November 27, 2013

Page 1

Taking back biking. u See PAGE 14

PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 25° LOW 20°

LEGISLATURE

Petition peaks interest

U OF M

MINNEAPOLIS

ST PAUL

WEDNESDAY

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM

The new guard

A student initiative to ban anti-gay therapy for minors in the state is gaining traction. BY HAILEY COLWELL AND ANNE MILLERBERND hcolwell@mndaily.com amillerbernd@mndaily.com

Two University of Minnesota students are working to put a stop to therapy aimed at changing minors’ sexual orientation in Minnesota. Political science sophomores Alec Fischer and Gabe Aderhold are petitioning lawmakers to pass a bill that would prevent licensed therapists and counselors from using sexual orientation conversion therapy on minors. They’re currently working with legislators to draft a bill, which they hope to present to the state Legislature in February. The students’ petition had more than 47,000 signatures as of Tuesday night after being public for a week and a half on Change.org. Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, is working with the students and is set to author the House version of the bill, Aderhold said. Fischer said the bill would apply only to minors because he and Aderhold don’t want to take away adults’ rights to enter conversion therapy. Minors often don’t sign themselves up, he said. u See PETITION Page 4 Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, has supported a similar proposal.

HOUSING

THOMAS WHISENAND/JULIET FARMER, DAILY

The last two University of Minnesota presidents inherited administrative teams that led the institution in different directions. While former University President Bob Bruininks had little immediate turnover when he took office, President Eric Kaler saw significant changes in his senior leadership team.

New leaders can energize, but not without anxiety. BY REBECCA HARRINGTON rharrington@mndaily.com

Since Eric Kaler began his presidency at the University of Minnesota in 2011, all but four administrators on his 18-person senior leadership team have left their old posts.

vice president for the health sciences and Medical School dean this month, most of the team is set, ready to steer the University into the next decades. Experts say universities need to strike a balance between bringing in people with

It’s an unspoken rule in higher education

fresh ideas and keeping enough administra-

that when a new president comes in, key

tors with the institutional memory to main-

administrators offer their resignation so the

tain stability.

new leader has the opportunity to choose his or her new hires.

Building a university’s senior leadership team is more about meshing personalities

After Kaler was hired, eight administra-

and leadership styles than it is about policies.

tors retired or returned to teaching, six got

Administrators may disagree on ideas,

promotions at other universities or compa-

but they ultimately have to get along if

nies and one took another position in the se-

they’re going to get anything done.

Deserted mansion to be updated MSA takes students’ pulse nior leadership team.

Since Kaler named Dr. Brooks Jackson

see TURNOVER page 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

The century-old Frey Mansion and another house will be converted into apartments.

Gabe Madson leads a team of pollsters who gauge students’ take on campus issues.

BY NICOLAS HALLETT nhallett@mndaily.com

BY KYLE STOWE kstowe@mndaily.com

Two centur y-old houses near the University of Minnesota are set to be the next pieces of the campus apartment boom. The Minneapolis Planning Commission approved a land-use application Nov. 12 to rehabilitate the Frey Mansion and an adjacent triplex known as the Hoy House into nine total apartment units with 23 bedrooms. Roman Gadaskin, a landlord near the University for 13 years, signed a letter of intent to purchase the property from the American Indian Movement, a Minneapolis-based Native American rights group that bought the property for about $250,000 in the mid-1980s. Gadaskin said he considered buying the properties on Fifth Street Southeast and 12th Avenue Southeast five years ago, but passed at the time. “I just like them,” he said. “I like both of them, and I think if we get [approval], I will be able to do [them] right.” The American Indian Movement used to use the Frey Mansion as a librar y and office for the neighboring Heart of the Earth School, Director and co-founder Clyde Bellecourt said.

For political science sophomore Gabe Madson, polling is more than just a job. “My dream is to work for Gallup, and it’s been that way for years,” he said. “I just love doing what I do.”

u See MANSION Page 3 Neither house has been used since the early 1990s, and both have fallen into disrepair.

As the Minnesota Student Association’s first civic engagement coordinator, Madson leads a new polling task force that gauges student opinion on a variety of campus issues. MSA members hope to use poll results as tangible data to influence and inform University of Minnesota administrators. “It carries much more weight to see data u See POLLING Page 4 MSA will use poll numbers on campus safety in its report to the Board of Regents next month.

CHELSEA GORTMAKER, DAILY

Freshmen MSA members Katerina Paone and Johanna Christner help clarify a question on a survey for freshman Qingkang Cao at Walter Library on Thursday afternoon.

“At some point, you can definitely overstay. After 20 to 30 years working in a senior position here, you’re worn out. These are tough jobs, demanding jobs.” Richard Pfutzenreuter chief financial officer

WEST BANK

Councilmen talk development Residents and business owners are concerned about the effects of new development. BY ALEX BITTER abitter@mndaily.com

Two incoming Minneapolis City Council members say they are open to future development prompted by the light rail Green Line in Cedar-Riverside — but only if the needs of residents and local businesses are adequately addressed. The soon-to-be councilmen represent areas near the University of Minnesota, and they’ll begin their terms amid concerns from business owners and community groups about the impact of the rail on rent and redevelopment in the area. Councilman-elect Abdi Warsame, who beat incumbent Robert Lilligren to represent Ward 6 earlier this month, said those concerned need to send a stronger message to developers and the city about what their goals for the neighborhood are. “They need to be more assertive about what they want,” he said. “What kind of protection do they want from the city? I think this hasn’t been articulated very well yet.” The rail line will likely impact local small businesses, Warsame said, because of higher property values and, consequently, u See WEST BANK Page 6 Some renting business owners said their landlords could be convinced to sell.

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 50


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