MBA Page 8
u See ROCKETS Page 8
EASTON GREEN, DAILY
Projectionist Earl Luckes hold up a piece of 35mm 3-D film from the third Friday the 13th movie.
HIGHER ED.
Carlson School bucks national MBA trend, keeping full time program Many other universities have moved away from the style of classes as enrollment falls. BY KEVIN BECKMAN kbeckman@mndaily.com
As declining enrollment has forced universities across the country to shake up their master of business administration programs, the University of Minnesota has tried to be proactive. Business schools ranging from the
u See TUTORS Page 10
SCIENCE
BY HALEY BENNETT hbennett@mndaily.com
u See FILM Page 5
Peer tutoring in the SMART learning commons at the University of Minnesota’s library system has never been so busy. If current trends hold, fall 2017 could be the most trafficked semester based on numbers dating back to 2010 for the free learning resource. Since Sept. 5, tutors in Wilson, Walter and Magrath libraries have already seen more visits than fall, spring and summer of the 2016-17 academic year combined. Brett Gray, individual learning services coordinator with SMART learning commons, oversees the peer tutoring program and started his position on Jan. 30 with hopes to make sure students were aware of the campus resource. Without a single factor to pin down the spike in traffic this semester, Gray attributes the visits to increased outreach, education, tweaking of program services and talented tutors.
University of Iowa to Virginia Tech to Wake Forest University phased out their full-time MBA programs in recent years, and many other schools across the country have adapted in response to the low enrollment. Specialized master’s degree enrollment almost doubled from 2006 to 2016, according to a report by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Conversely, fulltime MBA enrollment dropped by 20 percent. At the University’s Carlson School of Management, school officials have tried to anticipate these trends and offer course options — like more online sections — that align with the
CITY GOV.
Dehn looks to keep students engaged Municipal election voter turnout was high in the wards that cover the University’s campus area. BY MADELINE DENINGER mdeninger@mndaily.com
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Campaigners for Raymond Dehn, senior Sonia Neculescu and sophomore Aisha Chughtai, offer rides across the Washington Avenue Bridge on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
State Rep. Raymond Dehn spent the final hours before polls closed on election night doorknocking in University of Minnesota dorms. Dehn channeled student support throughout his campaign, helping him to a secondplace finish in the Minneapolis mayoral election last week. Dehn and supporters hope the campaign will have a lasting effect on student
engagement and political involvement. “I think clearly there are going to be many students who were disappointed with the outcome of the election,” Dehn said. “But in the end, I believe that getting students engaged isn’t about one election but about creating a movement where they play a significant role.” Joelle Stangler, Dehn’s campaign manager and Minnesota Student Association president from 2014 to 2016, said Dehn’s advocacy for student issues helped him gain a campus following. “As someone who’s still paying off his u See DEHN Page 8
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 22
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THIS DAY IN HISTORY 2001 On this day in 2001, the British author J.K. Rowling’s star creation – bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter – makes his big-screen debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which opened in movie theaters across the United States.. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH
Thursday, November 16, 2017 Vol. 118 No. 22
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NEWS STAFF Nick Wicker Managing Editor nwicker@mndaily.com Cedar Thomas Managing Production Editor cthomas@mndaily.com Jack White Sports Editor jwhite@mndaily.com Gunthar Reising A&E Editor greising@mndaily.com Alex Tuthill-Preus Multimedia Editor atuthill-preus@mndaily.com Maddy Fox Assistant Multimedia Editor mfox@mndaily.com Sheridan Swee Copy Desk Chief sswee@mndaily.com Christine Ha Assistant Copy Desk Chief cha@mndaily.com Harry Steffenhagen Visuals Editor hsteffenhagen@mndaily.com Jane Borstad Visuals Editor jborstad@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Chief Page Designer dkamas@mndaily.com Rilyn Eischens Campus Editor reischens@mndaily.com Olivia Johnson Campus Editor ojohnson@mndaily.com Ryan Faircloth City Editor rfaircloth@mndaily.com David Clarey Features Editor dclarey@mndaily.com =
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Moviegoers line up to see the third Friday the 13th in 3D at the Parkway Theater on Friday, Nov. 10.
EASTON GREEN, DAILY
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STATE REPORT MINNESOTA WORLD’S FAIR BID COMMITTEE DISAPPOINTED BY LOSS MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota World’s Fair Bid Committee and the State Department are congratulating Argentina on its selection to host a World’s Fair in 2023 while expressing disappointment that the state’s proposal wasn’t chosen. Minnesota finished third Wednesday behind the Argentine capital Buenos Aires and the Polish city of Lodz (wooj). The CEO and president of Minnesota’s bid committee, Mark Ritchie, says it was great engaging with the Bureau of International Expositions and its memberstates worldwide. Board member Marilyn Carlson Nelson says she’s confident they’ve “done nothing but good” for the region and for advancing Minnesota’s proposed theme of health and wellness. Gov. Mark Dayton says the organizers put Minnesota’s accolades “on the world stage, and demonstrated again why Minnesota is such a world class place to live, work and innovate.”
BOY BANNED FROM HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION MINNEAPOLIS — Attorneys for a Wisconsin boy who wants to compete with his high school dance team have filed a federal civil rights complaint after the Minnesota State High School League barred him from a championship competition. The Pacific Legal Foundation filed the complaint Tuesday with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education, The Star Tribune reported . It argues that Minnesota’s policy is discriminatory and violates Title IX, which bars sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funds. Kaiden Johnson, 15, attends Superior High School in Wisconsin. The school allows him to dance with the team. The Minnesota league told Johnson in December that he couldn’t compete with his team in competitions in Minnesota because that state doesn’t allow boys on high school dance teams. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Minnesota nonprofit groups work to amend federal tax bill A letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives to voice concerns. BY KAYLA SONG ksong@mndaily.com
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits collected over 200 signatures from nonprofits across the state for a letter sent on Nov. 8 voicing concerns about the recently proposed U.S. House of Representatives tax bill. Fifteen nonprofit community partners at the University of Minnesota have also signed the letter, such as Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Minnesota AIDS Project and TakeAction Minnesota. The letter was addressed to Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., and the federal Ways and Means committee. A House vote on the GOP’s tax cut bill is planned for Thursday afternoon.
The bill, which was first introduced by the Republican-led House, outlines how it would significantly raise tax deductions, removing the incentive to give to charity. If the new bill is passed, the standard amount that individuals can take out of their income is $12,000, therefore having to pay less income tax. “For the first time in a generation, middle-income and hardworking Minnesotans are closer to a tax code that works for them, rather than against them,” Paulsen said in a statement about the bill. Individuals can also choose to itemize their deductions, such as donations to nonprofits. But since the tax bill doubles the standard deduction, it is unlikely the total amount will result in less income tax than the standard. This takes away the incentive for individuals to give, because the standard deduction would yield less taxes to pay,
said Rebecca Lucero, public policy director for the MCN. In the letter, Minnesota nonprofits say the tax proposals “undermine our shared prosperity” and fewer people would donate to programs supporting housing, education, transportation and arts and sciences. “We wanted to make sure that our members of congress knew our concerns and some priorities we’d love for them to set,” Lucero said. Lowering individuals’ tax rates would have them receive less money back on the dollar, said Senior Fellow of the Humphrey School’s Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, Jay Kiedrowski. “The individual income tax rates will be lowered, so it won’t be as advantageous for some people even though they may continue to deduct the charitable contributions,” Kiedrowski said. “It won’t be worth as much, because they’ll be taxed at a
lower bracket.” Nonprofit organizations are also concerned about the House tax bill’s elimination of the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits supporting or opposing specific political candidates. If the Johnson Amendment is repealed, all nonprofits will face pressure to support or oppose specific candidates as a quid pro quo for government funding or other support, Kiedrowski said. It will be more costly for nonprofits because they’re going to have to spend money on lobbying. “If you think about it this way, there may be some conservative churches in the south,” Kiedrowski said. “They’re going to spend money on lobbying for instance for pro-life, so Planned Parenthood nonprofits are going to have to spend more money to try to counter some of what those conservative churches are lobbying for.”
