CAMPUS & METRO
CAMPUS & METRO
VOLLEYBALL
Two U fraternities and other groups held a step show on Saturday.
Predictions could shape Minnesota’s role in future biofuel production.
Minnesota is now 14-1 on the season and improved to 2-0 in the Big Ten.
Multicultural frats showcase stepping
U researchers look at future of biofuels
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PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 81° LOW 61°
U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
Women sweep weekend match with Purdue u See PAGE 9
MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
MISSING U STUDENT
Schunk is dead, police say
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
HIGHER ED
Students divided on college merger As the U forms a task force to explore combining CBS and CFANS, students are wary. BY ROY AKER raker@mndaily.com
“Unless I’m looking at a body, I don’t believe it,” Tyson Schunk said. Anarae Schunk was reported missing last Monday. She was last seen with her ex-boyfriend, Anthony Lee Nelson, and his current girlfriend following a lethal shooting in Burnsville early last Sunday.
University of Minnesota administrators are continuing talks of forming a new college by merging two existing ones. But students are split over how the quality of education would be affected if the College of Biological Sciences and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences are combined. University officials announced the possible merger earlier this month. They’ve since formed a task force to summarize benefits, concerns and recommendations in a report, due this spring, for Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Karen Hanson. Of the 13 task force members, three are CBS faculty, two are affiliated with both colleges and the rest are CFANS faculty. Graduate and undergraduate student representatives will join the group but haven’t yet been named. Sarah Anderson, who graduated from CFANS in the spring, said she hopes a merger wouldn’t tarnish the college’s reputation. “People flock to CFANS because its programs are some of the best in the country,” she said, “so it’s important that [the University] makes sure people know they’re still invested in those programs.” Fisheries and wildlife junior El lie Bjorklund said she isn’t necessarily opposed to the merger but thinks the talks are par t of “a large-scale
u See SCHUNK Page 3 Schunk’s family took to its Facebook page Sunday to ask for help with the search.
u See MERGER Page 3 University officials said the merger is motivated by research and higher ed trends, not cost-saving.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PLEASE HELP FIND ANARAE SCHUNK FACEBOOK PAGE
University of Minnesota student Anarae Schunk, 20, was last seen Sept. 22 with the suspect in a lethal shooting outside a restaurant in Burnsville, Minn. Police have told Schunk’s family that she is dead, but they will continue searching for her.
New evidence suggests the missing student was killed, but the search will continue.
Police say they believe missing University of Minnesota student Anarae Schunk, 20, was murdered. But her family is still
searching for answers. Late Friday night, Burnsville police found Schunk’s jacket covered in blood with 18 to 20 holes that appeared to be from stab wounds, according to her brother, Tyson Schunk. The same night, police told Schunk’s family they believe she is dead. Burnsville police released a statement Saturday saying Schunk may have been killed, but they will continue searching for her.
FOOTBALL
FACULTY/STAFF
BY MEGHAN HOLDEN mholden@mndaily.com
Gophers fall Hundreds protest health care changes employee union and the to Iowa on An University are in mediation to homecoming discuss sliding-scale benefits. Minnesota looked overmatched against Iowa for the second straight year, losing 23-7. BY NATE GOTLIEB ngotlieb@mndaily.com
The University of Iowa spoiled the University of Minnesota’s homecoming Saturday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium, defeating the Gophers 23-7. Minnesota (4-1, 0-1 Big Ten) appeared overmatched by Iowa’s physical of fensive and defensive lines, rushing for just 30 yards while allowing 246 yards on the ground. The Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) will keep the Floyd of Rosedale in Iowa City, Iowa, for the second year in a row with the win. “They outcoached us [and] outplayed us,” Gophers head coach Jerry Kill said after the game. “It’s as simple as that.” Minnesota sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson got the start Saturday in his first on-field action since injuring his hamstring against Western Illinois University on Sept. 14. Nelson was inconsistent and finished 12for-24 for 135 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He seemed uncomfortable in the pocket at times and took several key sacks. He also missed a chance with his team trailing in the fourth quarter to complete a deep pass to redshirt senior Derrick Engel that might have shifted momentum. It was widely speculated that Nelson wouldn’t start Saturday, especially after redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner rushed for four touchdowns in Minnesota’s win over San Jose State University the week before. Still, Kill had said all week the position was Nelson’s, as long as he felt he was healthy enough. u See HOMECOMING Page 9 The Gophers were 4-0 before facing Iowa, as they were last year.
BY T YLER GIESEKE tgieseke@mndaily.com
Hundreds rallied against proposed changes to the employee health care plan in front of the University of Minnesota’s main administrative building Thursday. Clerical, technical and health care union members and suppor ters wielded signs with the slogan “Stop cost shifting to employees” while speakers stood on the steps of Morrill Hall and spoke out against health plan changes. To avoid a $48 million excise tax from the Af fordable Care Act, the University plans to increase copays for primar y and secondary care and add a deductible to its employee health care plan, the UPlan. The changes would begin in 2014, according to a memo sent to UPlan members in July. Although the tax wouldn’t take effect until 2018, Vice President for Human Resources Kathy Brown said in the memo that the University needs time to ensure health plan changes have the desired effect to avoid the tax. The University is unable to comment
CHELSEA GORTMAKER, DAILY
University of Minnesota union members protested increasing employee health care costs Thursday at Morrill Hall.
further because it’s currently in mediation with AFSCME, University spokeswoman Brooke Dillon said. Some employees belonging to the
u See UPLAN Page 4 University officials have said most employees will not see significant changes to their benefits.
POLITICS
After honeymoon, marriage fight still running More than 2,000 people ran in the Big Gay Race on Saturday, 5,000 less than last year. BY ALEXI GUSSO agusso@mndaily.com
Last year, the Big Gay Race rallied almost 7,000 people to help defeat a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage in Minnesota. A year later, with the amendment defeat-
ed and same-sex marriage legalized, only about 2,000 people turned up on St. Anthony Main on Saturday for the 5K’s third year. Monica Meyer, executive director of LGBT rights organization OutFront Minnesota, said she expected fewer people than last year because the stakes aren’t as high. “[Last year], people really wanted to make sure they were showing opposition to the amendment and supporting marriage equality,” she said. In the past, the race was intended to fight the amendment. But this year, its pur-
pose has shifted to a focus on supporting legislators who voted in favor of same-sex marriage last session. University of Minnesota strategic communications senior Anna Miller, who participated in last year’s race and volunteered Saturday, said the attitude at this year’s event was noticeably different. “It was a little less intense and more of a u See RACE Page 6 Money raised could go directly to legislators’ campaigns or to MN United efforts.
VOLUME 115 ISSUE 16