CAMPUS & METRO
CAMPUS & METRO
GYMNASTICS
Community members gathered to discuss their neighborhoods.
The senator outlined his plans to address college affordability issues.
Hanna Nordquist placed 16th on the balance beam after falling in the finals.
Public forum addresses area concerns
Franken, students talk college costs
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A.M. CLOUDS / P.M. SUN HIGH 68° LOW 38°
Mable finishes fifth on vault at NCAAs
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U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
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MONDAY
APRIL 21, 2014
CAMPUS
Rice lectures amid protests
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
POLICY
U objects to patent reform The University is one of many schools worried about a bill targeting “patent trolls.” BY JEFF HARGARTEN jhargarten@mndaily.com
PATRICIA GROVER, DAILY
Protesters stand outside Northrop Auditorium on Thursday holding signs, listening to guest speakers and chanting in protest of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to campus.
Hundreds picketed Condoleezza Rice’s visit to campus Thursday. BY ROY AKER AND ANNE MILLERBERND raker@mndaily.com amillerbernd@mndaily.com
A
fter weeks of controversy sur rounding former U.S. Secretar y of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to the University of Minnesota, her appearance Thursday went ahead as scheduled. About 200 protesters chanted and waved signs while parading around the East Bank. But inside Northrop Auditorium, Rice spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,200. Some protesters were members of Students for a Democratic Society, which initially voiced its opposition to Rice’s visit last month. Opponents cited Rice’s involvement in controversial war time policies during George W. Bush’s presidency and her $150,000 price tag for the lecture. The protest lasted about two hours
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Democracy is only as strong as its weakest link.
HEALTH
Pollution has skewed impact
Condoleezza Rice and 20 University police of ficers monitored the situation, blocking Northrop’s front steps for the duration of Rice’s speech. Some protesters wore orange jumpsuits and black sacks over their heads to represent Guantanamo Bay prisoners, while others heckled lecture attendees as they exited the event. One protester dressed like a prisoner, Bjorn Johnson, sat in on Rice’s speech. “We felt it was important to have dissenting opinions in the room rather than just one person having the mic,” u See RICE Page 5
People of color are more likely to live in polluted areas and face the associated health risks. AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
atively new, but knowing more could help prevent them. “The more that we understand about the causes of the genocide in Rwanda, the more we’ll be able to prevent other genocides,” said Barbara Frey, who directs the University’s Human Rights Program. While there’s existing research that focuses on prevention measures and the aftermath of the tragedies, there’s still a need u See GENOCIDE Page 4
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To prevent genocide, researchers look to the past BY HALEY HANSEN hhansen@mndaily.com
On the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, University of Minnesota students and faculty are exploring ways to avoid future tragedies.
The Humphrey School of Public affairs hosted a conference last week in honor of the genocide’s anniversar y. Researchers shared their new ideas, and international leaders discussed the importance of knowing the root of the catastrophe. “I think the more students have an understanding of and appreciation of those issues, the better equipped they’ll be to deal with them,” said Humphrey School Dean Eric Schwartz. Research on genocide prevention is rel-
BY ALLISON KRONBERG akronberg@mndaily.com
In the U.S., people of color live, on average, in more polluted neighborhoods than whites, according to new University of Minnesota research. Researchers say thousands of deaths could be prevented each year if the racial disparity is reduced. The University study, released earlier this month, found that non-whites are more likely to live in areas with higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, which increases the risk of respiratory illness, heart disease and other diseases. The pollutant comes mostly from vehicle exhaust and power plants. Minnesota’s pollutant exposure gap between whites and non-whites is the 15th largest in the country, and researchers say the Twin Cities’ gap is wide as well. “Even cities without high pollution can still have large gaps between demographic
RESEARCH
Studying the genocide in Rwanda may reveal warning signs of future atrocities.
As Congress considers sweeping patent reform, research universities across the country are raising objections. The push for reform comes in response to the increased activities of “patent trolls,” firms that amass patents to make money from intellectual proper ty infringement lawsuits and licensing deals. Congress is aiming to level the playing field, promote transparency and take the teeth out of frivolous patent suits. But some Senate proposals have been met with resistance from intellectual proper ty lawyers, patent firms and research universities — including the University of Minnesota. The University, like many of its peer schools, supports patent reform in general and deems patent trolling practices unethical. But it’s concerned that the proposed Senate bill might restrict universities from enforcing their intellectual property claims.
STUDENT LIFE
A brisk run for charity About 50 students ran around campus in their underwear to support those with epilepsy. BY ANNE MILLERBERND amillerbernd@mndaily.com
Shivering in huddled groups as the sun set on the Northrop Plaza on Friday, more than 50 half-naked University of Minnesota students prepared to run a mile and a half around campus for charity. Many of the students on the plaza were attending their first Undie Run, an increasingly popular philanthropy event nationwide, to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. Five College of Science and Engineering students organized the event as part of a class project. Runners donated their clothes to the epilepsy foundation, which
will sell them and keep the proceeds. Before the run, participants shed their clothes and Gopher Laundr y workers stuffed the donations into large duffel bags before carrying them off to wash them. “We chose to do it because it’s a good cause, [it] seemed like a fun event and we get to interact with students,” said Gopher Laundry co-owner Justin Romer. After the run, organizers invited participants to the West Bank’s Corner Bar, which relaxed its dress code for the night to allow the runners inside. Biomedical engineering senior Anders Olmanson helped plan the event. His first attempt hosting a run last summer was less organized and drew fewer runners, Olmanson said. But this time, word of mouth among CSE students brought more participants — many of whom said they were just as u See UNDIES Page 5
HOLLY PETERSON, DAILY
Undie Run participants start the 1.5-mile race Friday. The participants stripped down to their underwear and donated their clothes to the Epilepsy Foundation.
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