INTERNATIONAL BRIEFING
Australian Senate US will vote no at UN debates same-sex banning Nazi speech marraige rights bill BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CANBERRA, Australia — A gay lawmaker on Thursday started the Australian Parliament’s debate on legal recognition for same-sex marriage with an emotion speech in which he warned against winding back LGBT rights. Senator Dean Smith has introduced a bill that would limit who could legally refuse to take part in same-sex marriage to churches, religious ministers and a new class of religious celebrants. But many same-sex marriage opponents want amendments to broaden the range of businesses and individuals who can legally refuse to provide services such as cakes, flowers or a venue to same-sex couples and new free-speech protections for those who denounce gay marriage. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal in Australia outside religious institutions. “Let me be clear: Amendments that seek to address other issues, or which seek to deny gay and lesbian Australians the full rights, responsibilities and privileges that they already have will be strenuously opposed,” Smith told the Senate. “Australians did not vote for equality before the law so that equality before the law that is already gained be stripped away,” he added. Another Liberal Party senator, James Paterson, had won the support of lawmakers who oppose marriage reform with a proposed bill that offered “a limited right of conscientious objection to ensure no one is forced to participate in a samesex wedding against their sincerely held beliefs.”
WASHINGTON — The United States government wants you to know: It really, truly doesn’t like Nazis. At the United Nations this week, the U.S. plans to vote against a yearly resolution that condemns the glorification of Nazism, State Department officials said Wednesday. Although it may seem counterintuitive — who wouldn’t want to condemn Nazis? — officials said free speech protections and other problems with the resolution make it impossible for America to support. Introduced by Russia, the resolution calls on all U.N. nations to ban pro-Nazi speech and organizations, and to implement other restrictions on speech and assembly. That’s a nonstarter in the U.S., where First Amendment protections guarantee all the right to utter almost anything they want — even praise for Adolf Hitler’s followers. The United States votes against the resolution every year, along with just a handful of others, while the European Union nations and some others typically abstain. The resolution always passes overwhelmingly, usually with little fanfare. But this year, the “no” vote from the U.S. is likely to create more of a stir, given it’s the first rendition of the vote since President Donald Trump entered office. Trump adamantly denies any secret affinity for white supremacists. Yet his blame-on-both-sides response to violence in August at a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, gave fodder to Trump critics who say he’s insufficiently critical of neoNazis. So U.S. officials are working overtime this year to try to explain that no, America doesn’t support pro-Nazi speech — but can’t vote for a resolution that calls for outlawing it, either. The vote is scheduled for Thursday in the U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee.
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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 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
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Sports
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
FOOTBALL
JACK RODGERS, DAILY
Sophomore Carter Coughlin, number 45, and his teammates observe the game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Coughlin succeeds in new position So far, Coughlin leads the Gophers in sacks with 5.5 through 10 games. BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com
Carter Coughlin switched from linebacker to defensive end in the offseason. So far, he has made the transition look easy. The sophomore has the most sacks and tackles for loss on the Minnesota defense. “[Coughlin’s] a guy that’s just changed his best, you know, his entire year,” said defensive coordinator Robb Smith. “He’s just trying to refine his game, and he’s done an
elite job at that, and he’s been able to change his best, and you know we expect more in the future for him as well.” Recruited as the No. 6 outside linebacker in the country,according to 247 Sports, Coughlin stuck with linebacker last year for the Gophers. He played in 10 games and started one in the Gophers 9-4 season, racking up 25 tackles last year; four were for a loss and two were sacks. Now, with two more games to play in the 2017 season, Coughlin has 31 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 5.5 sacks. Coughlin moved to the defensive end position in the spring after a change in coaching staff. Then-head coach,
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
VS NO. 23 NORTHWESTERN
MINNESOTA WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday
WHERE: Evanston, Illinois SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
Tracy Claeys, was fired by the University in January. After the school’s decision, Coughlin tweeted: “How can someone makes such an idiotic decision...” but he stuck around to play under new leadership headed by P.J. Fleck. There are 13 linebackers on the Gophers roster,
so Smith moved Coughlin to that defensive end spot to make sure he gets on the field — and he has. Coughlin has started every game this year, emerging as the best pass rusher on the defense, using his speed and explosiveness to get around slower, bigger linemen.
“Right now, my biggest asset is my speed, and you know as I go on through college I want to be able to incorporate more size into that,” Coughlin said. “I can add a lot of power to that, and I think that’s going to be a sweet combo, but right now it’s definitely my speed.” Coughlin isn’t the first of his family to leave an impact on Minnesota athletics. Coughlin’s grandfather, Tom Moe, was the athletic director at the University of Minnesota from 1999-2002. Moe also played football and baseball for the Gophers in the late 50’s. Coughlin’s father, Bob, was a defensive lineman in the late ’80s. His mother, Jennie Moe, played tennis for the Gophers in the late ’80s
and early ’90s. His uncle, Mike Moe, played football for the Gophers in the ’80s as well. The newest member of the family to join the Gophers is Coughlin’s younger brother. Quinn Coughlin is a defensive lineman on the roster. Carter was a standup linebacker in high school while Quinn was an inside defensive tackle. “It’s so fun going over to the side line and giving him a hug, and all that kind of stuff. He’s always kind of the first one to come greet me after I get a sack or a tackle or anything like that,” Carter said. “You know it’s really special, it feels like, kind of like high school, you know what I mean? It’s just super cool having him there right next to me.”
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Wente goes on scoring surge in first year The freshman has scored six goals for Minnesota in the first 14 games. BY MAX BIEGERT mbiegert@mndaily.com
With 3:13 left in the overtime period, Gophers freshman Taylor Wente rocketed the puck into the back of the net off a pass from Caitlin Reilly to seal the 2-1 victory over Mercyhurst last Friday. That’s been the story for Minnesota. The Gophers are now 8-00 on the road after their most recent road series sweeps of Mercyhurst and Mankato. In those four wins, Wente scored six points and had at least one point in each game. Through the first two months of the season, Wente made
six goals and three assists which puts her third among Gophers freshmen, behind only Grace Zumwinkle and Patti Marshall. “She’s been on the verge of starting to produce more over the last few weeks,” said head coach Brad Frost. “She has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.” Wente has been asked to play center, which is a big step for a freshman. Centers don’t just score and create plays, but are also expected to defend and win key faceoffs. Wente plays on a line that features two veterans on the team in Reilly and Nicole Schammel. Frost said that because Wente is playing with those veterans, she is learning dayin, day-out that she needs to be playing at a high level. The expectations are higher when she is playing with people who
have experience playing in major hockey games. “If I did not have them on my line, I don’t know where I would be,” Wente said. “We all have our strengths and we combine all of those strengths to make a good line.” Wente has been a part of a freshman class that has seen a lot of ice time. All four freshman skaters have tallied their first collegiate points. Goaltender Alex Gulstene has played in six games (4-1-1). Zumwinkle, Olivia Knowles and Emily Brown have all registered at least four points on the year. “The freshmen are getting more comfortable with the size and the strength of the game,” Frost said. “Taylor is one of our most intelligent players; she is getting used to the pace and how she has [to] move the puck and jump
into space.” Wente was a four-time All-State and All-Conference honoree in high school. In her senior season, she posted 53 points, including 26 goals in 26 games which made her a Ms. Hockey finalist in 2017. She, along with a few of her teammates on the Gophers, has two goal medals as a member of the U.S. Women’s Under-18 National Team. She came into her first season with the Gophers as preseason USA All-American. “[Wente] is a super hardworking forward and she has been doing a great job as a freshman adjusting to the center position; there is a lot more responsibility in the defensive end for a center in college,” Schammel said. “I think with figuring out the defensive end, it has helped her on the offensive end as well.”
EASTON GREEN, DAILY
Freshman forward Taylor Wente maneuvers behind the goal line at Ridder Arena on Oct. 29.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY PREVIEW
VS MINNESOTA 9-4-1 WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday 4 p.m.
