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IMMIGRATION
SCOTUS case breeds uncertainty for DACA students A team at the University is encouraging DACA students to renew their statuses early. BY KATRINA PROSS kpross@mndaily.com
With the Supreme Court’s announcement late last month to review the decision to terminate DACA, recipients remain in limbo as they await the program’s fate. In light of this decision, the general advice given to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is to renew their status just in case the program is terminated, even if their status is not near expiration. The University of Minnesota’s
DACA AND STUDENT LIFE
Immigration Response Team is also recommending students consider reapplying early and has funding available to help students pay the filing costs. Recipients have to renew their DACA status every two years and it costs almost $500 each time. University students can apply for funding to help pay for the costs through The Dream Fund, which is run by the response team and provides funding for immigrant students. However, every DACA student’s situation is different, so not every recipient may need to file for renewal, said Marissa HillDongre, the director of the response team. But the University can help students decide u See DACA Page 3
→ Living
Legal uncertainty limits DACA students’ long-term planning and adds stresses on top of school
→ Money
DACA recipients must renew every two years, costing about $500
→ Work
Employment authorization is dependent on DACA status SOURCE: MN DAILY REPORTING
ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
A&E
Bringing inclusivity to tattoos The female and nonbinary-run shop creates a safe space for customers and artists alike.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Somali mothers group expands local outreach The Somali Mothers of MN partnered with an organization for youth violence prevention.
BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com
The atmosphere of Jackalope Tattoo is calming — the low buzzing of a tattoo gun provides background noise to the banter of artists over their half-walled cubicles. Around the shop, the walls are adorned with sketches, paintings and sculptures; leafy plants drape over desks and ledges. A stuffed rabbit with antelope horns guards a skull in the waiting area. And, Jackalope Tattoo is unique in that it’s home to artists who are female or nonbinary artists. “Our industry is really filled with a lot of toxic masculinity,” said owner Emi Nijiya Tuesday as they tattooed a raven on a client. “Getting tattooed is such an intimate experience, so we wanted to make sure that our clients felt safe coming here.” Having worked in other shops where Nijiya was not comfortable expressing themself, it was important for Nijiya to create a space where artists could practice their craft without feeling unsafe. The artists’ comfort is evident in their workspaces, each with a small cubicle in the general area to make their own. Nijiya’s is covered in black and white sketches of previous tattoo work, a sassy embroidery piece with the words ‘Fuck Politeness’ and photo booth portraits with friends and family. Artist Amo Azure has their illustration work hanging on the wall, and Jessie McNally’s space is full of her intricate and colorful paintings and sculpture. “Some stories that I’ve heard from clients [about] things that male tattoo artists have done to them while they’re in a vulnerable
BY MOHAMED IBRAHIM mibrahim@mndaily.com
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Above: Artist Amp Azure wipes ink off Jen BautchShelher’s arm on Tuesday, July 9 at Jackalope Tattoo in Minneapolis. Left: Owner Emi Nijiya tattoos a red-winged black bird on Nia Rathbone’s arm. Jackalope Tattoo is run entirely by female and nonbinary artists.
u See TATTOOS Page 5
Approaching the one-year anniversary of its formation, the Somali Mothers of MN continues to expand its efforts to advocate for the Cedar-Riverside community. The Somali Mothers of MN, a local community group of Somali women in CedarRiverside, is currently working with neighborhood organizations to curb youth violence. Since its first meeting last fall, the group has been very active, raising safety concerns in the neighborhood and advocating for residents. Most recently, the women organized a protest against the city’s plan to build an “African market” in the neighborhood on July 7. ”I’ve seen a lot and I just couldn’t take it anymore,” said Fartun Del, one of the group’s founders. “I chose to do something — anything.” The organization was formed following two shootings in the neighborhood last year, Del said. Feeling existing violence prevention measures, or lack thereof, were failing the youth in the area, the group of about 20 Somali women decided to take matters into their own hands, she said. Local businesses and their owners, including Del, who owns Sagal Restaurant on Cedar Avenue, raised $9,000 from businesses in December to hire off-duty police officers for extra security. The group also recently met with Brian Coyle Center u See MOTHERS Page 3
ACADEMICS
Ska-U-Mah: University of Minnesota creates new institute recognizing reggae studies The program is the first of its kind outside of Jamaica to recognize the study of reggae. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota’s School of Music held the nation’s first International Summer Institute for Reggae Studies last month, a significant first step in increasing the overall education and study of reggae music.
The institute is the first of its kind, creating an “outpost” for the study of reggae music, which hasn’t enjoyed the same level of attention as other genres, like jazz or classical music. “My hope is by giving reggae a home at the University of Minnesota, it also provides a place where people can come to us with projects,” said Scott Currie, director of the institute, who said he has already gotten interest about creating a reggae archive. “There are lots of materials and lots of scholars and so forth that right now don’t have any place to go.”
During the week-long summit, participants spent the mornings digging into the “meat and bones” of how reggae is understood on an intellectual level. In the afternoon they had music workshops and at the end of the summit students opened for a concert of Third World and local reggae band, International Reggae All-Stars, on Northrop Mall. Currie said he finds it strange that no one in the United States was already doing this, given reggae’s international prominence. The idea for the institute started with “combining scholarship at a level that’s not just recounting Jamaican music history,
but actually digging into the issues and questions that it raises,” Currie said. “Reggae has been a music of struggle, sometimes revolutionary oppression, and the music of a very stigmatized minority.” Developed from the ska music genre among others, reggae is the most prominent music in Jamaica and was widely popularized by Bob Marley, whose music is recognized internationally. Paul Shaw, a Jamaican classical pianist and professor in the School of Music, said Marley’s lyrics appealed u See REGGAE Page 3
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
Gophers gymnastics recruits to show off potential at U.S. Championships Incoming freshmen Bold and McKinney are training with the team for the August event. BY JOHN MILLER jmiller@mndaily.com
The Gophers’ men’s gymnastics team’s 2019 recruiting class has made waves on the national stage before even suiting up in maroon and gold. Incoming freshmen Crew Bold and Donte McKinney have qualified for the junior U.S. Championships in August. Head coach Mike Burns said he is excited to have two major recruits coming in to help the program, especially at a time when men’s gymnastics is competing at a higher level than ever before. Both gymnasts are expected to compete right away in the fall of 2019. Despite being freshmen, Burns has high expectations and will rely on them heavily. “I envision both of those guys probably doing the all-around during the course of the season, with the idea that
they hopefully would be competing in the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships to see if they can qualify high enough to be All-Americans in the allaround,” said Burns. Bold and McKinney have begun working with the program over the last few weeks and they’re putting their skills on display for the rest of the team to see. “As we have gotten to work with them over the course of the last five [to] six weeks, I’ve been really impressed with their abilities, their attitudes, their display of power. They have a lot of power,” Burns said. “The rest of the guys in the gym are just like, ‘Wow, that guy is really good. I didn’t know he was that good.’” Bold, who is from Delray Beach, Florida, was given a training program by Burns to help him in his quest to reach the U.S. Championships. “They helped my mentality of the sport,” Bold said. Burns not only looks to bolster gymnasts’ routines, but he knows that they need to be u See GYMNASTICS Page 4
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Head Coach Mike Burns, left, sits with incoming freshmen Donte McKinney, middle, and Crew Bold during practice at Cooke Hall on Tuesday, July 16.
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Hotel proposed in Prospect Park A community task force will help to facilitate discussions with the developer. BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com
A new extended-stay hotel is proposed to begin construction by next year in the Prospect Park neighborhood. The 6-story hotel, a franchised Home2 Suites by Hilton located at 2800 University Ave. SE, will break ground by next spring. A community task force is underway to aid the developer, Prospect Park Properties, and the architect, Tushie Montgomery Architects, in creating a plan for the hotel.
