CAMPUS & METRO
Dinkytown security plan moves forward
The plan would include hiring four off-duty cops on busy weekends. u See PAGE 3
CAMPUS & METRO
UMPD working to boost its diversity
The percentage of minority officers is increasing, but hiring is still difficult. u See PAGE 4
MOSTLY SUNNY HIGH 16° LOW 2°
U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
EDITORIALS & OPINIONS
SPORTS
Professors’ priorities
Williams’ injury leaves scoring void
Some professors’ attention has strayed from their students to research.
Senior Rodney Williams is a gametime decision for Wednesday’s game.
u See PAGE 6
u See PAGE 8
WEDNESDAY
ST PAUL
STUDENT ISSUES
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
THE TRANSITION
Mental health clinic to expand
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
what comes next for student-athletes
Boynton Health Service wants to hire six more mental health clinic workers. BY CODY NELSON cnelson@mndaily.com
To account for increased demand for mental health services, Boynton Health Service is requesting more than $380,000 in increased funding from the University of Minnesota Student Services Fees Committee. The proposed increase — which would begin in fiscal year 2014 — would primarily be used to hire six new mental health clinic workers and eliminate the $10 co-pay for mental health visits. “The visits just keep on increasing,” said Boynton Chief Medical Officer Gary Christenson. “Because of that increase, we have a capacity issue.” u See BOYNTON Page 3 Due to student demand, there are long waiting lists for mental health services at the clinic.
EMILY DUNKER, DAILY
Former Gophers hockey player and new Minneapolis Novas head coach Joe Dziedzic watches his players during an end-of-practice relay Feb. 11 at Parade Ice Arena in Minneapolis.
Former Gophers player Joe Dziedzic is working to revitalize Minneapolis high school hockey. BY SAM GORDON sgordon@mndaily.com
Now, Dziedzic is trying to revive hockey’s popularity and the high
Joe Dziedzic is the last Minneapolis public high school graduate
LEGISLATURE
Tobacco tax increase is in the works Opponents say higher tax rates on tobacco won’t stop the state’s smokers. BY JESSICA LEE jlee@mndaily.com
State legislators want to substantially increase the state’s tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products to prevent smoking and generate revenue. Last month, Gov. Mark Dayton proposed raising Minnesota’s cigarette tax 94 cents and some legislators hope to raise it as much as a $1.60, making it one of the highest in the nation. Health proponents say the increases
to play hockey for the Gophers. If there’s another one, he’ll likely have something to do with it.
school program in his hometown. Minneapolis once had a rich hockey culture, but the sport’s popularity tailed off when the programs in the city’s schools began to fail.
Dziedzic, 41, is the head coach
Only 36 kids from the city’s sev-
of the Minneapolis Novas, the
en schools tried out for the Novas
high school hockey cooperative
this season.
between the Minneapolis public schools.
“Minneapolis probably had its heyday in the mid-to-late ’70s,”
He grew up in Minneapolis, and
Dziedzic said. “The slide probably
his family has long been involved
started after 1990. That’s when it re-
in the city’s politics. His father Walt
ally started to go downhill.”
was a longtime City Council mem-
This year, Dziedzic’s first as head
ber, and his sister Kari is a state
coach, the Novas won their confer-
senator.
ence with a 20-4-1 record. They’ll play
Politics never interested Joe. Sports did.
Minnetonka in the first round of their section playoffs Thursday.
Dziedzic was a blue-chip football
Rebuilding Minneapolis hockey
and hockey player at Minneapolis
is a long-term project, and Dziedzic
Edison High School. He played four
plans on seeing it through. Right
years at the University of Minneso-
now, the Novas play in the Two Riv-
ta and three seasons in the National
ers Conference, one of the weakest
Hockey League.
in the state.
u See TOBACCO Page 12 Dayton’s proposed tax could generate $370M.
u See DZIEDZIC Page 7
CEDAR-RIVERSIDE
PUBLIC SAFETY
Fire Ambassador Program bridges gap 15th Avenue The Mpls. Fire Department works with teens from the East-African community. BY MERITTE DAHL mdahl@mndaily.com
Fire Capt. Mike Fust was preparing teens for an ice rescue. One at a time, he and his crew zipped the group into a taxi-yellow suit with attached boots, gloves and hood, making them look like something out of a sciencefiction movie. The teens were tr ying on ice rescue suits as part of the Cedar-Riverside Youth Fire Ambassador Program. The 15-weeklong program is designed to improve the relationship between the Minneapolis Fire Department and the neighborhood’s large East-African population. The program is led by MFD Capt. and University of Minnesota graduate student EMILY DUNKER, DAILY
Sixteen-year-old Ubah Salad, right, and 20-year-old Mona Abdullahi practice chest compressions on a test dummy Tuesday at the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis.
u See FIRE DEPT. Page 4 The city’s fire department fields several unnecessary calls from the neighborhood.
railroad bridge rated ‘poor’ The bridge is owned by two companies that don’t have to report inspection findings. BY KELSEY SHIRRIFF kshirriff@mndaily.com
On a bright, cold Tuesday morning, Christian Skaret stared up at the rusty, hole-ridden steel under the 15th Avenue bridge. “I get really ner vous when there’s a train going over,” he said. “It just feels like it’s going to crumble.” Skaret, a sophomore studying sports management, business and marketing at the University of Minnesota, walks under the bridge almost every day. u See BRIDGE Page 5 The railroad companies are responsible for the bridge’s upkeep, but their reports aren’t public.
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 75
2
Daily Review
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1985 In a highly controversial vote on Feb. 20, 1985, the Irish government defies the powerful Catholic Church and approves the sale of contraceptives. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH
SLIDESHOW Vol. 114 Wednesday, February 20, 2013, No. 75
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MUMBAI — India’s steep new tax on gold impor ts doesn’t deter Mousumi Rao as she holds up a glittering $5,000 filigree necklace that could adorn her daughter on her wedding day. Rao’s daughter isn’t getting married next month or even next year. The 12-year-old is at least several years away from her wedding. Since tradition demands a bride practically drip with gold jewelr y, it’s never too early for an Indian family to start preparing, particularly with the high cost of gold these days. “I’m collecting things for her now so when she grows older and marries, I should
have enough gold for her,” said Rao. “It is ver y auspicious for us, one of the most auspicious things, to give gold to your daughter.” Gold has been deeply entwined in Indian culture for thousands of years. Nowadays, India is by far the world’s biggest buyer of gold and those imports are an increasing drain on an economy that is growing too slowly to reduce widespread pover ty. Last year Indians imported 864 tons of gold, about one fifth of world sales. The cost of 2.5 trillion rupees ($45 billion) was second only to India’s bill for imported oil. The unquenchable appetite for gold coins, bars and jewelr y has swelled India’s trade deficit and weakened
its currency, making crucial impor ts such as fuel more expensive. The government can’t do much about oil impor ts — without fuel, the economy would grind to a halt — so in the past year it has tried to rein in gold demand, raising the import duty three times in a year to its current level of 6 percent. The higher tariff is proving little match for age-old tradition. “Ever y Indian wants gold. Now is the wedding season, and I’m seeing an increase in demand no matter about the tax,” said jeweler Arun Kaigaonkar. “Prices have been rising for years, and still people buy.” He said not only jewelr y, but gold bars and coins
remain in high demand because in many rural areas banking is less available. “In the countr yside, people save their money only in gold.” Last year Indian goldbuying briefly dropped for six months, but then it roared back in the second half of the year. And in Januar y, sales spiked sharply as jewelers and investors rushed to buy ahead of the impor t tax hike to 6 percent, which took ef fect at the end of the month. “The culture of gold is so strong in India. It’s dif ficult to contain this demand by just tweaking impor t duties,” said Samiran Chakraborty, an economist with Standard Chartered Bank in Mumbai.
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Nudes check out French family of 7 nudes at Austrian kidnapped museum BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VIENNA — These museum goers didn’t just leave their coats at the coat check. They handed over their shirts, trousers and underwear. Ever ything, in fact, except their shoes and socks. After all, the stone floor can get chilly when you’re touring an art exhibit in the nude, which was what more than 60 art lovers did in a special after-hours showing at Vienna’s prestigious Leopold museum. For many, the tour of “Nude Men from 1800 to Today” — an exhibit of 300 paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures focused on the bare male — was a goosebump-raising instance of life imitating art. With no other viewers around, nude quickly became the new normal as the visitors quickly gathered around a — dressed — exhibition guide and moved slowly from one art work to the next, listening intently to their history. And they weren’t the first visitors to get naked either, despite the hoopla around the event that drew dozens of reporters and camera teams from Austria and elsewhere.
YAOUNDE — A French family of seven — including four children — was kidnapped on Tuesday in northern Cameroon, and officials suggested the involvement of one of Nigeria’s Islamic extremist sects. Military helicopters are being used to search for the tourists, who were abducted from Cameroon’s Far North Region, a Cameroonian government official told The Associated Press. The French gas group GDF Suez identified the captives as an employee working in the Cameroon capital of Yaounde and his family. The group was vacationing in the north, a company statement said without elaborating. “The three adult tourists and four children were picked up early today (Tuesday) by men riding on motorbikes who rode off toward the border into Nigeria,” the Far North Regional Delegate in the Ministry of Forest and Wildlife, Jean-David Ndjigba said from the province’s capital of Maroua. Military and paramilitary gendarmes said the region’s Governor Augustin Fonka Awah is in the field accompanying them in the search. “As I speak to you right now, helicopters are flying over the entire province, and specifically in the administrative area of Waza in search of the kidnapped tourists,” Ndjigba said, adding that the vehicle the tourists used has been recovered on the borders flanking Nigeria.
EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST THURSDAY HIGH 22° LOW 19° Mostly cloudy
FRIDAY HIGH 26° LOW 14° Snow showers
SATURDAY HIGH 26° LOW 16° Partly cloudy
SUNDAY HIGH 31° LOW 26° Mostly cloudy
Do you think same-sex marriage legislation will get far at the Capitol this year? 4No, I think it will stall. 4It’s too early to say. 4Yes, I think it has a strong chance of becoming law. 4What same-sex marriage legislation? CORRECTIONS A page 1 article, “Lone conservative joins DFL-heavy mayoral race,” in Tuesday’s Daily mischaracterized Cam Winton’s work experience. Winton is a senior counsel for Duke Energy and helped build a wind turbine maintenance company. errors@mndaily.com 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 through Thursday, during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn. Midwest News Service distributes the 22,000 issues daily. All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste. One (1) copy of The Minnesota Daily per person is free at newsstands in and around the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. Additional copies may be purchased for $.25 each. U. S. Postal Service: 351–480.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Official: 14 hurt in Kansas City gas blast, fire BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A gas explosion that sparked a massive, block-engulfing blaze in an upscale Kansas City shopping district injured 14 people, a city official said Tuesday evening, adding it is believed that an accident by a utility contractor may have caused the blast. City Manager Troy Schulte said he did not know of anyone being reported missing and had not heard of any fatalities. Earlier Kansas City police had said the blast was caused by a car crashing into a gas main just after 6 p.m. Fire officials said later they were not aware of a crash being involved in the blast. Other witnesses noted street signs in the area indicated utility work was being done in the area, and a worker at a restaurant destroyed in the fire said the facility was being renovated at the time. Police Sgt. Tony Sanders said the manager of JJ’s restaurant was unable to account for three people, but it was unclear whether they were caught in the blaze or had left earlier. “The first thing we need to be concerned about is the people that are injured,” said Mayor Sly James, who also praised the work of first responders. James said officials were in contact with Missouri Gas Energy. The University of Kansas Hospital was treating five people injured in the blast, said spokesman Bob Hallinan. He said one person was in critical condition, two were in serious condition and two others were expected to be released. He said all the injuries were traumatic, such as broken bones, rather than burns or smoke inhalation. Kerry O’Connor, a spokeswoman for St. Luke’s Hospital, which is near the scene of the fire, said several patients
were on the way to the hospital. She said they haven’t been assessed yet but “they appear to be critical at this time.” Fire officials didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday evening. The smell of gas remained ver y strong near the area long after the suspected explosion. There were signs that utility work was being done in area. A phone message left Tuesday seeking comment from Missouri Gas Energy was not immediately returned. Jim Ligon, a bartender who has worked at JJ’s restaurant for five years, wasn’t working Tuesday night but said he started getting texts and calls from co-workers minutes after the explosion. He said the incident happened during the peak of weekday happy hour, when there is typically anywhere from 15 to 45 people in the bar area as well as three to five tables of diners at the restaurant. “JJ’s has a small staff, a family feel,” said Ligon, 45, of Kansas City, Mo. “You see the same 100 people all the time — a bar and restaurant for regulars. We’re just really hoping we come out of here OK in terms of injuries.” Ligon said he was on his way Tuesday night to meet up with co-workers at another bar in town to talk about the incident. Video showed dozens of firefighters and other emergency responders battling a massive blaze that appeared to have engulfed an entire block, with flames burning through the roofs. Black smoke swirled in the air and debris littered surrounding streets. The shopping area was established in 1922 by J.C. Nichols. Based on the architecture of Seville, Spain, it includes retail, restaurants, apartments and offices.
Drug overdose deaths up for 11th consecutive year BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Dr ug overdose deaths rose for the 11th straight year, federal data show, and most of them were accidents involving addictive painkillers despite growing attention to risks from these medicines. “The big picture is that this is a big problem that has gotten much worse quickly,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Pr evention, which gathered and analyzed the data. In 2010, the CDC repor ted, there were 38,329 dr ug overdose deaths nationwide. Medicines, mostly prescription drugs, were involved in nearly 60 percent of overdose deaths that year, overshadowing deaths from illicit narcotics. The repor t appears in Tuesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association. It details which dr ugs were at play in most of the fatalities. As in previous recent years, opioid drugs — which include OxyContin and Vicodin — were the biggest problem, contributing to 3 out of 4 medication overdose deaths. Frieden said many doctors and patients don’t realize how addictive these dr ugs can be, and that they’re too often prescribed for pain that can be managed with less risky drugs. They’re useful for cancer, “but if you’ve got terrible back pain or terrible migraines,” using these addictive drugs can be dangerous, he said. Medication-related deaths accounted for
22,134 of the dr ug overdose deaths in 2010. Anti-anxiety dr ugs including Valium wer e among common causes of medication-related deaths, involved in almost 30 percent of them. Among the medication-related deaths, 17 percent were suicides. The report’s data came from death cer tificates, which aren’t always clear on whether a death was a suicide or a tragic attempt at getting high. But it does seem like most serious painkiller overdoses were accidental, said Dr. Rich Zane, chair of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The study’s findings are no surprise, he added. “The results are consistent with what we experience” in ERs, he said, adding that the statistics no doubt have gotten worse since 2010. Some exper ts believe these deaths will level off. “Right now, there’s a general belief that because these are pharmaceutical dr ugs, they’re safer than street drugs like heroin,” said Don Des Jarlais, director of the chemical dependency institute at New York City’s Beth Israel Medical Center. “But at some point, people using these drugs are going to become more aware of the dangers,” he said. Frieden said the data show a need for more prescription drug monitoring programs at the state level, and more laws shutting down “pill mills” — doctor offices and pharmacies that over-prescribe addictive medicines.er medicines be subjected to the same restrictions as other narcotic drugs like oxycodone and morphine.
3
Dinkytown security plan moves forward The plan would include hiring four off-duty cops on busy weekends. BY MARION RENAULT mrenault@mndaily.com
Plans to improve latenight security moved for ward last week at a Dinkytown Business Association meeting and will be finalized by the end of next week. Skott Johnson, DBA president, presented a plan he and other business owners have been working on since last fall, when the former Second Precinct Inspector Br yan Schafer asked Dinkytown businesses to hire off-duty cops to patrol the area. The details of the plan include hiring four additional police of ficers during 14 nights pinpointed as hightraffic and high-incident occasions. Among them are Spring Jam weekend and Gophers spor ting events against the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Individual businesses would finance the police presence for a monthly fee of about $50, Johnson said, although this amount decreases with the participation of more businesses. As of Tuesday, 11 businesses had committed to the plan; Johnson said he’s hoping to get at least nine more by the end of the week. If the DBA fails to submit its proposal along with payment details, the city’s business licensing department would take over the process of improving latenight security in the area. Johnson said it’s a necessar y improvement for Dinkytown’s continued growth. “To be a destination area, we have to be a safe area,” he said. Mark Lo Galbo, a public health graduate student said he’s never felt unsafe walking around at night. Beyond receiving occasional crime alerts on his email,
he said, he has never had any personal experience with crime in Dinkytown. But Emily Hoyt, an art histor y senior who lives in Dinkytown, said sometimes people get so loud outside her house that she considers calling the police. She’s also had two computers stolen from her home on separate occasions, one of which was a forced entry. Biology junior Mitch Gmyrek said he’s also experienced a minor theft in his Dinkytown home, but still feels safe there regardless. “[Stuf f like that] puts you a little on edge,” he said, “but it doesn’t really make us feel unsafe.”
Late-night business’ busyness
The issue being addressed, Johnson said, isn’t crime like muggings or violence but rather crowd control and vandalism prevention. Greg Pillsbur y, owner of Burrito Loco restaurant, said for the 20 years he’s been on campus, there hasn’t been a change in the type of crime but rather an increase of people in the area. “It’s all the same old stuff you see on a college campus,” Pillsbur y said. “But there’s a lot more people there now. Light rail pushed people over, all the apartment buildings going up put in more residents — it just became a more popular area.” And if the area is only poised to grow further, he said, “we’d rather not be late to the party” in terms of preventing crime. Johnson said he hopes the presence of police officers will be enough to deter potential criminals. That sort of prevention is immensely valuable for he Book House, said employee Ryan Hinderaker. While the shop hasn’t had incidents in years, he said, it has had issues with graffiti and vandalism in the past. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,”
he said. Besides, Pillsbur y said, Minneapolis police have more pressing issues than college rowdiness — by hiring its own of f-duty cops, on-duty Minneapolis police officers are able to respond to more serious crimes. Johnson said he wants the plan to be ready and in place by spring and ultimately hopes to review it and adjust police presence in Dinkytown based on the security plan’s ef fectiveness. “We’ll work with the inspector to see if she feels it’s a success or if we need to give it more oomph,” Johnson said. Pillsbur y said gaining that notoriety for being unsafe at night could be dangerous for all Dinkytown businesses. “Once you get a bad reputation, it’s hard to get your good reputation back,” he said. “It’s much easier to keep a good reputation.”
‘A rising tide lifts all boats’
While the late-night businesses draw the big crowds to Dinkytown, the success of the plan depends on and will be felt by all Dinkytown business, said Mike Mulrooney, owner of Blarney Pub and Grill. “If we can share it within the community,” Mulrooney said, “ever ybody’s going to reap the benefits.” Avoiding broken windows and vandalism as well as keeping day-time employees safe on their way home is something all business owners should pitch in for, he said. Pillsbur y, though, sees a mutual benefit between day-time and late-night businesses in the plan. “A rising tides lifts all boats,” he said. Many of the day businesses’ customers notice after-hours businesses, he said, and are brought to the area by restaurants and nightlife. He also pointed out that with a monthly rate as low as $50, it’s not a ma-
jor investment for a small business. “Small businesses can’t spend $10, $20 or $30,000 a year renting of f-duty cops, but you can definitely spend 20 or 30 or 50 bucks a month and share it with your neighbors.” he said. “The cost is low, and the benefit is really high.” But Johnson said that not all businesses are in favor of the plan. Some felt that this was an issue for the city of Minneapolis, and others, like Five Guys restaurant, took matters into their own hands and hired their own off-duty officer. General manager of Five Guys Chris Conley said since hiring an off-duty police officer, the restaurant has had no major incidents. He said although he’s personally happy to see Dinkytown take “a step in the right direction” in terms of safety, his business won’t be participating in the DBA’s plan. “It’s just not economically responsible for us to jump in and tr y to help out all the local businesses ever y single time,” Conley said. “We can’t just be throwing money ever ywhere. Franchises tend to watch what they spend.”
DINKYTOWN SECURITY
BY THE NUMBERS
$11,400 COST OF ENTIRE SECURITY PLAN
$50 COST PER MONTH FOR A
PARTICIPATING BUSINESS
14 NUMBER OF NIGHTS PLAN WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE YEAR
4NUMBER OF COPS TO BE ON DUTY PER NIGHT
20 GOAL FOR BUSINESS PARTICIPATION
SOURCE: SKOTT JOHNSON, DBA PRESIDENT
UN: Drones killed more Afghan civilians in 2012 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KABUL, Afghanistan — The number of U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan rose sharply last year compared with 2011, the United Nations said Tuesday. The increase was a sign that unmanned aircraft are taking a greater role as Americans tr y to streamline the fight against insurgents while preparing to withdraw combat forces in less than two years.
Drones have become a major source of contention between the U.S. and countries like Pakistan, where covert strikes on militant leaders have drawn condemnation and allegations of sovereignty infringements as family members and other bystanders are killed. They have not been a prominent issue in Afghanistan, however. While drone attacks have occurred, they have largely been in support of ground troops during op-
erations and have not been singled out by President Hamid Karzai’s administration in its campaign against international airstrikes. The steep rise in the number of weapons fired from unmanned aerial aircraft — the formal term for drones — raises the possibility that may change as U.S. forces become more dependent on such attacks to fight al-Qaida and other insurgents as combat missions are due to end by the end of 2014.
The U.N. mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said 506 weapons were released by drones in 2012, compared with 294 the previous year. Five incidents resulted in casualties with 16 civilians killed and three wounded, up from just one incident in 2011. Georgette Gagnon, the head of human rights for UNAMA, said it was the first year the U.N. had tried to document civilian casualties from drones.
health service funding was caused by increasing public demand. “I feel like it’s not known that mental health is actually really tied into academic success,” she said.
to offset this revenue loss and account for inflation, Christenson said.
