3.10.21

HAMLINE UNIVERSITY | ST. PAUL, MN | 3.10.21 | VOL. 132 | NO. 14 | HAMLINEORACLE.COM

Planning for a trial of great tribulation With jury selection for Derek Chauvin’s trial in progess, Hamline has prepared a plan for supporting and securing the campus.

Anika Besst Senior Reporter abesst01@hamline.edu Jury selection began March 8, 2021for the Derek Chauvin trial. Hamline offices and departments are creating spaces, events and plans to ensure safety and support for the Hamline community during this time.

Hamline Public Safety (HPS), Dean of Students and other offices across Hamline have been working together to discuss plans for how best to navigate this time. They are looking at things with a three-pronged approach focused on education, communication and safety.

“Everything from communication to educating to locking down, so we are looking at a whole gamut of potential,” said Melinda Heikkinen, director of Public Safety.

Some of the events include a meeting educating the community about what a murder trial is about, how it works and

what both the defense and prosecution will be doing. They are also working toward creating spaces for students

experiencing anxiety or potential trauma, whether it be virtually, in person or both.

Heikkinen has also been working with institutions in the area so if anything does occur they can keep each other in the loop.

Most of the plans are not yet announced as details are still being finalized, but the Hamline community can expect to hear about them over the next few weeks. Sources like Inside Hamline or emails may be a way of announcing these events.

“I don’t really think there is a desire to do the programming prior to actually being in it, and I know there is angst in even just getting there,” said Dean of Students Patti Kersten.

see TRIAL page 3

PHOTOS | MOLLY LANDAETA, ORACLE TOP: A protestor holds up a sign reading “Justice for Floyd” at a march from the Minnesota State Capitol on May 31, 2020.

BOTTOM: Protests erupted in Minnesota and across the nation after the death of George Floyd.

Auf wiedersehen, German The German major and minor will no longer be offered at Hamline.

Kelly Holm Senior Reporter kholm02@hamline.edu Hamline’s mascot owes its name to the ancient German legend of the “Pied Piper of Hamelin,” and the university’s oldest overseas connection is with Germany’s University of Trier. Yet, come fall 2021, Pipers will no longer be able to declare a German major or minor, because the program is being phased out. “[During the 2016 program review, the modern languages faculty] argued for the continuation of our German program,” said Modern Languages and Literatures Department chair Shannon Cannella. “The recommendations that came back from the dean’s office… was that we sunset German, but no timeline was given.”

When only four students registered for Beginning German

in fall 2020, the dean’s office said that this was too small a number to merit a class, so Beginning German was canceled.

Though Cannella and her colleagues had thought that they could wait until 2021-22 to start the sunsetting process, they realized they would need to begin phasing German out a year earlier than planned.

“As long as the students enrolled in our courses, we kept offering the courses, and the courses kept getting approved… even though every semester there was a discussion, do we have enough students to continue,” Cannella said. “[The cancellation of the Beginning German class] meant that the whole program is going to begin that phase-out this year, rather than continuing Beginning German with only four students and helping it limp along for one more year.”

see GERMAN page 2

One step forward, two steps back in provost search With Associate Provost Jill Bryant returning to academia in the summer, the university awaits recommendations from the president’s committee before making final decisions on a hiring call.

Jack Fischer News Reporter jfischer12@hamline.edu Associate Provost Jill Bryant, who has been serving as the acting provost for Hamline since this Summer, has announced her plans to return to the world of academia at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She plans to serve through the end of this academic term, with no official last day yet. “It’s my love,” Bryant said about teaching. At Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Bryant will return to teaching upper-level business courses on business ethics, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions.

Her decision to return to teaching intensifies pressure on President Fayneese Miller’s administration to determine what to do with the Office of the Provost. Bryant has been serving as the acting provost since this summer when the previous provost was asked to step down. Miller has intentionally moved not to hire a new provost for the time being for a couple of strategic reasons: to engage in a review of the office and create space for community dialogue, and because the search process for a highranking university job is expensive.

see PROVOST page 4 To learn about the rescinded city council ordinance, see page 3 For information on Hamline’s new engagement platform, Presence, see page 4

2 News

EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION Editor-in-Chief Carmen Danz Managing Editor Molly Landaeta News Editor Audra Grigus Business Manager Elizabeth Lowe Ad Manager Julien Halabi Design Editor Melanie Hopkins Social Media Director Ella Smith Web Editor Aidan Stromdahl Opinion Editor Mien Le Sports Editor Cathryn Salis A&E Editor Olivia Koski Variety Editor Andrea Lindner

German (continued from front)

The German major and minor are currently taught entirely by adjuncts, which has been the case since 2016. 2019 graduate Hannah Coleman-Zaitzeff, who minored in German, praised the adjunct faculty she learned under but said that the lack of authority given to them by the university constrained her studies in many ways.

“My adjuncts were barred from [teaching multiple] classes, leading independent studies or putting in place new and exciting opportunities on campus for us,” Coleman-Zaitzeff said. “I was able to take an independent study under an adjunct faculty, which took a lot of arguing to get approved in the first place, but soon following, [Modern Languages faculty] pointed to ACTC as the only way to achieve my degree.”

Coleman-Zaitzeff initially planned to major in German, and in fact chose Hamline partially for the German program, but the program’s small size meant classes often conflicted with her double major in another small department. She attempted to fulfill the major through the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC), a consortium of private liberal arts colleges in the Twin Cities that provide students the opportunity to cross-register for courses not available at their own institution. But Coleman-Zaitzeff had to drop the course due to unreliable transportation after the discontinuation of transit between ACTC institutions.

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

“I would not have chosen Hamline University if someone was upfront with me about the status of the German program. I believe the language department is great, but the administration is actively killing them.”

Hannah Coleman-Zaitzeff Graduate of 2019

“I would not have chosen Hamline University if someone was upfront with me about the status of the German program,” ColemanZaitzeff said. “I believe the language department is great, but the administration is actively killing them.”

Cannella asserted that the Modern Languages and Literatures Department is committed to providing courses to current German majors and minors until they graduate, and said that future Pipers will have the option of a Flex Curriculum major with ACTC courses if they wish to study German. Introductory-level German courses may still be held if student interest is sufficient.

