September 11, 2013

Page 1

CAMPUS & METRO

CAMPUS & METRO

EDITORIALS & OPINIONS

FOOTBALL

New General Counsel William Donohue is set to serve for only two years.

Nine faculty members were chosen out of the several hundred applications.

Students marginalize the nearby community too often.

Marcus Jones has already returned a kick and a punt for a touchdown.

U’s general counsel spot still in flux

New hires bring new expertise to CBS u See PAGE 4

u See PAGE 3

SUNNY HIGH 85° LOW 60°

U OF M

MINNEAPOLIS

ST PAUL

Keep Riverside in mind u See PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

STUDENT LIFE

TCF and the U: How close is too close?

Jones a spark for Gophers u See PAGE 6

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

MSA crafts platform for 2014 MSA will prioritize the U’s bonding bill and open-source textbooks this year. BY KYLE STOWE kstowe@mndaily.com

The Minnesota Student Association outlined its policy platfor m for this school year at its first for um of the semester Tuesday evening. MSA will focus on advocating for University of Minnesota bonding projects, open-source textbooks and changes to the Higher Education Act during its reauthorization this year. The undergraduate student government succeeded in lobbying for the

new medical amnesty law in the 2013 legislative session, and MSA leaders said they’re confident they can influence policy change again. Matt Forstie, Minnesota Student Legislative Coalition chairman, said it’s important to show state legislators a student voice when they discuss bonding projects in this spring’s session. Local governments and state agencies, including the University, request state funding during the legislative session for constr uction and remodeling projects, generally in u See MSA Page 10 MSA will also push for a more transparent college ranking.

AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY

Economics sophomore Alex Carlson uses the ATM outside TCF Bank in Coffman Union to deposit a check Tuesday.

Some students say they felt pressured to open an account when they arrived at the U. BY NICOLAS HALLETT nhallett@mndaily.com

University of Minnesota

the relationships between big banks and American universities.

biology freshman Alyssa

Many have criticized the

Oakman thought she need-

University’s relationship

ed to open a TCF Bank ac-

with the bank for targeting

count in order to receive

students since the partner-

her U Card.

ship began in 1995.

“That’s how they pre-

“In that time, the rela-

sented it at orientation, that

tionship has been scruti-

it would be easier to have

nized up and down,” said

them linked,” she said. “I

University spokesman

didn’t fully understand what

Chuck Tombarge.

was going on.”

But if the University

Though TCF check

didn’t have the bank’s spon-

cards and U Cards aren’t

sorship, he said, it would

in fact linked, the Universi-

lose funds for student-ori-

ty’s tie to TCF has recently

ented programs like schol-

come under scrutiny from

arships, Homecoming, the

the U.S. Consumer Finan-

cricket team and Spring

cial Protection Bureau,

Jam.

amid larger questions about

For example, TCF must

u See TCF Page 3

HEALTH

HIGHER ED

Online classes don’t cut costs, surprising some The University charges up to $270 in fees per online course. BY ANNE MILLERBERND amillerbernd@mndaily.com

As the cost of higher education continues to increase, online classes have been held up as a less expensive alternative. But at the University of Minnesota, and elsewhere, these classes can mean additional fees on top of tuition costs — something some students and faculty members are unaware of. University students taking more than one Online Distance Learning credit are charged an additional fee between $90 and $270,

depending on the number of credits taken. Nick Biondich has taught the ODL version of a University accounting class for nearly 18 years and said he’s never heard of the fee. Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Bob McMaster said most instructors aren’t aware of many of the fees students pay, including the ODL fee, because it’s not relevant to them. “In my role as a faculty [member], I rarely get involved with tuition-related issues,” Biondich said. Freshman Vanessa Nelson said the fee would discourage her from taking an online course. u See ONLINE Page 4 Creating a new online class can cost the U up to $100,000.

STUDENT GROUPS

Students using more e-cigs

Groups mourn lost murals in Coffman

BY T YLER GIESEKE tgieseke@mndaily.com

Until last spring, one wall of the Black Student Union’s corner office in the University of Minnesota’s Coffman Union displayed a vivid depiction of the 1969 Morrill Hall takeover — a protest that played a huge role in the group’s growth. “It brought character to the space in the way that white walls can never do,” said BSU President Amber Jones. The mural — showing a protest that sparked creation of the University’s African-American and African Studies department — was a great conversation starter and a lesson in “local, relevant” history, she said. With last summer’s renovation of Coffman’s second floor, student groups and cultural centers that previously held space lost

Coffman’s second floor renovation has left student Some say electronic cigarettes groups with blank walls. are healthier, but their full BY HAILEY COLWELL effects are unknown. hcolwell@mndaily.com

University of Minnesota staffer Brad Kaufman said he began smoking electronic cigarettes a few months ago because they contain fewer chemicals than regular cigarettes. “They’re better for you,” said the Office of Information Technology systems administrator. While they may be less harmful than regular cigarettes, health experts caution that the full effects of e-cigarettes — which are growing in popularity nationwide — are still unclear. Rather than burning tobacco, an electronic cigarette heats up nicotine extract, u See E-CIG Page 4 E-cigs aren’t affected by the new tobacco tax as much as regular cigarettes are.

u See COFFMAN Page 10 The University must now approve any painting in the new spaces.

ICHIGO TAKIKAWA, DAILY

Junior Miguel Jimenez studies at the La Raza Student Cultural Center on Friday afternoon in front of the only mural left from their previous office space before the renovation.

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 6


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September 11, 2013 by The Minnesota Daily - Issuu