Plans for the hotel currently include amenities for extended stays, like king studios and double-queen rooms, full-size refrigerators and kitchenettes, said Jeff Barnhart, president of Prospect Park Properties. Connected to the ground floor of the Hampton Inn and Suites, the property will also have around 100 parking spaces and a cocktail and coffee bar. “We’ve just realized that there’s more demand for an extended-stay product in the University of Minnesota area,” Barnhart said. “We’re just trying to do what we think are, arguably, wellplaced strategic developments within our existing portfolio.” Other development sites
in the area facilitated by Prospect Park Properties include the Hampton Inn and Suites, The Link, The Pillars of Prospect Park and the Green on Fourth Apartments. Ward 2 City Council member Cam Gordon said the number of hotels around campus has been increasing over the past 10 years, with developers discussing extended-stay hotels periodically. The Halo Hotel and Apartments, developed by North Bay Companies, in Marcy-Holmes is currently going through the city’s approval process. “There’s a demand for people visiting campus, visiting family and friends there. But there’s also the hospi-
tals too,” Gordon said. “I am hopeful that [the developer will] work with the community and it’ll be a win-win for the project itself, but also for the surrounding area.” Julia Turnbow, a University student living in Prospect Park, said she doesn’t personally see the need for more hotels in the area. “But it seems like a very specific kind of audience that they’re going for,” she said. Prospect Park Association’s five-person task force, formed at a June meeting, is working to come up with an agreement with the developer to voice neighborhood resident wants and concerns, like exterior design plans and parking availability. After the agreement is
made in the form of a memorandum-of-understanding, Prospect Park Properties plans to take the proposal to the city’s Planning Commission in September. “I think most people are happy with the direction that we’re headed,” said Dan Bryant, chair of the task force. Joyce Walker, also a member on the task force, said she wants to look at ways to further “big picture” community engagement, not just the building’s architecture. “We’ve been very active with the neighborhood for many years,” Barnhart said. “It was very important for us to just work within the neighborhood where we have our businesses.”
OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER Cleo Krejci Editor-in-Chief ckrejci@mndaily.com (612)-227-5914 Kyle Stumpf Business Operations Officer kstumpf@mndaily.com (612)-435-5772 EDITORIAL STAFF Max Chao Managing Editor mchao@mndaily.com Christine Ha Managing Production Editor cha@mndaily.com Michelle Griffith Campus Editor mgriffith@mndaily.com Madeline Deninger City Editor mdeninger@mndaily.com Paul Hodowanic Sports Editor phodowanic@mndaily.com Madeline Folstein A&E Editor mfolstein@mndaily.com Liv Martin Assistant A&E Editor omartin@mndaily.com Courtney Deutz Multimedia Editor cdeutz@mndaily.com Bailey Davis Copy Desk Chief bdavis@mndaily.com Emily Martens Assistant Copy Desk Chief emartens@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Chief Page Designer dkamas@mndaily.com Morgan La Casse Visuals Editor mlacasse@mndaily.com =
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Mental health among priorities for Gabel Gabel guided the U’s board through discussions about goals for next year. BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com
Although the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and President Joan Gabel came to consensus on few things at a retreat in Faribault, Minnesota on Thursday and Friday, they agreed on two things: The weather was too nice to be tucked away in a conference room and it was all “great discussion.” In a robust and sometimes “mushy” conversation about everything from tuition to campus climate, Gabel and the board examined a series of pillars to detail where regents feel Gabel should steer the University. Gabel would open the discussion before allowing regents to make their own comments in an attempt to guide the discourse, having varying degrees of success. After lunch, Gabel had regents stretch their legs after hours of tabled discourse, breaking out into small groups to identify ideas for the upcoming academic year and goals for what will become the system’s next strategic plan. Asking regents to picture a marble circling a funnel, Gabel said the process of creating a strategic plan can be long — up to two years on average — and they are currently at the “widest part of the funnel,” with the narrowest presumably being the final plan. “I wouldn’t say we’re on different pages, I would say that we’re at the very earliest stages and there is uncertainty about how the process will unfold,” Gabel said after
the retreat. “We go through the process in order to have a learning that occurs by asking questions, by reflecting on where we are now and where we want to be.” ‘If I go there, maybe I won’t belong’ Discussions on campus climate and inclusion opened with Gabel outlining what she considers a concerning disparity among white and African American students about feeling a sense of belonging at the University. While she said this disparity is relatively close to national statistics from the American Association of Universities, she not only wanted to address the racial gap, but grow student satisfaction in their experience overall. But conversations around diversity expanded beyond the racial mix of students on campus, with some regents stressing diversity of thought, citing a sense of “political intolerance” on campus. “Name me one professor in the Humphrey School with conservative thought,” Vice Chair Steve Sviggum, who previously taught in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, said. “You can’t do it.” As potential reasons why conservative students may not feel welcome on campus, Regent Michael Hsu cited vandalism of the College Republicans panel on the Washington Avenue Bridge and Regent Thomas Anderson mentioned rural students often don’t feel at home. Regent Darrin Rosha stressed starting conversation about whether there is a campus climate problem, saying the University is providing the best environment it ever has. “I think we are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy
EDITORIAL BOARD Ariana Wilson Editorials & Opinions Editor awilson@mndaily.com Joshua Jordan Editorial Board Member BUSINESS Jacob Kenyon Sales Manager jkenyon@mndaily.com David Keane Controller dkeane@mndaily.com =
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
University President Joan Gabel listens to Vice Chair Steven Sviggum on Friday, July 12.
when we talk about a campus climate problem,” Rosha said, expressing a belief that it’s a larger cultural problem. “You keep pounding these students with the idea that they are not being treated well, and you know what they are going to think? That they are not treated well.” Referring to a larger trend of tribalism in today’s culture, some regents expressed this may not be an issue where the University can make significant changes. “We are at risk of spending too much money in this area,” Hsu said. After the retreat, Gabel said creating a sense of belonging for underrepresented students is important and some regents may see the need to expand what inclusivity means. “My goal in bringing it up was to make sure that we knew how important it was that we had a sense of the difficulty in developing plans around improving it,” Gabel said, admitting they still have
work to do on determining what campus climate means. Student mental health, tuition spark ardent discussion Addressing student mental health is a high priority for Gabel, describing the current national landscape as a “crisis.” She came prepared, presenting regents with various statistics about how current and future students are dealing with more mental health concerns than prior generations. To Gabel, mental health is a crucial part of the larger conversation of safety for students on campus, encompassed by overall student health, physical safety and ensuring their financial safety. While at times they tried to avoid it, regents went down the “rabbit hole” of tuition at various parts of the retreat, with Gabel at one point saying, “We cannot raise tuition much more.” Some regents said they were open to increases, with Regent Richard Beeson calling it the “best source of new revenue.”
Board Chair Ken Powell said the University should explore playing with different tuition and enrollment models to maximize funding at places where it may be underutilized currently. For example, he said the University should consider how lower tuition at system campuses could increase enrollment. Tuition discussions were closely aligned with conversations about dealing with continued disappointment in state support for the University and whether alternative revenue sources are a viable solution. They also discussed the cost side of the budget, reviving a common discussion among regents about making the University’s administration leaner and identifying potential cuts in the system. While Gabel said there is room for cuts, the “headroom is not outrageous.” “We cannot be all things to all people,” Gabel said. “Our resources are constrained, and they always will be.
