April 18, 2019

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CRIME

STATE GOVT.

UMN student sues Chinese billionaire Richard Liu of JD.com, alleging rape

Senate UMN funding ‘falls short’ in bill

The suit, which was filed Tuesday, alleges Liu raped the student in August.

BY DYLAN ANDERSON AND MIGUEL OCTAVIO danderson@mndaily.com, moctavio@mndaily.com

A University of Minnesota student filed a lawsuit accusing Chinese billionaire Richard Liu of sexual assault last summer, according to a

RICHARD LIU PHOTO COURTESY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court on Tuesday.

The suit files three charges against billionaire Liu Qiangdong, also known as Richard Liu, and three liability charges against his company JD.com, a Chinese e-commerce firm he founded. The charges include sexual assault, battery and false imprisonment.

In late August, the student attended a dinner in Minneapolis with Liu and other Chinese executives taking part in the Doctor of Business

Administration - China program run by the University. The student was instructed to sit next to Liu at the dinner, where he encouraged her to drink alcohol in excess, according to the complaint. After the dinner, Liu allegedly raped her.

In the early hours of Aug. 31, 2018, police were called to the student’s apartment where they found Liu half-naked on the student’s bed before he was questioned and u See LIU Page 3

RENAMING

Worries mount over shifting renaming debate

House and Senate omnibus bills outline differing priorities of higher education committees.

BY ISABELLA MURRAY imurray@mndaily.com

Minnesota House and Senate higher education committees rolled out vastly different session priorities last week in their respective omnibus bills.

The Senate funds around a fourth of the University of Minnesota’s biennial budget ask in its omnibus bill, while a House companion overfunds the request to freeze tuition. Respective policy priorities also differ.

The Senate proposes forwarding legislation related to state grant investment, addressing the state’s workforce shortage and increasing accountability in higher education.

The House bill focuses on student services and public safety on campus.

“The [omnibus] bill before us leverages … new investments to protect students and families from increased costs by boosting scholarship and grant funds, limiting tuition increases, bolstering successful programs that meet workforce needs and increasing accountability for our public higher education systems,” said Senate higher education committee chair Sen. Paul Anderson, R-Plymouth at a higher education committee meeting. u See FUNDING Page 3

BASEBALL

Former walk-on finds leading role on the Gophers’ rotation Jordan Kozicky walked on the baseball team three season ago and has grown into a key player.

BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com

ABBY ADAMSKI, DAILY

Supporters of renaming say regents’ accusations divert from the primary debate.

BY AUSTEN MACALUS amacalus@mndaily.com

After weeks of back-and-forth about renaming buildings on campus, some people at the University of Minnesota are concerned that public focus has diverted from how the campus should reckon with its racist and anti-Semitic history.

Supporters and critics continue to trade barbs over a task force’s 125-page report calling to rename Coffman Union and three other buildings. As the conflict continues, concern grows over a distorted conversation about the University’s history. But regents have stuck by their criticism, saying it’s important to get a full understanding of the facts.

Some have criticized President Eric Kaler for not taking a more vocal role in

defending the task force’s work and his own “preliminary recommendation” to go forward with renaming.

“We are awaiting a forceful and strong statement on his part that says quite clearly those [regents’] statements are incorrect,” said Riv-Ellen Prell, curator of the “A Campus Divided” exhibit who advised the task force.

Kaler said he supported faculty at a University Senate meeting earlier this month. However, he demurred on a question about whether charges of academic dishonesty against the task force hold merit.

“The situation around this is complicated right now and I think trying to untangle one particular string on top of other strings is a little hard to do right now,” Kaler said at the meeting.

For Prell, Kaler’s statements haven’t gone far enough, especially because he appointed the task force and supported its findings.

“I think it is time for the president of the University of Minnesota not to take a stand on the naming or renaming, not to question

the right of regents to take a position, but to more forcefully and vigorously defend the task force,” Prell said.

University senior Chloe Williams, who started a petition to rename Coffman last year, said accusations against the task force have diverted attention from more important issues.

“We’re straying away from how, as [a] university, we can reckon with our history,” she said. “Anti-Semitism and racism was on our campus, and to claim that administrators didn’t perpetuate it is kind of appalling.”

William Jones, a member of the task force, said it’s important that people who are not historians feel they can engage in the historical debate. However, he said regents’ bad-faith accusations have largely gone unchallenged in the media.

“We can have a disagreement over what happened, but don’t accuse us of lying or being dishonest,” he said.

Regent Michael Hsu maintains his u See DEBATE Page 3

When Jordan Kozicky, the Gophers’ new starting shortstop, came to the team as a walk-on three seasons ago, head coach John Anderson didn’t know where he was going to play.

“We just thought he was athletic enough that eventually we could make a player out of him,” Anderson said about the junior from Minneapolis. “We knew he was going to have some versatility, and that’s exactly what he’s done for us.”

After redshirting and not playing in any games during his first year with Minnesota, Kozicky got his chance when former third baseman Micah Coffey suffered an injury. Later in the season, the team figured out Kozicky could bat; he then filled in at shortstop for Terrin Vavra, who was recovering from a back injury.

“Every time they’ve asked me to go somewhere, I’ve never hesitated or told them I didn’t feel comfortable,” Kozicky said. “I like the outfield, I like the infield. I just like being on the field in general.

“Basically, my career has been dependent on injuries,” he said.

He played last year entirely in the outfield after Vavra, a third-round MLB draft pick last year, recovered from his back injury. Kozicky is back at shortstop after Vavra’s departure and has brought more production at the plate. Kozicky u See KOZICKY Page 4

COMMUNITY

Students give free health care to underserved communities at local clinic U students gain experience by providing health care to the Minneapolis community.

BY DYLAN MIETTINEN dmiettinen@mndaily.com

Though the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Monday and Thursday night, it’s typical for a line to form by 5:45 p.m. The line often includes immigrants, non-native English speakers and the uninsured, all seeking no-cost treatment from a primary clinic run by University of Minnesota professional students.

In order to combat this congestion, volunteers have been working to cut wait times by 10 minutes through implementing simple yet effective changes. Many solutions, like additional medical supplies and changing the clinic’s layout, were implemented last month to decrease congestion.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Martin de la Presa, who volunteers at the PNC, has been working to decrease wait times at the clinic in hopes of making the experience easier for both volunteers and patients alike.

“This project is really continuing off a

lot of the work before I got involved” de la Presa said. “You identify different areas for improvement and then brainstorm ways to implement them, improve them and observe results.”

The clinic averages 10-12 patients per day and treated 940 last year. On any given day, there are about 35 student volunteers, according to the PNC’s Medical Director Brian Sick.

“The students are a transient population,” Sick said. “They are here for a relatively short period of time and there’s constant turnover, so keeping them educated on their role can be a constant struggle.”

Another one of the goals of de la Presa’s work was to create documents that outline the specific duties of each position, which has been received well.

Students can hold various roles at the clinic. In their first year, they typically learn about all of the duties a clinician has by being a patient advocate. In the following years of volunteering, students can focus on their areas of study or hold leadership positions.

Second-year pharmacy student Makoto Hang said he grew up learning the u See CLINIC Page 3

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Patty Maglalang, a second-year pharmacy student, volunteers at the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic in Minneapolis on Monday, April 15. Part of her job at the clinic, which is staffed by University of Minnesota students and supervising clinicians, is to counsel patients on correct use of medications.

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Thursday, April 18, 2019 Vol. 119 No. 54

An Independent Student Newspaper, Founded in 1900.

2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 450, Minneapolis, MN 55414

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Phone: (612) 627-4080 Fax: (612) 435-5865

1906 The Great San Francisco Earthquake destroys almost 30,000 buildings.

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UMPD responds to report of assault Three women were assaulted by two men near the Knoll area Tuesday night.

BY IMANI CRUZEN icruzen@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota Police Department responded to a report of three female victims being grabbed by two men near the

Knoll area Tuesday night, according to a campuswide email.