“We’re planning on offering Beginning German I in the fall,” said adjunct German professor Habiba Hadziavdic. “[Students should] register as soon as possible and in doing so, show their interest and intent.”

Copy Editors Eliza Hagstrom, Lydia Meier Illustrator Leo Coughenour Senior Reporters Kelly Holm, Anika Besst, Robin Doyscher Reporters Nicole Ronchetti, Sarah Sawyer, Ethan Hermann, Jilly Wortman, Leslie Perez, Jack Fischer, Z Martinez, Leslie Perez, Lyla Lee, Kathryn Robinson, Hayden Hayes Senior Columnists Emily Brown, Will Nelson Columnists Hafsa Ahmed, Andrew P Weston, SJ Welch Senior Photographers Melanie Hopkins, Antonio Risso Photographers Emily Lall, Cait Quinn, Aidan Stromdahl, Dasiyah Franklin-Carter Distributor Robin Doyscher Advisers David Hudson, Trevor Maine

POLICIES

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ILLUSTRATION | LEO COUGHENOUR, ORACLE

News 3

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

City council rescinds protest reform ordinance In preparation for Derek Chauvin’s trial in Minneapolis, the Saint Paul City Council proposed and subsequently killed a new protest reform city ordinance that many are calling an infringement of free speech and assembly.

Jack Fischer News Reporter jfischer12@hamline.edu The murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is expected to begin by the end of the month, with jury selection having begun on Monday, March 8. The Twin Cities are anxiously waiting, and the Saint Paul City Council proposed a new city ordinance aimed at curbing violence during protests.

The new city ordinance, originally sponsored by City Council President Amy Brendmoen (Ward 5) would require gatherings of over 5 people to apply for a permit to assemble, and ban protestors from carrying shields, glass bottles, balloons and other objects that could potentially be used as weapons.

City Ordinance 21-6 would redefine a “public assembly” as a gathering of five or more individuals. The current law requires gatherings of over 24 individuals to apply for a permit.

This action comes soberingly close to Chauvin’s trial.

As the Twin Cities remember not too long ago, following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who

died in Chauvin’s custody, the Twin Cities erupted into protests and mass mobilization was sparked across the United States and world. While most of these protests remained peaceful, some devolved into violence and rioting. In Saint Paul, 170 businesses were damaged or looted, with large fires breaking out along Snelling and University avenues. The rioting caused over $500 million in arson and property damage to approximately 1,500 businesses across the Twin Cities metro area, according to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The proposed ordinance prompted immediate backlash from community groups and citizens alike.

Groups criticized this measure as an infringement of the First Amendment, the right to free speech and protest.

The ordinance would impose new restrictions on what protesters can carry or have on them in a protest, even what kinds of materials protest signs can be made of.

Root & Restore St. Paul, a citywide activist group dedicated to police accountability, racial justice and community safety, was a leading group that sounded the alarm on the negative impacts of Ordinance 21-6.

“This ordinance greatly expands police officers’ discretionary power against protesters,” Root & Restore St. Paul wrote in a call to action. “It would also prohibit protesters from practicing community or self-defense but allows police wide latitude in use of force and intimidation tactics.”

The group reminds community members about the graphic use of force of police against protesters this summer. Amid the mass mobilization of the Black Lives Matter movement to demand justice and accountability, police in Minneapolis arrested a CNN news crew while

Trial (continued from front)

The Rev. Nancy Victorin-Vangerud, chaplain and director of the Wesley Center, has also been in communication about possible ways of support for the Hamline community.

“My interest is in how we can all be grounded in our spiritual rootedness to be a positive force for change in our community, and throughout the trial and aftermath, no matter what occurs,” Victorin-Vangerud said.

Academic departments such as Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Legal Studies are planning on incorporating the trial into their classroom material and discussions. Two examples include David Schultz’s Criminal Law and Practice, which covers the statutory basis for charges, and Maria Kamenska’s Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice, which will look at the case and the use of force.

“We are very invested in discussing the case in our classes,” said Shelly Schaefer, associate professor and chair of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science. “In fact, a former member of the [Minneapolis Police Department] is teaching our intro class and she was recently featured in a documentary showcasing the problematic culture of MPD.” For any emergency precautions that may need to be taken, Public Safety will be using the Hamline Alert system. This allows Public Safety to send a message that students, faculty and staff will receive within about a minute. Heikkinen reminds everyone to set up and update their account.

“It is easier to back off our preparations than it is to get them in place rapidly. So we want to be prepared for the absolute worst. And that could be a complete lockdown of the campus, it could be an evacuation of the campus,” Heikkinen said. “Based on what I see at this point, I don’t anticipate an evacuation of the campus, but we could potentially have to lock it down if things created danger for students, faculty and staff to move around. But yes, we are definitely planning for the worst in hopes that we never actually put any of those things into play.”

on-air broadcasting to the nation. Officers deployed pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters. These tactics are considered “less than lethal” but an officer this summer shot photojournalist Linda Tirado with a rubber bullet in the eye. Tirado is now permanently blind in her left eye. With this ordinance, officers would still be given a wide range of permissible force against protesters, while banning shields and prohibiting protesters’ self defense.

With the ordinance moving to ban protesters from carrying balloons, bottles and “water guns filled with flammables,” it does not speak to restricting protestors from carrying firearms. Firearms are regulated by the State of Minnesota, and those laws would preempt any move the City Council makes in restricting them, according to city attorney’s office officials.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota issued a statement saying the ordinance was “overly broad, unnecessary and especially dangerous for Black, Brown and Indigenous communities who are already disproportionately harmed by criminalization, overpolicing and police harassment.”

Amid growing criticism and planned rallies against the proposal, Brendmoen announced she will withdraw the proposed ordinance.

“We will be recommending that [the St. Paul Police Department] and the city attorney office work with our many communities in Saint Paul to navigate the concerns and consider recommended changes we have received from all of you,” Brendmoen wrote on Facebook. “New language can return to council for consideration once that process is complete.”

Correction

On 3/3, the Oracle ran the opinion piece “Are human rights going out of style?” The article should have stated “the death of George Floyd” and that Derek Chauvin is “the former police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck.”