ST. CLOUD STATE 2-10 WHERE: Ridder Arena SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
MEN’S HOCKEY
Using his chances: Rossini finds ways to leave impression with Minnesota The freshman nets an average of .50 goals per game in four appearances. BY DREW COVE dcove@mndaily.com
Sam Rossini came to the Gophers this year on a path similar to many others. He’s learned to play at the collegiate level day by day, and it is unclear whether he will see the ice this weekend as No. 7 Minnesota hosts No. 13 Harvard for the two teams’ first matchup in two years. Rossini has the second best shooting percentage on the Gophers and is averaging 0.50 goals per game as a freshman defenseman. “It’s a good feeling,”
Rossini said. “I’m not really known as a goal scorer, so when the goals come, it’s fun. It’s fun for everybody else because they’re not really expecting it.” Rossini has played in four of the Gophers’ 12 games this season, but he hasn’t played in both games of a weekend series. Compared to assistant captain Ryan Lindgren, who has played in each game this season, Rossini hasn’t been a mainstay of the Gophers’ defense as a freshman. Still, the two are on equal footing when it comes to scoring goals; both Lindgren and Rossini have two scores this season. “Everyone loves him,” Lindgren said. “You see him score a goal, and the whole
bench is just fired up and it’s real exciting.” Lindgren was on the ice for Rossini’s first goal, and said at first he didn’t know it was the freshman that scored it. Rossini was playing in his first collegiate game, scoring his first collegiate goal. As an added bonus, the goal came shorthanded against Penn State. Rossini has five shots,
good for a shooting percentage of .400, over .250 above the team average, and scoring an average of 0.50 goals per game in his four appearances, higher than any other player on the team. Defenseman Steve Johnson said it’s no surprise that Rossini has scored this season. Goals happen from getting to the puck to the net, and he had been doing a good
MEN’S HOCKEY PREVIEW
VS NO. 7 MINNESOTA WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday
NO. 13 HARVARD WHERE: 3M Arena at Mariucci SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
job of that. “The goals are a bonus,” said head coach Don Lucia. “I don’t think we expected him to lead our back end in goals at this point in the season.” Rossini has scored goals in his limited time, but that limited time can be hard to manage. With a defensive group that is historically made up of older players, Rossini has been the odd man out a few nights on defense. Lucia said he has been getting some playing time while running with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, with Rossini as the extra defenseman in a few cases. “You’ve just got to be ready every game,” Rossini said. “You don’t know if you’re going to be in, but as
long as you’re ready, you just do all you can when you’re out there, and try to make an impact.” The transition from juniors at a familiar stop for Minnesota players, the Waterloo Black Hawks, was a big one for Rossini, and he said his biggest takeaway was learning how to deal with adverse situations. While the defenseman may not play in every game and be in the routine of playing both nights of every weekend series, he has found a way to make an impact, and Lucia said that is a good step for the young defender. “We need him to defend,” Lucia said. “[We need him to] be a hard guy to play against, be [a] good penalty killer more than anything else.”
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Thursday, November 16, 2017
FOOTBALL
Richardson makes impact without stats
Steven Richardson heads home to play Northwestern on Saturday. BY DREW COVE dcove@mndaily.com
Defensive lineman Steven Richardson hasn’t showed his impact in his season stats, but his presence on the defensive line has opened gaps for other Minnesota rushers to come through. Richardson has just 18 total tackles this season and only 2.5 of them for a loss. Richardson and the Gophers face off against their second ranked opponent of the season Saturday, No. 23 Northwestern. Richardson has had to deal with his different role as the Chicago native goes up against the Wildcats. When the Minnesota defensive linemen is double teamed on the line of scrimmage, he doesn’t try to overpower both blockers at once. “[I’ve been] mainly focusing on one guy,” Richardson said. “Beat one guy, then the other guy doesn’t matter. It also works with having guys around you, I felt like the other [defensive] linemen have been helping me out.” He made an impact right away in his Gophers career, making 23 tackles and two sacks in 13 games in 2014. He had his most successful season in 2016 when he led the Gophers and the defense to a 9-4 record and a bowl
game win with 31 tackles in 13 games. Most notably, he had seven sacks for 46 yards that season. In 2017, Richardson doesn’t have as many tackles, and he has no sacks through 10 games. That hasn’t been for a lack of effort or overall effectiveness, though. “When people gameplan [the Gophers], watch how many times they doubleteam Steven Richardson,” said head coach P.J. Fleck. “It would probably be 90 percent of the time he’s got two people on him.” Fleck said that is justified, because Richardson is the best player on the team. When Fleck was at his previous stop, Western Michigan, his team was one of three to offer Richardson. Defensive coordinator Robb Smith feels the same as Fleck. Smith said Richardson never complained, and that he always does his job no matter who the opposing offense throws at him. Since his freshman season, Richardson has seen three different head coaches lead his team. Now under Fleck, Richardson’s role has changed, and he has become more vocal due to Fleck’s leadership style. “I’ve been talking a lot more. I know last year I didn’t really talk at all.” Richardson said. “[I’m] being a more vocal leader, I was more of a leader by example, [and] I’m still doing that but… having a voice in the room is definitely what I’ve been learning.”
ALEX TUTHILL-PREUS, DAILY
Gophers defensive lineman Steven Richardson navigates the field at TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 8, 2016.
The defensive line has been able to stop many opposing offenses short of a touchdown for the bulk of the season. Minnesota ranks fourth in the Big Ten in red zone defense. New addition to the defensive line, Carter Coughlin knows the respect that Richardson gets in the locker room. “He’s a ‘quiet giant,’” Coughlin said. “He’s one of
those guys that when he speaks up, everybody respects him. There’s guys that are always hooting and hollering, but when Steve talks and says something, you could hear a pin drop.” Richardson has been making an impact on and off the field, and after his team’s high-scoring victory this weekend, he heads home to play in Chicago one last time in college.
Richardson, an alumnus of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, will return to his hometown to face off against the Wildcats, and he will have a lot of familiar faces in the stands. H e s a id f a m il y a n d friends, even some elementary school teachers, will be in attendance to watch him play. Going back home, specifically a short trip north
of home in Evanston, Illinois, has another meaning for Richardson. T h e d e f e n s i ve l in eman was not offered by his hometown Big Ten team, and Richardson takes the playing approach as he does against every team. “You always have a chip on your shoulder — any team,” Richardson said. “It’s all about playing football now.”
WRESTLING
VOLLEYBALL
Lizak sets his mind on national title after stints of not competing
Pittman finds fast start in classroom and on court
Ethan Lizak lost in the finals a season ago and ranks No. 5 in his weight now.
Pittman is third on Minnesota in kills and is on academic honor roll.
BY OWEN MAGEAU omageau@mndaily.com
At the Scottrade center in St. Louis, Missouri, Division I wrestlers accomplished goals they’ve dreamed about so much, only Ethan Lizak didn’t have the storybook ending he wanted. The 125-pounder lost to Lehigh junior Darian Cruz in the 125-pound national championship on March 18. Fast forward to today, and the Gopher wrestler is No. 5 in the nation and ready to finish the job and win a national title. “I’m really motivated,” said Lizak. “Being that close just makes me work harder.” Lizak joined the Gophers for the 2014-15 season. He posted a 28-15 overall record with three pins, seven major decisions and four technical falls. The following year, Lizak was redshirted. He said he used that year to prepare himself for his future seasons. “I talked to the coaches and I kind of wanted to redshirt,” Lizak said. “I wanted to focus on getting a little bit of size on me. I was a little bit small my freshman year, so I was just focusing on hitting the weight room and getting a little bit bigger.” The following season, Lizak had to sit out once again, but for a different reason. He, along with three other wrestlers, served a suspension that prevented him from competing until Jan. 1 of that year. In an interview with the Minnesota Daily, Brandon Krone, another wrestler suspended at the same time, said the suspension stemmed from violating the school’s conduct code. Members of the team were allegedly involved in a drug ring prior to the wrestlers being suspended, but there has not been a connection cited between the suspensions and the allegations regarding the ring. A spokesperson for the wrestling team declined to comment on Lizak’s suspension, saying that answering questions about the subject wouldn’t benefit anyone in this story. For Lizak’s performance
BY OWEN MAGEAU omageau@mndaily.com
CHRIS DANG, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Sophomore Ethan Lizak takes on Nebraska’s Tim Lambeth at the Sports Pavilion on Friday, Jan. 20.
on the mat, sitting out paid off. He came back to competition and posted a 30-7 overall record. He became an NCAA finalist in the 125-pound weight class and had four pins, eight major decisions and 10 technical falls that year. Now, he looks to go further. “When I look at him as an athlete, I can see the problems that he can create for opponents, which is a real blessing and a positive thing for our program,” said head coach Brandon Eggum. “He’s really a difficult guy to compete against or have a game plan for, because when things go wrong it can result in a lot of points for Ethan or even a fall.” Since the night he lost the national title, Lizak has worked hard to prepare for this season. Among the things he has switched up are his attacking style and his diet. Eating healthier has made a difference for him already. He said he’s had more energy and felt quicker because of it. Lizak said he needs to be more aggressive on his feet and not let his opponents dictate the match.