Mental health clinic to expand Boyton u from Page 1
Boynton’s mental health clinics have had long waiting lists for mental health assessments and restricted access to follow-up appointments, according to Boynton’s student services fees proposal. “We’ve changed the system as best as we can … but still we’re not meeting the demand,” Christenson said, adding that mental health-related visits have increased “unlike any other area of the health service” during the past 10 years. Boynton received almost $8.5 million in student service fees for 2012-13 — the highest amount of any student group or administrative unit, and about 30 percent of the total money allocated by the committee. The request asks for $383,412 for mental health services in fiscal year 2014 and more than $400,000 in fiscal year 2015. Most of this money would be used to fund 40 percent of the cost to hire six new mental health workers — two for the East Bank Clinic and four at the St. Paul Mental Health
Clinic. The SSFC’s initial recommendations were to help fund four of the six new staff positions and eliminate the co-pay, said Kyle Olson, chair of the SSFC administrative unit. He said the committee didn’t recommend the full amount Boynton requested because members thought there were some staff positions Boynton would be able to absorb into its greater budget. “It’s up to Boynton to spend that money as they see fit, but we made it pretty clear to them that we expect the co-pays to be finished with,” Olson said. It’s unusual for Boynton to ask for more money from Student Services Fees, Christenson said, but the health service provider has not been meeting demand for mental health issues. More than a quarter of University students surveyed reported being diagnosed with a mental health condition in their lifetime, according to Boynton’s 2010 College Student Health Survey. Student Health Advisory Committee member Lauren Beach helped with Boynton’s fee request. She said its request for increased mental
Co-pay is a ‘cost barrier’ to care
Boynton’s request for increased funding would also help to eliminate the $10 copay for mental health visits. Currently, all students not under the Graduate Assistant Health Plan have to pay the $10, but Christenson said Boynton hopes to eliminate this fee. “We feel that is a cost barrier of care,” he said. Kareem Dar wiche, a speech, language and hearing sciences junior, said a $10 co-pay isn’t significant to students who are already paying for health insurance, but he supports an increase in fees to decrease wait times for mental health visits. “I can see a benefit if it does decrease wait times,” he said, “but hopefully by half or less than half.” Co-pays currently provide nearly $73,000 in annual revenue to the clinic, according to a Boynton report. The increase in fees would be used
Boynton requests increase for Gopher Chauffeur
An increase in funding for the Gopher Chauffeur service, which Boynton took over from the Minnesota Student Association in 2009, is also included in Boynton’s fees request. The proposal asks for more than $27,000 in increased funding, which would be used for increasing hours of operation and meeting the service’s rising demand. Boynton received about $60,000 in student service fees for the ride service in 2012-13. The service has provided more than 10,000 rides home since its start in 2009, which Christenson said was “remarkably successful.” The SSFC’s report recommends complete funding for the increased Gopher Chauffeur fees request, Olson said. Boynton’s overall fees request was kept similar to past years in the initial recommendation. “There weren’t any significant cuts in recommendation,” Olson said.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
UMPD working to boost its diversity DEMOGRAPHICS OF MINNEAPOLIS AND MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
Last month, the Minneapolis Police Depar tment celebrated the graduation of its first new recruiting class in three years. Seven of the 13 new officers are members of minorities, a step in the right direction for Minneapolis police Chief Janeé Harteau’s mission to diversify the department, said Minneapolis police Sgt. Steve McCarty. “People identify with people who are similar to them,” McCar ty said. “It just makes good business sense to have diversity.” The percentage of minority officers in the Minneapolis police force has risen by almost 5 percentage points since 2001. Diversity among officers and how they reflect the demographics of the communities they ser ve is a problem for many police departments, McCarty said. The University of Minnesota Police Department
36.20% minorities
20.29% minorities
387,753 total population
838 total employees
SOURCE: MINNEAPOLIS POLICE GENDER AND ETHNICITY REPORTS, UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU
has only three minority officers among its total of 50, according to University police Chief Greg Hestness. “It’s a struggle for everybody because the hiring opportunities are slim,” he said. University police rarely have the budget to hire more of ficers due to the small size of the depar tment, Hestness said, so it’s difficult to diversify the department. “We can’t really do the recruiting if you’re not going to have a job available for two to three years,” he said. “There’s more opportunity in the city.”
Another problem University police face is a lack of qualified minorities in their recr uiting pool, he said. “You can’t just hire anybody,” Hestness said. “They have to be licensable.” One proposal Hestness has to diversify his department is to introduce a cadet program that would pay for a recruit’s education and training. If the recruit completes the training, he or she would be promoted to an officer in the University police, he said. If the officer chooses to leave University police, he or she would
2013
BY JAKE STARK jstark@mndaily.com
838 total employees
2008
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
880 total employees
2004
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEMOGRAPHICS SINCE 2001
780 total employees
2001
The percentage of minority officers is increasing, but hiring is still difficult.
872 total employees
20.29% minorities 18.52% minorities 16.54% minorities 15.83% minorities
SOURCE: MINNEAPOLIS POLICE GENDER AND ETHNICITY REPORTS
have to pay the department back for the training. “It’s a way of balancing quality with diversity,” he said. Hestness said he believes once University police hire a few more minority officers, others will see the department as an attractive place to work. “When you have a few minority officers in the door of your department, it starts getting easier,” he said. “They know they’re welcome in your department.”
Importance of diversity
A 2003 study published by the Policy Studies Jour-
nal repor ted that racial diversity in police depar tments is impor tant because it increases police empathy with minority residents. According to the study, minority officers are more familiar with minority cultures, and they can help spread that knowledge to other officers in the department. A diverse police force is especially necessar y on a university campus, said Kenneth Brown, former chair of the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights. “The community is so diverse,” he said. “If you
only have a one-sided view of the world, you’re not going to treat everybody with respect.” Having a diverse group of officers allows residents to better relate to the police and makes them feel safer, Hestness said. “If you have a couple of minority officers working a diverse community, it’s not going to be seen as targeting,” he said. “Not that it’s fair, but that’s the reality of it.” Minneapolis police have tested the theor y by adding Somali cops to patrol the West Bank community, McCarty said. Although he said he thinks Somali residents may be more comfortable with the Somali officers, it is difficult to tangibly compare the success of those officers against white officers. The University community is one of the most diverse areas in the Twin Cities, so Hestness said he isn’t satisfied with the current demographics of his department. “I feel like the time is due,” he said. “The time is due for us to be reflective of how diverse our city is and how diverse our campus is.”
Minn. lawmakers start silica sand mining hearings BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota lawmakers began drilling into the state’s silica sand mining Tuesday with hours of testimony from advocates and opponents, the first phase of a potential fight over what role the state should play in overseeing the booming industry. Critics came by the busload to the Capitol for a joint hearing of the Senate and House environment committees. One by one, concerned citizens from southeastern Minnesota asked lawmakers for a statewide study of health and environmental impacts; a temporary moratorium on new mines and processing facilities; and establish better statewide oversight and regulation. So far, the issue has been left to local governments. Representatives from compa-
nies that run silica mines in Minnesota said state regulation would be too much of a burden, and said city and local governments can better oversee silica mining in their own backyards. “We feel they are the best suited to decide the local land issues,” said Mike Caron, director of land use affairs for Tiller Corp., which recently got permits from Nor th Branch to build a sand drying facility. “They are each unique, and each of them should be studied on their own so that all of the local issues and concerns can be dealt with.” Democratic Sen. Matt Schmit of Red Wing said after the hearing that he plans to introduce a bill Thursday that would broaden the state’s oversight and call for a study. Sen. John Marty, a Roseville Democrat and chair of
the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, backs that proposal. He said a statewide study may require putting a hold on permits for new mines. Schmit’s bill may get a hearing as soon as next week. “There are so many unknowns. Rather than blindly go ahead, let’s make sure we do it right,” Marty said. Demand for silica sand has grown with the rise of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in oil and gas production in western North Dakota and other states. Drillers mix the sand with water and other chemicals and pump it down into wells, propping open cracks so that oil and natural gas can flow out. The hills and bluffs of western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota hold easy-to-mine deposits of highly pure silica sand that is the ideal size, shape and hardness for fracking.
Caron, of Tiller Corp., said his company started mining silica sand in 2010 as a way to expand struggling sales. The “sand rush” has been roaring in Wisconsin for several years. Opponents of the silica mining industry said lawmakers need only look east to see the cost of not stepping in. Pat Popple said the silica mines are “not a pretty scene” in Chippewa Falls, Wis., where she lives. She urged Minnesota lawmakers to ensure they know enough about the environmental and economic costs of the mines. The documented dangers of workplace exposure to fresh silica dust include silicosis and lung cancer. But opponents said there hasn’t been enough research into the potential health effects of silica dust on everyday citizens — not just from the mines them-
selves, but from processing and transport facilities, too. Local governments don’t have the resources or expertise to do that kind of research, said David Williams, a township super visor for Preble Township in Fillmore County. “The conflict is real and it is growing,” said L ynn Schoen, who is on Wabasha’s City Council. She said she worries about the impact on the city’s tourism industry from increased truck traffic — as many as 600 trips a day, in and out of the silica sand mine, she said. The experience in Wisconsin shows that mining operations generate heavy truck traffic that affects communities. “The state needs to get involved now to help us protect our home,” Schoen said. Several state agencies
handle some permits for mining companies. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issues air quality permits. The Depar tment of Natural Resources oversees how much water companies use to clean their silica sand. Combined with the landuse permits and other regulation from local governments, Tony Kwilas, director of environmental policy for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, argued that the silica sand mining industry “is one of the most heavily regulated industries that we have in this state.” Bobby King, an organizer for the Land Stewardship Project, said the state needs to respond to local governments’ calls for help. “We need to get out in front of it and develop those standards now,” he said.
Fire dept. u from Page 1
Tracy Moore and MFD Capt. Casidy Anderson. It’s funded by a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation’s Connect for Health Challenge program, which is meant to increase social connectedness to improve health in communities, said spokeswoman Julie Ann Eastling. The relationship between the fire department and the East-African community is strained, Moore said, and the program is meant to narrow the cultural gap. The city’s fire depar tment fields a number of unnecessary 911 calls from the neighborhood, Moore said. The calls can be related to a smoke alarm battery dying or minor medical problems. The sight of a fire truck can cause fear and confusion for the East-African community, Moore said. Some recent immigrants have never used modern appliances, Anderson said, making this community more susceptible to kitchen fires. The program is reaching 25 people directly but a lot more indirectly, Moore said. “We are going to teach our community about the fire department and safety, how to get out of a burning house,” said participant Chala Ahmed, 19. “They don’t know English so much, so we have to help them.” Ahmed said he will pursue becoming a firefighter after the Fire Ambassador Program ends.
The learning ‘goes both ways’
Although the rescue harness Hemdi Abdujalil
EMILY DUNKER, DAILY
Fifteen-year-old Amal Muse practices first-aid techniques with a partner Tuesday at the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis. “[A Brian Coyle Center Youth Advocate] told me to come,” Muse said. “It was a good choice.”
tried on looked heavy, it was actually comfor table, he said. Abdujalil, a program par ticipant and sopho more at Minneapolis South High School, said his favorite par t of the program is “ever ybody coming together, working together [and] sharing stories. It’s really fun.” The par ticipants have
also visited the MFD Emergency Operations Training Facility, where they tried on full fir efighter suits and crawled through a burning house simulation, Ahmed said. The teens write weekly in journals to brainstorm ideas for community safety and reflect on what they’ve learned, Anderson said.