Just before 10 p.m., two men reportedly made comments to the victims before grabbing their arms and slapping their buttocks multiple times at a bus stop on the southwest corner of University Ave. SE. and Pleasant St. SE., according to the email.

The victims included one University student and two

former students.

The suspects were then seen leaving the area and boarding an eastbound Campus Connector bus. They were later seen standing at the Green Line East Bank Station.

UMPD is currently investigating the crime, which is not believed to be connected to other crimes in the area.

The police urge anybody with information to call 612624-2677.

Man stabbed after quarrel near campus A man is in custody after a stabbing, which took place on Wednesday.

BY MIGUEL OCTAVIO moctavio@mndaily.com

One man is in custody after allegedly stabbing another man near the University of Minnesota campus Wednesday afternoon.

Police were called to the Metro Green Line Station in Prospect Park after a verbal altercation took place be-

tween two men. The altercation turned physical when one of the men pulled out an object and stabbed the other in the arm shortly after 1:15 p.m. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, according to Metro Transit Public Relations Manager Howie Padilla.

As a result of the incident, Green Line service operated on a single track from Prospect Park to Raymond station between around 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., according to Metro Transit’s Twitter page.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER Kelly Busche Editor-in-Chief kbusche@mndaily.com (612) 435-1575 Genevieve Locke Business Operations Officer glocke@mndaily.com (612) 435-2761 EDITORIAL STAFF Max Chao Managing Editor mchao@mndaily.com Christine Ha Managing Production Editor cha@mndaily.com Michelle Griffith Campus Activities Editor mgriffith@mndaily.com Madeline Deninger City Editor mdeninger@mndaily.com J.D. Duggan Campus Administration Editor jduggan@mndaily.com Cleo Krejci Features Editor ckrejci@mndaily.com Drew Cove Sports Editor dcove@mndaily.com Sophie Vilensky A&E Editor svilensky@mndaily.com Ellen Schmidt Multimedia Editor eschmidt@mndaily.com Courtney Deutz Assistant Multimedia Editor cdeutz@mndaily.com Molly Tynjala Copy Desk Chief mtynjala@mndaily.com Bailey Davis Assistant Copy Desk Chief bdavis@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Chief Page Designer dkamas@mndaily.com Abby Adamski Visuals Editor aadamski@mndaily.com Morgan La Casse Visuals Editor mlacasse@mndaily.com =

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German cities spur climate talks at UMN The exchange on Tuesday discussed potential climate actions for the U.

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BY ERIN WILSON ewilson@mndaily.com

Minnesota state lawmakers and University of Minnesota students gathered on campus Tuesday evening to host a conversation about local action on climate change.

Hosted by Sen. Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, and the University’s Institute on the Environment, the event focused on partnerships between Minnesotan and German cities working toward specific climate goals. A panel of state lawmakers and University students guided a discussion about their experiences and possible change in Minnesota.

Sabine Engel, director of international partnerships at the Institute on the Environment, said the event emphasized the importance of climate action at the local level. For eight years, Minnesota has participated in a direct exchange with Germany to learn about renewable energy policy from one another.

“This is really a technology exchange, an expertise exchange, so this is not just about visiting each other. ...

No, we want to get together because we believe that cities are going to lead us,” Engel said. “At the University, we believe you don’t have to be one particular type of city. … What really matters is, is there leadership that gets everybody to come together?”

Over the past few years, student delegates from

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JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Rep. Mohamud Noor, DFL-Minneapolis, speaks during a discussion on Tuesday, April 16 at Northrop Auditorium.

the University have gone on two-week German exchanges to learn about its transition to renewable energy. During the exchange, students meet with leaders, economists and other German representatives involved in the transition and study rural communities moving toward renewable energy.

University sophomore Rachel Linzbach, a student delegate from this year, said Germany’s “holistic and systematic approach” to an energy transition resonated with her.

“It has resulted in changes in economics, policy and also industrial changes … and it resulted in a change in German

society that extends not only in Germany, but can be followed all throughout the world,” Linzbach said on the panel.

Cora Sutherland, a senior who went to Germany as a delegate in January 2018, said she liked that the program was open to any major.

“There [were] people from Carlson who I got to talk to, there were ... engineers,” Sutherland said.

“Like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know any of that, but also you didn’t know any of the things that I just told you,’ so it was … really cool to learn from each other.”

Dziedzic said she wanted to organize a community conversation after meeting

students who went on the exchange.

“I … wanted to create a space where we could have a … good conversation and think about not just what we are doing, what the city is doing, but how do we hold each other accountable and how do we move forward?”

Dziedzic said at the event.

The event also featured a clip from a 2018 documentary produced by the Institute on the Environment titled “Climate Smart: Cities Working Together,” which won a Regional Emmy. The documentary highlights state lawmakers, city leaders and experts from around the state discussing successes and shortcomings of climate action in the

state and how Minnesota is learning from Germany.

Rep. Mohamud Noor, DFL-Minneapolis, also sat on the panel to discuss policy and answer questions from the audience. He said it is crucial to start conversations at the local level and bring people of different backgrounds to the table.

“The future lies on us investing in good … clean energy, having policies that will reflect not today but the future. We’ve got to believe in scientists … we are not reacting to the realities that we are in right now,” Noor said. “Climate change is real. ... If we don’t start at home, and create that ripple-effect … you’re not going to go anywhere.”

Canvas adding diction software for name pronunciation Written phonetic pronunciation is supported by new voice recordings.

BY FARRAH MINA fmina@mndaily.com

To ensure professors and students pronounce each other’s names correctly, all University of Minnesota system campuses will implement a name pronunciation software into Canvas next month.

The software, called NameCoach, will be integrated into Canvas across the University starting May 7, according to Julie Selander, director of One Stop Student Services. The software will enable students and faculty to upload voice recordings of their names and allow users to hear other users’ name pronunciations. The software was purchased last

BUSINESS Kyle Stumpf Sales Manager kstumpf@mndaily.com David Keane Controller dkeane@mndaily.com

fall, and Canvas users will be able to enter recordings into Canvas profiles or in class rosters.

“We just really feel that there’s some strong benefits to build up the student-faculty relationships and the student-to-student connections and foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment,” Selander said.

The name pronunciation software will be used to help name readers practice pronunciations in preparation for some upcoming commencement ceremonies.

Praveen Shanbhag, the founder and CEO of NameCoach, said the idea for the company came after his sister’s name was mangled during her college graduation.

“We had friends and family there, and we were all excited to see her big moment of recognition, but it was diminished because of this,” Shanbhag said in an email.

P ro n o u n c i n g n a m e s

correctly may seem trivial, but many find that pronunciation impacts their classroom experience.

In middle school, thirdyear student Shaadiah Swenson said her math teacher called her Ms. Swenson because he could never pronounce her first name. It was frustrating for her that people did not try to learn how to pronounce her name correctly. She said she shortened her name to “Diah” to avoid mispronunciation.

“While it may seem like a simple thing, even to people whose names are often mispronounced, saying them correctly can have a big impact on students’ everyday experience,” Shanbhag said in the email.

“Just as there’s a subtle but real sense of alienation that happens when your name is mispronounced, there’s a subtle but real sense of belonging and familiarity that

comes with someone saying it correctly.”

Prior to the conception of this project at the University, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences had been partnering with International Student and Scholar Services to tackle the issue of name pronunciation for commencement. ISSS connected the CFANS commencement readers with a native Chinese speaker at the University to receive in-person coaching on how to pronounce Chinese names.

Bill Ganzlin, the director of student services at CFANS, said the college’s previous model, which asked students to offer the written phonetic pronunciation of their names, didn’t always work.

“It can be challenging for colleges who have a large contingent of international students. ...

Unless you’re a native

speaker, it can be difficult to pronounce those names correctly,” Ganzlin said.

Political science professor Jane Sumner was also committed to getting students’ names right. In the past, she has had her students provide the written phonetic pronunciation of their names.

“I think that pronouncing someone’s name properly is the bare minimum of giving them human dignity,” Sumner said.