HPS is looking more toward the end of the trial when a verdict is announced, though they are prepared with safety and communication measures throughout the entirety of the trial process. As of 7:08 p.m. on March 5, the jury selection was still scheduled to begin March 8.

One junior said whether they protest depends on how things are looking when the time comes.

“The Minnesota state senate introduced a bill that would bar any organizations from paying bail of any felony set at 2000$ or higher,” wrote junior Eyob Neda. “The bill hasn’t been passed yet as far as I know, but it goes to show how far the problem really goes if people can’t exercise their right to protest with things like this standing in their way.”

As for COVID-19, Heikkinen and Kersten ask for masks and social distancing as much as possible and to take care of one another.

“The other thing I would add is taking care of each other,” Kersten said. “It is probably safer going with someone else than by yourself. It is a good idea to let people know where you are and when you are going to be back and if not, how you should be able to check-in.”

To create or update your Hamline Alert account: https://hamlineuniversity. bbcportal.com/

4 News

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

A calming “Presence” for students The campus engagement platform Presence launches at Hamline.

Kelly Holm Senior Reporter kholm02@hamline.edu In previous times, when leaders of a student organization wanted to update information about their group, they would often have to turn to outside sources to edit the student organization directory. Now, with the launch of the campus engagement platform Presence at Hamline, student orgs will be able to update their own online profiles and pages, and independently market their events. “[Presence] is meant to provide college students with a one-stop shop for events, activities and involvement opportunities,” said Patrick Haught, assistant director of Student Activities and Leadership Development.

“It’s not a conferencing or a messaging platform, it’s a

dashboard for students. It’s an event calendar, a student organization directory and sort of a form library. It’s like Canvas, but for student life.”

Ever since Haught was hired at Hamline two years ago, he had been working on negotiating a contract between Presence and the university. Having launched it during his previous position at the U of M, he felt that it was a beneficial program for increasing the accessibility of campus involvement to students.

While going through the interview process at Hamline, Haught sensed that students wanted more control over the maintenance of their orgs’ online presence — something that he feels is especially relevant during COVID-19.

“When you’re on campus, usually you’re seeing posters and you’re seeing tabling and you’re inundated with promotion of things,” Haught said. “This school year, [Presence] has been especially helpful, because it really allows for a kind of promotion of virtual events and opportunities. For students that are [attending Hamline]

from home, it gives them a one-stop shop.”

Recently, Haught directed two training sessions regarding the ins and outs of Presence, which he said were attended by about three dozen student org leaders, including sophomore Ryan Geiss, the vice president of Spectrum.

“We plan to use [Presence] as another way to get our event information out to our community,” Geiss said. “It will be one place where someone can simply quick-scan our page and see all of our upcoming events.”

A yet-to-be-implemented feature of Presence that Haught hopes to launch in the near future? Card-swiping.

“Groups that create events in Presence can swipe people’s cards at the event, and it’ll track how many people were there and who the attendees were, so that organizations can send out surveys,” Haught said.

If students have questions regarding Presence, Haught can be reached at phaught01@hamline.edu.

Provost (continued from front)

When universities perform a search for high-ranking positions, they hire an external search firm to conduct a nationwide recruitment. External search firms are expensive.

“It’s about at least $125,000, and the search firm charges you not just a fee to conduct the search, but also a portion of that person’s salary,” Miller said. “[It’s] one of the reasons why I decided to delay moving forward.”

Colleges and universities nationwide have faced intense economic fallout due to the pandemic. Hamline is no exception — enrollment for this year has been stunted, a tuition deficit that will follow the university for at least four years.

Miller also said she was hesitant to conduct a search because of the potential impacts of the pandemic on the applicant pool.

For the remainder of the academic year and her term as acting provost, Bryant is focusing on creating a Strategic Enrollment Plan for the university.

“We’ve been engaged in understanding our retention numbers, making sure leadership has access to tools to understand where we are now, and what retention looks like,” Bryant said.

One of the biggest challenges to retention right now is the cost of attendance and tuition increases, according to Bryant. The strategic enrollment plan is a tool to help leadership understand how and why students leave the university, and to investigate what resources are available to deter them from leaving pre-graduation.

Miller has formed a committee of faculty, staff and students to start a dialogue about the Office of the Provost. “[The] purpose of that committee is not only to serve as a search committee but to also review the office. And to find out what does Hamline need, and what do we need a provost to do,” Miller said.

She will wait for their recommendations before making a final decision on the office or performing a search. The last time the university hired an independent search firm was to hire Miller as university president.

SCREENSHOT | LYDIA MEIER, ORACLE Bryant said the university does not necessarily need to hire a search firm to facilitate that hiring. Although it would provide a wider pool of applicants, she notes the previous provost, John Matachek, was hired from Hamline’s existing faculty. He previously and currently works in Hamline’s Chemistry Department.

The President’s Committee is expected to meet in the coming month, and will be chaired by Professor Sam Imbo. Senior Lecturer Nancy Webber and professors Binnur Ozkececi-Taner, Serena King, Joe Lewis, David Berg and Rebecca Neal will also serve on the committee.

Steve Anderson from Student Affairs and Morgan Henderson from Advancement will serve alongside HUSC President Kaia Zeigler and VP Cecelia Miller, the student representatives on the committee. Assistant Provost Caroline Hilk and VP for Inclusive Excellence David Everett will serve as committee liaisons, and Amanda Roll-Khune from the Provost’s office will sit on as staff support.

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

Puzzle 5

CROSSWORD | LEO COUGHENOUR, ORACLE

6 Variety

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

Hamline’s very own local artist Sophie Warrick is a local artist and student whose passion for art was ignited in her first year at Hamline.

Z Martinez Reporter aremmersmartinez01@hamline.edu Senior Sophie Warrick is a generalist artist whose art branches into various categories including photography, sound design, jewelry and zines. Her biggest motivation to get to know her creative side was her enjoyment of meeting new people. Warrick soon learned that through her art, she had the ability to get to know more and more people. She has also done numerous, frequent collaborations with others.

“It’s a great way to meet people and create art together and just learn more about the world,” Warrick said.