UMN business school teams with new APM podcast Each episode of the business podcast features a professor from Carlson. BY FARRAH MINA fmina@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota strategic management professor Mary Benner headed to St. Paul a few months ago to talk to American Public Media about the shrinkage of the film company Kodak. Benner was recording to be featured on an upcoming episode of “Spectacular Failures”—a new business podcast about corporate failures. The podcast, which launched on June 17, was created by APM in partnership with the
University’s Carlson School of Management. In addition to being a sponsor for the project, faculty members from the business school are featured as subject matter expertise in every episode of the show. “People love to hear stories of how a business became a success,” said Andre Eggert, a spokesperson for the Carlson School. “As a business school, we know that you’re missing half the story if you don’t also hear about the failures.” In an episode focusing on Kodak, Benner’s insight will be used to help tell the story of the company’s experiences with a technological shift from film photography to digital photography. Benner has done more than 20 years
of research investigating the difficulties companies like Kodak face when responding to new technologies. Although many people assume Kodak could not keep up with technological advances, the company — which developed the first digital camera — was stunted by shareholders when it came to making the technological leap from film to digital, Benner said. “Although internal reasons are the predominant focus when people point to innovation challenges in big companies, it misses the idea that there might be other constraints, from shareholders, etc. that prevent companies from changing
effectively,” Benner said in an email. Conversations about a potential partnership with the business school began in early 2018 when APM approached the school about the project, Eggert said. The school’s reputation is compatible with the show’s goal to make business education accessible and entertaining, said Lauren Dee, the interim director of podcasting at APM. For the Carlson School, the podcast is as an opportunity to underscore its available expertise. “The school saw the podcast as an interesting and emerging space for us to potentially highlight strengths of the school and our faculty and connect
with listeners.” said Jamie Plesser, Carlson’s assistant dean for marketing and communications. Each episode ends with a short conversation with a Carlson faculty member about their research in the concluding featurette called Biz Whiz. Although Carlson has had discussions about creating a podcast in the past, “Spectacular Failures” is the business school’s first podcast, Plesser said. “Podcasting continues to grow in popularity, and it provides an immersive experience for audiences that intimately connect them with the storytelling, so it seemed like the perfect fit for this project,” Eggert 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. THE MINNESOTA DAILY is a legally independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is a student-written and student-managed newspaper for the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. The Daily’s mission is: 1) to provide coverage of news and events affecting the University community; 2) to provide a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University community; 3) to provide educational training and experience to University students in all areas of newspaper operations; and 4) to operate a fiscally responsible organization to ensure its ability to serve the University in the future. The Daily is a member of the Minnesota News Council, the Minnesota Associated Press, the Associated Collegiate Press, The Minnesota Newspaper Association and other organizations. The Daily is published Monday and Thursday during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and it is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn. Midwest News Service distributes the 10,000 issues biweekly. All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste. U.S. Postal Service: 351–480.
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Mothers u from Page 1
management to discuss expanding its hours, which Del said are currently restrictive and limit space for adequate youth programming. “We tell the people who are supposed to help, and if they choose not to listen and ignore us, we will keep telling them,” Del said. “We have a plan to save the youth as a group, as mothers, and we are getting stronger everyday.” Mothers are an integral part of society in Somali culture, amplifying the
Reggae u from Page 1
to the downtrodden and oppressed worldwide. “The lyrics and the philosophy of what [Marley] did drove the music, as well as his popularity,” Shaw said. Though usually played by instruments common in a pop band, reggae has a particular beat and rhythm distinguishing it from other popular genres, Shaw said. Some in Jamaica have expressed concerns about competing with the University, Shaw said, but he has tried to assure them the institute is a good thing and won’t “steal their thunder.” Next year he hopes to see scholars from Jamaica presenting at the institute. Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport,
DACA u from Page 1
if renewing is the right step to take, she said. “We want to make sure DACA students are informed about where they stand and that they have reliable information,” HillDongre said. “Immigration advice is different for everyone.” Created in 2012 under
group’s support in the predominantly East African neighborhood, said Ward 6 City Council member Abdi Warsame, who has met with Somali Mothers of MN on multiple occasions. But while bringing attention to issues is important, developing plans to address those issues will make the organization more effective going forward, he said. “They have to come up with solutions — what is the reason for your existence? What are the mothers doing apart from highlighting the issue that most people know?” Warsame said. “Concentrate more on the solutions and less
on just highlighting the problem.” Following a dormant period before new leadership stepped in, the CedarRiverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program received grant money from the Blueprint for Action, a youth violence prevention initiative through the Minneapolis health department. At a board meeting July 1, the organization approved a partnership with the Somali Mothers of MN to use the funding for training and education efforts related to youth violence. In addition to long-term measures, the mothers work to reach the youth
welcomed the creation of the institute when she came to Minnesota last month. “Reggae’s contribution to Jamaica’s revenue and global competitiveness has been documented but not shared enough,” Grange said, according to Jamaica’s The Gleaner. “I hope the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Reggae Studies will contribute to that body of knowledge which speaks to the outstanding economic contribution of reggae music to the global creative economy.” For now, Currie said the focus needs to be on the intensive summer programs to increase popularity for this kind of study, but eventually he hopes to offer classes devoted to reggae during the school year. Studying reggae will provide students with additional tools to take back
to their own areas of study, Shaw said. This study could be particularly valuable for classical music students because of how reggae music is written — or more specifically how it isn’t written. The actual writing of reggae music plays second fiddle to its creative and improvisational aspects. In reggae, documenting music comes after its creation, something Shaw said classical musicians have strayed away from. Shaw said the University’s interest looking at reggae from a research perspective shows that it is a worthy genre of music on a similar level to jazz and classical music. “In the 21st century, a music school should be more inclusive,” Shaw said. “It shouldn’t just be limited to the conservatory model … where you study theory and classical traditions.”
the Obama Administration, DACA protects some individuals who came to the United States unlawfully, such as those who were brought to the country as children, from deportation and provides them eligibility for a work permit. Immigrants who qualified for the program had to be younger than 16 years old when they came to the United States. President Donald Trump
announced in 2017 that he hopes to end the program, sparking nationwide backlash and efforts to keep it alive. Federal courts blocked Trump from ending DACA, and the Supreme Court announced it will likely decide by June 2020 if Trump can terminate the program, according to the Associated Press. Anne Applebaum, an attorney at the Immigrant
immediately. Del said about seven to eight women meet every night to walk around the neighborhood for a few hours, engaging the young people they encounter. “Our goal is not to get grants — our goal is to change the community,” Del said. Dave Alderson, currently co-executive director of the CRNRP, has worked with the organization for three and a half years and with other nonprofits in the West Bank area over the last 30 years. Alderson said the level of activity by the Mothers in such a relatively short time period is encouraging
“We tell the people who are supposed to help, and if they choose not to listen and ignore us, we will keep telling them. We have a plan to save the youth as a group, as mothers, and we are getting stronger everyday.” FARTUN DEL a founder of Somali Mothers of MN
and illustrates their motivation to advocate for themselves and their community. “Any time people get a chance to participate in decision-making that affects
them, that makes them feel a lot better about the community that they’re in,” Alderson said. “Everybody deserves a place at the table when decisions are being made that affect your life.”
MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
Law Center of Minnesota, said their office has seen over 160 cases for DACA renewal in 2019. Legal assistance is not required to renew DACA, but many recipients come with questions. Applebaum said whenever a decision or announcement is made that creates uncertainty about DACA’s future, the center usually sees a surge of people coming in for help. “The limbo DACA
recipients are forced to live under is highly traumatic, as far as planning their lives, having stability and pursuing their dreams. It’s day-to-day uncertainty that no one deserves and should have to go through,” Applebaum said. Having status in the U.S. gives people more standing and confidence to secure rights to housing, credit, jobs and fair wages, said Deepinder
Mayell, executive director for the University’s James H. Binger Center for New Americans. “Status is a fundamental cornerstone in the United States, and is the most essential piece to ensure people can be fully integrated in society,” Mayell said. “[The uncertainty surrounding DACA] creates a great deal of stress and anxiety ... It’s astonishing that it’s being jeopardized.”