This spring semester, she provided her students with the option of uploading voice recordings of their names using Google Forms. Having students repeat themselves in class is a tremendous burden to put on the students, Sumner said.

“My name is my identity. It is who I am, so it’s like my identity is invalidated or not important when my name is pronounced wrong,” Swenson said.

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.

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Thursday, April 18, 2019

Liu u from Page 1

released. He was arrested later that day, according to the complaint. Liu was released 17 hours later and returned to China. On Dec. 21, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman did not charge Liu, writing in a statement that his office did not find enough evidence.

Jill Brisbois, an attorney for Liu, declined to comment on pending litigation but wrote in a statement, “based on the Hennepin County Attorney’s declination to charge a case against our client and our belief in his innocence, we feel

strongly that this suit is without merit and will vigorously defend against it.”

The student’s attorney is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, according to the complaint.

The University program that Liu participated in is designed to cater to top-level executives working full-time in China. The complaint states that nearly all the volunteers for the program were young and female.

The student, a volunteer for the program, was invited to the dinner by executive and program participant Charlie Yao without knowing Liu would attend, according to the complaint.

Liu allegedly instructed

Yao to invite the student.

She was told the dinner was to honor the program’s volunteers and accepted the invitation, but later realized she was the only volunteer invited, according to the complaint. The dinner was allegedly a “business networking event” attended by at least 15 middle-aged male executives in the program and organized and paid for by JD.com.

The complaint alleges the student, 21 years old at the time and the only female at the table, consumed alcohol during numerous toasts to the executives. She tried to avoid some of the toasts, but was told by Liu that not participating would cause him to “lose face,”

according to the complaint.

The complaint goes on to allege that the student tried to arrange a ride after the dinner when she felt intoxicated but was directed to a limousine rented by JD.com.

In the vehicle, Liu “began to grope and physically force himself” on her, repeatedly trying to remove her clothes, the complaint said. She allegedly repeatedly pleaded for Liu to stop.

The vehicle arrived at a mansion near the corner of Franklin Avenue and Pillsbury Avenue in Minneapolis and an argument between Liu and the student allegedly occurred. The student said she wanted to go home

before Liu then “grabbed the Plaintiff by her arm and angrily overpowered her and pushed put [sic] her back into the second row of the limousine,” the complaint read.

An employee of JD.com who was sitting in the front seat of the limousine moved the rearview mirror so the chauffeur could not watch the alleged assault take place, according to the complaint.

The limousine then drove them to the student’s apartment where Liu removed his clothing and became more sexually aggressive, according to the complaint. He allegedly forcibly removed the student’s clothing and raped her.

After the alleged rape, she messaged a friend that she had been raped. The friend called the police and met them outside her apartment where he showed them the messages he received, the suit said.

The student said in December that she planned to sue the University, but they were not named in this suit.

A University spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying the University doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Funding

most significant pieces of Senate legislation for the school.

Burnett expressed concern about the required report.

“As we begin the process of beginning planned budget reductions, it is often not feasible to publicize what the actions may be prior to the budget [being] approved by the board or [before] final implementation plans are developed,” he said.

The House’s higher education omnibus bill allocation of $114 million would address high statewide student debt, the committee’s highest priority this session, said Rep. Connie Bernardy, DFLNew Brighton.

Policy bills included in the House omnibus bill focus on issues related to campus food accessibility, mental health support and services for sexual assault survivors.

“Minnesota college students need the ability to take advantage of their o ppo rt u nit ies t o learn, achieve and succeed,” said higher education committee vice chair Rep. Laurie Pryor, DFL-Minnetonka.

“Unfortunately, experiencing trauma, being unable to access meals regularly and other challenges prevent this.”

University junior Natasha Sohni testified about food insecurity on campus at the Capitol this session.

“The U of M resides within a food desert, so many students lack access to adequate, let alone nutritious, food options,” Sohni said.

Both omnibus bills will be further deliberated on before being sent to a floor vote by May 20.

u from Page 1

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Students relax outside Coffman Union on Sept. 19, 2016. Several groups have pushed for its renaming due to the divisive views of its namesake, former University president Lotus Coffman, but recent efforts have stalled.

Debate u from Page 1

accusation that task force members manipulated the report.

“They’ve distorted the conversation for over 18 months and they’ve defamed four prominent members of our University community who are dead, who can’t speak for themselves,” he said.

Hsu said advocates are pushing forward with renaming when people don’t know the facts. “If you want to reckon with the history, I think you need to understand that history, not just a part of the history. What they’ve done is only told part of the story,” he said.

Regent Darrin Rosha, another vocal critic of the task

Clinic u from Page 1

importance of giving back, which has pushed him to volunteer.

“We’re offering patients services that they can’t really get anywhere else,” Hang said.

Morgan Kerfeld, a second-year pre-med student, currently works as an interpreter at the PNC. The PNC has Spanish interpreters on hand at all times, though they also treat patients who speak Somali, Hmong and Korean, among other languages, according to Hang.

Kerfeld said that volunteering with PNC has been the most rewarding part of her undergraduate studies so far.

“The moment [patients]

force, said it’s fair for regents to review evidence presented to the board.

“The response to the questions that have been raised has been ad hominem attacks on board members for simply raising the questions. I make no apologies for asking legitimate questions about the substance of the report,” Rosha said.

He said discussion can’t move forward until there’s clarification about the “actual factual underpinnings.”

Regent Abdul Omari, the only regent to currently support renaming, said the accusations have overshadowed other ways to acknowledge the University’s history. For example, the task force also recommended installing historical exhibits in buildings, he said.

“That has also been completely lost,” he said.

Prell said the entire conversation about the University’s history has been “distorted” by accusations, which she blames on those who are unwilling to speak up.

“It is a distortion that is in the hands of both the absence of regents being willing to speak up on a divided board of regents and the president of the University ... [for] not more forcefully defend the academic integrity of the task force report,” she said.

The board’s apparent split on the issue has provoked questions about how regents will take up renaming at their May meeting.

Kaler and Board Chair David McMillan said they are working on determining the right path forward.

walk into the clinic, being able to speak in their own language puts them at ease,” Kerfeld said.

The PNC provides specialty nights, such as ophthalmology, optometry, audiology, podiatry and women’s health, Hang said.

The clinic supplies patients with glasses and medications all free of cost; if they can’t provide services the patient needs, they’ll transfer patients to an affordable location that can. The clinic also offers courses, such as CPR training, and free legal services provided by University law students.

While Sick acts as director for the clinic, the PNC is primarily run by a student board. Comprised of more than a dozen students, they help manage finances and community relations and operations

and supervise volunteers.

According to Sick, funds for the clinic primarily come from grants, donations and fundraisers.

“We are embedded in a culturally rich but relatively poor community. [The patients] don’t necessarily have all the resources, so we try to fill that void,” Sick said.

Though Hang said there can be late nights involved, with students often staying until midnight or later, he was thankful for the opportunity to help others in an underserved community.

“There is a lot of upfront, hard work from all of the volunteers and a lot of work behind the scenes, so for a patient to tell you, ‘thank you so much, I couldn’t get this care anywhere else,’ that means the world to me,” Hang said.

“Regardless of support for or oppos[ed] to renaming, we must find a way to come together as a community and acknowledge past racial discrimination and antiSemitism that took place on this campus,” he said at the Senate meeting, pointing out “there is not widespread board support for renaming at this time.”

But after a long fight for renaming, Williams said the current conversation is disheartening.

“It’s just a little disappointing that it has to take so much extra time in order to get to that place, when this issue has been talked about for over a year now,” she said.

Jake Steinberg and Dylan Anderson contributed to this story.

The Senate bill, which would increase the University’s base appropriations by $24 million, would do little to meet the demands of the system, said University Vice President for Finance and Operations Brian Burnett at a Senate higher education committee meeting.

The Senate bill also states the allocation should allow for a tuition increase of no more than 2 percent for resident students. University President Eric Kaler previously said the school’s full $87 million ask would contribute to a 2 percent increase.