Warrick recalled that during her first year at Hamline, she collaborated with a friend of hers on a photoshoot that involved projecting shapes and other images onto people’s bodies. Through this project, they wanted to portray people’s understanding of themselves, if they are shaped by those around them or if they are shaped by their own opinions and ideas. She expressed that

PHOTO | COURTESY OF SOPHIE WARRICK Warrick enjoys making art related to social justice. This piece is titled “There is No Gold Star for Unlearning” and looks at how ideas of success are rooted in white supremacy. this project was the first one she could remember being really proud of.

Though she was very content with photoshoots, she felt driven to expand.

Warrick became drawn to other types of art and revealed that her partner, Cedar Thomas, really helped prompt her into new adventures in the world of art.

“They’ve just really opened my eyes,” Warrick said. “Like I don’t necessarily need to be really good at anything, but if it’s something I enjoy doing like that’s going to show.”

Warr ick has two Instagram accounts, one is a personal account, though she explained that a lot of her art is posted there since her art is both personal and meant to be shared. She does a lot of art sales through this account with Thomas, including items such as earrings and prints. Warrick’s other account is mainly photography and it is where most of her clients come from. Now due to COVID-19, Warrick is getting more orders as more people are opting for shopping online.

Art is meant to be very expressive

and is usually guided by emotion.

Warrick mentioned a piece of work that involved a poem being guided merely by emotion. Without any changes done to it, she posted it on Instagram and it has since then become one of her most liked posts.

“It ended up being my most authentic self,” Warrick said. “Because no one else gave input.”

Below are both of Warrick’s Instagram accounts as well as Thomas’ Instagram account: @sophwarrick @sophs.snapshots @cedarsthomas

PHOTO | COURTESY OF SOPHIE WARRICK Warrick also makes zines. This zine can be read on sophiewarrick.com

Dance marathon goes virtual Festival for the Kids will be held virtually for the first time.

Leslie Perez Reporter lfarreraperez01@hamline.edu Hamline University Dance Marathon (HUDM) is an organization on campus that works toward raising money for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in Saint Paul. They donate all of their proceeds to support children with complex conditions, traumatic injuries and rare disorders. They normally have a large event at the end of the school year called Festival for the Kids.

However, because of COVID-19, the event this year will be virtual.

Vice President of HUDM Eva Silberman is a part of the team composing this year’s Festival for the Kids. Despite having to move the event to an online format during these times, HUDM still plans on hosting an event that will be a great experience for viewers and the miracle families involved.

“We have some special guests coming in, and we have some things planned for the kids because the

hours can be pretty tough. So we cut it down to three hours.”

Before COVID-19, HUDM would have a lot of in-person events throughout the year. This year, they had to adjust to the circumstances.

Silberman is confident that although this year’s event cannot provide all activities previous years did, this year will still be worthwhile.

“We would have Jump for Gillette, which was a huge bouncy house, and we’d have jump rope, and we’d have PHOTO | COURTESY OF ZACH DICKMEYER all these fun, active events to launch the announcement of our fundraising Last year, HUDM raised over $10,000 time. In the past, Festival for the Kids for Gilette. This year, due to COVID-19, the large celebration is going to be held would be a six-hour-long event that would be in Anderson in the big forum. online.

We would have a DJ, there’d be food, miracle families will be at this event. catering, t-shirts and photo booths,” It’s going to be interactive, so people Silberman said. “It was normally a very can still feel like they’re getting up and big event. We’re trying to capture all moving because it is supposed to be a of that energy from prior years and dance marathon. So we’re going to try to putting it towards our virtual event. incorporate dance and getting up and We’re expecting that it will be just as moving as much as we can,” Silberman good, just different.” said. “The event will look virtually the Silberman feels Festival for the same, except it’s online. We’re going Kids provides a sense of hope and an to be doing fundraising hours and impactful experience. She encourages face painting, and there’s going to be people to get involved. goodies, prizes and candy. And we’ve “There’s hope in humanity and shortened it because we understand in our community. The Hamline that sitting in front of a screen for six community really rallies together

to support dance marathon and to support Gillette’s children’s specialty.”

Silberman said. “It fills my heart with happiness seeing little kids smile when they see all these college kids come hang out with them for a day. I think just seeing the kids’ happiness has been the biggest impact; seeing how my actions affect people has been a huge impact. And if people are looking for somewhere to get that feeling, come to dance marathon, because you will get all the happiness and joy that you need there.”

To support HUDM and learn more, you can follow them on Instagram @hamlinedm and visit tinyurl.com/ u5skxjye to donate and register to support children affiliated with Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. Festival for the Kids will be held on April 9 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“If you haven’t yet, register, donate, get your friends to register. Hook your computer up to your TV and watch the event with us and enjoy and help us raise money for the kids,” Silberman said.

Variety 7

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

The need for food, fuel and friends “How’s spring semester going for you?” “Hungry, in need of caffeine and trying to decide whether or not to do my homework.”

Hayden Hayes Reporter hhayes01@hamline.edu Almost half of spring semester has flown by while the need for caffeine and grub has only become increasingly necessary. Though Anderson Starbucks will always have a special place in the hearts of all Piper students and faculty across campus, it gets a little tiresome.

But when one needs their caffeine fix, traveling super far out is not in the cards. So, here is a local place to try when those “starbies pink drinks” are just not hitting the spot anymore.

Groundswell is a cafe, coffee bar and in-house bakery nestled into the Hamline Midway community. So, what is so cool about just another cafe? Groundswell’s whole mentality is to bring people together through their food, drinks and overall service.

When Groundswell opened its doors in 2009, as just an espresso machine manned by volunteers, it was a place where neighborhood friends could

converse and have a safe space away from home. Now in 2021, they are a full service bakery, kitchen and cafe.

Over the past year, we have seen a lot of division in our country. Life has changed greatly and experiences we thought were going to be one way, turned in a completely different direction.

First-year Samuel Hawton said, “This is not how I imagined my first year at university going.” It is hard to come together when we need to physically be apart. Hawton said, “It’s hard when there is something going on socially,

politically and environmentally to even leave the house.” First-years, seniors and everyone in between are feeling the blows of isolation and a crazy climate. Along with all of the things going on under the lens of social justice, finding a community in this time of chaos is a must. So it is encouraged to find places like Groundswell in your local community and find ways of appropriate interaction that can get the brain engaged while keeping the body safe and healthy.