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Sports
MNDAILY.COM
MN DAILY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019
strive for just makes it even better.” The upperclassman pushing the underclassman is just what Burns wants from his team as he looks to continue building
the program. “We want guys to stay hungry when they’re in the gym,” Burns said. “You want kids that are willing to put the time and effort in and do the extra turns.”
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
Gymnastics u from Page 1
strong mentally in order to be successful. He is helping McKinney regain confidence while coming back from a broken leg in preparation for the U.S. Championships. “It was a rough time period,” McKinney said about dealing with his broken leg. Qualifying for the competition was bittersweet. “I was happy, it was my second time making it,” he said. Both players have come a long way to compete at the University of Minnesota. Burns has tried to establish a culture that makes recruits feel welcome. “I love the coaches here,” McKinney, the Cameron, North Carolina native, said. “I came up here during the summer last year. I just absolutely loved it. I loved gym, the people, the teammates, everyone here. The school is really is good for what I want to study: kinesiology.” That sentiment was echoed by Bold. “When I came on my trip and I visited after my trip,
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Above: Incoming freshmen Crew Bold, left, and Donte McKinney pose for a portrait after practice at Cooke Hall on Tuesday, July 16. Both have qualified for the junior U.S. Championships in August. Right: Bold, above, warms up during practice and McKinney, below, stretches out during practice at Cooke Hall on Tuesday, July 16.
this whole team seemed so close,” he said. “Just the energy between everybody while training, not only training and competitions as well, but outside of the gym it just seemed like a
great place.” Working with the upper clas s m en h as m ade McKinney and Bold realize they need to put in the work to succeed. “It motivates you to
practice even more, train harder,” McKinney said. “The guys are a great group of guys, they all push each other, just that whole e n v i ro n m e n t a n d t h e n knowing what you want to
SWIMMING & DIVING
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Gophers diver makes world champs history
Jordan Murphy helps Timberwolves to runner-up finish in NBA Summer League
Senior Sarah Bacon placed second in the 1-meter dive with a score of 262.00. BY CHAD FAUST cfaust@mndaily.com
On Saturday, July 13 in Gwangju, South Korea, rising senior Sarah Bacon accomplished what no other American woman had in 14 years. The Gopher won an individual diving medal at the FINA World Championships, finishing in second place in the 1-meter board event. “I did know how close it was,” Bacon told the media. “Paying attention to the scores and being that close kind of gives me motivation going into my dives. It gives me a little more fire to perform them well. I could have hit one or two dives a little better, but it was a very consistent list.” Bacon took home the silver medal with 262.00 points, narrowly beating South Korea’s Suji Kim by 4.8 points, and falling behind China’s Yiwen Chen, who took gold with 285.45 points. This is just the latest accomplishment for the
Murphy averaged “I did know how 8.9 points and 4.9 close it was ... I rebounds during could have hit one Summer League. or two dives a little better, but it was a BY PAUL HODOWANIC very consistent list.” phodowanic@mndaily.com SARAH BACON Gophers diver
Indianapolis native, who has racked up accolades throughout her career. She is a two-time 1-meter dive NCCA Champion, winning the competition in back-toback years, including a new NCAA record score of 363.20 in 2019. She was awarded Big Ten Diver of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season. The last female diver to win an individual award at the World Swimming Championships was Laura Wilkinson, who claimed the world championship in 2005 in the 10-meter platform. Bacon’s next event will be in the 3-meter, an event she placed third in at the NCAA Championships this past season. The 3-meter competition will begin on Thursday, July 18.
With under a minute remaining in the third quarter of the NBA Summer League final on Monday night, former Gophers standout Jordan Murphy had only scored five points as the Timberwolves trailed the Memphis Grizzlies 72-68. With just over 10 minutes left in the game, summer league coach Pablo Prigioni called on Murphy to help lift the team. Murphy responded by scoring nine of the team’s next 13 points, finishing with his summer league high of 14 points. The outburst showcased the patented play style that Murphy utilized so often for the Gophers. The Big Ten’s all-time leading rebounder grabbed three offensive rebounds in that stretch and drew a foul three times, converting on five of his six free throw attempts. D e s p i t e t h e s co r i ng surge by Murphy, the
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Senior Jordan Murphy spins toward the basket on Tuesday, Mar. 5 at Williams Arena.
Timberwolves were unable to close the gap against the Grizzlies, falling 95-92. It was the Timberwolves’ first loss of the summer. Along with his 14 points, M u r p h y f i ni s h e d w i t h eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Murphy played in all seven of the Timberwolves summer league games and averaged 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds
per game. Among players who played all seven games for Minnesota, Murphy averaged the sixth most points, and the third most rebounds. Yet, Murphy’s future with the Timberwolves remains uncertain. Murphy figures to see an opportunity at power forward or center if he makes the team later this summer, which was an
area of need for Minnesota heading into the offseason. The team did address the power forward position in free agency, however; signing Jordan Bell, Jake Layman and Noah Vonleh, all of whom stand in the way of Murphy making the roster. Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng are the only centers currently on the roster.
BASEBALL
Max Meyer coming into his own with Team USA The rising junior has a 1.00 ERA in three starts for the national team. BY CHAD FAUST cfaust@mndaily.com
In his second summer pitching for Team USA, rising junior Max Meyer has thrived in his new role, moving from the bullpen to a starter. “I’m really happy for him and really proud”, Gophers pitching coach Ty McDevitt said. “It’s a great opportunity and he’s a great representative for our program and university. He’s got a lot of high-level baseball coming up here, and I’m excited for him because there couldn’t be a better guy to represent our program.” After a freshman season at the U saw him put up strong stats in the bullpen, Gophers head coach John Anderson transitioned Meyer from the pen to the starting staff after a rough start. The 2019 season saw him finish with a 2.11 ERA and 87 strikeouts through 76.2 innings pitched, with a second-team
All-Big Ten selection. “He’s refined his breaking ball a lot. People were saying this past season that he had one of the best sliders in college baseball,” McDevitt said. “As good as he’s been throughout his college career, he’s always looking to get better, always trying to make adjustments and get guys out.” Meyer spent his first summer with Team USA in the bullpen. He appeared out of the bullpen eight times as the closer, and finished with seven saves and 3.38 ERA. Now, in his second summer pitching for Team USA, he has been able to continue to show his skills on a world stage. The righthanded Meyer has started three games and has a 1.00 ERA through 13 innings pitched. He has struck out six. “This competition on a national scale brings out the best in him as both a pitcher and a leader on that team,” McDevitt said. “His confidence has got to be through the roof since he’s getting guys out on a national scale. The higher the stakes, the better he seems to perform.” In addition to a stellar
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Sophomore Max Meyer pitches the ball on Saturday, May 4 at Siebert Field. The Gophers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 5-4 in the bottom of the 18th inning.
season starting for the Gophers, Meyer has seen another element of his game take shape: his leadership. “Max has never been a verbal leader, but he’s a guy that wants the ball and leads by example,” McDevitt said. “Now that he’s coming off his
sophomore season playing for Team USA, he’s certainly been challenged to become a better leader and he’s finding ways to bring the younger guys along with him”. Meyer will look to continue improving on an impressive sophomore season as he heads into his junior
year, his second full year in the starting rotation. McDevitt claims that, while Meyer has a lot to work on, his initiative to adjust his game is what makes the difference. “A lot of what we asked him to do this summer he’s already done, we needed him to command his
fastball better, and he’s certainly done that this summer, and his breaking ball needed to be a bit more refined, and he’s done that as well,” McDevitt said. “His change-up was in and out at times, and he’s been able to adjust that as well. He’s very adaptable and willing to take coaching and learn.”