“The amount of funding provided would make it very difficult to hold tuition to the 2 percent maximum level directed in this bill,” Burnett said.

Anderson said students will instead see increased college affordability through the state grant program. The Senate bill invests an additional $23.4 million into the program, which would expand eligibility to more students and increase the award for students currently receiving money.

“We need to solve the systemic problems on the front end so we don’t just keep pushing students out of school with loads of debt that will not allow them to live life and help the economy and prosper,” Anderson said.

A bill requiring the University to provide a report to the Legislature with ideas about how to cut administrative costs by 10 percent would be one of the

Minnesota Daily policy is to not name individuals who claim they have been sexually assaulted, unless given permission.

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Rachel Thompson and a group of medical students assess the diagnosis for a patient at the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic in Minneapolis on Monday, April 15.

Local businesses face new plastic ban The new ban will be implemented when packaging ordinace exemptions end.

BY IMANI CRUZEN icruzen@mndaily.com

Modifications to an existing City of Minneapolis ordinance would ban certain containers found in many local coffee shops and restaurants.

The Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Ordinance, or Green To Go, was implemented by the City in 2015. The ordinance banned Styrofoam and other plastic food packaging in Minneapolis establishments, but the City is

nearing the end of several exemptions that allowed certain plastic packaging.

Exempted containers, including plastic-lined paper cups and containers and single-serve plastic coffee cup lids made of the material polystyrene, will no longer be allowed after April 22.

“We put the exemption in place, kind of expecting alternatives to be created and the market to change and move a little bit towards more environmentally friendly materials, and I think that it has,” said Ward 2 City Council member Cam Gordon.

Polystyrene cup lids and Styrofoam are classified as number six plastics.

Though replacements for

polystyrene exist, local business owners have expressed concern over the added cost of the ordinance.

“There’s a lot of confusing packaging, but my experience with packaging in general is that normally, as you get closer to being more environmentally acceptable and friendly, the price increases,” said owner of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Dinkytown and Dinkytown Business Alliance President Kent Kramp. “With minimum wage [set to go up in July] and Green To Go, it’s tough to get hit with a couple of these big things during the same time period.”

DBA hosted a meeting with a City official earlier

this month to help business owners learn more about Green To Go after they expressed confusion around the ordinance. Kramp said the City has communicated well and has been willing to help as business owners prepare to meet the newest requirements.

Minneapolis Health Department Environmental Health Director Dan Huff said the City has given businesses time to find alternatives before enforcing parts of the ordinance. The exemptions were implemented after the City heard public input, which allowed businesses time to use up non-complying packaging and find alternatives. Other op t i ons f o r b u s i ne s s e s

are recyclable plastics or compostable packaging, Huff said.

“There’s not a market for number six recyclables available in Minnesota. And so any number six plastic that is put in Minneapolis recycling just goes to the burner,” Huff said.

Though he expects to hear similar cost concerns, feedback on the ordinance has been more positive than in 2015, Gordon said.

If there are any concerns, business owners should reach out to the City’s Small Business Team, he said.

“We’ll still hear back that they may cost a little bit more, and that may be the case for a while,”

Gordon said. “We’re actually trying to encourage people to do some purchasing together, some smaller businesses, because sometimes if you do a larger purchase, you get a much better price.”

Even with the potential for increased costs, Kramp said the ordinance meets a public demand for more green products.

“I don’t think you’re going to find a single business out there that isn’t affected and having to change packaging, more than likely because this packaging is more expensive than nongreen packaging,” Kramp said. “So, really no business is in a huge rush to make these changes.”

4

Sports

MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019

BASEBALL

Kozicky

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

u from Page 1

Jordan Kozicky eyes the ball during the game against Illinois on Sunday, April 14 at Siebert Field in Minneapolis.

The Gophers lost 3-13.

leads batting among his teammates this season with the most RBIs on the team.

He averaged an RBI per game through the first 34 contests. The player with the next most RBIs on the team is first baseman Cole McDevitt with 19.

Kozicky also leads the team in home runs with seven after he hit a solo shot to left field Tuesday night to finish scoring in a 5-1 win over South Dakota State.

He said playing for the Saugerites Stallions of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League over the summer helped him bring his game to a new level this season.

“Going out there was, I think, huge for my game, just getting more reps, more at-bats,” Kozicky said. “I kind of went out there to mainly get comfortable with shortstop ... and the atbats were nice as well.”

However, the junior struggled to adapt back to shortstop at the start of this season, making five fielding errors in the first seven games. Anderson said he thought the defensive struggles could have affected his hitting, as he hit 3-for-24 with one

RBI through seven games.

Kozicky said his improvement in hitting has come after learning to mentally separate the offensive and defensive parts of the game.

“You could tell he battled some demons over there sometimes earlier in the season, no doubt,” said McDevitt, the only starting infielder from last season. “I

think he’s reined it in.”

Kozicky was offered a walk-on spot at Minnesota out of high school, passing up on other offers to stay with his hometown

team, with no assurance of being able to start and earn a scholarship someday.

“Even though I didn’t get a scholarship right away, I didn’t hesitate one bit to

commit here,” said Kozicky.

“This is a dream school to come to for baseball and academics, and because I’m from Minneapolis, it was just a super easy decision.”

MEN’S TENNIS

Mental growth helps Gophers sophomore succeed Vlad Lobak has risen into a more prominent spot in his second season.

BY DAVID MULLEN dmullen@mndaily.com

When he first arrived to the United States and the University of Minnesota, sophomore Vlad Lobak was expecting to immediately step into a high spot in the men’s tennis lineup.

Unfortunately for the Ukrainian, he did not. But the disappointment lit a fire underneath him.

“Coming from Europe, I thought I was going to be a great player from the start,” Lobak said. “When I came here, I realized how good the level of players are in the United States.”

Although this confidence might seem unusual for a first-year player, senior Josip Krstanovic, from Croatia, said this is a common mindset for many of the international tennis players coming from Europe. “ W h e n y o u ’ r e f ro m Europe, you play against every type of tennis player, which makes you think you have an edge against others,” Krstanovic said.

“However, there are great players from everywhere.”

Lobak only appeared

Sophomore Vlad Lobak prepares to return the ball on Friday, March 22 at the Baseline Tennis Center.

in nine duals his freshman campaign. He said it was a reality check, and it motivated him to compete for a larger role on the team in year two.

He said the mental aspect of the game took the most priority in the offseason.

“I was working mostly on being more aggressive

and focusing on my game regardless of winning or losing,” Lobak said about this past offseason. “[I was] just trying to get a step onto the court and try to get better, which [was] and is my main focus of the offseason.”

So far, Lobak has accom-

plished his goal of getting in the lineup regularly. He has improved his freshman singles record of 4-5 to 14-5 at the No. 6 singles spot this season and has become a vital part of the singles lineup for the Gophers.

Head coach Geoff Young said that the main reason for

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Lobak’s improvement was his growth in the mental side of the game. “[Lobak] has become more comfortable playing under pressure, going for his shots and being able to focus on his game instead of the result,” Young said.

Lobak agreed with

Young, and said he’s been battling his own mind.

“Sometimes I get too nervous and I get dictated by the other player instead of being the dictator,” Lobak said. “Now, I’ve been trying to go for my shots and try to go bigger, and I’ve been getting success out of it.”

Although might be surprised by Lobak’s turnaround, Krstanovic and Young both agreed that his elevated play has been evident at practice.

“He’s dominant in practice, and I think for him its just getting focused and not letting the result bother him,” Krstanovic said. “Once he gets that settled, he’ll be really dangerous.”

Besides his mental growth, Young said Lobak’s athletic ability truly makes his play stand out.

“He’s got a really big serve, he’s got a big forehand, he’s athletic, moves forward well and is very fast too,” Young said.

Although he has made his way into the lineup, Lobak has his sights set beyond the No. 6 spot.