When the par ticipants graduate from the program in April, they will be CPR and first-aid cer tified by the American Red Cross and will receive a Fire Ambassador badge from the fire depar tment, Anderson said. But they aren’t the only ones lear ning from this program. “It goes both ways. I
think that it impacts the firefighters as much as the par ticipants,” said Brandi Ziegler, a University alumna and lead youth advocate and educator at the Brian Coyle Community Center, where the program is based. The Cedar-Riverside Youth Fire Ambassador Program could also encourage par ticipants to
pursue becoming a firefighter, said MFD Capt. Anura Si-Asar, increasing diversity in both race and gender. The MFD currently has no East-African firefighters, Moore said. “Tracy changed my idea of firefighters,” said Washbur n High School senior Khadro Isse. “Girls can be firefighters, too.”
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
MSA to increase budget transparency
Student tries to break up fight, attacked
The annual budget will become more accessible to the public.
The victim received six stitches after being hit by a bottle.
BY CODY NELSON cnelson@mndaily.com
The Minnesota Student Association on T uesday passed a bylaw to increase budget transparency after requesting increased student services fees. The bylaw, which passed unanimously and without debate, states MSA will put its annual budget online for public viewing and have hard copies available in the office within a week of its approval. MSA is one of the largest recipients of student ser vice fees. It received more than $159,000 from the Student Ser vices Fees Committee in 2012-13. Of ficials this year are requesting an increase of about $14,400 over MSA’s 2012-13 fees request, bringing its total request to about $186,000. Prahith Chakka, an author of the bylaw, said MSA doesn’t currently publish its budget in a transparent way. “It’s important to know where MSA’s money actually goes,” he said. Responsibility for meeting these requirements is placed on the MSA president because it’s a permanent position. Ryan Olson, another au-
thor of the bylaw, said the measure will make MSA “efficient and effective.” “I think it opens [MSA’s budget] up for criticism,” he said. “It keeps us accountable.” About $3 of each student’s fees goes to MSA each semester, so Olson said he believes it’s important for the student body to know what its government is doing with its money. According to MSA’s fees request, “[MSA] leadership believes a greater impact can be made with more money.” With increased funds, MSA hopes to increase programming and cut operating expenses, according to its request. Advertising is the main area in which MSA hopes to increase spending, according to the request, with travel and enter tainment expenses slated to receive the most cuts. At T uesday’s for um, MSA also introduced a bylaw that would give its student ser vices fees application process more accountability. Kyle Kroll, an author of the bylaw, said it’s important that more than one or two people prepare MSA’s fees request. “It’s just good policy for us to have this policy in place for years to come,” he said. “It’s important to have all these people involved in the creation of the [fees] request.”
BY JAKE STARK jstark@mndaily.com
A University of Minnesota student was hospitalized after being assaulted by a group of men early Sunday morning, according to a Minneapolis police report. Architecture junior Brian Petereck was tr ying to break up a fight at a house
p a r t y n e a r Va n C l e v e Park in Southeast Como at about 1 a.m. on Sunday when four men attacked him. Petereck said he saw one of the four men punch a random person at the par ty, so he tried to intervene. When he did, three other men began to strike him repeatedly. “What I’m used to is, you just grab someone, hold their arms and maybe they settle down,” he said. “Ther e’s no way I was looking for a fight.” As the men continued
to hit him, Petereck said he heard a bottle break but wasn’t sure if he’d been hit by it. “When ever ything died down, I just saw a pool of blood drip down from my head,” he said. “That’s when I knew they broke the bottle over my head.” Several other par tygoers tried to keep him calm as police arrived, he said. The assailants fled the scene before the of ficers’ arrival. Petereck suf fered a serious cut to his head from being hit by the bottle, he
5
said. Paramedics transpor ted him to the University of Minnesota Medical Center, where he received six stiches. The repor t listed the of fense as a third-degree assault because Petereck suffered significant bodily harm from the attack, said Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer. Petereck said he is still recovering from the attack. “I had about a three- or four-day headache,” he said. “I feel pretty sore ever ywhere.”
Bottle fraud may face harsher penalties BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LANSING, Mich. — Attention smugglers of empty soda cans: Stay out of Michigan, or you could face jail time. Lawmakers are taking aim at people who use out-of-state
cans and bottles to cash in on Michigan’s recycling refund, which pays 10 cents per container. Legislation debated Tuesday would make an attempt to return between 100 and 10,000 non-returnable containers punishable
by up to 93 days in jail or $1,000 in fines, or both. Current law sets penalties only for those who actually return fraudulent containers. Angela Madden of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association
estimates that the state loses up to $13 million a year from out-of-state cans. She says many businesses don’t have the machines that read the mark or code that indicates a container is from Michigan.
Flu cases shorten blood supply in the Dakotas, MN BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ABERDEEN, S.D. — The flu and other winter illnesses have led to a shortage of blood in parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota, and recent blizzard conditions have hin-
dered efforts to collect more. Molly Vetter, center manager of United Blood Services in Aberdeen, S.D., says a blizzard about a week ago cost the organization’s six Dakotas offices about 300 units of
blood. She tells the Aberdeen American News that the pr oblems ar e likely to continue. On Monday, a mobile unit that was supposed to go to Fuller ton, N.D., was canceled because
of the weather. Illnesses, especially the flu, have also hindered people from being able to donate. United Blood needs about 500 donations a day to supply 93 hospitals in the Dakotas and part of Minnesota.
AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY
Traffic passes under the 15th Avenue railroad bridge Tuesday between the Como and Marcy-Holmes neighborhoods. The bridge is in poor condition according to city documents.
Bridge u from Page 1
The bridge that hundreds pass below daily and concerns some residents is separately owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and Union Pacific. The more than 100-yearold structure is actually made of two bridges built 30 years apart, and the two owners don’t have to send regular inspection reports to the city or any other government agency. Each year the city makes inspections and sends its recommendations to the railroads, but it can only make minor repairs if there’s an immediate danger to the public. “All we do is note the issues we’ve seen, which would include the minimal things or just a livability issue such as graffiti, debris on the bottom flange, and we forward our annual report to the railroads,” said Jack Yuzna, a bridge engineer for the city of Minneapolis. It’s the railroads’ responsibility to manage bigger issues with the structure, he said. The Federal Railroad Administration requires railways to adopt bridge inspection procedures and conduct internal audits and can request to review inspections from railroads.
But the companies’ reports are not public, their inspection ratings are different from the city’s, and they are not required to submit them to the FRA. “According to federal law, the railroads are obligated to do bridge safety inspections on their behalf,” Yuzna said. “But they’re not obligated to share the information and to date we haven’t received any of their reports.” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called for more federal oversight of railroad bridges last year after a train derailed and collapsed a structure, killing an Illinois couple. City inspectors are not allowed to go on the deck near the tracks since they are owned by the railroads and would be trespassing, said Heidi Hamilton, the deputy director of public works for the city of Minneapolis. The city last inspected the bridge in May, and said the Union Pacific portion of the bridge was in “poor” condition. The report said the steel girders, floor beams and columns were heavily rusted. The city report for the BNSF bridge rated the portion directly beneath the deck — where trains travel — as in “fair” condition but the base of the bridge as in “poor” condition. It said the steel columns had “severe rust,” which is “causing deformation and
buckling.” Ted Galambos, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, said heavy rust is significant. “Depending on how much of the original steel is rusted away, that certainly would affect the strength,” he said. “If you take things away, things get weaker.” UP built its part of the bridge in 1891; it was later widened in 1921. BNSF owns the addition. The last time UP made any repairs to the 15th Avenue Bridge was in 1994, said Mark Davis, the director of corporate communications and media for the company. He said the bridge is “structurally sound.” Amy McBeth, the director of public affairs for BNSF, said no repairs have been made by the railway in recent years to their part of the structure because none have been necessary. “We have a rigorous inspection program,” she said. “Nobody has a greater interest than we do in ensuring the safety of our bridges.” McBeth and Davis both said that if repairs needed to be made, the two railroads would be in contact with each other and the city. Hamilton said that not every part of the bridge is critically important. “In a bridge you can have pieces that are in poor condi-
tion, and it doesn’t mean that there’s any sort of a safety hazard,” she said. But Galambos said that every part is necessary. “They’re all important — it wouldn’t be there if it weren’t important,” he said. If there were concerns for pedestrians or vehicles going under the bridge, the city would take action, Yuzna said. “We do not have safety concerns for the traveling public under the bridge,” Hamilton said. Concerns about the safety and appearance of the bridge have caught the eye of residents. Ricardo McCurley, neighborhood coordinator for the Southeast Como Improvement Association, said that the group has worried about drainage and lighting under the bridge. “The water, and the inadequate drainage [the railroads have] created — the leaks, that entire system just doesn’t seem to be working,” he said. “That causes lots of hazards, whether it’s slick conditions underneath, blinding conditions when the rain is falling and icy conditions in the winter.” Sports Management senior Mitch Fiereck said that the leakage is what bothers him about the bridge. “It’s mostly just the dripping of water on your head that comes from God knows where that I don’t like very
RATINGS FOR 15TH AVENUE RAILROAD BRIDGES BNSF BRIDGE RATING
UP BRIDGE RATING
Superstructure: 5 (fair) Substructure: 4 (poor)
Superstructure: 4 (poor) Substructure: 4 (poor)
RATING DESCRIPTIONS 5 - FAIR CONDITION: Superstructure has moderate deterioration. Members may be (Superstructure) bent, bowed or misaligned. Bolts, rivets or connectors may be loose or missing, but connections remain intact. Steel: extensive corrosion (initial section loss in critical stress areas) Fatigue cracks (if present) have been arrested or are not likely to propagate into critical stress areas. Concrete: extensive scaling or cracking (structural cracks may be present), moderate spalling or delamination (reinforcement may have some section loss) Timber: extensive weathering or splitting (moderate decay or crushing) Masonry: extensive weathering or cracking (joints may have slight separation or offset) 4 - POOR CONDITION: Superstructure has advanced deterioration. Members may be (Superstructure) significantly bent or misaligned. Connection failure may be imminent. Bearings may be severely restricted. Steel: significant section loss in critical stress areas. Un-arrested fatigue cracks exist that may likely propagate into critical stress areas. Concrete: advanced scaling, cracking or spalling (significant structural cracks may be present – exposed reinforcement may have significant section loss) Timber: advanced splitting (extensive decay or significant crushing) Masonry: advanced weathering or cracking (joints may have separation or offset) 4 - POOR CONDITION: Substructure has advanced deterioration – repairs may be necessary to (Substructure) maintain stability. There may be extensive scour, erosion or undermining. There may be significant settlement, movement, misalignment or loss of bearing area. Steel: advanced corrosion (significant section loss) Concrete: advanced scaling, cracking or leaching (significant structural cracks may be present). There may be extensive delamination or spalling. Timber: advanced splitting (significant decay or crushing) Masonry: advanced weathering or cracking (joints may have separation or offset)
SOURCES: CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, MNDOT
much,” he said. Cam Gordon, the city councilman for Ward 2, said it would be nice if the railroads reconstructed the bridge. “We don’t want it to get to such a poor point that they don’t do something first, but they will fix their infrastructure when it needs it,” he said.
Due to the heavy traffic underneath the structure and its proximity to the University, it would be difficult if they decided to make significant repairs, he said. “We’d have to really think about it carefully in terms of the timing and the staging,” he said.
6
Editorials & Opinions www.mndaily.com/opinion
Professors’ priorities Some professors’ attention has strayed from their students to research.