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MN DAILY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019
DIGGING IN
The kombucha craze continues CULTURE TO CONSUME BY A&E STAFF
Watch this: “Tuca & Bertie” The Netflix animated show, created by Lisa Hanawalt (production designer/producer on “BoJack Horseman”), stars Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong as its title bird BFFs. The surreal landscape and comedy of the show will hook you at first, but you’ll stay for the heartfelt depictions of mental health, friendship and more.
Listen to this: “99% Invisible” On this podcast, host and creator Roman Mars covers the mostly overlooked elements of design and architecture that surround us. There are over 300 episodes, so even if the premise seems niche, you’re bound to find something that piques your interest. The podcast’s Mini Stories episodes are a great way to get a taste of the show’s storytelling, if you need a place to start.
CULTURE COMPASS BY A&E STAFF
Friday: Artepils 2019 Head on over to Utepils Brewing Co. for the third annual celebration of art, music and brews. There will be live music from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday. And, if you enjoy the first day, the party continues on Saturday, with a new lineup of bands. Artepils 2019 is a rain-or-shine event.
Where: Utepils Brewing Co., 225 Thomas Ave. N. #700, Minneapolis When: 12-10 p.m. Cost: Free
Saturday: Latte Art Throwdown at The Bachelor Farmer Whether you’re just there to watch the show or to try your hand at the competition itself, this latte art competition is sure to be evenly matched. With beer from Modist Brewing Company and cocktails from the Marvel Bar, take a seat and see what designs some of the best baristas in the city can draw in the foam (a pro tip: it’s all in the pour).
Where: The Bachelor Farmer, 50 N 2nd Ave, Minneapolis When:doors 7:30pm, event 8:30pm Cost: Free to attend, $5 to compete
Sunday: Mini Plays for Minneapolis (+ St. Paul) Produced by Hedge Theatre Company, “Mini Plays for Minneapolis (+ St. Paul)” features a number of short plays written by a series of upcoming playwrights in the Twin Cities. With themes that touch on the classic “Minnesota goodbye” and our beloved public transit system, the company provides a unique take on the happenings in the cities (and performs it with a student budget in mind). There are also performances Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Where: Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater, 810 W Lake St., Minneapolis When: doors 7 p.m., play 8 p.m. Cost: $10 in advance; $10 at the door with student ID; $14 at the door
Making kombucha is not as hard as you think — just ask local brewmasters. BY LIV MARTIN omartin@mndaily.com
Bryan Deane Bertsch began his business in a much different market than today. Back in 2009, the product of his hobby was meant only to be shared with friends and family. But the operation eventually grew to become Deane’s Kombucha, calling itself the oldest craft commercial kombucha producer in Minnesota. Since Bertsch started, the kombucha industry has taken off rapidly. Walk into virtually any store now, and one can find a variety of kombucha brands. Kombucha is relatively simple to produce and once a “SCOBY” — the magic culture of bacteria and yeast used to ferment the beverage — is acquired, the possibilities are endless. Bertsch has been using the same mail-ordered starter SCOBY since his first-ever batch of kombucha. “It was a two-and-a-half gallon batch to start, and that’s now thirty 30-gallon oak barrels and plus thousands of local brewers that are using that same culture from my classes. There’s a serious lineage,” he said. Deane’s Kombucha uniquely uses oak barrels for fermenting twelve to twenty different flavors at a time using whole, organic fruits and herbs. The bottles, labeled with Deane’s signature blue butterfly logo, are made in Shakopee. As it turns out, a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly is a good metaphor for kombucha. “It starts out as a caterpillar and it literally creates a womb where it turns to mush. Then out of that comes this light, beautiful butterfly,” Bertsch said. “You’ve got the SCOBY, which is nasty looking, but then at the end of the day, you’ve got this crisp, healthy, vibrant, beautiful drink.” Not only is there a
“It starts out as a caterpillar and it literally creates a womb where it turns to mush. Then out of that comes this light, beautiful butterfly.” BRYAN DEANE BERTSCH Deane’s Kombucha owner
demand for the fizzy, tangy drink in larger stores, but the ease of making it has inspired many at-home brewers. Northern Brewer, a home brewing and winemaking supplier, recently held a class on making kombucha. Staff member Cat Ballou, equipped with a slideshow, stood behind a counter and spoke to a group of new students. Though it may seem daunting at first, the process “doesn’t requires any babying,” Ballou said. “It is easier than making boxed mac and cheese.” Friends Grace Curtiss, an incoming junior at the
JASMIN KEMP, DAILY
CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP: (1) Bryan Deane Bertsch opens a barrel of fruit in his factory on Saturday, July 13 in Minneapolis. (2) Handcrafted Deane’s Kombucha sits out in Deane’s Kombucha factory on Saturday, July 13 in Minneapolis. (3) Fruit sits during fermentation for Deane’s Kombucha on Saturday, July 13 in Minneapolis.
University of Minnesota, and Neha Upadhyaya, a recent University grad, were students at the free kombucha making class on Saturday. “I really like kombucha and I really don’t like paying six dollars per bottle,” Curtiss said. She had already purchased a kombucha starter kit from Northern Brewer and came to class to clarify the process before she tackled it on her own. Upadhyaya first discovered kombucha in middle
school and was drawn to the acidity of the beverage. “I really liked going grocery shopping with my parents. We went to Whole Foods and I used to be allowed to buy one funky thing every time we went,” she said. “Sometimes it would be dragon fruit. Sometimes it would be kombucha.” Bertsch wholeheartedly encourages home brewing; after all, Deane’s grew from his own curiosity. Now his kombucha is available
at locations all around the metro area, at a few in Wisconsin and even in the Timberwolves and Lynx player clubhouse. “I think the whole food scene is leaning towards local, local, local,” Bertsch said. “And, especially with fermented foods, it makes sense.” This is the fifth ar ticle in “Digging In,” a series about the stories behind beloved Twin Cities restaurants.
TATTOOS
Jackalope Tattoo brings artistry and inclusivity Tattoo u from Page 1
state like [being tattooed] — it’s unsettling, because you would never want to think that someone you trust to permanently mark your body would act that way, but they do,” Nijiya said. “There are obviously a lot of good male artists in the industry that would never act that way, but I think it’s still important to have spaces like this.” For McNally, who tattooed in male-dominated shops for 15 years, working at Jackalope for the past year and a half has been eye-opening. “I didn’t realize how amazing it felt to everyday walk into work and not have the fear of somebody saying something horrible to you or ignoring you,” she said. “I guess I never considered that this was an option ... that I didn’t have to deal with bullshit. Or that if I disagreed with something, I could speak up and feel safe — that I had a voice. At the time I didn’t realize how much it affected me.” Many of the artists at Jackalope Tattoo make the time to spend evenings together outside of work and have grown into life-long friends. Nijiya said they’ve never felt this kind of
intimacy with coworkers before and, although they’re all different, they get along well. “Honestly these guys are my family and I wanted them to have a home and have a place that they felt that could stay in long-term,” Nijiya said. “I think a lot of shops have a lot of turnover. We have had very little to none.” Jackalope receptionist Jamaeka Elizabeth said having a space as inviting as this one not only makes those working there feel more comfortable, but also helps clients feel safe too. “People really have stories that go behind [their tattoos] and it means a lot to them,” she said. “One of my favorite things to see is people getting cover-ups or revamps, because it’s them reclaiming something that doesn’t feel right about their body anymore. I love to see that because those people are so happy.” Armed with a tattoo gun and a grin, Jackalope Tattoo is breaking out of the mold and making way for a new wave of tattooers. “That whole boys club mentality doesn’t fit to our society anymore. This industry’s changing. Tattoos are changing. People are changing,” McNally said. “People are starting to say ‘Hey, you know what? That’s not working for me anymore.’”