“When I got here I thought I’d be playing three or four [in the lineup], but then I realized there are other guys, and that still motivates me to work harder and get better,” Lobak said.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Senior Muyu Wu sets example for young team in her final season Wu is playing some of the best golf of her college career down the stretch.

BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com

In the fall of her senior season, Muyu Wu’s best finish was a tie for 33rd place in the Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate. This spring, she’s placed in the top-30 in all four of the team’s tournaments.

Wu has saved the best golf of her collegiate career at Minnesota until the very end, setting multiple career bests. A first-round 66 in the Moon Golf Invitational tied an 18-hole school record. At the Juli Inkster Invitational one month later, Wu notched her first career top-five finish with an even-par 216.

“As a senior, I’m glad I can get some low scores to help the team,” Wu said following the Juli Inkster Invitational. “I hope in the following tournaments I can get it going and get more under-par rounds.”

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Junior Muyu Wu plays at the fourth annual Minnesota Invitational on Sept. 13, 2016 at the Minikahda Club.

It’s no coincidence that the team’s improvement this spring has paralleled Wu’s strong play. With Wu leading the way at the Juli Inskter Invitational, the team finished in the top 10 for the first time in 2018-19, coming in seventh place. In both that

tournament and the Moon Golf Invitational, the team shot 884 (+20), their best finishes to par this season “When [Wu] was off over the [winter] break, she worked really hard on her game to get it back where she wanted to,” head coach

Michele Redman said. “I think they’re all just starting to get better and starting to believe and believe in each other, and I think that really helps.”

Minnesota has a young team this season; their primary lineup consists of

Wu, sophomores Joanne Free, Grace Kellar and Kate Lillie and freshman Karen Zhang. With so much youth on the team, Wu is a good example of the program’s future potential. The hope for the team is that their young players can all end their careers in such an impressive manner. Already, they’ve all shown glimpses of excellence that has the team exited for the years to come.

“I’m really impressed and I’m really proud,” Wu said following the Juli Inkster Invitational. “I have to say our team’s pretty young, because we don’t have any juniors and I’m the only senior in the lineup this time. But, our freshman and sophomores are doing a great job.

They’re working really hard and shooting low scores.”

Since coming to Minnesota as a freshman, Wu has been a mainstay in coach Redman’s lineup. In her time with the team, she’s competed in all but one tournament. She set a program record in 2015-16 for lowest stroke average by a freshman with a 75.75.

Looking at the Gophers’ current roster, there are many similarities between the young golfers and Wu. Free, Kellar and Lillie have competed in every tournament since joining the program, and Zhang has played in seven of the team’s eight tournaments so far this year. Lillie said already having that experience will be a big advantage for the team this postseason.

“Compared to a lot of teams where they only have their upperclassmen compete in Big Tens, just being able to be there as sophomores, having already played the course for one year, is going to be a huge advantage,” Lillie said. “We know exactly what we’re walking into; we understand the pressure that you feel.”

With her final regular season tournament behind her, Wu will enter the postseason of her senior year this weekend.

Minnesota will compete with conference opponents in Maineville, Ohio for the Big Ten Championship beginning on Friday.

5

MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019

ART

Not sew Minnesota nice CULTURE TO CONSUME

BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN

Listen to this: “You Might Find Yours” by Tom Rosenthal This spoken word track makes you feel like you should be running through a field of flowers at dusk. This probably sounds dramatic, but the poem, which is laid over some soft music, speaks of finding your place and recognizing your surroundings.

It’s a nice reminder to lift your head up and pay attention to the world around you.

Watch this: “Our Planet” on Netflix If you haven’t heard about this nature documentary, you’re probably too deep into “Game of Thrones” hype. Exciting as that is, hear me out on this one.

Narrated by everyone’s favorite historian David Attenborough, this series highlights the effects of climate change that we may not be seeing. It takes you to every ecosystem and shows that our environment is facing the consequences of our actions.

Sip this: Stay safe!

If you’re going out or staying in, remember to watch out for yourself and your friends this weekend. Bring water and fully-charged phones with you in case you need to get a hold of a friend lost in a crowd. There will probably be tons of people out, especially with the warm weather this weekend, so just make sure you’re with people you trust and you make it back home, safely in bed.

CULTURE COMPASS

BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN

Friday:

The Sound of Aurora The Wake, Radio K and Women for Political Change are partnering for this event to help with some fundraising for The Aurora Center. The benefit event will include comedy from Fool’s Errand and Kate McCarthy, as well as music by Nikhil Barr, Alec McKee and Sleeping Jesus. This is a great opportunity to see some great local talent while supporting a local organization.

Where: Mixed Blood Theatre Company, 1501 S. 4th St., Minneapolis When: 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Cost: $10

Saturday:

“Shaping Fashion – An Exploration in Sustainability and Ethics” Before beginning your Saturday festivities (if you know, you know), consider learning a little more about the clothes in your closet. More likely than not, what you buy contributes to your carbon footprint, overconsumption and the unethical treatment of workers.

Sounds like a real issue, right? Well, Fashion Revolution MN and Global Shapers Minneapolis are here to inform you with panelists, workshops and an ethical marketplace experience.

Where: Holden Room, 145 Holden St., Minneapolis When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: Free

Sunday:

Snoop Dogg + Martha’s Drag Brunch Now, if you missed out on your Saturday celebrations or you’re looking for something a little more formal, Flip Phone and Union Rooftop still have tickets available for their Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart drag brunch. These drag shows are probably the most fun meal you’ll ever enjoy with some of the most iconic drag queens you’ll ever see.

Where: Union Rooftop, 731 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $12

MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY

Subversive crossstitching empowers and sparks humor in the Twin Cities.

BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

Boasting the cliche “bless this house” or the obscure “not all those who wander are lost,” cross-stitch has adorned every type of fabricbased decor from kitchen towels to pillows.

Characterized by its Xshaped stitches, symmetric patterns and pixel-like appearance, the stitch is being reclaimed by a number of younger and cheekier designers.

Subversive cross-stitchers aren’t afraid to twist conventional sewing etiquette on its head. They juxtapose the traditional flower motifs that characterize classic cross-stitch with phrases like “whatever,” “not today satan” and the simple “fuck.”

“There’s something liberating [in] taking some-

thing that has this historical quality and kind of rebelling,” said Minneapolis cross-stitcher Melanie Seifert, who runs the Etsy shop “RebelleCherry.”

“I think that generationally my mom [and] her mother … were kind of put in this position where you have to be a little bit more proper. Women [today] feel more empowered to have a voice … and [using] it doesn’t necessarily degrade you as a woman,” Seifert said.

Finding a community on Instagram and Etsy, “subversive cross-stitchers” are revising the traditionally homey cliches.

As the word “subversive” suggests, these sewers disrupt the established norm of what should or should not be cross-stitched.

Instead of stitching teddy bears and hearts, many sew pop culture references, funny puns and political commentary into the fabric.

The owner of the Etsy shop “CussStitching,” Naomie Nix says the sub-

versive cross-stitch movement represents a bigger cultural shift in the art community.

“Cross-stitch and embroidery and needlepoint have always kind of been looked on as crafting and hobbying, and I think that’s because it was categorized as ‘women’s art,’” Nix said.

“I think a lot of it [has to do] with the #MeToo movement [and] reclaiming women’s’ stories that have been brushed aside for so long.”

For many stitchers, the repetitive and orderly patterns of cross-stitch offer a way to detach from their busy lives and focus on something meaningful.

Brenna Jachymowksi, of Etsy shop “Plays Well with Needles,” likes working on pieces that are empowering to her — like her popular design “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss”.

“I think if you surround yourself with positive [phrases] and empowering [messages] you start to feel that way. Your environment

definitely affects you,” she said. “Just the intent behind [a piece] sends a really powerful message that you care enough to put this much time and effort into something.”

Like many of these artists, Wone and Youa Vang were taught how to stitch by their mother and grandmother. The sisters hosted a subversive cross-stitching workshop at the Minnesota Museum of American Art last weekend.