T
MEG O’CONNOR columnist
ing, we have the privilege of sitting at the forefront for new information. Yet I sometimes feel a great disconnect between my professors and myself. Yes, I understand that I am one of 50,000 students here and can’t expect to be known by name by everyone. However, some professors seem more interested in their own research than they are in their students. Are we sacrificing great teaching for world-renowned research? I understand the importance of learning from professionals in the field. Yet, there should still be professors in the classroom who are passionate about, well, teaching. There have been a few
times that my professors have tried my patience and forced me to question what I am doing here. If they display a lack of enthusiasm for teaching, then how are we supposed to be enthusiastic about learning? Each field varies, but overall it seems as though promotions are given to faculty members based on research and how many times their work is published. After all, this gives the University great recognition. But, there doesn’t seem to be enough weight in assessing how one performs in the classroom. An above-average educator who is mediocre at research could be kicked to the curb over a mediocre educator but an above-average researcher. If a professor’s advancement didn’t cling so closely to the level of their research, it may help to alleviate added pressure and allow them to devote time to the students. As stated in a proposal by the Car negie Founda-
DEATHS IN IRAQ: U.S. & COALITION TROOPS: 4,802 — IRAQI CIVILIANS: 111,216- PLUS DEATHS IN AFGHANISTAN: U.S. & COALITION TROOPS: 3,245 — AFGHAN CIVILIANS: UNKNOWN
tion for the Advancement of Teaching, “The challenge is to strike a balance among teaching, research and service … we need better ways, besides publication, to evaluate scholarly per formance of faculty.” The research that is done at universities like the University of Minnesota is vital to students’ success. But what is also vital is having a great professor, one who is willing to hash out abstract ideas outside of their designated of fice hours, one who can ser ve as a mentor for students rather than merely a superior. Don’t get me wrong, though. There are many outstanding professors at the University. But, too often I have questioned the sincerity of my professors in what they do. U l t i m a t e l y, a b a l a n c e needs to be reached for what goes on in the lab and what goes on in the classroom. Meg O’Connor welcomes comments at mo’connor@mndaily.com.
IMMIGRATION
Leaky business Congress should learn something from Obama’s leaked draft immigration bill.
O
Collin Randolph welcomes comments at crandolph@mndaily.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Missing the mark on the minimum wage
In a Feb. 19 column, “An honest pay,” Ronald Dixon writes of President Barack Obama’s call to raise the federal minimum wage, citing the economic benefits of such an increase with nar y a mention of any possible drawbacks. To suppor t his point, Mr. Dixon cites “economist” Jared Bernstein but doesn’t mention that Bernstein has any formal training in economics nor that he was Vice President Joe Biden’s chief economist and economic policy adviser until 2011. While it’s not surprising to hear that an adviser advocates the same position as the politician who appointed him, I was surprised to see that no mention was made of actual economic research on this topic. Interested readers may wish to consult “Revisiting the Minimum Wage-Employment Debate: Throwing Out the Baby with the Bathwater?” by David Neumark, J. M. Ian Salas and William Wascher who argue, in par t, that “minimum wages pose a trade-off of higher wages for some against job losses for others.” These “others,” as the study concludes, are often teenagers and people work-
The Editorials & Opinions department is independent of the newsroom. The editorial board prepares the editorials labeled “EDITORIALS,” which are the opinion of the Minnesota Daily as an institution but not representative of Daily employees’ opinions. Columnists’ opinions are their own.
EDITORIALS
HIGHER EDUCATION
he University of Minnesota is one of 108 universities in the United States that is ranked as having “ver y high research activity.” Additionally, in 2012 the University ranked 29th out of more than 1,000 worldclass universities and research institutions in the Academic Ranking of World Universities. So, it should come as no surprise that the professors here are consistently involved in conducting research. At the University we are able to learn from the best of the best. Our professors, many of which are working on research in conjunction with teaching, have the ability to share with us what is new and what is out there in the world right now. Since education and knowledge is ever chang-
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
ing their first job. Like Dixon, I believe that the best America is one that sees citizens living happily and being able to take care of their families. That said, I don’t believe the hardship of making relatively little money for working an entr y-level job is necessarily an undue one. On the contrary, I can imagine no better incentive to get ahead than for work typically taken up by high school students to be unattractive to adults. Dmitry Spivak University student
Some poor relationship advice
I am writing in regard to a comment that Dr. Date made in the Feb. 18 issue of the Minnesota Daily about same-sex marriage. I would first like to state that this is not a letter about whether same-sex marriage is right or wrong. When giving advice to a girl asking about her boyfriend opposing same-sex marriage, Dr. Date stated, “The Doc believes that people who don’t want gays to marr y hate gays. That’s a fact of life, a fact of nature.” That is a pretty bold and flat-out wr ong as sumption. Unfor tunately,
there are people who actually do hate gay people but simply because someone opposes same-sex marriage does not make them a bigot. It is not a fact of life or nature that those in opposition of same-sex marriage hate gay people, and this ster eotype is nothing more than an ignorant idea. There are many reasons as to why someone might be opposed to samesex marriage just as there ar e many r easons why someone supports it. Regardless of what your own beliefs are, each side deser ves respect. By disregarding those in opposition as simply being bigots who hate gay people, the good doctor has displayed his or her own intolerance and ignorance of the sanctity of marriage movement. Stereotyping the opposition as such makes Dr. Date no better than someone who actually does hate gay people. I would encourage readers to find out the reasons for suppor ting same-sex mar riage as well as opposing it because an uninformed decision is a foolish one. Luke Wolf University student
Send comments to letters@mndaily.com.
ver the weeke n d, a draft of President Barack Obama’s immigration bill was leaked to USA Today. Uns u r p r i s i n g l y, RONALD DIXON the Republican columnist Party took aim at this draft bill. Perhaps the most outspoken of his critics is Republican rising star Sen. Marco Rubio, who declared that the draft is “half baked and seriously flawed.” Let us analyze just how flawed this proposal really is. The most noteworthy segment of the document is the call to establish a “Lawful Prospective Immigrant” visa for immigrants without criminal backgrounds. If this deal became law, millions of undocumented immigrants would need not fear the government breaking down their doors to deport them and their families. Any economic gain from the immigrant population would be sustained, and families would be protected from the current threat of forced separation and deportation. The proposal draft also includes a call for more border security funding. In addition, the draft included an 8-year plan for stricter requirements to undergo national and international background checks and necessitates the learning of English and basic U.S. history and government to attain a green card. The irony is that the aforementioned declarations are commonplace among Republicans. Who are typically the first ones to call for more fences and background checks? Which group is more likely to complain about the inconvenience of reading signs that include both English and Spanish? The answer to both of these questions: Republicans in Congress. Given that logic, why would these Republicans be adamantly against what appears to be a bipartisan deal? Obama has made it clear that he would prefer Congress to craft legislation that he would sign, but he also noted that, if Congress cannot forge a deal, he would submit a proposal for the Legislature. Assuming that the Republicans continue to obstruct most of the Obama agenda, which seems likely, we find that Obama will probably intervene. In order to fix the problems of illegal immigration, Congress should adapt the points enumerated by the president’s draft bill to their own potential legislation. Ronald Dixon welcomes comments at rdixon@mndaily.com.
Mental health services
Several bills in the Legislature address the lack of access to mental health services.
E
arlier this month, several bills that would provide more mental health resources for children in K-12 schools were introduced in the state Legislature. An article in the Feb. 12 Minnesota Daily titled “Legislators push for mental health funding” outlined the efforts of Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, who is working to improve mental health ser vices for schools in the state. She introduced a total of three bills that would work in various ways to improve and expand access of mental health care for children and young adults. One of those ways is to increase the funding for school-linked mental health services, as well as provide more resources for young adults with mental health issues. While the lack of comprehensive mental health care is something often discussed haphazardly after a tragic mass shooting that makes the national news, the poor availability of mental health care is real and widespread. The Daily article cited a 2005 study in conjunction with the National Institute of Mental Health that “half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and three-quarters have begun by age 24.” Additionally, according to a 2010 College Health Sur vey of the Twin Cities campus by Boynton Health Ser vice, roughly a quarter of University students have been diagnosed with a mental illness at one point in their lives. While it would be ideal if mental health issues could be identified during high school or earlier, the state Legislature should also focus on improving mental health options at the college level. Despite what often appears as phony rhetoric at the national level, there are indeed significant gaps in America’s mental health access. Sheran’s proposals work to fix many of those gaps at the state level.
Marriage equality in Minnesota A marriage equality bill is expected to be introduced in the state Legislature.
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nother Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but the legislative debate concerning love and marriage has just begun. The Minnesota Daily reported Feb. 14 that new legislation supporting same-sex marriage would be coming soon to the state Legislature. As more than 2,000 people gathered at the state Capitol last Thursday to show their support for same-sex marriage, members of the Legislature also voiced their opinions on the legal definition of marriage in Minnesota. Sen. Scott Dibble, who was legally wed to his partner in California, but whose marriage status is not recognized in Minnesota, expressed his frustration in feeling like he and his partner are “legal strangers” in this state. Last November, voters showed their opposition for an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would define marriage as between a man and a woman. Minnesota Public Radio News reported that 51.2 percent of voters voted “no” on Election Day, in part a testament to the massive grassroots campaign led by Minnesotans United for All Families. With the likely introduction of a bill in support of same-sex marriage in the coming weeks, it’s important to continue to show support for marriage equality in Minnesota. By supporting the rights of all Minnesotans, we also work toward a possibly more striking change at a national level. At the end of March, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear two cases challenging the constitutionality of both California’s ban on gay marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act . Continued support for marriage equality legislation demonstrates that Minnesota is ready for all its residents to have the same rights under the law.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sports Dziedzic u from Page 1
They’ll be switching to the more competitive TriMetro Conference next season. “It’s not a quick fix,” Dziedzic said. “If we can make it through the next two or three years here, we’re going to turn the corner.”
Rebuilding city hockey
Low numbers are one of several problems Dziedzic and his staff face. Top hockey players leave Minneapolis to play at the top suburban and private schools, which typically have more talent and better facilities. “You still find families that want to live in Minneapolis — they like that quality of living,” Novas assistant coach Tom Chorske said. “But then they’ll also have the means to maybe send their kids to private schools.” Chorske graduated from Minneapolis Southwest, played for the Gophers and spent 11 years in the NHL. He said an influx of minorities has also affected the growth of Minneapolis’ high school hockey program. But the city’s youth program, the Minneapolis Storm, is thriving. Dziedzic said numbers for the Storm are at an alltime high. If young players stay in the program, Dziedzic said the future is bright. “We have some good kids,” he said. “They just need an opportunity.” Novas star winger Henr y Christman is getting plenty of chances. The Novas captain finished the regular season ranked second in the state with 79 points. Christman was talented enough to leave for a suburban school, but he opted to stay and play for the city. He said Chorske and Dziedzic’s status as Minneapolis natives resonates with the players. “In 10 years, if I look back and see that they won a state championship, I’m going to feel that I was kind of a par t of that and that I helped build this
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@MNDAILYSPORTS
program,” Christman said. Minneapolis athletic administrators had been recruiting Chorske to coach the Novas for years. Chorske said he wasn’t ready to lead the operation solo, but when Dziedzic accepted the job, he joined him. “When [Dziedzic] took the reins, it felt like an oppor tunity where I could suppor t him and I could assist him,” Chorske said. “We’re confident that, together, he and I would have a pretty strong impact on preser ving the state of city hockey and hopefully moving forward.”