Groundswell advertises their values of simplicity, culinary art, humility, fun,

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE Any coffee lover will love Groundswell’s variety of drink selections, including house-brewed coffee, cappuccino and lattés with a special lavender option.

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE Groundswell has lots of dietary options including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free bakery and food options.

attention to detail and relationships because they have recognized that it is the time for values such as those.

The end of the school year is coming faster than one would think.. Go get some fuel for the brain and for the soul. Groundswell has things for the herbivores, the carnivores, the coffee drinkers,the tea drinkers or even just some lemonade. Whatever you need, they got it. Get out, get local and stay well.

A virtual women’s leadership retreat

different than in past years. According to the Hamline website, the retreat “is a weekend outing designed to promote social consciousness, self-awareness and leadership skills in emerging and established student leaders.” Attendees can expect a similar experience this year as the leaders of the retreat are trying hard to create an enriching experience for those who attend.

Kathryn Robinson Sophomore Ubah Omar and Reporter junior Raina Meyer are the leadership krobinson12@hamline.edu coordinators helping to plan this year’s Like many things these p a s t retreat. They describe a normal year 12 months, the Women’s as a full weekend experience, where Leadership retreat will students go to a camp or retreat look a bit center outside of the Twin Cities and participate in bonding and leadership activities.

“This year we are trying to preserve a lot of the same elements you’d expect in a non-COVID environment,” Meyer said.

Typically students participate in many activities. Because of COVID19, guest speakers will talk about different topics in a virtual setting since it is not possible to have face to face activities.

“We will have guest speakers, small groups and larger groups filled with activities,” Omar said.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER These groups will be

Although the Women’s Leadership Retreat is being held virtually this year, attendees can still expect an enriching experience.

conducted via breakout rooms. to find friends and others to relate “We are curating leadership and talk to about serious issues. The activities based on the applications Women’s Leadership Retreat is for of attendees, inviting speakers and those who are interested in these kinds more,” said Meyer. of topics and interactions.

The speakers will discuss a broad “If you are feeling a bit lost and like range of topics, all of which will you want to broaden your horizons and correspond to the interests of those social circle, the Women’s Leadership who applied.

Retreat could be perfect for you,” “We will have speakers talk about Meyer said. different topics like self-care, women The Women’s Leadership Retreat in politics and more to make it as will take place on March 20 from 10 engaging as it can be,” Omar said. a.m. to 3 p.m. The application window Many online events can be boring has closed for this year, but any woman and unfulfilling. Meyer and Omar have or non-binary student is invited to been working hard to make this event apply in future years. as interactive as possible. Applicants can expect an enriching event where they will be able to work and talk with others about topics that they may be struggling with or topics they want to learn more about.

“The retreat will help students connect with each other and discover how they can make a difference with their unique backgrounds and experiences,” Meyer said. “Applicants can expect to experience a retreat that makes them feel empowered and connected to others even in a remote setting. We are working really hard to make this experience as interactive as possible.”

In times of isolation, it can be hard ILLUSTRATION | ANDREA LINDNER, ORACLE

8 Opinion

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

Why Millennials are so pressed over Gen Z

Robin Doyscher Guest Columnist sdoyscher01@hamline.edu

Many Millennial social media users cannot seem to accept the taunting by Gen Z-ers.

L ATELY , THERE ’ S BEEN a bit of a social media feud. A battle of the generations, if you will. I figured I’d write a lighthearted examination of this silly trend that is somehow gathering the ire of many online Millenials.

There have been a few viral tweets, including a recent one with over three-hundred thousand likes, that have been screenshotting TikTok comments made by members of Gen Z ridiculing Millennial stereotypes.

Mostly it’s poking fun at such trends like “adulting,” Buzzfeed quizzes, skinny jeans and the fascination with Harry Potter houses. And apparently, it seems that a lot of these Millennials took this very seriously and personally.

I don’t often go on TikTok.

Usually once per week for maybe about 10 or so minutes. But these last few weeks I have been glued to this ridiculous app as I’ve watched too many “diss tracks” aimed at Gen Z, and all of them have awakened within me a very visceral second-hand embarrassment. Hearing fullygrown adults freestyle rapping and recreating show tunes to defend their intense love of skinny jeans, Eminem and animal emojis is both unbelievably hilarious and morbidly fascinating to me.

I think perhaps the most hilarious aspect to me is the actual age discrepancy between the two

“The reason why this is such a big deal to many Millennials is that they’ve had a death grip on the cultural climate of our modern day for so long.” groups. I say this is Millennials versus Generation Z, but this is more like very angry 30-year-old Glee superfans versus dancing 14-year-olds who just aren’t as into Chrissy Teigan as they are.

Most of us in our twenties are just looking on with bemusement at the young’uns’ actions, and pure

embarrassment at the actions of our seniors.

The reason why this is such a big deal to many Millennials is that they’ve had a death grip on the cultural climate of our modern day for so long. So many of their TV shows, bands, movies and books have had such a hold on our media discourse such as Harry Potter, New Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Friends and many more, but nowadays a lot of Gen Z-aimed media has taken over and become dominant in the general public.

Millennials have taken their parents’ place as the older generation that the kids of today poke fun of. This is just an inevitability of life. The next generation after Z, whatever they may be named, will surely make fun of our obsession with stanning people, our fashion trends, our texting language and whatever else we enjoy. And that’s okay. It’s okay to grow up and become the “lame” ones. It’s the circle of life, and we should all accept it.

I think the most fatal flaw in these Millennial responses to Gen Z is that they have broken the one rule that must be upheld when arguing with teenagers. Well, technically there are two rules since the prime rule should be not to argue with kids who are way more technologically literate and tuned in than you. However, the other rule is when you argue with teenagers over petty differences, do not — under any circumstances — let said teenagers know that you care way more about what you’re arguing about than they do.

Speakout What tips do you think students will need to overcome the pressure of midterms?

Sena Ross Junior “Sleep in a reasonable hour and wake up early to study, clean your desk, write down everything you need to do on a reminder! What I like to do is put a timer for 10 minutes and try to focus during that time, if I feel like I can keep my concentration I keep going and if not I change subjects.”