Wone and Youa, who corun the Etsy store “3DRDm” an acronym for “Third Daughter, Restless Daughter,” have commissioned several large-scale pieces for museums and restaurants around the Twin Cities. One piece, titled “Not your grandmother’s crossstitch,” is made from chicken wire and yarn as opposed to fabric and embroidery floss.

Although the sisters prefer a needle and thread, cross-stitch allows them to add a little humor to

their life.

“Art is your view of the world,” said Youa. “If you’re upset [or] you’re happy, that’s what you put out into your piece.”

Wone said they watch a lot of comedy specials and get inspiration for their designs from everyday life.

“We like to laugh a lot,” she said.

“You have to see humor to get through life,” Youa added.

There are only a handful of prominent cross-stitchers in the Twin Cities. However, the sewers say there’s a robust community on social media, which makes sharing patterns and finished pieces relatively easy.

Youa said subversive cross-stitch has introduced the pattern to a new generation.

“They’re finding joy in that they can do this and it doesn’t have to be old and boring,” Youa said. “A lot of young people and younger generations are saying, ‘Oh, I can make this my own.’”

MUSIC

Local band Gully Boys comes into their own The band explores their DIY identity as they write for their upcoming EP.

BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com

No brothers have a bond like that of the Gully Boys.

Drives between shows on the band’s last tour could be described as similar to the “Tiny Dancer” scene in the 2000 film “Almost Famous.”

Except this time they’re playing “Sandstorm” by Darude.

“There’s literally no one else I would do this with,” said Gully Boys drummer and vocalist Nadirah McGill. “These are my best friends.”

The three-piece band, comprised of Kathy Callahan (vocals and guitar), Natalie Klemond (bass and vocals) and McGill, has grown together in more ways than one. From basement shows to headlining First Avenue, they continue to evolve into their most authentic selves — together.

When the Gully Boys began playing music together, they admittedly didn’t really know what they were doing. They learned to play covers, which led to songwriting.

Through trial and error, they found their sound: “Heavy and sweet at the same time,” Klemond said.

Prominent electric guitar riffs are laid out across bass and drums, which are then

COURTESY OF GULLY BOYS

Nadirah McGill, left, Natalie Klemond and Kathy Callahan, comprise the musical group Gully Boys.

accompanied by Callahan’s strong vocals. “ W e w ro t e ‘ N e o p e t Graveyard’ and we were like, ‘OK, this is what we want to sound like,’” McGill said.

Their songwriting process has gotten faster and their sound more intentional since their self-titled EP was released in 2017. However, one thing remains the same.

“It just starts with one of us doing something that we like and then building off of that,” Klemond said. “It

takes a long time to figure out the structure of a song.”

Song drafts are written

by Callahan and Klemond before being handed to McGill for revisions. “[McGill is] like the editor in chief,” Klemond said.

Song names are curated via memes and quick nicknames that temporarily act as placeholders in their audio files, and there you have it — a Gully Boys original.

The band’s debut album, “Not So Brave,” was released last August. Listening may

elicit copious amounts of head-banging and the same empowered feeling you got while listening to No Doubt in the early 2000s.

With their album tour now over, the band has shifted their focus to writing for their next EP, as well as recording a direct-to-vinyl for release this summer.

Gully Boys enthusiasm for their craft has much to do with their beginnings in the Minneapolis DIY music scene, where bands create music on their own because

they believe in owning the creative process.

“I think the DIY scene is just kind of having a moment in general right now,” Klemond said.

Roddie Gadeberg of Twin Cities band niiice., which toured with Gully Boys this past winter, remembers running out of Bandcamp listens when Gully Boys’ self-titled EP came out.

Gadeberg’s band falls under the DIY music genre along with Gully Boys. He notices the band staying genuine to the scene as they grow in popularity.

“I feel like they bring in something new,” Gadeberg said. “It’s also very rooted in, like, grunge and alternative.”

While Gully Boys’ music seems effortless and fun, it is also immensely vulnerable.

They wouldn’t be up there with just anybody else.

“There are some songs that I feel really heavy through my body,” McGill said. “Being able to look up and see my brothers and smile and enjoy that joy — it really makes me feel present. Like, shit, this is our music.”

What: Gully Boys, YYY and Half Wolf W h e n : 10 p.m., Friday, April 19 Where: Icehouse MPLS, 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis Cost: $10 Ages: 21+

6 THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

Editorials & Opinions

COLUMN

Tragedies occuring outside the Western world merit more coverage than they currently receive Western tragedies against white people elicit notably unbalanced outpouring of support and press.

O

n Monday, the world mourned as it heard the news about Notre Dame going up in flames. The tragedy of losing centuries worth of religious history ALEEZEH HASAN was shocking columnist for everyone.

On the same day, at almost the same time, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem was also on fire. There was far less coverage on the mosque and far fewer posts on my social feeds spoke about that tragedy. But none of this was a surprise.

Media bias is nothing new. The selective mourning of Americans is something I have felt my entire life.

Members of western civilization mourn

for white deaths more than deaths of people of color. In 2015, we saw Facebook feeds covered with the French flag. People showed solidarity for the six horrendous terror attacks that killed over a hundred people that fall. While the events were heartbreaking, we rarely see profile pictures with flags of other countries when similar events occur, despite us knowing about multiple atrocities across the world.

In 2016, a devastating suicide bombing in Brussels left people terrified. It was the worst bombing in Belgium’s history. Almost double the number of people were killed for similar reasons just five days later in Lahore, Pakistan, but there was close to no coverage of this tragedy in Western media.

Currently, Uighur Muslims are being held in “re-education centers” in China.

Barely anyone seems to notice or care. But if even one American was being held in a similar way, we would notice and we would feel outrage.

Within our own nation, we don’t pay attention to the people in Flint, Michigan who have been without clean water for five years. But people happily raised millions of dollars to “build a wall” because they think violence in America comes from the outside.

This money could go toward cleaning the

water in Flint or be used to help victims of tragic events, but in America, our attention is drawn toward painting someone else as the enemy.

When there are mass shootings in the United States, we label white terrorists as “mentally ill.” We try to justify the actions.

When the perpetrator of a crime is another race, we talk about their race, their religion or anything else that makes them the “other.” We saw this illustrated in 2013 after the Boston Marathon bombings. The focus then was on the perpetrators’ faith as Muslims, rather than on the perpetrators’ personal lives or the potentiality of an unchecked mental illness.

When we give our focus to white lives over the lives of people of color, we take a harmful stance. We portray black and brown people as criminals — as if they represent their whole race. On the other hand, we view dangerous white people as “lone wolves.”

It is OK and normal to mourn over tragedies that happen in the Western world, but it is important to also pay attention to the deaths and injustices outside it. When we do not educate ourselves about horrible events happening outside the United States and Europe, we encourage the development

When we give our focus to white lives over the lives of people of color, we take a harmful stance. We portray black and brown people as criminals — as if they represent their whole race.

of xenophobic attitudes. We allow bigots to ignore the horrendous tragedies that occur, and our implicit biases toward people of color and discrimination against minorities continue.

Aleezeh Hasan welcomes comments at ahasan@mndaily.com.

EDITORIAL

Applying to unpaid internships?

Here is what you need to know Unpaid internships present a unique set of challenges as well as a unique set of opportunities.

Whether you’re searching for a postgraduation internship or a summer gig, knowing your rights (and your worth) as an intern is highly important — especially when it comes to unpaid internships. Don’t get tricked into an internship that isn’t what you think it is. Internships are clear stepping stones in landing a fulltime job, but that doesn’t mean you must settle for an unpaid one.

The Fair Labor Standards Act, created by the the United States Department of Labor, sets criteria for determining “intern” status.

You should be aware of the criteria as you approach unpaid internships. According to the act: • The intern must understand that there is no compensation • Their training must be similar to an educational environment • Interns may receive academic credit • The internship accommodates academic commitments • Internship duration is limited • The intern must be provided with significant educational benefits • The intern is not entitled to a paid job at the end of the internship

Robert McGrady welcomes comments at rmcgrady@mndaily.com.