The Gophers wrestling team had their first action of the season at the Daktronics Open in Brookings, South Dakota on Sunday, Nov. 5. Lizak won his weight class at the Daktronics Open in 2016 and he did it again this year with a solid performance. He won the championship match 16-0 in 2:28. “Overall, I think he had a really dominating performance when you look at it in terms of point scored,” Eggum said. A strong showing at the Daktronics Open was a good way for Lizak to get back into things. He said he has to build on the momentum as the season goes on and did just that this past Sunday, in the team’s home opening dual against Air Force. Lizak won a 5-2 decision at 125 and earned the Gophers three team points. “I’m trying to dominate every match and [am] ultimately looking for that national title,” said Lizak. Lizak is next in action when the Gophers wrestle South Dakota State in Brookings, South Dakota on Friday, Nov. 17.
WRESTLING PREVIEW
VS SOUTH DAKOTA STATE WHERE: Brookings, South Dakota
MINNESOTA WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
VS MINNESOTA WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday
OKLAHOMA STATE WHERE: Stillwater, Oklahoma SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
After redshirting as a freshman, Regan Pittman is a welcomed addition to the Gophers lineup this season. “[She’s] just really steady, really consistent and [contributes] lots of good offensive production,” said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. “I think there’s a lot of things that she’s done well, but just overall, I like the way she competes. She steps on the floor, and she plays to win every time, and it’s great to see that. The energy she provides is really important for us.” Pittman has produced her fair share of offense this year for Minnesota. She is currently third on the Gophers with 113 kills. She is also tied with Molly Lohman for first on the team in solo blocks with 10 and is third on the team with 39 total blocks. When thinking about why she has been so successful, Pittman gives a lot of credit to her teammates.
“It’s really awesome to have such good teammates who can really move the ball around,” Pittman said. “It also helps when you have other good players that the other team focuses on, so you get your opportunities to have your kills.” Pittman is glad to have redshirted in her first year at the University of Minnesota. She said that having time to focus on adjusting to college life and a college sport has really made a difference for her. “I really learned a lot from the team about being a good teammate, how Minnesota’s systems work, and the
dedication that it takes to be a Minnesota volleyball player,” Pittman said. “It definitely helped with academics and being on my own too.” The redshirt freshman has had a rewarding start to her career, both on the court and in the classroom, where she earned a place on the academic honor roll. If she continues to work hard, more positive results should be in her future. “In terms of her ceiling, I don’t know,” McCutcheon said. “I think she could be really good. I think her best has yet to come. She’s a freshman, so [we’ve] got a while to figure that out.”
VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
VS NORTHWESTERN WHERE: Evanston, Illinois
MINNESOTA WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
VS MINNESOTA WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
ILLINOIS WHERE: Champaign, Illinois SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
FILM
No rules apply in the Twin Cities Psychotronic Film Society “Welcome to my world. Wheelbarrows of chicken, broken projectors.” So begins our introduction to the Twin Cities chapter of the Psychotronic Film Society. Film u from Page 1
The group will serve 200 pounds of free fried chicken. There will also be a Thanksgiving feature of “Cannibal Holocaust” (complete with homemade beef jerky). The TCPFS often holds mystery screenings, and this event is no exception. “One of the things we’re going to show at the Movie Masochist Marathon is like a gay version of ‘The Room’ — as ridiculous, but more charming,” said Dan McNellie, TCPFS’ head programmer. TCPFS typically holds screenings at the Parkway Theater, but it’s been up for sale for about as long as they’ve been in business. When it’s finally bought, TCPFS doesn’t know whether they’ll still be able to show psychotronic cinema, but they aren’t too concerned about finding a new home just yet. “We’ll find a place. Parking lot, bathroom. Something. I’m not worried about it,” said McNellie. “Everything we do is DIY and totally out-of-pocket. We hope to make the money back, and everything we make goes to the next one.” They show movies like “The Dragon Lives
EASTON GREEN, DAILY
Moviegoers put on glasses before viewing the third Friday the 13th in 3D at the Parkway Theater on Friday, Nov. 10.
Again,” where Bruce Lee enters the underworld, befriends Popeye and battles Dracula. How did that even happen? “It was China. Seventies. Awesome,” McNellie said. Where does one find such bizarre cinema, anyway? “I’ve always been
attracted to the oddball films because they have a more interesting story than your standard movie,” McNellie said. “My parents would give me 10 bucks and say, ‘Go to the movies all day.’ So I would strategically plan with the newspaper to see everything that was playing … all the
garbage I saw was from then. That’s how I thought movies were — the really shitty ones. It’s more fun when there’s something a little off.” So trash film consists of movies that make no sense. But that’s the whole appeal. “ T h a t ’ s m y f a vo r i t e
part about trash films — since you have such a low budget, and you don’t have a studio over your back, there’s more flexibility with what you can do,” said Maddie Austin, the group’s graphic designer and the host of Girl Gang Night. “Like, ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ was made for
nothing. It was shot on a farm in the middle of nowhere. So was the original ‘Friday the 13th.’” Alongside Austin and McNellie, the heads of the group are Andrew Lahlum, Earl Luckes, the group’s projectionist who also runs Kung Fu Night, and Erling Stoehr, video editor and a Psychotronic co-founder. The group operates like the movies they show — on a DIY, haphazard basis. “Everything here is totally Frankensteined … it adds to the charm,” McNellie said. These movies require a sense of cinematic bravery, but the whole point of seeing trash film is to try something unusual. “Even if you’re not super interested in cult films, if you have any interest in movies at all, why not check it out? It’s probably not gonna be back here,” McNellie said. “We’re making shit up as we go. No rules. Just have fun with it. We’ll show whatever we want, for better or worse, I guess.” The Masochist Movie Marathon will include a sliding scale entry, collectors’ prize giveaways, free food from Raising Cane’s — all to raise money for Scares That Care, an organization that aids children with illnesses, burn victims and those with breast cancer. Why not check it out?
THEATER
The Walker and the Guthrie co-present ‘Leila’s Death’ The Lebanese theater performance honors the tradition of Shiite mourning through song, dance and storytelling. BY MADDY FOLSTEIN mfolstein@mndaily.com
I
n their 2017-2018 seasons, the Walker Art Center and the Guthrie Theater have collaborated to present a work of international performance art. On Saturday night, the first installment of the series, “Leila’s Death,” a work of Lebanese dance, theater and music, took over the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater. Choreographed by Ali Chahrour, the performance draws on the Shiite tradition of mourners, who are professional performers who sing and present poetry that represents the deceased at the funeral. “It brings a very specific cultural and religious happening to this community, and perhaps with the [audience] that might be a different experience to go through,” said Jeffrey Meanza, associate artistic director for the Guthrie. Though Chahrour was trained in theater and contemporary dance, he has moved beyond this training, combining it with musical and storytelling elements. “Ali’s work is a mix of different forms, almost to the point where you can’t call it theater and you can’t call it dance,” said Philip Bither, the Walker’s senior curator of performing arts. “It has a broader ability to move people and to look at traditions that are connected to death and dying.” The performance on Saturday was masterfully simple, despite minor technical problems that occasionally distracted from the impact of certain moments. Only four people set foot onstage, and the performers used minimal props and set pieces to support their movement. Two musicians, a drummer and a string instrumentalist, underscored the entire performance, filling the space without the support of a full
DOMINIQUE HOUCMANT GOLDO, COURTESY OF THE GUTHRIE THEATER
orchestra or band. This simplicity draws all attention to the vocal and physical work that is the focus of the performance. Leila Chahrour, who was a mourner, sings with a raw voice that sounded otherworldly — she encompassed layers of pain, grief and sorrow in each note. Ali Chahrour, who danced throughout the piece, combined rigidity and fluidity in his and Leila’s movement to convey the difficulties of mourning. Like the mourning process itself, “Leila’s Death” touches on something beyond words. By combining its different artistic forms (dance, music, theater and storytelling), the
performance grasps the raw emotions of healing after a loss. “It ends up feeling as if it’s almost a spiritual event with the audience — the audience is directly related to the action onstage,” Meanza said. In programming this collaborated season, both the Walker and the Guthrie were intentional in their decision to bring international work to their stages. “I think at a time when our political leaders are attempting to shut down borders … and limiting the flow of ideas and people and artists [who] are able to get into the country, it seemed really essential to do
everything we could to reflect the humanity, the complexity, the diversity of what artists are doing out of the Middle East… and other misunderstood populations,” Bither said. In the spring, the Walker will host the second installment in the collaborative series. Canadian theater artist Robert Lepage will bring his play “887,” an autobiographical exploration of LePage’s childhood in Quebec City, to Minneapolis. “He’s known for these elaborate, highly technical productions,” Bither said. “He really digs in, and it’s very much an identity piece about a culture that is not fully
recognized and empowered in a moment in time.” Presenting international works of experimental performance art may be challenging for one artistic organization alone. By combining forces, however, the Walker and the Guthrie are able to harness their production capabilities and audiences to make a more successful product. “I think it’s incredibly healthy for the ecosystem if organizations can get past ego and rigid structures… and bend enough to be able to make a successful thing happen by fusing staffs and boards and audiences,” Bither said.