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Top: Owner Emi Nijiya wipes off ink on Nia Rathbone’s arm on Tuesday, July 9 at Jackalope Tattoo in Minneapolis. Above: Artist Jessie McNally’s artwork hangs in her space on Tuesday, July 9 at Jackalope Tattoo in Minneapolis. Jackalope Tattoo is entirely run by female and non-binary artists.
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MN DAILY
MNDAILY.COM
Editorials & Opinions
EDITORIAL
One small step for man, one giant leap for scientific discovery and admiration With the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20th, let’s appreciate the unthinkable. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, the University of Minnesota Bell Museum has been hosting special events, exhibits and shows over the past few months, including a space fest and star party, moon-related exhibits and information sessions, and an original Bell Museum planetarium production, One Giant Leap, currently culminating in a Cosmic 5K fundraiser this Saturday, July 20, to celebrate the historic achievement. The museum is expected to add more events in coming months. Believing the unbelievable For many of us, our solar system is likely an after thought, if even a thought at all. For those who aren’t astronomers, astrophysicists or cosmologists, or even readers of planetar y science, thoughts about the sun and the moon — and all the other stars and planets in our solar system — are much less important than other issues we face in our daily lives. But while we may not spend our days calculating solar flares on the sun, or studying and memorizing the names of craters on the moon, there is so much to appreciate and mar vel at when it comes to the extraordinar y world-wide scientific advancements achieved since the beginning of the Space Age in 1957. From the world’s first successful
launch of an ar tificial satellite in 1957, Sputnik 1, and the first landing of man on the moon by NASA in 1969, to the first successful detection of gravitational waves in 2015 by LIGO and the first detection of the first type of molecule thought to ever be formed in our universe, science has taught us time after time to believe that anything is possible. But science is more than space flight, moon landings, rocket science and NASA. Science is a way of thinking, one in which we compare what we think or expect can happen to what actually happens. The scientific way of thinking allows us to shoot for the stars — literally and figuratively. Surely it would have taken a great amount of faith to believe that Galileo’s, a 16th- and 17th-centur y astronomer, tabletop telescope would eventually become the Hubble Space Telescope. But floating space telescopes are now the norm. Likewise, it was an extremely tall order when President John F. Kennedy announced that the U.S. should commit itself to having a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s — but that goal was met with resounding success. Science education The liberal arts education requirements, as outlined by the University’s One Stop Student Ser vices, mandate that, regarding science courses, all students are to earn four credits in both the biological and physical sciences, as well as three credits in the social sciences. Par t of the “diversified core” requirement, these courses are meant to guide students “through
the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of dif ferent academic disciplines.” The University administration seems to recognize the importance of training students to think in various capacities, to ask the elusive “why” and “how” questions, a move that we should continue to support. And the University administration also seems to recognize that science education is important for all, even for students not majoring in science — something that is achieved through required exposure to biological, physical and social science material. While the University administration is indeed doing its part to churn out students who are at least in some aspect familiar with various scientific concepts, we should still be compelled to think about how science education, science activity and the scientific method can bring the unknown into the known and can bring the far-fetched to within arm’s reach. The scientific toolkit While not all of us are scientists, through exposure to scientific concepts we learn about everything from kinetic energy and thermodynamics to genetics and human behavior. Despite the scientific knowledge gained from being in science courses, what is at hand is the capability to examine the world around us and to ask questions. While President Kennedy’s mission to put a man on the moon was more of a statement, it never theless sparked questions: How do human bodies react to outer space? What if mistakes are made aboard the spacecraft or on Earth? Could ever yone and ever ything
MORGAN LA CASSE, DAILY
work in harmony to successfully get the job done? Science is a collaborative community. When gathering around a common goal, we are able to advance our knowledge and confront the unthinkable. We are also able to take advantage of the incremental and revisionary nature of scientific progress by building upon what we know to better understand what we don’t know. Without such ingenuity and collaboration, we might not know that Ear th revolves around the sun, that some species go extinct, that there is electromagnetic radiation or that we live in a four-dimensional space-time continuum. When we reach into our scientific toolkit, we explore our world and the space and other worlds around us. Let’s embrace the 50th anniversar y of the Apollo 11 moon landing and look for ward to the next fifty years of unimaginable achievements.
COLUMN
To eliminate UMN’s racial achievement gap, we need to invest in children of color in Minnesota Racial disparities at the U can be traced back to struggles students of color in Minnesota face from a young age.
M
innesota is renowned for its excessive politeness, a “Minnesota Nice” that can be over-thetop to the point of becoming comical. But hidden behind the state’s facade LEW BLANK of kindness and columnist inclusion, Minnesota is one of the most unlikely places in the U.S. for black, Hispanic and Native American children to graduate high school— and that may be directly leading to racial disparities at the University of Minnesota. According to a report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy, only seven percent of freshmen at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2016 were black, Hispanic or Native American. This is just half of the percentage of Minnesota high school graduates from these racial and ethnic backgrounds during the same time frame, according to the report. In addition to being underrepresented, data have also shown that students of color at the University are less likely to attain
degrees than white students. Minnesota’s flagship university faces a 16 point gap in graduation rates between white students and students from black, Hispanic and Native American backgrounds, according to the same report. It’s clear that the University deserves a lot of the blame for these gaps. Administrators could be doing much more to boost enrollment and graduation rates for students of color, including ending the University’s practice of considering legacy status in its admissions processes. But when we think about the struggles that students of color at the University face, we need to look a lot deeper. Perhaps the most significant cause of the University’s racial gap is that from an incredibly early age, even before students first set foot in the classroom, children from marginalized racial backgrounds are at a disadvantage. When I think about the formative moments in my childhood education, I think about the times that my parents read to me as a toddler, pointing to each word and helping me pronounce it. I think about the math flashcards my dad would flip through with me after work. I think about the times my mom would write fictional stories with me on Saturday mornings as a four-year-old. And perhaps most importantly, I think about all of the after-school programs and summer camps I attended as a kid that enriched my education. It goes without saying that school was important, too. I’m grateful that my parents had the economic flexibility to move to a neighborhood centered in a high-quality
school district. These essential experiences in my academic foundation, however, were largely a product of growing up in a white, middleclass family with normal working hours and enough fiscal stability to invest in my educational success. For many families, for a number of reasons, these opportunities simply don’t exist. According to 2017 data from the Minnesota State Demographic Center, 32 percent of black Minnesotans, 31 percent of Native American Minnesotans and 21 percent of Hispanic Minnesotans are living in poverty. This is far higher than the state’s poverty rate for non-Hispanic whites, which sits at 7.5 percent. These gap constrains the ability of families of color to find the time and money to invest in their children and leaves them segregated into neighborhoods with lower-quality schools. When parents are working multiple jobs and still struggling to make ends meet, it’s much more difficult for them to deliver the same level of educational stimulation that my parents were able to provide — through no fault of their own. These systematic disparities inhibit student potential before children even enter the classroom for the first time. In fact, some studies have found that quality of parenting is more important than school quality in determining children’s educational success. This has a direct effect on Minnesota’s high school graduation rates. While 88 percent of white Minnesota students graduate in four years — which lines up roughly with the national average — black and
COLUMN
Aziz Ansari has extended his Netflix olive branch — and maybe he is sorry Cancel culture has lifted the veil of artistry from various captains of the entertainment industry.