Weigh your worth before applying to an unpaid gig. Ask yourself: if you have relevant experience, is an unpaid internship the best you can do? It’s also important to be completely

COLUMN

Declining voter turnout for campus elections should be a cause for concern

Voter turnout declined by three percent at the University last year, following a decade of growth.

A

round this time last year, The Daily Cardinal, a student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reported that voter turnout for student elections at Madison had JONATHAN ABABIY declined to around columnist six percent.

Just 2,411 students out of 41,522 students had decided the Wisconsin’s next student government, which manages $51 million in University fees.

Voter turnout declined by three percent at the University of Minnesota last year, even with a controversial referendum on campus and 10 years of voter turnout growth. There were only 4,405 undergraduate ballots cast.

That was in 2018. This year, there were only 2,528 votes for the undergraduate campus elections. That is a dramatic drop in voter turnout, from 14.8 percent to just 8.4 percent.

That is a problem. Although its power is limited on campus, the Minnesota Student Association is the closest thing students have to a voice representing them on campus, in administration and at the state level. Low voter turnout means MSA won’t look like the people it’s supposed to represent.

As Katrina Rbeiz, a staffer at the Illinois Student Government, told The Daily Cardinal,

“Not only would a low turnout hurt student government, but it would also hurt the student body.”

At the University of Minnesota, MSA’s chief of staff James Farnsworth said, “I think the All Campus Elections Commission, in partnership with registered student government, is responsible for voter turnout.”

He noted that the campus-wide email reminding students to register as candidates for the elections was sent out by MSA — not ACEC — just a couple days before the election.

ACEC had a marketing committee, but nobody really knew what it was doing to promote the elections.

A candidate this election cycle echoed that.

“People only know that elections are happening if they’re trying to be involved in it,” said Brayden Rothe, a second term at-large representative in MSA. Although ACEC bears most of the responsibility for the decline, MSA isn’t absolved. The past two years of decline align with a pool of candidates who were firm in MSA orthodoxy. The only kind of leaders we can get are ones that bubble up out of MSA. The sifting of the chaff is happening in MSA, so whatever wheat comes out is wheat MSA has chosen for us.

Voter turnout is always low on college campuses. The weakness of the youth vote seems to be one of the age-old facts inherent to American public life. But it’s a mistake to accept what we have now.

Our voter turnout should be higher. A 2005 study by two political scientists from the University of Iowa found the average voter turnout in student elections was 18.8 percent. Most schools’ voter turnout was below 25 percent, but other schools’ elections were not as bad as elections are on our campus.

Previous years saw better voter turnout.

Voter turnout is always low on college campuses. The weakness of the youth vote seems to be one of the age-old facts inherent to American public life.

candid with recruiters about what you’re looking to get out of the experience. Recruiters should be transparent with you, too.

Between stipends, experience and gaining connections, it’s hard to determine whether an unpaid internship is beneficial. It puts a lot of students at a disadvantage; companies should consider the fact that students who cannot afford to do these internships are inherently hindered.

We also want to acknowledge that the Minnesota Daily does currently offer unpaid internships. These positions largely act as stepping stones to paid positions. This situation is not ideal, and we would love to pay all employees. However, we recognize the budgeting struggles that businesses are posed with. Not all companies have the room to take on paid interns and we are fully aware of that reality. We urge other organizations to weigh the work of their interns and consider further opportunities to provide.

If you are a student at the University of Minnesota and you are having trouble finding a paid internship, the University offers an abundance of scholarships for unpaid interns. Be sure to research any scholarship opportunities while applying for internship positions and ask the employer if they offer scholarships.

If employers aren’t open about their internships, you should probably be looking elsewhere. There’s a multitude of internships wherever you go, so you should find one that truly suits your needs. You’re worth it.

For more resources, visit Career & Internship Services and Student Services & Advising.

EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.

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

letters@mndaily.com Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414

Voter turnout was more than 21 percent in 2017, and voter turnout was slightly higher in 2016 at more than 23 percent. Things can be different and voter apathy isn’t the norm. We were once above the average.

Our elections need to change. Voter turnout needs to improve. Until then, we’ll get what we vote for.

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

Jonathan Ababiy welcomes comments at jababiy@mndaily.com.

7

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

HOROSCOPES

Today’s Birthday (4/18): Pursue passion, curiosities and long-distance connections this year. Action and excellence advance your career. New domestic beginnings this summer set the stage for a career reorientation. By next winter, your professional status flowers, leading to a relocation or home renovation. What you’re learning pays off.

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 — Discover a structural breakdown with your partner. Consider long-term dreams and goals. Come up with areas of shared commitment and passion.

Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 7 — Reconsider a personal dream, goal or ambition. Unmet expectations or thwarted intentions could disappoint and frustrate. Reassess options.

Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 9 — Something you try now doesn’t work. Don’t make assumptions. Get expert assistance. Slow down around chaos or change. Give yourself time.

Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 6 — Rest and recharge. Review the past and consider future plans. Restore your energy with hot water and soft music. Enjoy a great movie or story.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 7 — Proceed with caution. Things could get chaotic.

Prioritize matters of the heart. Consider what you most want. How can you create more of that?

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is an 8 — A team effort requires your attention. Adapt to recent changes. Get expert advice. Take on extra responsibility temporarily.

Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 6 — Adjust to a shifting domestic situation. Structural breakdowns require attention. Make necessary repairs and upgrades. Save time and money.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 7 — A disruption at work could reveal another career direction. Consider the fun factor among others in sifting your options. Review, reassess and revise.

Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Listen to the news. Adapt to plot twists and a shifting story.

Gather information, and prepare your response.

Consider the situation from another view.

Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 7 — Slow down and consider where you’re going. Does this direction still take you to your objective?

At a roadblock, another way might look brighter.

Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — Consider upcoming changes and financial impacts.

Don’t rush into anything. Slow and easy does it.

Discover the silver lining under a cloud.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 7 — Listen to advice from elders and experts. Review your situation, and determine your direction. Take stock, and reassess your shared assets.

DR. DATE Dr. Date,

My boyfriend and I have been going through a rough patch in our sex life.

When he asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I thought suggesting a “sexy surprise” might help liven it up. I figured he might buy me some new lingerie, a Groupon for a couples massage or some toys (not of the kids variety). But when my birthday rolled around, he told me we were going to get into the car first.

I was expecting car sex. Instead, he drove me to an abandoned-looking warehouse that turned out to be the location of an orgy. What. The. F*ck. He somehow didn’t understand that not only should he discuss these things with me, he shouldn’t blindfold me and take me to a creepy place in the middle of nowhere to have group sex! We got into a big fight about the whole thing before he stormed off and told me to find my own way home.

Some guy dressed in full BDSM-wear had to drive me back and berated me over being a “spoilsport” the whole time.

Needless to say, my boyfriend totally ruined my birthday. I’m on the verge of breaking up with him, but I also feel like I might have misled him. What should I do?

—Not a Bondage Babe

Dear Not a Bondage Babe,

Yeah, to go from car sex to an orgy in an abandoned warehouse is … a step, and one that you should definitely discuss beforehand. I would write this off as a major miscommunication between the two of you (that would still require a serious conversation) if not for the fact that he LEFT YOU ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE — WTF?! No matter how mad he may be, that’s a true asshole move and potentially very dangerous.

Frankly, I’d understand if the situation was a dealbreaker. If you want to try and save the relationship, set major boundaries as to what you’re OK with sexually (and otherwise) before asking if he wants a surprise redo. But unless you’ve specifically said, “Hey, I’m down for an orgy,” don’t worry about having misled him. Communication is key, especially if you’re having sex with a lot of other people!

— Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

My boyfriend and I live in one of those classically overpriced, off-campus

apartments that brag about amenities while charging $1,524 a month for a onebedroom. This is only our first year there, but the place is horrifically bad. We’ve tried to get out of our lease, but finding a subleaser is even more difficult to deal with than our building’s management.