“It brings a very specific cultural and religious happening to this community, and perhaps with the [audience] that might be a different experience to go through” JEFFREY MEANSA Associate artistic director for the Guthrie
6
Thursday, November 16, 2017
CULTURE TO CONSUME
MOVIES
Review: Ronan and Metcalf soar in ‘Lady Bird’
BY HALEY BENNETT
Watch this: “Mindhunter” Joe Penhall (screenwriter from “The Road”) gives us the newest Netflix Original fad in “Mindhunter.” Series director David Fincher takes us back to the long-form horror of 2007’s “Zodiac” in the four episodes he directs, and the other six weave seamlessly into his style. The show doesn’t chase thrills; it strolls toward them, which amplifies its spook factor. Its drama is measured in teaspoons instead of cupfuls, and its nuanced characters fit right into a sleek, fictional ‘70s world.
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut revives the hackneyed coming of age film and re-examines the complexities of mother-daughter relationships.
Listen to this: Sleigh Bells’ “Kid Kruschev” Dig St. Vincent? Kind of miss Avril Lavigne? Get into Sleigh Bells’ latest album, “Kid Kruschev.” ‘Tis always the season for soft metal with Courtney Love-ish vocals. If you need a starter track for this genredefiant band, start with “Crown On the Ground” from the 2010 album “Treats.” If you’re into that, continue onward.
Drink this: Lakes & Legends Brewing Company’s “Great Wit North” Usher in the winter winds with a classic Belgian ale. Grab snacks from the food trucks, which open at 5:30 p.m., or make a run for some pho at Lotus around the block, then hunker down with a group for Trivia Tuesday or family catch-up Friday.
CULTURE COMPASS
BY MADDY FOLSTEIN mfolstein@mndaily.com
BY HALEY BENNETT
ady Bird” contains the hallmarks of any classic teenage movie — homecoming dances, prom, first kisses, lost virginities, teachers and nagging parents. But what does “Lady Bird” have that its high school movie peers don’t? Greta Gerwig’s attention to detail and the film’s ensemble of natural actors. “Lady Bird” follows its title character, played by Saoirse Ronan, through her senior year of high school in 2002. She lives in Sacramento, in her words, “the Midwest of California,” and dreams of being on the East Coast where she thinks that writers and important people live. She argues incessantly with her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf), who is lovingly described as both “warm” and “scary.” Lady Bird stumbles through life, running for class president and trying out for the school musical and eating communion wafers with her best friend Julie (Beanie Feldstein). Gerwig avoids the generalizations of high school movies in favor of the well-crafted details that embellish Lady Bird’s Sacramento life. Every moment in the film is welldev ised a n d com p osed, from establishing shots of Sacramento landmarks, to Lady Bird’s stint in her low-budget high school theater department to her wealthy punk boyfriend who bemoans capitalism and smokes hand-rolled cigarettes. Lady Bird writes her college essay about Sacramento, and when her high school principal insists that the essay
Friday MN to Palestine: How to talk about colonialism at Thanksgiving Following social justice movements at college, but anxious about how to handle heated conversations around the turkey table? IfNotNow Twin Cities has a solution, or at least a script to follow. Their event focuses on the past legacy of colonialism, the current conflict between Israel and Palestine and offers a space to practice discussion.
Where United Nations of Indian Tribes, 1501 S. Avenue, Minneapolis Hours 7 P.M. Cost Free
Saturday Covenant: A Conspiracy of Strange Girls Annual Art Show A Conspiracy of Strange Girls is a Minneapolis-based collective dedicated to creating artwork and safe communities for women/trans/femme/ queer people. They’re raising funds for Puerto Rico in this combo art show and brewery extravaganza of an evening. They’ll also have bins for donating winter clothing, so bring the extra sweaters.
Where Modist Brewing Company, 505 N. 3rd St., Minneapolis Hours 7–11 P.M. Cost Free until the beer
Sunday Mother Goose’s Bedtime Stories presents: Cirque du so Goose Featuring music from local artists including Sass, who’ve just released a new EP, “Wet Paint,” and stand-up comedy from an “LGBT redneck” (among others), Sunday’s Cirque du so Goose promises an evening of mystery and bizarre performances.
Where Seward Cafe, 2129 E Franklin Ave., Minneapolis Hours 7:30 P.M.–12 A.M. Cost Suggested donation $5–$10
COURTESY OF A24.
Saoirse Ronan and Lucas Hedges in “Lady Bird”.
Greta Gerwig is careful to remind us that the motherdaughter relationship at the core of “Lady Bird” is clearly special but equally tenuous; Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are an unfair benchmark that Hollywood devises for us.
“L
Gerwig avoids the generalizations of high school movies in favor of the wellcrafted details that embellish Lady Bird’s Sacramento life
A&E EDITOR Gunthar Reising greising@mndaily.com
COURTESY OF A24.
radiates Lady Bird’s love for her hometown, Lady Bird says she just pays attention to the world around her. Her principal argues that loving something and paying attention to it are almost the same feeling. We feel the same att e n t i v e a f f e c t i o n f ro m Gerwig because of these details — she has clearly paid attention to the particular aesthetics and emotions of growing up. In its best moments, these details play like a high school highlights reel that points to the drama and successes and fail-
ure of senior year and dwindling adolescence. At times, however, this level of detail is impossibly hyper-focused — we don’t always see the mundanities of Lady Bird’s life outside of the rare sequence in a montage. We also seem to miss out on her leap from rebellious theater kid to careless popular kid, when she forgets about her best friend Julie and lies about her humble upbringing to her new friends. But maybe that unseen misstep is appropriate for Lady Bird; she has made an inauthentic decision. As Lady Bird
RADIO K TOP 7 1. BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE, Phantom of Aleppoville 2. KAMASI WASHINGTON, Desire 3. GREG GREASE, Migraine
figures out who she is, we are figuring out who she will become. Gerwig is careful to remind us that the motherdaughter relationship at the core of “Lady Bird” is clearly special but equally tenuous; Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are an unfair benchmark that Hollywood devises for us. This dynamic would be impossible without the skills of Metcalf and Ronan. T h e a c t r e s s e s s k i l lfully dart in and out of laughter and bickering like any real mother and daughter. Metcalf argues
with staccato precision as Ronan pontificates and dramatizes with disregard. Throughout the film, there is a slipping feeling of someone being right. Maybe we’re used to picking favorites, especially when watching a movie about a disgruntled t e e nager argu ing wit h her wise but nagging mother. But Gerwig avoids this by giving us glimpses into Marion’s perspective, not just Lady Bird’s carefree wandering through her senior year. The result is a balance between the two women, not a one-sided argument. We witness Marion’s work at the psychiatric hospital, her financial struggles, her challenges with her own mother and her balance of humor and criticism. Every thought in Marion’s mind is present on Metcalf’s face — we see her internal grappling with loving Lady Bird and saying goodbye to her. Instead of simply criticizing her anger towards Lady Bird, we are keenly aware of Marion’s personal frustrations and challenges. The almost perfectly composed “Lady Bird” reminds us of the trials of loving something or someone that is imperfect, and the pains of leaving those imperfections behind. We all have to say goodbye to our own Sacramentos and our own Marions; may those goodbyes be as earnest and loving as “Lady Bird.” Grade: A
4. COURTNEY BARNETT & KURT VILE, Untogether 5. COLD SPECKS, Void 6. CUT COPY, No Fixed Destination 7. DAIRYLAND, I Am a Person
Editorials & Opinions
7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
COLUMN
What mayor-elect Frey can do for the student housing crisis The mayor-elect should prioritize student housing as more students struggle to get by.
