GOPHERS FACING ANOTHER CHALLENGE PAGE 5
MOSTLY SUNNY HIGH 17° LOW 10°
U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 18, 2014
GRADUATE SCHOOL
MEN’S BASKETBALL WILL PLAY WESTERN KENTUCKY TUESDAY.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
POLICE
Fellowships may get boost Aof changing the guard The Graduate School wants to increase aid opportunities, but some say that won’t be easy. BY CHRISTOPHER AADLAND caadland@mndaily.com
Amid concerns of a lack of financial support for graduate students, the University of Minnesota’s Graduate School has plans to boost fellowship funding. Although school leaders want to
increase future fellowship opportunities for its graduate students, some students and faculty members say that could be challenging and the University could provide more resources to help students seek and apply for outside funding. Fellowships are merit-based aid that typically cover living and educational expenses. Graduate students can receive fellowships from either the University or external organizations. Fellowships are generally considered the most appealing way to pay for a
post-baccalaureate education, said Andrew McNally, a doctoral student and president of the Council of Graduate Students. He said it’s impor tant that research universities offer competitive fellowships because that ensures they lure the best graduate students. “The quality of grad students affects … the general reputation of the university, the willingness of high-quality faculty [to come to the university] and the quality of u See AID Page 10
CAMPUS
Slackliners clash with U policy
for UMPD
After 11 years as chief of the campus police department, Greg Hestness is retiring. BY NICK WICKER nwicker@mndaily.com
Among the certificates, diplomas, photos and licenses lining the walls of University of Minnesota police Chief Greg Hestness’ of fice, one frame stands out. Behind its glass pane is a Native American crafted headband beaded GREG HESTNESS w i t h t h e w o r d University police chief “token.” The name is what his Native American colleagues called him when he worked for the Minneapolis Police Department as the only white man in his patrol unit. But Hestness’ nearly 40 years in law enforcement have shown he is far from a token officer, colleague or chief. Hestness, now the head of the University’s police department, will retire in June. People close to him describe the chief as humble, approachable and dedicated to the community he serves. u See HESTNESS Page 3
PUBLIC SAFETY
University area hit by robberies CORA NELSON, DAILY
Sophomore Davis Allen, left, slacklines Friday afternoon on the East Bank. The University Slackline Club says school officials have stopped its on-campus meetings in the past, but members say they don’t see the harm in practicing the hobby.
The Slackline Club says the University has shut down its oncampus meetings several times, but the group is still growing. aside from its conflicts with the school, the
BY SARAH CONNOR sconnor@mndaily.com
T
group has gained traction at the University.
hey can be seen in the Knoll area, of-
In two years, the club has grown from a
ten surrounded by a group of curious
small gathering of 10 students to about 80
spectators, precariously balancing on a thin line that sways with the wind and bends un-
members, President David Onushko said. But as the group has grown, interested student passersby aren’t the only ones who
der the weight of its user. Sometimes, though, authority figures drive balancing students to dismount their
have taken notice of the unique sport. Onushko said University officials have asked the club to shut down its weekly
lines before gravity does. While popular among students who seek the physical and mental challenge of
meetings a few times since it started practicing on campus consistently.
successfully crossing the line’s span, the
“It’s not a regular thing, but most mem-
Slackline Club said the University of Min-
bers who are regular slackliners have had
nesota doesn’t support the student group
that happen to them at least once,” said the
practicing its slacking skills on campus. But
group’s vice president, Kevin O’Brien.
u See CLUB Page 3
Also, one student fell victim to scammers that tricked her into sending info via phone. BY NICK WICKER nwicker@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota police Chief Greg Hestness sent out a crime alert Monday following a string of weekend robberies. Of the three robberies, two occurred on Saturday. One incident took place on the West Bank at the intersection of Riverside Avenue and 19th Avenue Southeast, according to the emailed alert. The alert said the victim was walking home at about 1:30 a.m. when three suspects attacked him from behind, leaving him with a potentially broken nose and without his jacket, wallet and keys. In the other Saturday robbery that took place at about 9:45 p.m., four male suspects approached a 22-year-old man on 14th Avenue Southeast, according to a Minneapolis police report. The men asked the victim, who is not affiliated with the University, for a cigarette before hitting him in the face and frisking his pockets for valuables, the alert read. The four suspects then took the man’s wallet and ran away. u See CRIME Page 10
BUSINESS
Milk costs straining shops A worldwide boost in demand for U.S. milk has raised costs, putting businesses in a pinch. BY ANNE MILLERBERND amillerbernd@mndaily.com
Stephen Miller paid $3.15 for a gallon of 2 percent milk in August. Two weeks ago, he paid about $3.45 per gallon. Though it was a price increase of about 30 cents, Miller, the manager of Bordertown Cof fee on 16th Avenue Southeast, said that extra money adds up for the shop, which goes through about 45 gallons of milk each week. As milk prices across the nation swell, local businesses, said Miller, are doing their best to keep prices reasonable while still managing to make a profit. Though Miller said the cof fee shop is managing just fine, he said he thinks
rising milk prices will contribute to a small increase in drink prices sometime next year. Because independent businesses like Bordertown and Espresso Royale usually don’t have extra money to dip into when facing large cost increases, they’re forced to raise prices. “In a small business, when you have margins that are as thin as they are — and the margins are ver y thin in small business,” Miller said, “there isn’t a lot [of money] to take … out of like a profit side of things.” The rising prices are tied to an increased international demand for the U.S.’s milk supply, said Marin Bozic, an applied economics assistant professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Milk prices change ever y day, said Bozic, who also ser ves as the associate u See DAIRY Page 10
ZACH BIELINSKI, DAILY
Barista Allison Noble makes a drink with soy milk on Nov. 10 at Bordertown Coffee. Local businesses say they are trying to avoid increasing their prices while the cost of milk rises.
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 45