A tight-knit group Dziedzic played nearly every sport as a kid, but he made a name for himself by tearing up the rinks and gridirons in Minneapolis. A two-spor t star at Edison High School in the city’s Northeast neighborhood, he began receiving attention from major college programs as early as his sophomore year. Though he was gifted athletically, Dziedzic said he never considered transferring to another school. “I always wanted to play with my buddies that I grew up with,” he said. “We had some good teams.” Multiple teams in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth, recruited Dziedzic to play hockey. Michigan, Souther n California, and CaliforniaLos Angeles were a few of the big-name programs that recruited him to play football. B y h i s s e n i o r y e a r, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Dziedzic was the state’s top football and hockey player and had to make a dif ficult decision about which sport to play in college. “The football practices are brutal. Hockey was so much more fun to practice,” he said. “I wanted to be a bigger hockey player rather than an averagesized football player.” He said his goal was to play hockey for the Gophers and when they came-a-knockin’, he couldn’t pass it up. He was named Star Tri-
EMILY DUNKER, DAILY
Joe Dziedzic on Feb. 11 at Parade Ice Arena in Minneapolis.
bune Metro Player of the Year for football his senior season, and months later he won the prestigious Mr. Hockey award. Both teams finished a game away from the state tournament. “It’s more special when you do it with the guys you grow up with your whole life. I knew them all since I was 6 or 7,” he said, “It was a tight-knit group.”
Gophers and pro career A few months before Dziedzic was set to join the Gophers, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round of the 1990 NHL Draft. The adjustment to college wasn’t easy. Dziedzic played in only 20 games as a freshman and finished with 10 points. He said in hindsight, a year of junior hockey would have benefited him. But he adjusted to the college game by his sophomore year and played in 37 and 41 games in his sophomore and junior seasons, respectively. He was poised to break out as a senior, but he fractured his wrist the second game of the season. He returned eight weeks later, only to break it again.
“I was finally hitting my stride as a player,” he said, “Kind of a bittersweet finish to my career.” Dziedzic had to have a nine-inch titanium rod inserted into his arm to hold the fracture in place. The injur y took about a year to recover, and for a while he thought it would jeopardize his pro career. But the injur y didn’t discourage the Penguins from signing Dziedzic, and by 1995 he was on the roster alongside his boyhood idol Mario Lemieux “It’s kind of a sur real deal,” Dziedzic said. “You got a job to do, and it’s intense, but you’re also tr ying to enjoy the moment a little bit. It was basically a dream come true.” He played in the Penguins organization for four years before signing with the Phoenix Coyotes in 1998. But midway through the 1998-99 season, he got into a fight that changed his life. “A guy’s finger went in my eye,” he said. “My retina had collapsed.” Dziedzic had surger y to repair the injur y, and it forced him to retire. Doctors told Dziedzic that he could risk fur ther vision loss if he played again. Now, he wears a powerful contact lens over the
JOE DZIEDZIC CAREER STATS SEASON TEAM 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1998-99
University of Minnesota University of Minnesota University of Minnesota University of Minnesota Cleveland Lumberjacks Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins Cleveland Lumberjacks Springfield Falcons Phoenix Coyotes
injured eye. “I still had some hockey left in me,” he said. “It was a tough one to get over.” Dziedzic retur ned to the University of Minnesota after his playing career and finished his degree in speech communications with hopes of becoming a TV analyst.
Full circle While finishing his degree, Dziedzic star ted helping out with local hockey camps. Soon after, Dziedzic opened up his own training center, JDHockey Camps. Dziedzic r uns skill camps, coaches elite teams and oversees 3-on3 leagues between high school seasons.
GOALS ASSISTS POINTS 6 9 11 7 15 5 9 21 18 0
4 10 10 19 14 25 10 17 15 30 5 10 9 18 20 41 27 45 0 0 SOURCE: HOCKEYDB.COM
“More than anything, it’s just my passion and love for hockey that keeps me doing what I’m doing,” he said. Several players he’s coached have played Division I hockey, including current Gophers star Nick Bjugstad. “[Dziedzic] has all the skills. He knows the game really well,” Bjugstad said. “He’s been through it all.” In 2010, Dziedzic accepted the head coach position at St. Paul Academy, where he coached for two seasons before accepting the job with the Novas. “I’ve kind of come full circle. I grew up playing in the city. I made the climb up the ladder to play college and pro,” he said. “To come back in the city where it star ted ... it means more.”
MEN’S HOCKEY
Condon finding groove after slow start After scoring three goals in the season’s first 17 games, Nate Condon has seven in the last 13. BY DREW CLAUSSEN dclaussen@mndaily.com
Gophers junior for ward Nate Condon had an interesting talk with head coach Don Lucia before heading home for winter break. Condon had notched only three goals in the season’s first half, well below where Lucia expected him to be. “He got on me quite a bit,” Condon said. “It was more of a talk of ‘Go home and find 10 goals laying around the house.’ ” “I think I found them in my mom’s cooking when I was home,” he said. The Wausau, Wis., native now ranks fifth on the No. 2 Gophers in points with 10 goals and 17 assists. “There was more there,” Lucia said, “and I think he knew it.” Condon said he’s had slow starts before. “It’s a tough thing to battle through, but once you find your way through it, then you’re just that much more happy,” Condon said. “I’m really happy with how I’m playing right now.” Lucia said Condon’s struggle was not a byprod-
uct of a lack of effort. “Nate’s always been a hard-working player,” Lucia said. “With his speed, he should be able to be more of an impact in a game than he had in the first half of the season.” Having an impact doesn’t necessarily mean scoring goals ever y game. But Lucia said Condon should be on the scoreboard in some fashion ever y weekend. Condon’s teammate and roommate Mark Alt said Condon’s turnaround has helped the team. He said Condon has stepped up in important games. “That’s kind of his nature,” Alt said. “The games that matter, big games like Nor th Dakota, he’s been that guy that breaks through and has those key goals for us.” Minnesota has played 10 of its 13 second-half games against teams ranked in USCHO.com’s top-20 poll. The Gophers went 6-3-1 against those teams. Condon had five goals and seven assists during that stretch. Through it all, he’s had to switch lines while the coaching staff experimented with new combinations of players. He’s played on
NATE CONDON GOPHERS FORWARD
YEAR 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13*
GOALS ASSISTS POINTS 8 11 10
9 19 17
17 30 27
*through 30 games
SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
the first, second and third lines this season at both the center and wing positions. “They’ve been calling me the utility player,” Condon said. “But it’s not difficult for me as long as the people I’m playing with are doing well.” Condon had the most success this season when he filled in for an injured Erik Haula as the secondline center with Zach Budish and Sam War ning. When Haula retur ned to playing center, Condon moved to right wing on the first line with Nick Bjugstad and Kyle Rau. Condon is often r e garded as one of the fastest skaters on the team and has been a large par t of the Gophers’ power play and shor t-handed units in the last two seasons. “I pride myself on the short-handed goals,” Condon said. “It’s one thing to get up the ice, but another to get down there and score somehow shorthanded.”
EMILY DUNKER, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minnesota forward Nate Condon fights for the puck against North Dakota defenseman Derek Forbort on Jan. 19 at Mariucci Arena.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Williams’ injury leaves scoring void Senior Rodney Williams is a gametime decision for Wednesday’s game. BY ANDREW KRAMMER akrammer@mndaily.com
Coach T ubby Smith touted the Gophers’ depth as one of their greatest strengths before the Big Ten season started. But it appears to be one of Minnesota’s looming weaknesses as the team is 6-7 in the conference. Starter Rodney Williams, the Gophers’ second-leading scorer, is a “game-time decision” Wednesday against Ohio State. The senior is nursing a sore left shoulder he suffered before the Gophers’ Feb. 10 loss to Illinois. Sophomore center Elliott Eliason is likely to start, shifting senior Trevor Mbakwe to power forward. The midseason injury to Williams exacerbates the Gophers’ of fensive struggles off the bench. “We need to not only get our points but bump it up to his production [level] to fill in that gap,” Eliason said. Although Williams’ numbers have regressed from his junior year, his absence has been felt on the court. In the Gophers’ three wins during their last 10 games, Williams has shot 44 percent or better while attempting at least nine shots and scoring at least 10 points. “Obviously he’s a focal point of our offense,” Mbakwe said about Williams. “But we have a lot of guys who can step up and lead the team.” Minnesota, which has averaged 54 points in its last three games, was sputtering offensively even with a healthy Williams. Now reserves like senior Andre Ingram, sophomore Oto Osenieks and Eliason will be asked to fill in for Williams’ 11.4 points per game. The trio has combined to score 5.6 points per game. “I have confidence in them to get the job done,” Smith said about his bench.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
@ MINNESOTA
NO. 18 OHIO STATE
6 p.m., Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio
OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes (18-7, 8-5 Big Ten) lost their only conference home game of the season to No. 1 Indiana on Feb. 10. They’re 13-2 at home overall. Ohio State has lost three of its last four games — all losses to ranked opponents. Its most recent loss, a 22-point drubbing at Wisconsin, resulted in a season-low 49 points. Junior forward Deshaun Thomas is the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 20.1 points per game. MINNESOTA: The Gophers (18-8, 6-7 Big Ten) are 1-5 away from Williams Arena this conference season with their only win coming Jan. 9 at Illinois. Point guard Andre Hollins, who averages 29 minutes, played only 19 minutes because of foul trouble in Minnesota’s 21-point loss to Iowa on Sunday. The sophomore has had three or more fouls in each of his last six games. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
Elliott Eliason
Eliason, the team’s lone seven-footer, is useful in almost every statistical category except scoring. The Gophers’ only true center led the team in assists in Sunday’s loss to Iowa while point guard Andre Hollins sat much of the game with foul trouble. “I’m not a scorer,” Eliason said. “So it’ll probably be by committee, by Mo [Walker] putting in four points, I put in a few points a game.” Eliason’s vision on the court is uncommon for such a big guy, but he has yet to develop any post moves to benefit the Gophers’ offense. The Chadron, Neb., native provides a boost to rebounding and blocked shots, two categories Minnesota already excels in. Eliason hasn’t scored more than four points in a Big Ten game since Feb. 26, 2012, against Indiana, when he had six points — a Big Ten-career high.
Oto Osenieks Osenieks has played Williams’ role when Smith goes with a small lineup. The sophomore played a season-high 20 minutes in Sunday’s 21-point loss at Iowa. He was brought in as a late addition to the 2010-11 recruiting class in large part because of his natural shooting
ability. Smith said when he recruited Osenieks he gave the team depth at both forward positions. But Osenieks has scored in double digits just once in his Big Ten career. This season, the Latvia native is 2-for-23 from beyond the arc and averages 1.4 points in his 12 Big Ten appearances.
Andre Ingram Ingram is a senior, but like Trevor Mbakwe, he’s playing in just his second Big Ten season. The power forward hasn’t taken a shot in the last six games and serves more as a defensive presence than anything else. But Smith said after practice Tuesday that he’ll look for Ingram, along with Walker, to fill in for Williams’ scoring. “But we’ve got to get some better play out of them,” Smith said. Aside from the reserves, point guard Andre Hollins said he knows he needs to change the way he plays in lieu of Williams. “I have to penetrate more,” Hollins said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean taking more shots but keeping the ball in my hands to make the right decisions. That’s what I’ve learned this past month.”
AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minnesota forward Rodney Williams looks for an open teammate against Wisconsin on Thursday at Williams Arena.
@dailyinthebarn
SWIMMING & DIVING
WOMEN’S GOLF
Women enter Big Ten championships as favorite to repeat
Gophers struggle with short game in Tampa
Minnesota upended three-time defending champion Indiana last year. BY NATE GOTLIEB ngotlieb@mndaily.com
Gophers junior Tess Behrens won two individual titles at last year’s Big Ten swimming and diving championships. But with new swimmers in her championship events, it’s no guarantee she will repeat at this year’s championships, held this weekend at the University Aquatic Center. Behrens faces competition from Indiana freshman Brooklynn Snodgrass, who holds conference-best times this season in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke — the two events Behrens won last year. Behrens understands the challenge she faces but appears confident in her own ability and preparation. “I’ve done everything that I can to prepare myself to repeat,” Behrens said. No. 12 Minnesota is the favorite to claim its second consecutive Big Ten championship this weekend, but head coach Kelly Kremer didn’t seem worried about the Gophers’ place among other teams. “You can’t always control winning,” Kremer said, “but you can control yourself and ultimately how you perform in a race.” Behrens also ranks third in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 200 backstroke in the conference.
Kremer said he hopes his team can focus on performing its best rather than worrying about race results. He said this can be a challenge, especially for swimmers who have already won conference titles. “They feel a sense of pressure to have to repeat,” Kremer said, “or a sense of pressure to perform at a level that is comparable.” The Gophers scored 680.5 points at the 2012 Big Ten championships, upending three-time defending champion Indiana. Minnesota claimed five titles and four first-team All-Big Ten honors last season, but results vary from year to year. “It’s a completely different year,” Kremer said. “How races unfold a year ago doesn’t have a lot of bearing on how this year goes.” Junior Maggie Keefer was the Gophers’ top-scoring diver at the Big Ten championships last year, earning Big Ten Diver of the Championships honors. Kremer said he expects Keefer and the Minnesota diving corps to play a large role this weekend. He said his team is deep and experienced in almost every event, which bodes well for a repeat attempt. “We’re a team that, generally speaking, is understated,” he said. “Like in the past, I just hope we let our performance this weekend show how wellprepared we are.”
ICHIGO TAKIKAWA, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Minnesota’s Kiera Janzen swims the 1,000-yard freestyle against Wisconsin on Oct. 26, 2012, at the University Aquatic Center.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING PREVIEW
@ NO. 12 MINNESOTA
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
6:30 p.m., Wednesday 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Saturday at University Aquatic Center
PREVIEW: The No. 12 Gophers won the Big Ten championships last season, outscoring Indiana 680.5-651. Minnesota finished 10-0 in dual meets this season and returns many swimmers and divers from last year’s Big Ten squad. Freshman Kierra Smith holds the Big Ten’s fastest time in the 200-yard breaststroke and second-fastest time in the 100 breaststroke. Junior Tess Behrens won the 100 and 200 backstroke at the Big Ten championships last season, and junior diver Maggie Keefer was named the diver of the championships. Minnesota is the highest-ranked Big Ten team, but five other conference schools — Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State — are also in the top 25. Indiana finished second at the Big Ten championships last season with 651 points, followed by Ohio State (560), Wisconsin (411) and Penn State (379.5). SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM
BY NICKALAS TABBERT ntabbert@mndaily.com
The Gophers women’s golf team shot 57-over par to finish 10th out of 12 teams at the Central District Invitational in Tampa, Fla. Southern Methodist won the 54-hole tournament at 24-over par. Gophers coach Michele Redman said her team struggled with its short game at the River Wilderness Golf Club. “We’re still a little rusty,” she said. “We need to keep continually getting better with chipping and putting.” The team’s performance was similar to the Hurricane Invitational two weeks ago, Redman said. Minnesota finished with the same team score at that tournament en route to a sixth-place finish. Cooler weather and wind factored into the team’s scores this week, Redman said. Teams had to wait out a frost delay Monday. “That to me was the main reason as to why the scores are not as low as they were last year,” she said. Minnesota finished 12th last year but shot five strokes better. Redman said the course wasn’t as firm or fast as last year either, which led to Minnesota using different clubs on shots onto the green. Minnesota had three golfers separated by two strokes. Sophomore Carmen Laguna finished tied for 25th to lead the team. Senior Jackie Shepherd finished one shot behind Laguna, and sophomore Anna Laorr finished one behind Shepherd. Redman said Laguna’s new putting stroke will have long-term benefits. “Right now she’s just not
WOMEN’S GOLF RESULTS
GOLFER Laguna Shepherd Laorr Thitiratanakorn Quinn
RD1 76 80 76 78 79
RD2 77 76 76 78 84
RD3 75 73 78 79 83
TOTAL 228 229 230 235 246
TEAM RD1 1. Southern Methodist 298 2. Vanderbilt 299 3. Michigan State 295 4. Denver 310 5. Iowa 299 10. Minnesota 309
RD2 297 289 295 294 306 307
RD3 293 302 305 292 292 305
TOTAL 888 890 895 896 897 921
*out of 12 teams
SOURCE: GOLFSTATRESULTS.COM
making the putts at the right time,” Redman said. “She’s hitting a lot of good putts — they’re just not going in the hole.” Laguna, the team’s best golfer so far this season, is on the verge of consistently shooting par. Redman said Laguna needs to make a few more birdies to help make that happen. Shepherd had her best tournament of the season this week. She shot 1-over par Tuesday to finish the tournament 13-over par. Laor r impr oved her score and finish from the Hur ricane Invitational two weeks ago. She shot a 76 twice to lead the team through two rounds. Laorr kept Minnesota’s cleanest scorecard, recording only birdies, pars and bogeys in her rounds. The Gophers competed without junior Banchalee Theinthong, who suffered a wrist injury, Redman said. Theinthong had the Gophers’ best performance in the Hurricane Invitational. Redman said she expects Theinthong to be back in the lineup by March 8, when Minnesota will compete in the Clover Cup in Phoenix.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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WHAT: With One Breath WHO: Roger Clyne WHEN: 6 p.m.-midnight, March 2 WHERE: O’Gara’s Bar & Grill, 164 Snelling Ave., St. Paul PRICE: $25 in advance, $30 at the door Featuring blackjack, bingo and more! Great prizes, live auction, music with Roger Clyne, complimentary beer and appetizers. Proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
WHAT: Enchanted Evening WHO: Jawaahir Dance Company WHEN: 8 p.m., March 22 WHERE: Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis PRICE: $20 Join Cassandra, Jawaahir and special guests Sisters of the Sahara, Kamala Chaand, Helen and Lahlia for a special Enchanted Evening of engaging and beautiful dance performances!
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
BACKTALK sudoku
horoscopes
Complete the grid so each row, clumn and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. Visit mndaily.com to see the solution to today’s puzzle.
2/20/13
Tuesday’s solution © 2013 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Today’s Birthday (2/20): Happiness at home occupies the first half of the year, which could include a remodel, move or new family member. Sports, hobbies and romance hold your attention. Taste new flavors.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Written By Linda C. Black
Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is a 9 — Your frustration may be legitimate, but there’s no need to get stuck in it. Focus on possibilities and invest in your infrastructure. Stay close to home.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 7 — Abandon old fears that no longer serve. There’s still a lot to do. You’ve been doing a job the hard way, so try something different. Keep at it.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 9 — Update your educational strategy; there’s still a lot to learn. It’s a good time to ask for a raise, but don’t try to squeeze blood from a turnip.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 9 — Begin planning for a trip, but don’t leave quite yet. You can have wonderful adventures close to home now, and explore tomorrow.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 9 — You may lose some ground on a practical matter, but it’s only temporary. Listen carefully for moneymaking opportunities and win in the long run.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is an 8 — The coming weeks are good for financial planning and for envisioning the future. Be sure the right people hear it. Accept encouragement.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 9 — Recent accomplishments increase your confidence, now and for the next two days. You’re on a roll, so keep going and mark important things off the list.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 9 — Rely on partners, especially the ones who really believe in you. Review instructions again and make it work. Don’t assume you know everything.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is an 8 — Don’t brag or argue. There’s no time or need for that. You’re busy fine-tuning your environment, but there’s still room to be sensitive and compassionate. Listen.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 9 — The financial situation is unstable, so wait until the check clears. Get busy creating income. Do the research, and set illusions aside.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 7 — Conversing with friends provides insight and clears doubts. Creativity is required, now more than ever. Use your magic.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 9 — Plan some fun for today and tomorrow. Add music to your work. Check electrical wiring, and maintain the flow. Think fast and look good.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
overheard “Is there such a thing as ‘too cold to snow?’ ”
—Outside Anderson Hall
“How did you not know that you’re five months pregnant?”
—Comstock Hall
Guy: “Do you accept FlexDine?” Girl Scout: “What?”
—Outside Keller Hall
Professor: “You should do drugs before everything, including this class.”
—Lind Hall
Professor: “Vicodin is much better than Viagra. You need it more often.”
—Unknown
Girl (as the automatic toilet flushes): “I’m not finished yet!”
—Bathroom
Guy: “Do you want to go out some time?” Girl: “Um, you know I actually have a boyfriend …” Guy: “I can grow a really nice beard!”
—Lind Hall
Professor: “If you have any questions, look it up on Wikipedia.”
—Unknown
Professor: “Have I ever told you guys about my trippy experience with the Milky Way? Well, I was in grad school …” Student: “Were you on drugs?” Professor: “No, I was camping!”
—Unknown
Professor: “This is such a waste of good alcohol. It should be mixed with orange juice not reacted with acidic acid.”
—Unknown
“Wait, what state is Connecticut in?”
—Coffman Union
“Excuse me! Are you challenging the masculinity of the sport of racquetball?”
—Unknown
Professor: “Snooki — how will she get [expletive]-faced this week?”