Edward Elliot Senior “For midterm, I’d usually say stay calm and not stress it, as that will only get you flustered when midterms arrive. Then be sure to internalize all the info you need by writing it down in notes or be able to review it in your head. Hopefully those are decent tips for your interview.”

We want to hear from you.

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The Oracle does not edit Letters to the Editor, but reserves the right to withhold publication of letters.

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Endalkachew Chala Professor of communication studies “Mid-semester exams can raise levels of stress.

Everyone is different but I think the following two tips worked for me. Taking regular breaks during revision and doing some mock exams or practice questions. When I was a student mock exams were my best revision strategies. They help you think critically about the content and help you master it.

This will help you reduce your stress level.”

Opinion 9

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

A response to President Miller The Oracle Editorial Board Carmen Danz, Molly Landaeta, Audra Grigus, Olivia Koski, Andrea Lindner, Mien Le, Cathryn Salis, Will Nelson oracle@hamline.edu

A Q&A with Hamline’s president left students with more questions than answers.

A NSWERS TO IMPORTANT university conversations around the sunset of the Religion Department and Aramark were danced around during last week’s Q&A session with President Fayneese Miller.

This occurred during a Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC) general assembly on March 2, 2021.

Miller was asked about why due process was not used for eliminating the Religion Department, and if realigning the department would mean more religion professors being hired and more classes being offered.

Miller focused specifically on the terminology, declaring “the Religion Department has not been eliminated, the Religion Department has been combined with another academic unit. Okay?

I know the rhetoric is that it has been eliminated. It has not been eliminated.”

She elaborated on the decision to combine departments, saying that the goal is to look at institutional needs as a whole, specifically mentioning declining enrollment numbers and a decreasing retention rate.

“What do we need in order to call ourselves a liberal arts institution?

Does that mean you have to have a department in religion? No, you don’t. We will still offer religion as part of our curriculum because that is part of our history, that’s in our DNA. So we’re not eliminating religion,” Miller said.

However, this answer never came back to why due process was not taken. Miller’s focus came down to saying that religion has not actually been eliminated, but combined with another department. Though this is somewhat true, the religion program still remains, she was incorrect in saying that the Religion Department had not been eliminated. The departmental body that housed the religion program, the Religion Department, no longer exists.

We are still left wondering what due process then looks like for combining departments. Where are the student voices and input during this process? Why wasn’t the fate of the department decided after the program review?

Un f o r t u n a t e l y, q u e s t i o n s

about Aramark also came with roundabout answers. When asked about insights on Hamline’s contract with Aramark and the ideas that Miller and the Board of Trustees had surrounding the contract, Miller’s answers were inconclusive.

“I’m not so sure of any food service company in the higher ed industry that will meet all standards. Not a one, not a one,” Miller said. This was her initial, very disappointing response.

From a university telling us to do all the good we can, simply dismissing concerns about an outsourced group on our campus because everyone else is doing it is a weak answer.

This is especially disheartening when students are not calling on Hamline to find a new outsourced dining program. The food sovereignty group on campus, formed during summer 2020, specifically called on Hamline to develop internal dining services, and in the fall of 2020, HUSC passed a resolution calling on Hamline to have a sustainable, local and inclusive internal dining program by the 2024-25 school year.

“I will say that if you look at the organization as a whole, you’re gonna see something very different than if you look at the units within the organization. And the Aramark people here at Hamline have done a wonderful job working collaboratively with us,” Miller said. “It’s not the big Aramark… it’s the little Aramark.”

However, this is not what students are arguing. No one is saying that “little Aramark” is the problem. The issue is with Aramark as an organization, “big Aramark,” which has alleged human rights violations and uses prison labor.

While students have brought forth concerns about certain Aramark employees on Hamline’s campus, there are many employees students love and have great relationships with. Not only that, the HUSC resolution calls for Hamline to advocate for retaining current food service employees if an internal food service program is developed.

This strawman argument is just the first way that Miller diverted actually addressing the issues and question at stake.

In addressing the contract aspect, the conversation revolved solely around how Patti Kersten negotiated with Aramark back in March in order to save Hamline from falling into deeper debt as a result of COVID-19. She shared how, due to the pandemic, St. Thomas’s internal dining services lost $10 million because of the

SCREENSHOT | LYDIA MEIER, THE ORACLE The Q&A with Miller ran for nearly an hour, with additional questions covering topics like transparency between administration and students, the relationship between HUSC and administration, the campus’s strategic plan and how to communicate concerns about professors outside of course evaluations.

compensation they paid to their employees. However, Hamline was saved from a lot of debt because they did not have that burden of paying the dining service employees because they are employed by Aramark.

Future contract plans were not brought up. This is frustrating because Miller is very aware of student concerns about Aramark, and at no point was she asked about the contract in relation to COVID-19. Rather, she attempted to distract from all the bad that Aramark has done by bringing attention to the good they have done, while still not addressing future plans.

This “good” was in relation to the financial benefits of using Aramark during COVID-19. This is interesting considering a global pandemic is not common. This is not something good Aramark does for us all the time. And it is surely not good enough to justify continuing a contract with an oppressive group that Hamline students have specifically asked to be expelled from campus.

While specifics about money were not mentioned, Miller elaborated generally about financial concerns regarding not using Aramark.

“I’d rather money go towards scholarships for students than go towards something else when we could save money,” Miller said.

“So my choice is between giving you scholarships or increasing our compensation budget. I’d rather give you scholarships than increase our compensation money… I worry about what this means in terms of us being able to support students if we go into a direction of bringing food services on campus.”

This compar ison was an

interesting one and frankly came off as more of a threat than an answer.

“It will cost us a significant amount of money that will take away from the scholarship budget,” Miller said.

Without addressing specifics, this implies that the scholarship funds and dining service funds are coming from the same pool of money. And in doing so, is threatening the over 90% of students who are receiving Hamline gift aid (according to hamline.edu/undergraduate/ admission/financial-aid) with the choice between an ethical food program and their financial ability to attend the university.

When later asked about the future of Hamline, Miller said, “Our focus should always be studentcentered… We focus on who our students are and who we need to be for you.”

When looking at her overall answers, this student-centered narrative does not seem to be true.

When students have tried for years to rid the campus of Aramark, and even passed a resolution about it, they have been ignored. When students asked for clarification about the future of the Religion Department, they were met with confusing answers that led to skewed rhetoric surrounding it.