A
s a student who has worked full time, I can attest to the astronomical costs that are weighing on students. I’ve worked 40-hour weeks while juggling 18 credits, ELLEN SCHNEIDER and it has not begun columnist to cover the costs I’ve incurred. A weak economy combined with extreme shortages of affordable housing and the incredible costs of college attendance, not to mention the insufficiency of financial aid, has created an impossible situation. College students who struggle to find affordable housing are more likely to leave without a degree, according to Scholars Strategy Network. Economic downturns have intensified the need for financial
support, meanwhile this necessity has largely gone unacknowledged. According to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, there are nearly 58,000 college students nationwide who are homeless. The Minneapolis Community & Technological College estimates that 10 percent of its students are homeless. In 2014, CIRE Magazine reported that the University had the ability to house roughly 13 percent of the student body. Approximately 20 percent of students were able to commute, leaving a majority to fend for themselves in the housing market. Jacob Frey was announced as the next mayor of Minneapolis on Nov. 8 and ran on a claim that the city is amidst a housing crisis. His housing plan includes several components aimed at increasing availability of affordable housing. Frey’s proposal includes an increase in funding. The mayor-elect calls for the setting aside of a percentage of tax revenue for properties valued at $300,000 or more. He also proposes the creation of more housing, for those at 30 percent of the area median income. Frey wants an increased timeframe for which housing is required to remain affordable.
Although the proposed efforts highlight some issues that Minneapolis is facing, it overlooks a crucial segment of the population: students. Outgoing Mayor Betsy Hodges opted for a more conservative, less costly approach which mirrored the current housing plan. Hodges emphasized preservation of current units, instead of building new ones, while Raymond Dehn highlighted more of the issues that college students are facing. Because half of the Minneapolis population are renters, Dehn recognized that it should be a city priority to control costs. He intended to set maximum rates for annual increases, and means to penalize exploitative landlords. As giant leasing corporations continue to engulf huge parts of Dinkytown and jack-up prices, many students are left floundering. If Frey chooses to combat the economic hardships students are facing, his housing plan should incorporate some components of Dehn’s. Dehn outlined protections for renters that are essential to students leasing apartments. This issue was personified by the Prime Place debacle that was reported by the Minnesota Daily on Monday. Students are being forced to live in an unsafe and unfinished
environment because of corrupt landlords and poor regulatory compliance. As reported by the Daily in October, MSA will be releasing a list of abusive landlords to University students in November. This development is a small step towards enabling students to make educated and fair housing decisions. There are measures taken in places with high concentrations of college students that Frey should implement in Minneapolis, because this issue requires a response specific to students. Tacoma Community College in Washington created a Housing Assistance Program which provides rental assistance to students who are or may become homeless. A second approach to the crisis is providing assistance, similar to what Single Stop USA has done in New York. Single Stop is a nonprofit that aims to connect people with resources to find affordable housing, and pursue their educations. Implementing these types of programs, resources and regulations in Minneapolis would help to alleviate some of the economic and emotional stress. Ellen Schneider welcomes comments at eschneider@mndaily.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
EDITORIALS
Teamsters deser ve living wages and respect
Housing policy should emphasize affordability
For the past six months, the University of Minnesota administration has been “bargaining” with unionized workers for new contracts, asking workers to work under expired contracts until new agreements are settled. In actuality, this has meant hostile anti-union attitudes and disrespect from President Eric Kaler’s administration toward workers who do the hardest work for the least amount of pay at the University. These workers are members of AFSCME Locals 3800 and 3937 and Teamsters Local 320 and do the most important work at the University of Minnesota, from cooking and cleaning in the dorms, to building maintenance and snow clearing in the winter, to facilities and janitorial work, to clerical work preparing materials for academic departments and classes. The University works because they do, and they deserve more. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) stands in solidarity with University workers as they face off with a hostile anti-union University administration. Students will stand alongside and fight with workers in demanding raises and respect for AFSCME and Teamsters! On Thursday, Nov. 2, University Teamsters pushed forward the struggle for a fair contract with the University administration by authorizing a vote to strike, by a huge margin of 85 percent support. If Teamsters decide to strike for a fair contract, students will provide their full support. We know that all workers at the University deserve living wages and respect, and it is absolutely atrocious that Kaler, a man making over $600,000 a year, and his administration refuse to bargain in good faith with University workers, many of whom earn less than $15 an hour. While the Board of Regents and Kaler’s administration have passed 2 percent acrossthe-board raises for all employees at the University in their budgets, the administration is refusing to give unionized workers this already budgeted-for raise and instead is offering them virtually nothing in its place. This refusal to give workers what has already been budgeted for and disrespect of unionized workers is disgusting and unacceptable. In past contract campaigns, SDS has stood with workers, but this year it is particularly crucial that students show solidarity. In 2003 and 2007 when AFSCME 3800 went on strike, students occupied Morrill Hall and went on hunger strike in solidarity with University workers. In 1985, students from the University organized protests, boycotts and support for the Hormel P-9 workers on strike and just last year when nurses with MNA went on strike in the Twin Cities SDS went out to their picket lines to show support from the University. Students will support workers at University if they go on strike now, too! The reason this year has elevated importance is due to the rising tide of anti-union legislation around the country. Every year, more Republican legislatures pass antiunion “Right to Work” laws, attempting to defund and attack workers’ unions, with 28 states now having “Right to Work” laws on the books. Now, with a Trump Presidency, national “Right to Work” legislation is being pushed for in Congress and the Supreme Court is considering a decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case which would defund and attack public sector unions like AFSCME and Teamsters at the University. Workers deserve a fair contract now to ensure their jobs have security and a future for their families. Kaler’s administration needs to stop its antiunion bullying immediately and give workers at the University what they deserve: raises and respect. SDS and UMN students support workers and will fight alongside them for the dignity that they deserve! Join us in supporting AFSCME and Teamsters on the picket lines on Friday, Nov. 17, at 1:30 p.m. at Morrill Hall. This letter has been lightly edited for clarity and style. Matt Boynton is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of American Studies at the University of Minnesota and shared this letter on behalf of Students for a Democratic Society.
THE EDIT ORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPAR TMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEW SROOM
Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.
COLUMN
The University must shape the state’s technological future The U should require students to take a multidisciplinary class on the societal effects of technology.
T
he University of Minnesota has a unique educational monopoly on the state. Unlike states of similar size like Colorado, Oregon and South Carolina, the University is JONATHAN ABABIY the state’s sole highcolumnist activity research university. The school is our state’s heart, drawing in students for four years, then releasing them to nourish society. Our school provides the educators who will teach our children, farmers who will feed us and business people who will lead our commerce. This educational monopoly is remarkably strong in the field of computer science. No other school in the state compares to the University’s computer science program. It spent 78 times more on research and development in computer science in 2015 than the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the next-closest Minnesota school. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is creating Minnesota’s next technological class. I am sure that this Gopher-filled technology class will be highly skilled — the University has excellent rankings in computer science. I am worried, however, that while the University rushes to make highly skilled and adept computer coders, programmers and engineers, it forgets that it must educate its students.The University is training its students to learn all the coding languages they need to run the Target website in a couple of years, but it neglects to teach its students that their knowledge has power, which in itself carries implicit assumptions and ideologies about society. In essence, the University is only teaching its computer science students to tread water and stay afloat in our electronic society, not to swim or to go in a certain direction. This
CONTACT THE EDITOR Anant Naik anaik@mndaily.com
leaves a generation of students subject to the tumultuous currents of technology. I don’t mean that computer science students are merely sheep, but the University treats them as such by not giving them a well-rounded and much-deserved education that must combine professional skills and critical thinking. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering lists only one class, CSCI 3921W: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues in Computing, in its course catalog that discusses the role of computing and technology in society. The class isn’t recommended within the four-year plans of the BA or BS degrees, either. It should be mandatory for computer science students to take a humanities class about technology or a class like CSCI 3921. Perhaps it will not offer any skills that students can put on a resume, and that’s OK. The class should not tell students what to believe about technology — society already does. Instead, it should offer and teach ways of thinking that pierce through accepted social truths. Students may examine the facts and see that they like the role technology plays in our lives, or they may find that it’s going to destroy us all. The key is that students take the revolutionary action of confronting the silicon train. A proper University of Minnesota computer science education should make its students decide if more technology equals more progress. It is a question that demands our computing students to think about the power of their actions: who benefits when we speak of disruption, who loses out in technology? Essentially, computing students at the University must learn that they have and can make a choice about technology, without letting society decide for them. Their code will run our state. Perhaps this is naive, but I simply wish for our future technological class to be thoughtful. Our state needs socially conscious computer scientists, and the University of Minnesota, the premier educational institution in our state, has the power to create them. Jonathan Ababiy welcomes comments at jababiy@mndaily.com.
EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.