Out of frustration, my boyfriend decided to create an Instagram account detailing the hells of our building. He misspelled the name, nicknamed it after their slogan and followed every single person their apartment account follows.

Within a day, he posted videos of the black water, flooded basements and rabid rats running through the halls. It gained 650 followers in 24 hours. Revenge, right?

We were enjoying exposing the building, until we got a knock on our door. Somehow the apartment found out who runs the account and served my boyfriend with a lawsuit for defamation!

Not only are they suing him for way too much money, they said he and his partner (aka me) need to vacate our apartment.

Look, I’m not trying to be homeless.

I figure I can break up with him now and claim we weren’t on speaking terms when he made the Instagram. The real question is, how can I tell him “it’s not you, it’s our apartment?”

—It’s Not You, It’s the Apartment

Dear It’s Not You, It’s the Apartment,

I’m Dr. Date, not Dr. Legal Advice. This is a little over my pay grade. Consult with Student Legal Services and see if they have the right to kick you out.

But on the relationship side, I’m assuming you and your boyfriend are serious if you’re living together. I’m not a lawyer, but you probably can’t prove you weren’t on speaking terms and will probably still be named even if you do break up. You’re not being charged, so you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Except finding a new place together, that is.

I know this is super stressful, but don’t make any rash decisions until you talk to someone who knows way more than I do. (Does your lease have anything against tweeting?)

— Dr. Date

Want advice from the love doctor? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com

SUDOKU CROSSWORD

Last Issue’s Puzzle Solved 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.

Last issue’s solution

4/18/19

© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed

by Tribune Media Services.

All rights reserved.

8

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Limited space for test accommodations Staff members are routinely giving up their office spaces for student testers.

BY JAKE STEINBERG jsteinberg@mndaily.com

It has become increasingly common for staff at the Disability Resource Center to find a sign on a colleague’s door warning them someone is taking a test inside.

The Senate Committee on Student Affairs is authoring a letter requesting the University of Minnesota address a recurring and intensifying issue for campuses’ disability resource centers: lack of adequate testing space.

The number of students requesting testing accommodations has been steadily increasing across all five system campuses. But on some campuses, disability resource centers are struggling to keep up, especially during high-demand times like midterms and finals. Staff routinely give up their office so students can test in private.

DRC space varies across campuses. Duluth’s DRC is nestled in the multicultural center. Rochester’s has no dedicated space. The Twin Cities campus has the largest space, but demand for its services is high. The DRC administered 11,769 tests in 2018, up 108 percent from 2014.

“There’s a general increase in anxiety disorders.

There are more students who are more willing to say ‘I have a disability,’ so stigma is reduced,” said DRC Associate Director Scott Marshall.

“The number of times we’re giving our offices up so students can take exams in them is just increasing at the same pace.”

Students need private testing accommodations for a number of reasons that are decided on a case-by-case basis. Those with attention deficit disorder have difficulty maintaining focus and might require a private testing space without distractions,

MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY

for example.

However, Marshall said if someone isn’t in their office, they may be unable to take phone calls for a student who needs help.

“They can’t meet with staff because they’re not in their office and there’s no privacy,” he said. “There is, at times, a substantial burden on how the work gets done if we’re asking people not to be in their workspace.”

More faculty have put accommodation information in their syllabi and an increase in student mental health counseling has led to more referrals, said Emily Norenberg, director of Disability Resources at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Duluth staff started giving up their offices two years ago.

Norenberg said they’ve been able to make it work without major disruptions.

“We can tread water for the next couple years using this ad hoc strategy. But if numbers keep continuing in the way that they are, we’ll need to put our thinking caps on,” she said.

Incoming SCSA Chair Cody Mikl said the committee decided to act after hearing from each campus’s disability resource center last fall.

“It’s easy to see how a student who needs testing accommodations might be harmed if the Disability Resource Center can’t find

room for them,” he said.

Marshall said it’s common during busy periods that they ask students to come in at different times. “It’s only a matter of time until we have to turn somebody away and say ‘I’m sorry we don’t have space for you here,’” he said.

Marshall said over the past few years the DRC started renting space around campus, including the entire second floor of the Graduate Hotel during finals. He said the DRC outgrew its suite “long ago.”

They’ve been working with the University Real Estate Office to find more space — but conversations have stalled.

“We’re probably not going

to find enough space to get ourselves out of this,” said Marshall. “The University needs to address this space issue in the shorter term. But it also needs to address the larger question about how exams disable some students.”

Not all campuses are pressed for space.

The University of Minnesota-Crookston opened a new community testing center last year. Crookston’s DRC Director Gail Myers said they can easily seat the 600 to 800 exams they coordinate yearly.

Jeff Baier, disability resources coordinator at the Rochester campus, said space isn’t an issue.

“Classrooms are not

“There’s a general increase in anxiety disorders, there are more studentsmore willing to say ‘I have a disability,’ so the stigma is reduced.”

SCOTT MARSHALL DRC Associate Director

always classrooms,” he said.

“We always try to find a space or location that works.

Sometimes it happens to be my office.”

Gaps found in research on nature-based learning Exposure to nature increases children’s education and helps with development.

BY KAIT ECKER kecker@mndaily

In r e s po ns e t o ga ps found in a literature review on the benefits of naturebased learning, University of Minnesota researchers are recommending further research to make the learning more accessible.

The gaps are addressed in a research agenda, which will be published next week. The researchers were surprised to find strong converging evidence for the benefits of naturebased learning, such as rejuvenated attention, stress reduction, increased selfdiscipline and better engagement. But there is also a demand for specific analysis so these ideas can more easily be applied in educational settings.

The research agenda asks experts to further study the benefits of naturebased learning so people like teachers, city planners and legislators can apply that knowledge to their work, said Pediatric Neuropsychologist Catherine Jordan, a researcher on both projects.

“Nature has traditionally been seen as sort of a luxury. ... And that often results in inequitable access to nature,” Jordan said.

“What our message is, is that no, nature actually has to be taken seriously as a necessity in promoting children’s development and their educational outcomes.”

Interactions with nature can result in improved results academically and can also increase development and characteristics like “perseverance, critical thinking, leadership and communication skills,”

JASMIN KEMP, DAILY

Mitch Van Sickle, Tommy Leitner and Colin Leuthold work on a group project outside to get some fresh air on St. Paul campus on Monday, April 15.

according to the literature review.

“We’re basically trying to guide, [to] push the field, or these many fields, that contribute to this idea of nature-based learning to ask the most pertinent, most critical research questions and to answer those using the most rigorous methods,” Jordan said.

While the literature review focused on the effect of nature-based learning on young children, Jordan said the results of the study can be generalized to include college students.

“If you have a campus in the middle of the city, like we do ... the role that nature has to play is even more critical,” said Michael Barnes, an environmental psychology graduate student who worked on the literature review. “Those natural spaces that we have here on campus are even more important and should be not leftovers, but thought of.”

Even small adjustments, like adding planters along walkways or sprucing up a courtyard outside of classroom and office spaces, can provide restorative benefits, Barnes said.

Some of the questions posed in the research agenda aim to gain more information about how teachers can

successfully incorporate nature-based learning into their curriculum and how factors like age, gender and socioeconomic status affect a child’s learning.

“It not only relates to being a better place, a place where students want to be, but also can actually impact the learning that’s going on in these places,” Barnes said.

To be able to apply nature as a solution, practitioners like Sheila Williams Ridge, the director of the University’s Shirley G. Moore Lab School, are looking for heightened applicability from research.

“The research agenda is going to influence the way that we are looking at our time outdoors,” Ridge said.

She sees how children can have a difficult time managing themselves in a classroom setting.

“All of those things can be immensely helped by taking children outside an appropriate amount of time.

But we don’t know what that time [is], and we don’t know what is the exact nature that they need,” Ridge said. “I think the research agenda is going to help us figure out ... those important things about dosage and about defining how much nature is enough nature.”