As an editorial staff, we are calling on Hamline’s administration to answer in full the questions that were still left after this Q&A, specifically addressing what due process is for department combination and what plans there are for contracting with Aramark in the future.

10 Sports

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

Hamline athlete soaring to the top

Senior Jobob Martin has big hopes for his final outdoor season as a Division III athlete.

Jilly Wortman Sports Reporter jwortman01@hamline.edu

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS Senior Jobob Martin has been a key attribute to Hamline’s Track and Field success in throwing competitions for the entire time he’s been a part of COVID-19 cannot stop senior thrower Jobob “Joe” Martin from breaking records this season. An untraditional path to success has led Martin to the place he is at today. When seeing stats like Martin’s you would think that he has been perfecting his craft

for most of his life. However, the athlete had a late start to the world of track and field.

“Senior year of high school is when I decided that track would be my main focus but I didn’t compete [during] my senior year, the year before I had just come off of a hip tear and I couldn’t do contact sports anymore so my dad told me I should go out for track because he still holds the discus record at his high school,” Martin said. “So I went out in my junior, did pretty good and then decided that that was it.”

In track and field, there are many accolades that athletes can acquire throughout the season. Many athletes work towards qualifying for the conference meet which takes place at the end of each season, from there the ones who excelled have the opportunity to go to nationals and work towards a title. Martin was on that path to nationals last spring but it, like many things, got canceled. So for Martin, this year means even more.

Martin has progressed exponentially since he started as a first year at Hamline.The biggest factor for Martin was figuring out what worked the best for his body, which turned out to be changing his whole diet.

“I don’t eat grains, I don’t eat processed sugar, I don’t drink caffeine. I eat things with only a handful of ingredients,” said Martin. And it worked.

“I dropped 30 pounds of inflammation within two weeks, the last meet I competed at was outdoor conferences my sophomore year and I had just started the diet that week and I didn’t even make finals and now I haven’t lost to another division three opponent since,” Martin said.

Not only has Martin changed up his dietary habits he’s also made sacrifices in other areas as well. Martin balances school, sports, work, a wife and a new baby.

“Keeping a good relationship at home is something that I’m really proud of. I’m married and have a kid and juggling that has been difficult but it’s an amazing home to come home to,” Martin said.

Behind every great athlete, there is a team of support. There are many fellow Pipers who look to Martin for inspiration.

“His work ethic is unmatched, he’s highly motivated to do the best he can, he leads by example and pushes everyone to be their best every single

day,” said Josh Blaschko, head coach of men’s track and field.

With everything being different this year there are many things to adjust to.

“The biggest thing is everything is last minute, athletes use to be able to plan way farther in advance and with so much shared space [Martin] doesn’t lift at Hamline he uses the weight room at his home,” Devin Monson, director of Track and Field Operations, said.

These changes and uncertainties have not gotten in the way of Martin hitting a distance, 17.26 meters, that ranked him second nationally during the indoor season. There is not a lot of competition for Martin during his MIAC matches “Winning isn’t the worry. He’s so far ahead of everyone in the conference,” said Monson.

Martin has to find external things to keep him going. “[I am] finding weird things to keep me mad like checking national rankings motivates me,” Martin said.

At this point, Martin has received MIAC player of the week twice.

“It shows his hard work, he went from someone who wasn’t placing to making conference and then conference champ and now making national meets, it’s nice to see recognition especially for all the hard work he’s put in,” Monson said.

Spring season is about to start for Martin and the track and field team and the fans are waiting to see how everything pans out.

“My overall goal for, while I was at Hamline, was to become an All American I thought it was something I could do but I have already achieved that so I thought ok what else can I do? So now my two goals coming in are to throw over eighteen meters and compete for a national title.”

Martin and Blaschko both have big hopes for this season and Martin’ performance.

“It’s been a privilege for me to work with him and I’m going to be sad when he’s done this year and I’m excited to see what he does in this outdoor season,” Blaschko said.

SOURCE | ATHLETIC.NET National rankings from the NCAA for the DIII Indoor Track 2021 16lb shot put currently places Jobob Martin of Hamline University as #2 in the nation. However Martin’s season is far from over.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS

Sports 11

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

A goal is scored, but no one cheers

What’s the difference between a scrimmage and a real game when there are no fans in the stands to watch sports teams compete?

Cathryn Salis Sports Editor csalis01@hamline.edu

“The music’s blasting, everyone’s just so excited, you just feel that excitement. It’s been a year now since the last meet...it was just, it was just incredible,” firstyear softball player Ali Kimball said.

Kimball had recently finished recording the season-opener gymnastics meet, which also happened to be the team’s senior night. It would be disingenuous to say there were no tear streaks on her cheeks.

Anyone who has been to a high-intensity sports game can tell you that nothing matches the energy in that gym or on that field or by the deck. It is palpable.

One of the biggest losses of this altered season is the restriction of spectators at events. The whole Hamline community feels the absence of sports on campus.

“A lot of the bonding that happened with the baseball team happened at other sporting games where we’re just like sitting in a section by ourselves,” junior baseball player Hayden Ring said.

Ring and the other members of the baseball team would often watch the women’s hockey games as they were considered sister teams.

“It’s made us all value the experience of not only just supporting our own team but supporting other teams on campus,” sophomore swimmer Aubrey Chavarria said.

The athletes on the courts, fields and pools feel the lack of fans just as much, no matter how many spectators their team averaged pre-COVID-19.

“It’s just not as loud,” Chavarria said. “We aren’t used to a whole lot of spectators, but still, it’s something.”

Only those essential to the event are allowed to be there. In an effort to limit exposure, many sports are helping host and run other sporting events. This prevents any unnecessary risk of introducing another student into the athletic environment.

The Athletics Department held many events in normal years to help foster the feeling of community within Hamline. However, without these social opportunities, many chances to make connections outside the classroom are lost to students.

“We would go to other games or other meets...

SAAC would hold events and all the athletes would go,” Chavarria said. “It’s been kind of weird, you feel kind of disconnected from the rest of athletics.”

Chavarria, originally from Arizona, credits most of her friendships to her involvement with athletic programs such as SAAC, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.