A
z iz A n sari’s newest comedy special, Aziz Ansari: Right Now, hit Netflix on July 9th. Ansari has remained out of the public eye since babenet. CAROLINE SKOOG com published an columnist account of sexual misconduct from a woman who went on a date with him in Januar y 2018. Like many public figures’ fall from grace at the height of the #MeToo movement, Ansari was understandably labeled “cancelled” by a lot of fans. However, Ansari’s controversy itself seemed divisive, as it was pitted against other infamous predators’ extensive,
systematic sexual misconduct. It feels weird to split hairs in cases of sexual deviance. Two things can be bad at the same time. That being said, I think one thing can be more heinous than another. As uncomfortable, and probably objectionable, as it is, the details of Ansari and other public figures’ misconduct are important in the conversation of how to move forward as a culture. I see more take-down ar ticles about take-down culture than any other topic. Yet I haven’t found a consensus on the next steps. Nor is there a universal protocol for handling disgraced celebrities attempting to comeback. In cases like Michael Jackson, as Ansari brings to light in Right Now, the question often becomes “What are you willing to overlook?” rather than “What are you ready to forgive?” Ansari acknowledges his sexual misconduct around three minutes into the special. It’s by no means perfect, but I don’t think any acknowledgement of his or any cancelled celebrity could be. Nevertheless, it wasn’t terrible. At the ver y least he recognized the broader implications of his actions. As to whether or not his statement seemed
genuine, he was performing stand-up comedy. Everything said in the special has been practiced on dozens of stages, in hundreds of voices, for thousands of people. Even the most authentic sentiments become contrived when a crowd is watching, moreover expecting to laugh. However sincere you thought his recognition of his behavior was, a one-hour comedy special is not an accurate measurement of someone’s personal growth. It is, however, an accurate measurement of someone’s comedy, and in this category, Right Now is okay. If the price of a disgraced celebrity comeback is mediocre content with a “yikes” stamped on it, it’s time to start platforming artists with new and different material – who aren’t sex creeps. That being said, it’s nice to finally have an example of a somewhat cancelled-comic “feel terrible” and ostensibly mean it. But deser ving forgiveness and deser ving a platform are two very different things. Caroline Skoog welcomes comments at cskoog@mndaily.com.
Hispanic students in Minnesota have the lowest high school graduation rates compared to national averages of all 50 states, at 65 and 66 percent respectively, according to 2017 data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Native American children in Minnesota fare even worse with a graduation rate of 51 percent compared to a national average of about 72 percent. That means we’re the second-worst in the nation after South Dakota. If educational success was equal for Minnesotan children across all races, it’s reasonable to assume that the disparities at the University would begin to evaporate as well. This means that in addition to holding the University accountable for its racial enrollment and graduation gaps, we also need to pressure our state and federal government to invest in low-income communities and communities of color to address the root causes that are truly driving these problems. When we think about the struggles students of color face at the University of Minnesota, we need to view the problem through the lens of poverty, parenting and gaps in socioeconomic status that children face from the get-go. And if we really want to reduce racial disparities at the University, we need to invest heavily in programs to uplift poor families and families of color across the state and the country.
Lew Blank welcomes comments at lblank@mndaily.com.
SHARE YOUR VIEWS The Minnesota Daily welcomes letters and guest columns from readers. All letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. The Daily reserves the right to edit all letters for style, space, libel and grammar. Letters to the editor should be no more than 500 words in length. Guest columns should be approximately 350 words. The Daily reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication.
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019
MN DAILY
HOROSCOPES
Today’s Birthday (7/17): Energy feeds your work, health and vitality this year. Tight collaboration enables high-powered accomplishments. Reach a personal peak this summer, before your partnership takes a turn. New love feeds you both next winter, inspiring you to restyle. Personal growth comes through connection and teamwork.
MNDAILY.COM
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Written by Nancy Black
Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is a 7 — Lay low with a team effort, and wait for better conditions. Avoid arguments with sensitivity. Communication barriers require patience.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 6 — Relax, and avoid controversy or confrontation. Beware contradictions and trite solutions. Avoid provoking someone you love. Prioritize family.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 6 — Make backstage preparations, and handle urgencies at work. Work your way around opposition or blockages. Track orders and accounts.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 7 — Consider domestic renovation consequences before beginning them. Avoid financial arguments with family. Tried and true methods work best.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 7 — Stay frugal. Avoid traffic and crowds. Unexpected expenses or delays could arise. Find a beautiful view, then rest and recharge.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 6 — Put in a correction. Communication breakdowns require adaptation and clarification. Listen before you advance. Follow breaking news.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 7 — Revise the budget and pay bills. Manage financial obligations, and stay in communication. Expect delays and miscommunications. Keep your cool.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is an 8 — Costs may be higher than expected. Increase organization and coordination to save money. Avoid arguments. Find what you need nearby.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Provide cheerful service, even with a grump. Stand outside a controversy. Listen to what others want. Anticipate opposition or discord.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — Keep a respectful tone. Stay out of someone else’s argument. It’s not a good time to gamble. Pamper yourself with hot water and music.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 7 — Slow the action to avoid accidents. Unexpected barriers require a strategy shift. Keep equipment in good repair. Stay healthy with rest and food.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 6 — Private meditation recharges you and releases tension. Contemplate your next move, and keep your objective in mind. Consider the puzzle thoroughly.
DR. DATE
Dr. Date,
My boyfriend and I have been dating for a few months now. We met through mutual friends during a spring break trip in Texas. Even though we go to different colleges, I just couldn’t envision life without him, so we made long distance work. As fate would have it, he lives just one town over, so we’ve spent everyday together this summer. With the new school year fast approaching, we want to go on one last trip before we have to say goodbye again. My dream trip is to the sandy beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for a romantic getaway that rekindles the magic we found on the beaches of South Padre Island during that unforgettable spring break. My boyfriend was totally on board with the plan and we even booked our resort and flight. Sounds fantastic, right? Wrong. Yesterday, my boyfriend came to me and told me we needed to change our plans immediately. He said there was an adventure of a lifetime waiting for us in the wide-open landscape of Nevada. He kept saying we have the chance to be a part of history, and that the American people needed our help. I overheard a conversation he had with his best friend about “taking down those scumbag aliens.” What is he talking about? I looked up the location he was talking about and it says there is nothing there, just a military base? I’m so confused. Should we change our plans? This seems so important to him, but we have everything already booked for my dream trip to Mexico. What should I do?
—The Alienated Lover
Dear The Alienated Lover,
First of all, a trip to Area 51 (that’s what he’s talking about, by the way), wouldn’t be so bad. You could turn it into a quasiromantic road trip marked by endless discussions over whether or not aliens really did land in a cornfield in New Mexico in 1947. It could be an opportunity to get to know each other — how can you call someone your boyfriend without knowing his deepest, darkest thoughts about aliens? Answer: you can’t. Let me also point out that deciding where to go on vacation is a two-way street. If he’s not able to listen to your ideas, that’s not a great predictor for future matrimonial harmony. At the same time, though, you have to listen to his thoughts.
I think your bigger worry might be something else: why are he and his best friend pledging their allegiance to “taking down those scumbag aliens” in the interest of helping the American people? It sounds to me like you might have some bigger questions to answer. Maybe you can find them locked away in Area 51.
—Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
I’m in a strange situation, Doc. I have recently been talking a lot with this guy over Instagram who is semi-famous (548k followers!), and things have been heating up. He’s really sweet and he seems like an all-around cool guy. Basically, we were brought together by the internet and separated by half the nation (he lives in Jacksonville, Florida). Things have been going so well that he wants me to fly out and visit him. As in, he wants me to hop on a plane and meet a near-stranger. I’m totally attracted to this guy based on what I know about him, but I feel iffy on this whole situation. Is this totally romantic or totally sketchy? Basically, should I take a chance on my heart and go meet this guy, or would that be a total mistake? Help, Doc!
—Cute or Weird?
