Prints among thieves PAGE 11
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U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
THURSDAY
JANUARY 31, 2013
HIGHER ED
BIKING
A push to publicize graduates’ earnings BY JACK PARKER jparker@mndaily.com
Most students attend college to get a job, but information on how that investment is likely to pay of f hasn’t typically been available. A bill intr oduced in Congress would require colleges to reveal graduates’ ear nings, among
other information. At the University of Minnesota, only some colleges r elease that data publicly. C u r r e n t l y, c o l l e g e s that receive federal funding already have to repor t similar information to the U.S. Depar tment of Education, but they’re not required to make it public. But more students are questioning the value of
their college investment. Of first-year students at the University in fall 2012, about 88 percent of students cited “to be able to get a better job” as a “ver y impor tant” reason in deciding to go to college — an all-time high, according to University data. This is up from about 75 percent in 2005.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
Bike crash data shows problem areas
The Student Right to Know Before You Go Act, introduced by Sen. Ron Wy d e n , D - O r e . , w o u l d require all colleges and universities to disclose the average cost of each program, students’ average accumulated debt and post-graduate earnings. u See PAY Page 3 CSE currently makes average graduate earnings data available.
BUSINESS
A study identified three problem areas near the University of Minnesota. BY JANICE BITTERS jbitters@mndaily.com
Earlier this month, the city of Minneapolis released the results of a 10-year bike-crash study that highlights problem areas around the city, including several spots around the University of Minnesota. The study, which analyzes bicycle accidents from 2000 to 2010, noted three major trouble spots near the University campus that totaled 43 accidents in the 10-year span. One problematic area, the intersection of University Avenue and the Interstate 35W exit ramp, saw 14 crashes, the seventhhighest in the city. Bill Lindeke, a doctoral candidate in the geography department who has studied student biking patterns around the University, said the intersection is the most concerning for him. He said more infra-
structure and road design are the solution to problem intersections around the University, which would provide a clear-cut path for bicyclists. “There needs to be more green paint on those streets,” he said. Steve Sanders, alternative transpor tation manager for the University, said though the University works with Minneapolis closely to help implement bike routes on and around campus, what happens is not always in the University’s control. “Our hands are a bit tied,” Sanders said. “Because we don’t own all of this infrastructure, we can consult with the city and advise them, but we really are kind of in an advising role.” Finding a solution to problem areas in the city is not always easy due to u See BIKING Page 6 In some crashes, both the cyclist and driver were at fault.
RESEARCH
FDFADS
Lavvu Coffee House owner Chris Pesklo sits in a Scandinavian Sami lavvu tent at the Swedish Institute on Friday in Minneapolis. Plesko said visitors to the new coffee house will be able to “enjoy a latte in a lavvu.”
Sharing Sami culture
U researcher creates first artificial enzyme The enzyme can be used to research the origin of life. BY BRANDEN LARGENT blargent@mndaily.com
BY MARION RENAULT mrenault@mndaily.com
Sweden and Russia — Lavvu is expected to open its new location Feb. 4.
There’s no shortage of coffee shops on
Chris Pesklo, University alumnus and
the University of Minnesota campus, but
owner, said he’s had his eye on the Dinky-
none of them let customers drink coffee un-
town location for some time now.
der an 8-foot-tall tent — yet.
“I’ve lived in Dinkytown for over 25
That’s just one of the ways Dinkytown’s
years,” Pesklo said. “I know the environ-
newest addition, Lavvu Coffee House, is
ment of Dinkytown and the student life-
celebrating its Scandinavian culture.
style. When I saw this store open, I knew it
Inspired by the Sami people — a nomadic culture of Northern Finland, Nor way,
was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Sami culture is also being featured at the
u See LAVVU Page 6
A University of Minnesota discover y could lead to industrial innovations and a deeper understanding of how life developed. University assistant professor Burckhard Seelig and other collaborators spent years determining the str ucture of the first artificial enzyme through test tube evolution. “Our artificial enzyme was basically just born in the test tube,” Seelig said, meaning the enzyme is similar to ones that origi-
nated billions of years ago. It’s primitive and doesn’t look anything like modern enzymes found in nature. Enzymes are proteins that break down food in the human body, break down dir t in soaps and help yeast make bread. Seelig originally created the enzyme as a post-doctoral candidate at Harvard University, but he wasn’t able to see what the structure looked like until now, with the help of College of Biological Sciences professor Gianluigi Veglia and doctoral candidate Frank Chao. Claudia SchmidtDanner t, a University Distinguished u See ENZYMES Page 4 This is the first time anyone has evolved enzymes in a lab.
Three students vie for open Board of Regents seat One University of Minnesota student will serve a sixyear term. BY ALEXI GUSSO agusso@mndaily.com
After six years, three University of Minnesota students have the chance to ser ve on the most power ful gover ning body at the school. Drew Coveyou, Abdul
Omari and Chris Tastad are all looking to fill the open at-large position on the Board of Regents reser ved for a student. The seat, cur rently held by Maureen Ramirez, is one of four open positions on the board this semester. The state Legislature will choose the next four regents in late Febr uar y. Until then, the students are meeting with legislators and getting plenty of
face time at the Capitol. Of the 12 seats, state law requires at least one member be a student at the time of appointment. “It forces a seat at the table that would allow a student perspective to be in place,” said Pat Duncanson, chair of the Regent Candidate Advisor y Council. After announcing the vacancies this fall, the RCAC received a large number of student appli-
cants, which Duncanson said was “impressive and relieving.” Ramirez, who did not r eapply for an at-large position, said having a student on the board is impor tant, and she never found it dif ficult to speak up when she felt it necessar y, despite being the youngest person on the board. “I always felt that my colleagues were grateful to have [a student] per-
COVEYOU
OMARI
spective,” she said. “It’s nice to have someone on the board who has been in school since there were computers.”
TASTAD u See REGENTS Page 5 One candidate is a former student representative to the Board of Regents.
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 64