“It assimilated me to the Hamline environment a lot easier, having people to guide me through it,” Chavarria said.

Sports are also a major motivator for college athletes to continue to strive for success and it heavily influences their college decisions.

“It’s been pretty brutal,” Ring said. “Not having the sports aspect is a big thing because I did come up here to play baseball so it was a little bit tough having that stripped away.”

First-years have never had the chance to

experience a game played by their own college team, and this has heavily impacted this class’s connection to the school.

“It was just kinda the first time I saw that Hamline energy, like live and in action with people,” Kimball said. “It felt so good to be in a place where there’s a group of people that’s a community.”

This is not to say that other classes at Hamline haven’t felt the impacts of disrupted seasons just as much. Many athletes have chosen to take a leave of absence or else redshirt for a year in order to preserve their playing time for a season where normal play can resume.

Many students can agree that school simply doesn’t feel like school without the constant stream of games and events to attend, and trying to balance school work with social life is an important part of learning to live on your own.

“I miss the feeling of FOMO,” Ring said.

As the winter sports seasons come to an end and spring sports start to compete, there is no telling what a new season will bring by way of spectators and available games.

“I’ve never met a group of athletes until now who have pushed so hard without even knowing if there’s going to be anything,” Chavarria said.

Even though the only thing consistent about these crazy times is the inconsistency, the hope for many athletes and fans to cling to is the memory of what once was and what could be again.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS

Racking up wins in the rink Hamline’s men’s hockey team took no time to add a W to their record on Feb. 27 after a quick break from competition due to new regulations.

Cathryn Salis Sports Editor csalis01@hamline.edu After a break from competition due to COVID-19 testing protocols, a young portion of the Hamline men’s hockey team returned to the ice to defeat Gustavus Adolphus College in a close match. The final score was 3–2 in the Piper’s favor, with the winning goal being scored in the last two minutes of play by first year Joe Collins.

Though Gustavus put the first goal on the board almost immediately after the game began, the Pipers answered within three minutes to take back the momentum. Senior Zak Lambrecht scored his first goal of the season and tied the score up with ones.

Hamline outshot the Gusties in the first period and won the second period by earning another goal from junior Tyler Nyman assisted by first year Ike Taraszewski. This was also Nyman’s first goal of the season.

After a defensive zone faceoff, Gustavus tied the score at 2–2 in the third period. There were doubts about the game ending without overtime for either team, especially after a fruitless power play by the Pipers. However, Martin beat the goalie and put Hamline over the edge for the win.

Head Coach Cory Laylin identified one of the strongest players of the game as sophomore

defenseman Eric Dahl. At the end of the last period, the Gusties put up an intense fight to undo the damage Martin had done but the whole team took hits and blocked shots to help secure their win. Dahl had a season high of three shots blocked on his own.

None of this could have been possible without the powerful performance of senior goalie Evan Robert, who had a season high of 34 saves and ensured even when the Gusties pulled their goalie that all the shots were knocked away.

The men’s hockey team was only able to dress 15

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS skaters and two goalies this game and six of those players were first-year students. Despite the small lineup, the Pipers persevered and didn’t let fatigue overcome them.

“I was impressed with their compete, passion and desire,” Laylin said. “[It was a] fun team win.”

Looking forward, the men’s hockey team is looking to have a full lineup and continue to stay within their system.

For more updated stats and a full game schedule, visit hamlineathletics.com

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

Queer heroes celebrated Hamline University’s Spectrum recently held a collaborative exhibit showcasing Black and Queer activists, some are historical icons and others are modernday heroes.

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS The Fulcrum

Instagram: @fulcrumjournal

Untold Magazine Instagram: @hamlineuntold

Robin Doyscher Senior Reporter sdoyscher01@hamline.edu Within the main lobby of Drew Fine Arts stood large displays with a diverse range of faces. Their backgrounds were all unique and varied, and yet the commonalities of their identities and hardships were communicated through thoroughly crafted information boards. The exhibit was a collaborative effort between Hamline QTIBIPOC (queer, trans, Black, indigenous people of color) and Love Boldly, an initiative campaign for LGBTQ+ inclusivity hosted by Hamline’s Wesley Center.

Starting with Angelina Weld Grimké (1880-1958), the exhibit discusses several periods in queer history where the fight for liberation was spearheaded by further marginalized communities in showings of intersectionality. Other figures such as Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson and Audre Lorde advanced feminist and pro-Black causes despite facing intense societal opposition.

Other featured activists were Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Dominique Morgan, Andrea Jenkins, Phillipe Cunningham, Janaya Khan, Patrisse Cullors and Dezjorn Gauthier. All names have notably founded organizations, contributed financially and protested to instill protections for the queer community.

Several of the activists have also contributed art with prominence that has lasted for decades. Angelina Weld Grimké is noted for her status as an acclaimed playwright. Andrea Jenkins is an awardwinning poet with a few collections of poems published.

One of the featured activists is even a prominent figure in Minnesota.

Phillipe Cunningham is the first openly transgender man to be elected to public office in the United States, and the city councilperson for Minneapolis Ward 4.

The event also gave out free copies of ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’ by George M. Johnson; this book is a memoir written by the award-winning author and journalist who reflects on his life as he grows into his queer identity. The book explores topics of bullying, societal expectations, relationships between men and the effects of environment on personal development.

If you missed the exhibit, the displays are still available to view in the Drew Fine Arts lobby.

A&E 12

Her Campus

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HU Radio

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PHOTOS | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE TOP: While at Spectrum’s ‘Black and Queer’ exhibit, visitors could pick up a free copy of ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’: A memoir written by activist George M. Johnson. The book, a series of personal essays written in 2020, explores childhood and the unique struggles of growing up Black and queer.

BOTTOM: The exhibit is located in the Drew Fine Arts lobby and contains information on notable activists such as Phillipe Cunningham; the first openly transgender man to be elected to public office in the United States and councilperson for Minneapolis Ward 4.

STAFF PICK OF THE WEEK TOPIC: Writing Utensils Cathryn Salis Sports Editor

Thick Sharpies “There’s nothing more satisfying in this world than using a huge sharpie to make whatever marks you need and smearing that black, irreversable ink all across whatever surface your heart desires.”