Recently, a private inspection of the new Prime Place Apartments building revealed serious fire safety violations that placed more than 100 University of Minnesota students in jeopardy. Additionally, the building appears to be poorly built on multiple accounts. Given that the City of Minneapolis granted a temporary certificate of occupancy, this shows clear and obvious oversight on behalf of the local government. The consequences of such negligence has put, and continues to put, students and the general population in danger. This is unacceptable under any circumstances: Prime Place Apartments and the City of Minneapolis need to be held accountable for this mistake. This should be handled without hesitation, for the sake of tenants, past, present and future. This has not been the first offense for Prime Place Apartments. The same sort of activity occurred in several other locations, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. This does not mean that Prime Place should not be able to build near campus in Prospect Park, however, why should the company gain the benefit of the doubt from the City of Minneapolis? Clearly, the city issued the order in good faith rather than by inspection, hence the fire-safety violations later found upon private investigation. Incompetence on every account is explicit. The City of Minneapolis should be looking for more trustworthy contractors and companies to build housing. Regardless of the company standing, there needs to be more supervision to make sure tenants are not being put in any risk. There is enough concern among the student body to find housing in the first place; it cannot fall on the shoulders of the prospective tenant to worry about their safety. This responsibility should fall squarely on the shoulders of the City of Minneapolis and the property owners. Affordable housing has been a major concern within the entire city, especially within the communities surrounding the University of Minnesota. With such a large influx of students looking for housing around campus, finding a place to live that is affordable may be difficult. We commend individuals, city officials and organizations who recognize and attempt to combat this issue in the neighborhoods surrounding the University. That being said, every effort to deliver affordable housing will be all for naught if the housing is not livable. There are several developmental initiatives and plans for areas surrounding the University of Minnesota campus. We support any initiative that aims at developing an area, however, we believe every plan should aim to benefit renters as well as the property owners. We as a community and the city government must be wary and protect against unfit and predatory developers, in order to protect renters and the reputation of good developers and property managers alike. This must be done on every level, especially in city or local government organizations. Clearly, there has been some incompetence handling the Prime Place Apartments failures and there needs to be change. Affordable housing needs to be addressed. Nevertheless, the fight for adequate housing does not stop with the approval for construction.
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Thursday, November 16, 2017
UMN rocketry wins Guinness World Record
COURTESY OF BAYER
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The University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Rutgers University competed as finalists in the competition, where participants were allowed to use up to 100 Alka-Seltzer tablets and unlimited amounts of water to launch their rockets. Northwestern’s team was disqualified for equipment failure, and Rutgers’ rocket reached an altitude of 62 feet. Kevin Schrader, a senior studying aerospace engineering, said the team had about three weeks to design and build the Alka-rocket. “I thought that was a blitz at the time, but then after we got accepted, we had about another two weeks to get the rocket competition-ready,” he
said. “That was the real time crunch.” The team’s young roster posed a challenge during the construction process. Schrader said there are about three upperclassmen, while the majority of the 17-person Alka-rocket team were freshmen. For example, the team had to dedicate its first meetings to covering rocketry basics instead of focusing on the specifics of the Alka-Rocket Challenge, he said. Andrew Van Gerpen, an aerospace engineering firstyear, said being a part of the team has helped him learn time management. “I never thought I’d be this busy in my first semester of college,” he said. “It’s taught me that sleep isn’t an option sometimes.” The three finalists gathered at Space Center
Houston to launch their rockets in front of a crowd of students, industry officials and Mae Jemison — the first African American female astronaut to travel in space — who served as one of the competition’s judges. “I expected to be shuttled out to a field in the middle of nowhere, and have two or three people watch us launch our rocket, but it was a big deal,” Schrader said. The team formed strong bonds after spending weeks together in the University’s rocket lab, which Van Gerpen said allowed members to learn from each other throughout the process. “[Winning] was very thrilling,” he said. “It was cool to see everything come together. The work definitely paid off in the end.”
COURTESY OF BAYER
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blame for this decreased participation in full-time MBA programs, said Phil Miller, assistant dean of MBA programs at the University. Tuition and fees for full-time MBA programs are typically around $60,000 a year, and students have to delay working while they participate in them, he said. Additionally, Miller said that due to a strong economy, students who might seek an MBA are less likely to leave their current jobs to get more education. “In a poor economy, students are more likely to leave stable jobs and go back to school to get higher levels of education, rather than wait
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student loans, as the father of a University of Minnesota student, I think speaks to why he was able to harness an energy. He has listened to youth and shown up for our issues,” Stangler said. In 2013, 6,206 ballots were cast in Ward 3, which encompasses Dinkytown, MarcyHolmes and other neighborhoods. On Nov. 7, that number was 9,878, an increase of more than 60 percent. Stangler credited the increased turnout to student groups and organizers, as well as having a candidate that advocated for them. Students for Ray was Dehn’s student group on campus. Members included students from Women for Political Change and University student government. Sonia Neculescu is the co-founder of Women for Political Change and
on a promotion or a better job,” Miller said. While the University of Minnesota’s full-time MBA program has maintained its size — in 2010 the program had 548 applicants and 565 in 2017 — the school has tried to adapt to the market by offering more specialized master’s programs. The school currently offers six specialized master’s programs in addition to its traditional full-time, parttime and executive MBA programs. The school’s master program in business analytics has seen a significant increase in interest over the past few years, Waldfogel said. “Even besides the national trends, these specialized master’s were created because we were anticipating what we thought the market would
want,” Miller said. To adapt to the changing market, Miller said the University has also focused on changing its traditional MBA programs. The school has attempted to enrich the MBA experience for residential students, like offering more interactive classroom time, more face time with instructors and more help in the classroom for students, he said. The hope, Miller said, is sustained admissions. The school has also tried to be innovative in offering more online components to courses so as to better accommodate students who work . “It’s a changing market and a changing environment,” Miller said. “We’re evolving and we’re adapting.”
was a campus co-director for Raymond Dehn for Minneapolis. “I do agree that a lot of the foundation of what happened in 2017 was built up over the years, especially by student activism through other groups,” Neculescu said. “But I think these campaigns really capitalized on that and just activated students who were already interested and engaged.” Along with Dehn, Neculescu also pointed out the work done by Ward 3 Minneapolis City Council candidates to engage students. Ward 2 also saw an increase in turnout in several precincts, despite not having a competitive city council race. Voter turnout increased by more than 12 percent from 2013 inWard 2’s fourth precinct, home to the Superblock freshman dorms. “Those are a lot of firstyear students who are probably voting for the first time, so that was really awesome to see,” Neculescu said.
Stangler said she is confident student engagement will continue beyond the election. She said Mayor-elect Jacob Frey will need to be held accountable for his campaign promises, including the issue of affordable housing in Dinkytown. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how young people continue to stay organized and hold elected leaders accountable,” she said. Dehn also hopes students stay engaged, not only with campaigning, but with crafting policies. He said he hopes more students will get involved at the state level. “I’d love to see more students at the Capitol talking about these issues. We know that when people come to the capitol, more legislators listen,” Dehn said. “Of course we have another election right around the corner in 2018, so hopefully this is an involvement we’re going to see going forward with students.”
9
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 16, 2017
HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (11/16): Take on personal passion projects this year (and next). Monitor finances for growth. Communication proves invaluable with career hurdles this winter, before domestic renewal flowers.
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 an 8 — Keep contributing to family financial growth. Hope bursts through again. A friend inspires you. Sell the dream you’re in. Get the team fed.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Today and tomorrow could get especially lucrative. Discuss a vision with someone who shares it. You can make it happen. Imagine the possibilities.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — Strengthen partnerships over the next few days. A lucrative idea is worth developing. You can get whatever you need. Dreams can come true.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 9 — Good fortune strides your way over the next few days. Get something you’ve always wanted. Realize a personal dream. New opportunity brings luck.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is an 8 — Do what you love, especially today and tomorrow. This benefits your health, vitality and the quality of your work. You’re gaining authority and prestige.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 6 — Rest; consider recent events. Results could seem magical today and tomorrow. Sit back and observe.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 7 — Reserve the next two days for fun, romance and family. Good things come to those who go for them. Dream a little dream of love.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 9 — Get into a two-day party phase. Connect socially, and discover the resources to make a shared dream come true.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Domestic dreams can come true. Things unfold naturally. Good fortune blesses your home and family for a few days. Feather your nest.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 9 — New opportunities abound, and a professional prize is within reach. Take charge, and go for it. You go further than expected.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — You’re especially brilliant. Study the latest developments. Write, record and express your message. Someone influential is impressed.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — Conditions are better for travel for the next few days. Gain an advantage from an insider’s tip. Explore and discover unimagined treasures.
