WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WINS ON ROAD PAGE 8 SNOW HIGH 27° LOW 14°
CAMPUS
Chicano, Latino dept. running on last fumes
U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
MINNESOTA BEAT MEMPHIS ON SUNDAY IN ITS FIRST AWAY GAME.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
FOOTBALL
Gophers rally past Nebraska
Program leaders say they don’t have enough money or staff, so they’re seeking outside help. BY TAYLOR NACHTIGAL tnachtigal@mndaily.com
With only one full-time faculty member, the University of Minnesota’s Department of Chicano and Latino Studies is concerned for its future. Among worries that the department is running on fumes with few faculty members and low funding, department leaders say the University doesn’t consider their program a priority. Now, the department is turning to the community to garner support and to find solutions. On Saturday morning, the leaders held a meeting with about 60 community members, University faculty and students at El Colegio High School in Minneapolis to discuss the issues the department is facing and to brainstorm ways to grab the University’s attention to resolve them. Edén Torres, chair of the Department of Chicano and Latino Studies, said she’s had several meetings with University u See DEPARTMENT Page 4
HOUSING
City targets problem properties Eight U-area properties made a city “Good Cause” list that calls out problematic rentals. BY BARRY LY TTON blytton@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota student renters have long complained of poor living conditions and uncooperative landlords. At University Student Legal Ser vice, housing issues account for 30 to 40 percent of the total case load, said staff attorney Bill Dane. Now, a list from the city of Minneapolis officially pinpoints properties that it deems problematic, including eight in the school’s surrounding neighborhoods. City officials hope that the list system, which they began implementing in July, will keep trouble proper ty owners from expanding. Seven owners are responsible for those eight University-area properties listed on the most recent, third-quarter “Good Cause” list, released earlier this month. One landlord declined to comment, and three did not respond to multiple requests for a comment. u See LANDLORDS Page 14
Minnesota will now face Wisconsin for a shot at going to the Big Ten West title game. is going to happen, you just have to be ready.” After a 17-yard touchINCOLN, Neb. — Mindown r un by Cobb at the nesota’s victor y over beginning of the second No. 21 Nebraska on Saturhalf, the Gophers’ training day ignited the team’s Big staf f examined the r unTen West hopes — with one ning back’s left leg on the more victor y, the Gophers sideline. will advance to the conferCobb walked around and ence title game — and redrode an exercise bike during shir t senior running back the game, but he did not reDonnell Kirkwood played a turn to play. huge role in the victory. “Adrenaline will get you Head coach Jer r y Kill where you need to go. It’s has been using Kirkwood after the adrenaline stops all year as an example of when [his hamstring] how the Gophers should apgrabbed on to him,” Kill proach each game. said. After suffering an injur y Cobb finished the day AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY early last year, Kirkwood Top: Senior running back David Cobb is congratulated by a fan after with 80 rushing yards and lost his starting spot to fel- the Gophers’ victory at Memorial Stadium in Nebraska. one touchdown. The star low senior David Cobb. running back tweeted after Bottom: Gophers fan Ben Hinrichs cheers after a call is made in But Kirkwood has always Minnesota’s favor on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. the game that he would be prepared like he was the ready for next weekend’s starting back, something that saved the Kirkwood ran the ball seven times for clash at Wisconsin. Gophers on Saturday when Cobb went 32 yards, and junior Rodrick Williams With Cobb out of the game, most of down with a left hamstring injury in the added 22 yards and a touchdown to com- the pressure shifted to redshirt sophothird quarter of the 28-24 victor y over plete the Gophers’ comeback. more quarterback Mitch Leidner to comNebraska. “I’m always prepared,” Kirkwood plete the comeback from a 21-7 halftime If the Gophers defeat Wisconsin next said. “David is a hell of a running back, deficit. week, they will advance to the confer- I’ll be the first one to say that. Coach u See RALLY Page 6 ence title game next month. always harps that you never know what BY GRANT DONALD gdonald@mndaily.com
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TECHNOLOGY
U pushes research from the labs to the market The number of patents filed by the University has more than doubled in the past five years. BY PARKER LEMKE plemke@mndaily.com
The University of Minnesota has encouraged its researchers in recent years to report more of their innovations to the school’s Of fice for Technology Commercialization. To capitalize on new scientific breakthroughs, the OTC has ramped up its work
BUSINESS
of transferring innovations developed on campus — ranging from computer applications to new crop varieties — to industr y partners that can manufacture and market the discoveries. As a result, the of fice’s patent filings have more than doubled since 2009. Scientists disclosed some 330 inventions to the OTC in 2013, and the University filed 148 patents. Chemistry professor Andreas Stein said he has noticed a University-led push for researchers to patent their work into applicable technologies. “In the last year or so, I’ve seen more
encouragement from [the OTC],” he said. The institution’s increase in patent filing is part of a nationwide trend of commercializing research, said Leza Besemann, an OTC technology strategy manager. “That [trend] spills down to the funding agencies that fund most of our research,” she said. “More and more, they’re requiring our faculty and researchers to say how their research is going to end up benefiting society.” The trend comes at a time when the University’s patent revenue is recovering from u See PATENT Page 3
Mpls. may allow later hours Some council members want to allow businesses to extend their open times into the night. BY ETHAN NELSON enelson@mndaily.com
ELIZABETH BRUMLEY, DAILY
Afro Deli owner Abdirahman Kahin takes orders Wednesday night. A proposed ordinance change would allow businesses to extend their hours of operation 35 days a year.
Abdirahman Kahin, owner of the West Bank’s Afro Deli, sees fewer customers during Ramadan, the monthlong Muslim daytime fast. His restaurant is only open until 9 p.m., a time that’s too early for many Muslims to eat during the fasting period. But an amendment to an existing Minneapolis ordinance may soon allow him to cater to the Muslim community during Ramadan. The amendment, drafted by Ward 12 City Councilman Andrew Johnson, would allow businesses outside of downtown to
apply to stay open later than 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Though it was written with Ramadan observers in mind, Johnson said he hopes other restaurants will use it to take advantage of the Chinese New Year or sports events. “Depending on a particular location’s hours, they may close right after dark,” he said. “This is about creating reasonable flexibility for businesses.” Cedar-Riverside, a neighborhood filled with halal markets and East African restaurants, would be particularly affected by the change, Johnson said. The amendment would also allow grocery stores in the area to stay open later. “It’s harder for families to pick up a few things at a store during Ramadan,” said Ward 6 City Councilman Abdi Warsame. u See AMENDMENT Page 4
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 48