Dear Cute or Weird,
On a weirdness scale from “wearing Nikes” to “watching porn with your friends,” this is “wearing two snapbacks on top of one another” (a.k.a. pretty damn weird). I don’t doubt for a second that this dude with experience capturing the minds of people over Instagram is pretty damn good at talking over the internet. Not to make you feel insignificant, but it’s likely that he’s been sweet-talking a lot of gals. Also, what better way to get a cross-nation booty call to happen than having them fly themselves out? Not to sound like your cool older sibling here, but there’s also the issue of your safety. If you took up this offer, you’d be alone in his home turf. If he got weird or aggressive on you, it would be especially hard to get away. Just saying. So here’s the checklist. Weird and kinda scrubby-sounding? Check. Possibly dangerous? Check. I don’t know if you need any more checks, homie.
—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.
7/17/19
For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.
Last issue’s solution
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Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Mohamud Noor reflects on first session Rep. Noor discusses his first legislative session, challenges and achievements. BY J.D. DUGGAN jduggan@mndaily.com
Rep. Mohamud Noor, DFL-Minneapolis, sat down with the Minnesota Daily to reflect on his first session as a state representative for the University of Minnesota and surrounding neighborhoods in District 60B. Coming from a background as a local community organizer, especially in the Cedar-Riverside community, Noor said it was difficult working with a divided government. How did you feel about the first session? Disappointed. We came with lots of energy and high hopes that we can really address significant issues. But no, this session wasn’t what I had expected it to be. With a divided government, obviously you have to compromise a lot. It seems that we compromised a lot to make sure that we got work done. Te l l m e a b o u t t h a t . What were some of the challenges? Let’s start with the bigger push that we wanted to see with the colleges. We wanted to start with addressing, as a caucus, freezing tuition. That didn’t happen. My goal was actually to go beyond that by focusing on addressing affordability of college. Let’s look at the whole picture: what does it take for a college student to pay their tuition, pay for their transportation, for their housing, for their books and everything? That comprehensive approach and making sure that we can really dent it — no, we didn’t get to that. So we did get some funding, but that wasn’t really what we were looking for. That’s just a small sliver of the bigger issue. We wanted to really significantly do major investment in communities and address the housing issue. We only got $75 million. That’s
just a start, that’s a drop in the box when you look into the need. So, the major significant things that we could not get through this session [were] the gun violence prevention bills [and] the ending criminalization of poverty cash bail bill that I was carrying. We had to give up on several things. ... Sometimes you come up with hopes and you see that everything that you wanted to get through didn’t get through. You came from community organizing. How was it getting acclimated to the Legislature and what were some of the differences that came between those two [roles]? I think the structure. Everything else that you do in terms of campaigning, getting connected to the community — you are solving a problem at the forefront. But now, you’re addressing that problem from the back end. And ensuring that the policies that you’re really championing for, the issues that you’re addressing, align with what you have seen on the ground. Sometimes it’s difficult. Organizing ... is different from the policy process. There are several hoops and barriers and quite frankly when I’m serving in, I’m the vice chair for jobs and economic development, I’m also in [Health and Human Services] finance, I’m in Ways and Means, I’m also in judiciary and civil law [committees]. That means your time is already preoccupied by those committees … into the night. And yet, you have to keep up with everything else. So the key point I’m trying to point out is you need allies. You need people who can champion the issues with you. By organizing from my desk here, I can rely on them putting pressure on every elected official who is in that committee, every elected official who is going to be voting in the end. It’s a lot of work.
J.D. DUGGAN, DAILY
Rep. Mohamud Noor, DFL-Minneapolis, sat down with the Minnesota Daily to reflect on his first legislative session and express hopes for the upcoming session on Friday, July 12 in his office.
What are you most proud of accomplishing? What, overall, have you appreciated about this session? What things do you look back on fondly? We’ve seen where the need is. We’ve talked about the issue of housing and tenant rights and landlords, something that I inherited from the previous session. To build that, I think, was overdue. Just within [the renters’ rights bill] when I was fighting for the students and the low-income individuals in our district, making sure that there’s fairness … if it’s good for the landlord, it should be good for the tenant, if it’s good for the tenant it should be good for the landlord. … I was grilled for more than two hours just to pass that simple policy saying that the apartment number you’re going to be renting should be on the front page [of your lease]. You can imagine that type of resistance on a simple issue. But yet, we were able to get it through [by] using the legislative process.
One of the issues that we succeeded in is addressing the opioid crisis ... We created the advisory council right now with resources — because you cannot just talk about a crisis without finding the resources. So the manufacturers are going to be paying for that to make sure that we address and curb the crisis that we’re seeing in our district and many places. That was a huge success. You talked about renters’ rights a little bit, how was it working with … the Minnesota Student Association? I was going to mention that. They actually carried the load for me on that one. They came and testified. We had to fight a little bit. We had to actually pull back the bill at one point when it got so fired up. ... We came back and succeeded in passing two different committee hearings with the students, including the legal advisory office at the U. They did an awesome job. If you want any legislation
to pass through this chamber or the Senate, you have to have those that will champion for that. So the students were great. What are some of your goals for the upcoming session? One issue that I think we need to start talking about is the wealth and income inequality that exists in our state. We’ve invested significantly in education right now, in K-12. Although we wanted more because there’s a lot of issues with special education cross-subsidy. So let’s talk about starting with home ownership. We keep on talking about subsidies for rental. Nobody has started talking about ... home ownership. We’ve seen the devastation in 2008 when the housing collapsed and the economy collapsed. … The rent is now higher than even paying for mortgage. So you’ve seen the gap that already exists. How do we start talking and having conversations of saying,
‘Look, anybody who is low income or communities of color who have been left out from home ownership, we need to close that gap.’ And to close that gap, we need to significantly invest in that type of housing. I don’t want to start talking about rent control, but at one point I think there’s a need to start discussing rent control. The issue of the affordability of college is huge, and I think we started the talk. And we do have some additional resources. It may be ... maybe some magic that we can come up for some ways of addressing it so that the U doesn’t increase the tuition for the students. That’s a tuition freeze. But I’m looking for other ways of addressing [it for] those who are making less than $125,000. Especially for those who need it the most. This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
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Episode 1 - UMN President Eric Kaler's resignation announcement Episode 2 - Financial Aid and Scholarship Distribution Episode 3 - Proposed Gender Expression Policy at the University of Minnesota Episode 4 - Campus-area crime and WAM art rentals Episode 5 - UMN class designs clothes for girls in Uganda Episode 6 - Bug diets and Morris' tuition waivers Episode 7 - Conservative group's bridge mural vandalized Episode 8 - Women in STEM Episode 9 - Exploring the University's myth, legends and tall tales Episode 10 - Midterm Elections Roundup Episode 11 - UMN responds to football lawsuit, student tenant rights Episode 12 - Gen Z is the most stressed-out generation, study shows Episode 13 - How did the U bring home 'the axe' Episode 14 - Striving for diversity in CFANS Episode 15 - Living with diabetes as a student Episode 16 - The government showdown Episode 17 - Continued tuition hikes at UMN Episode 18 - The bittersweet life of UMN sugar babies Episode 19 - Connecting in Cedar-Riverside over free tea and pizza Episode 20 - The renaming of Coffman Episode 21 - Legacy taking over Morrill Hall Episode 22 - A fierce push for student data privacy Episode 23 - What to do with, how to manage all of the snow Episode 24 - Understanding eating disorders at UMN Episode 25 - Supporting students serving mandatory military time Episode 26 - Cedar-Riverside weighs safety priorities Episode 27 - Where does the U's water come from? Episode 28 - Students run free clinic for Minneapolis Episode 29 - How renaming was rejected Episode 30 - Controversy over pregnancy centers near campus