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ACROSS 1 El Misti’s land 5 Want as a price 8 Debit card action 13 Shock jock Don 14 Invoice stamp 16 Schumer’s “Trainwreck” co-star 17 Attend 18 News provider in front of a camera 20 Takes too much, briefly 22 Field mouse 23 Head light 24 1993-2002 FordNissan minivan 28 Status symbol suit 29 Pull 30 Lion’s home 31 Squad 35 Cut corners 39 Subj. for many an au pair 40 Banish 42 __-wop 43 Best Picture Oscar nominee directed by Ava DuVernay 45 Little chirp 46 Big name in banking 47 __ de Triomphe 49 Musical works 51 Many a Poe work 57 MLB playoff event 58 Like webs 59 Bailed-out insurance co. 60 Half a boilermaker ... and what’s aptly hidden in 18-, 24, 40- and 51Across 63 Avian crop 66 Like Wrigley Field’s walls 67 Fraught with danger 68 Luke’s sister 69 Works behind, as a bar 70 List-ending letters 71 Reef dwellers DOWN 1 Many a JPEG file 2 Expressive rock genre
11/16/17
By Jason Chapnick and C.C. Burnikel
3 Means of spreading dirt? 4 Wheels with a history 5 On the mark 6 Shrewdly informed 7 Former name of the Mariinsky Ballet 8 “Shameless” network, briefly 9 Bellicose sort 10 Pet pendant 11 Comedy duo Key & __ 12 Computer warning 15 Sub station 19 Hide 21 One rising at dawn 24 Guys 25 Clear data from 26 Actress Wilson of “Sleepless in Seattle” 27 Without a clue 32 Clairvoyance letters 33 Put away the dishes? 34 Stooge with bangs 36 Contrarian’s reply
Wednesday’s PuzzleSolved Solved Last Issue’s Puzzle
©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
37 Econo Lodge, e.g. 38 Composure 40 Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Derek 41 Informed about 44 Color that isn’t an Earth tone? 46 Manicure concern 48 Twenties, say 50 Vardon Trophy org.
11/16/17
51 Order clothes 52 Advil alternative 53 Strand at a chalet, maybe 54 Apple tablet 55 Girl in “Calvin and Hobbes” 56 Like argon and krypton 61 Burnable media 62 TiVo button 64 Feel sick 65 “That __ close!”
SUDOKU
DR. DATE Dear Dr. Date,
I’ve been writing to you for months. I know that you are like, probably the most popular, most impressive and smartest advice columnist in the biz, but I’m running out of time for my question to be answered. I found out my boyfriend voted for Donald Trump. After all of the misogynist, racist and plain stupid stuff that Trump has said, I can’t believe my partner of seven years would ever vote for him. I’ve tried to talk him out of it, but I don’t think it’s going to work. It hurts me to know that he would suppor t such a candidate, and I feel like it is taking a toll on our relationship. I feel like I might need to break up with him if he follows through and votes for him. Am I being unreasonable?
—Presidential Problems
Dear Problems,
Studies have shown that 95 percent of all breakups occur during a presidential election year and the other 5 percent happen because Dave is a stupid, lying jerk. (Sorry about that. Still working through some things myself.) Voting for Trump may be a deal breaker for you, but I would urge you to do your best to make the relationship work. Many couples stay together for years, even though they have polar opposite political viewpoints. The world is a better place when we give people with opposing viewpoints an honest chance to tell their side. We don’t have to agree with them. There is nothing wrong with that. Maybe you will do this with your boyfriend, and it still won’t work out. That’s okay. Give him a chance, though.
—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. 11/16/2017
Last issue’s solution
© 2017 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
10
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Demand for peer tutors up in 2017
EASTON GREEN, DAILY
Tutor Noah DeSutter helps Sara Green at the SMART learning commons at Walter Library on Monday, Nov. 13.
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“Sometimes the professors make it extremely difficult to bring it down … to a student level understanding,” said tutor Noah DeSutter, who has been with the program since fall 2016. “I think as tutors, we kind of bridge that gap.” SMART hires 35 to 40 paid undergraduates each
semester who maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher. The 36 tutors on staff this year tutor for classes in which they received an A. Altogether, the tutors support more than 200 different classes. Brett Peterson, a chemical engineering junior, and Elsa Hauschildt, a mechanical engineering junior, said they both feel that peer tutors can explain subject matter in a more approachable way
than TAs or professors. “[Some professors] understand it too well, and they can’t dumb it down,” Hauschildt said. Peterson and Hauschildt used peer tutoring help with Physics I when they were freshmen. “I just felt like [peer tutors] had a better understanding about answering questions that we were given, because they can explain it on a level that we can understand,”
Peterson said. Forty percent of students who come for tutoring are second-semester freshmen or first-semester sophomores, Gray said. “I started pretty behind on math, so being able to come here and talk about calculus or … advanced math was really helpful,” said Joe Carlyon, undeclared sophomore and recent transfer student. More than 25 percent of tutoring services are devoted to Calculus I, the tutoring program’s most requested course. “I don’t have a lot of resources otherwise,” Carlyon said. “The U is really good about letting you know about these things.” Holly Williams, a senior in accounting and information management
systems, has been a tutor for math, economics and writing for two and a half years. Williams said she notices many students return for tutoring. “It’s great when people come to you and they… are really unsure of their material and then they walk away feeling like they learned something,” Williams said. Students can schedule one-on-one appointments with tutors in Magrath and Walter libraries, a new aspect of the program this fall that many think contributes to its increased traffic. This fall also marked the first time students could book one-on-one evening appointments between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. in Walter, an initiative
“Sometimes the professors make it extremely difficult to bring it down ... to a student level understanding. I think as tutors, we kind of bridge that gap ” NOAH DESUTTER peer tutor
in part supported by the Office of Undergraduate Education. So far this semester, the late-night sessions are usually booked two weeks in advance, Gray said. Despite the spike in traffic, many said they feel like there is a stigma surrounding tutoring on campus and nationwide. Gray said he has been long aware of the stigma about tutoring. “We’re conditioned when it’s okay to ask for help in certain areas, but when it comes to mental health, when it comes to academic success, for some reason we’re not willing to do that,” Gray said. He added he hopes barriers that keep students from entering the tutoring commons continue to break. “I love it when you see someone come in and they’re absolutely terrified because they have an exam,” DeSutter said. “When they finally get that ‘aha’... moment from understanding something, it’s really nice to be able to help them reach that point.”
MSA tries new format for mental health talks The discussion is the first “How Are You” open mic event this semester. BY MAX CHAO mchao@mndaily.com
On Tuesday night, around 20 students gathered to discuss mental health over coffee, donuts and coloring pages. The students gathered at the Whole Music Club in Coffman Memorial Union to share experiences and mental health strategies at an event hosted by the Minnesota Student Association’s health and wellness committee. The meeting was the first of its kind this year. “I want people to feel like they can talk about it. For me, I’ve always felt like I can’t really talk about my mental health unless it’s with my closest friends,” said Emily O’Connell, a University junior on the health and wellness committee who emceed the event. “A lot of people enjoyed having this space to be able to openly share things.” Discussions focused on self-care strategies and
p robl em s t hat p revent people from opening up about mental health. Attendees also talked about how home life and cultural identity can affect mental health. The meetings started during the 2015 fall semester as part of the “How Are You” campaign, an MSA initiative which aims to bring awareness to mental health issues on campus, said Leslie Kent, University sophomore and director of the health and wellness committee. According to a 2015 Boynton Health survey, 32.7 percent of students reported being diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point. MSA’s focus on mental illness changes with the campus climate, Kent said, and this year, the committee is focusing
on how the University’s environment affects mental health. The meeting was attended by MSA and nonMSA members alike. “I thought it was good... I think that it’s important that [students] know that there are places that you can talk about mental health,” said University first-year Andrew Torrance. Previous meetings involved an open mic where students could share original poems, songs and stories on stage, but this meeting was held in a discussion format to encourage participation, O’Connell said. In future sessions, MSA hopes to bring back open mic aspects to the meeting, she said, and a second meeting is planned for spring semester.
“I want people to feel like they can talk about it. For me, I’ve always felt like I can’t really talk about my mental health unless it’s with my closest friends.” EMILY O’CONNELL University junior on the health and wellness committee