—Unknown
Guy 1: “I didn’t do so hot on that test.” Guy 2: “ ‘ Not so hot’ as in …?” Guy 1: “As in, ‘non-sexy’ kind of ‘not so hot.’ ”
—Tate Laboratory of Physics
What did you overhear? 4Post submissions on the “overheard at U of M Facebook group. 4Visit mndaily.com and look for the “Connect with the Daily” box on the homepage. 4Email submissions to overheards@mndaily.com.
crossword
FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 20, 2013
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 When Romeo meets Juliet 5 Crummy 10 His mausoleum is in Tiananmen Square 13 Close-Up, e.g. 15 Posterior 16 See 15-Down 17 Pro foe 18 Ready to pour 19 Paint as wicked 21 Peoria-to-Decatur dir. 22 TD’s six 25 Question eliciting “Let’s!” 26 Vital vessel 28 Tidy up 31 Stratford’s river 34 Holm and McKellen 36 “Star Trek” role 37 2011 film in which Owen Wilson says, “Wonderful but forgettable. That sounds like a picture I’ve seen. I probably wrote it.” 40 No __ sight 41 Letterman rival 42 “99 Luftballons” singer 43 Thaw once more 45 Give a good talking-to 47 In the lead 49 U2 producer or, backwards, U2 hit 50 Aswan landmark 53 Gift of a sort 56 Simoleons 58 Justin Bieber or the golden calf 59 Winner of screenwriting Oscars for the three quoted films 62 Stax Records genre 63 “Titus __”: 16thcentury play 64 Pre-LCD screen 65 Makes a home 66 Time in ads DOWN 1 Oldest musketeer 2 Directing brothers
2/20/13
By Eric Williams
3 Rich cake 4 “__ small world” 5 12-in. albums 6 Cereal grain 7 Previously owned 8 Scatter, like petals 9 Sycophant 10 Lionel train, say 11 1998 animated film released the month before “A Bug’s Life” 12 Jim Davis dog 14 “Fantasia” tutu wearer 15 With 16-Across, 1986 film in which Dianne Wiest says, “But you have to remember while you read and you’re cursing my name, you know, that this is my first script.” 20 Outmaneuver 23 Calc prereq 24 Lesley of “60 Minutes” 26 1977 film in which 59-Across says, “Awards! They do nothing but give out awards!” 27 Starts the pot
Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
29 Consumer advocate Brockovich 30 Mercury Seven org. 31 From the U.S. 32 Hollywood crosser 33 Fifth wheel 35 From then on 38 Fjord, for one 39 High time? 44 Formosa, now
2/20/13
46 Willy, Biff or Happy of drama 48 Blackmore heroine 50 Sweets, in Naples 51 Native Alaskan 52 Minister’s house 53 Oft-burned object 54 Stench 55 Approves quietly 57 Lena of “Chocolat” 60 Seuss’s “The 5000 Fingers of __” 61 Rocky hellos
Visit mndaily.com to see the solution to today’s puzzle.
dr. date Dr. Date,
I’m meeting my girlfriend’s dad for the first time. She doesn’t have the best relationship with him, but they’re trying to make amends. How can I make sure this goes as smoothly as possible, for both her and me?
—Stuck In The Middle
Dear Middle Man,
You’ve got to be your boo’s rock. No, not her Dwayne Johnson — I mean her stability system for when Pops rides his horse into town. A girl’s relationship with her father is a very fickle one. Although she’s probably on the defense when interacting with her less-than-perfect daddio, there’s a good chance she is yearning for some quality time with the first man in her life; you need to help the quality of the weekend. I dub thee Sir Pocket O’Plans for the amount of time your lady’s dad is in town. Your role will be to suggest what to do, where to go, what else to talk about when there is a lull in conversation or activity among your tricky trio. If you don’t allow the fire time to burn, little doggy, you eliminate the fire altogether. Start making a mental list of “fun things to do with Abby and Papa Jim!” and paint a clown-y smile across your pucker for a couple of days. Dads love smiles and sports, so don’t forget the sports either.
—Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
My guy tells his friends a lot about our relationship. I mean, a lot — all the dirty details about everything from our fights to our sex life. I understand the need to talk stuff out, and I do that too with my girlfriends, but how can I set limits on what he tells his friends, especially when it comes to things about our sex life or my body?
—Troubles With Gossip Guy
Dear Upper East Sider,
So you’re doin’ the dirty with a gossip king, eh? Who are you dating, Blair Waldorf with a snake between her legs? I’ve left you with quite a salty vi-
sual, I’m aware; however, it was necessary for the severity of this blip-turnedbomb in your relationship. There is a definitive line separating what is appropriate to share with your homies and what is not. You see, the ability to share certain things with your friends about your relationship is a very special thing. Talking is good for the soul and minimizes relationship bickering. However, once your dude starts spittin’ about tastes, touches and intimate turmoil, he goes from darling to dog in one fervent z-snap. We aren’t in high school anymore. Be straightforward with your man about how much his lipflappin’ hurts your feelings and note how his yak is actually quite girly and off-putting. Real men don’t do details, and you only date real men.
—Dr. Date
Dr. Date,
I have a question. When two guys go out on a date, who pays for the dinner? The one that asked the other out, or do they just split it?
—Clueless
Dear Mr. Horowitz,
The times they are a changin’. The ambiguity that surrounds what is considered proper dating etiquette for millennials is difficult to navigate, though there are a couple of basic rules to keep in mind. This doc is a practitioner of modern medicine and prescribes the following as common treatments to dating ailments: 1. If your mouth asks, you should foot the cheddar for both parties. 2. If you’re the individual having your grub paid for, you slide your paper across the bar for post-dinner drinks. Dinner for two is expensive, and those University student fees just keep rising. It’s courteous to return a monetary favor of post-dinner drinks if getting asked out for a meal. Courtship dating isn’t dead; it’s just been modernized and equaled out among the participants. It’s 2.0.
—Dr. Date
Need relationship advice? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tobacco tax increase is in the works Tobacco u from Page 1
could help curb smoking while opponents argue tobacco addictions are stronger than a tax increase. Rep. Diane Loef fler, DFL-Minneapolis and vicechair of the state House Taxes Committee, said she suppor ts fellow DFLer Rep. Ann Lenczewski’s $1.60 tax hike because of its potential two-fold benefits. “We’ve got a really tough budget,” she said. “It seems like this is one of the revenue sources that accomplishes good policy goals [like smoking prevention] and helps us deal with our financial problems at the same time.” Dayton’s revamp of the state’s tobacco tax is predicted to generate about $370 million over two years, according to Minnesota Management and Budget. Even with higher prices, addicted smokers won’t stop spending money on cigarettes, said Kim Crockett, vice president of the Center of the American Experiment, a conservative advocacy organization in Minneapolis. “They are expensive now, and I still buy them,” said University of Minnesota graduate Mandy Grootwassink. “Smokers, we don’t really think about the longterm effects even though we are aware of them. We still buy cigarettes.” Har r y Lando, University professor of epidemiology and community health, agreed but said the cigarette tax could prevent teens from star ting the habit. “They are star ting lifelong habits that they will increasingly regret as the health impacts show up later in their lives,” Loefller said. “It’s proven that this is the best way to stop kids — they’re very price-sensitive.” Kaila Narum, a senior in marketing and entrepreneurial management, said she suppor ts the bill
BRIDGET BENNETT, DAILY
Hideaway employee Beth Ludvik works behind the counter Tuesday in Dinkytown.
because smoking causes preventable deaths and illnesses. She is an of ficer for the University’s Colleges Against Cancer student group. “We’re hoping to stop people from starting in the first place,” Nar um said. “You’re not choosing to pay the tax; you can cut down on smoking.” Narum’s father died seven years ago from cancer partly caused by his smoking habit. “If you have a business model that kills almost half of its users, you should come up with a dif ferent business model,” she said. About 19 percent of Minnesotans over the age of 18 smoke cigarettes, making the state the 11th lowest in usage throughout the nation, according to a 2011 report
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lando, who specializes in reducing global tobacco use, said he would like the money from the cigarette tax to be put toward services for quitting or promoting smoking prevention. “I think there is an ethical question as far as continuing to get all this revenue from smokers and then not essentially giving anything back to them in terms of increased services,” he said. Crockett said that by making cigarettes “essentially unaf fordable,” consumers might travel across state boarders or star t “smuggling” tobacco. “Raising the price or making it more intangible to get will not make people quit,” Grootwassink said. “Just think about other drugs or other things that
are illegal, people still get it. If people want it, they will find a way.” Crockett also said the tax proposal would target middle- and lower-class Minnesotans. “I hate to think we’re balancing the state budget on the backs of people who, frankly, need to put food on the table and pay their rent,” she said. But Nar um said raising the cigarette tax would even the playing field for the state’s smokers and non-smokers. “Yes, you are paying a
little bit more for your pack of cigarettes, but overall, we as a state are paying for your health insurance and coverage,” Narum said. According to a repor t from the American Cancer Society, Minnesota spends about $2.9 billion a year on smoking-related health care costs. That averages to be $554 spent for every person and child in the state, the report said. “Being over weight is also unhealthy, so is eating candy and drinking too much wine,” Crockett said.
TOBACCO TAX BY STATE AS OF 2011
“Are we going to tax those things?” Loeffler said it might be a burden on smokers, but lawmakers are attempting to find sources of revenue with the most benefit. She said she is leaning more toward the higher tax rate over Dayton’s lower proposal. A bill, authored by Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, and others, mirrors Lenczewski’s and will be discussed as well. Legislators will finalize taxing decisions later in the session after the second biennial budget forecast. The tax increase on cigarettes would go into effect this summer if the legislation is approved.
GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDATION Increase the total cigarette tax and fee from $1.23 a pack to $2.17, a 94-cent increase. Increase the total tax and fee on tobacco products by 20 percent. Greater than $2.00
$1.501 – $2.00
$0.501 – $1.00
$1.001 – $1.50
Less than $0.50
SOURCE: NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURE
SOURCE: MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
High Court seems to favor Monsanto in agriculture patent case BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Cour t appeared likely Tuesday to side with Monsanto Co. in its claim that an Indiana farmer violated the company’s patents on soybean seeds that are resistant to its weed-killer. None of the justices in arguments at the high court seemed ready to endorse farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman’s argument that cheap soybeans he bought from a grain elevator are not covered by the Monsanto patents, even though most of them also were genetically modified to resist the company’s Roundup herbicide. Chief Justice John Rober ts wondered “why in the world would anybody” invest time and money on seeds if it was so easy to evade patent protection. To protect its investment in their development, Monsanto has a policy that prohibits farmers from saving or reusing the seeds once the crop is grown. Farmers must buy new seeds ever y year. The case is being closely watched by researchers and businesses holding patents on DNA molecules, nanotechnologies and other self-replicating technologies. The issue for the court is how far the patents held by the world’s largest seed company extend.
More than 90 percent of American soybean farms use Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” seeds, which first came on the market in 1996. The 75-year-old Bowman bought the expensive seeds for his main crop of soybeans, but decided to look for something cheaper for a risky, late-season soybean planting. He went to a grain elevator that held soybeans it typically sells for feed, milling and other uses, but not as seed. Bowman reasoned that most of those soybeans also would be resistant to weed killers, as they initially came from herbicideresistant seeds too. He was right, and he repeated the practice over eight years. In 2007,Monsanto sued and won an $84,456 judgment. Across the court’s conser vative-liberal divide, justices expressed little sympathy for Bowman’s actions. Justice Stephen Breyer said Bowman could make many uses of the soybeans he bought from the grain elevator. “Feed it to the animals. Feed it your family or make tofu turkey,” Breyer said. But patent law makes it illegal for Bowman to plant them. “What it prohibits here is making a copy of the patented invention and that is what he did,” Breyer said. Mark Walters, Bow-
man’s Seattle-based lawyer, tried to focus the court on the claim that Monsanto has used patent law to bully farmers. “What they are asking for is for the farmer to assume all the risk of farming, but yet they can sit back and control how that product is used,” Walters said. Monsanto lawyer Seth Waxman said the company put 13 years and hundreds of millions of dollars into developing herbicide-resistant seeds. “Without the ability to limit the reproduction of soybeans containing this patented trait, Monsanto could not have commercialized its invention and never would have produced what is now the most popular patented technology” in farming, Waxman said. The Obama administration also is backing the company. Consumer groups and organic food producers have fought Monsanto over genetically engineer ed farm and food issues in several settings. They lost a campaign in California last year to require labels on most genetically engineered processed foods and produce. Monsanto and other food and chemical companies spent more than $40 million to defeat the ballot measure. A decision is expected by June.