DAY
DAILY PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURED CAMPUS LIFE FOR 24 HOURS SEE INSERT INSIDE
IN THE
LIFE CLOUDY HIGH 47° LOW 36°
U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
LATE WEEK
APRIL 20-23, 2017
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
DISABILITIES
RESEARCH
Trump cuts may impact U research funding
ST PAUL
Trusting their letters As more students register for disability accommodation letters, some advocates say professors will need additional training to better serve those with unseen disabilities.
Last year, the U got $788 million in federal money for research. BY NEHA PANIGRAHY npanigrahy@mndaily.com
After releasing his 2018 budget proposal last month, University of Minnesota researchers are worried they could lose federal grant money under President Donald Trump. Much of the school’s research is aided by federal money, and Trump’s proposal would reduce those grants considerably. Funding for the National Institutes of Health — where the school gets most of its research money — would be cut 18.3 percent, prompting school and public officials to speak against Trump’s budget. Currently, 1,681 University projects receive federal funding. After taking a tour of campus research facilities, U.S. Sen. Al Franken, DMinn., spoke with University students Tuesday afternoon about the impact cuts could have for the school. u See BUDGET Page 3
SCIENCE
Using lasers, surgeon zaps brain tumors at University
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY
University dental student and dental hygienist Kelli Blankenship speaks with a patient during his appointment on April 14 in Moos Tower. Blankenship has used accommodations through the Disability Resource Center for nine years as she has worked toward her three degrees. BY RILYN EISCHENS reischens@mndaily.com
E
ver y afternoon last semester, Ren Marie sat in the same spot in their living room, studying for one class. Even then, Marie — a University of Minnesota gender, women and sexuality studies first-year with a registered disability — barely passed. After transferring from DePaul University in Chicago, Marie registered their post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety with the University’s Disability Resource Center.
u See DISABILITIES Page 9
LEGISLATURE
Proposed bill barring anti-Israel contractors draws unease
U surgeon Matthew Hunt performed the The legislation may infringe first laser ablation. on free speech rights, some BY OLIVIA JOHNSON of the bill’s opponents say. ojohnson@mndaily.com Using robot-controlled lasers to fr y cancerous tumors inside the brain has become a focus for University of Minnesota surgeons. One surger y — called laser ablation — was first per formed last month at the University with the help of a r obotic ar m. Since then, it has been completed two more times to treat epilepsy and pediatric cancer. Matthew Hunt, a neur osur geon and pr ofes sor at the University who per formed the laser ablation, said the operation is a noninvasive method to treat tumors in par ts of the brain that are hard to reach. “Traditionally, to treat tumors, we either go in and physically remove the tumor, which … might be hard depending on the location,” he said. “Or, for some tumors … [patients] might get focused radiation in that area.” He said most areas in the brain can be reached u See LASER Page 6
Marie thought a University letter stating they needed excused absences and more time on tests, among other accommodations, would help them navigate faculty interactions despite their mental health issues. But sometimes, that wasn’t the case. While the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 bar discrimination against the disabled in higher education, Marie and other University students registered with the DRC say some professors dismissed repeated requests for alternate assignments — even as the number of students receiving accommodations through the DRC has increased in recent years.
BY RILYN EISCHENS reischens@mndaily.com
A controversial bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature
would prohibit state agencies from contracting with businesses that boycott Israel. Authors of the bill, which awaits a Senate vote after the House passed it in Februar y, say it aims to prevent discrimination, but First Amendment advocates have raised concerns that it might limit speech rights.
But Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said he’s not sure how the bill, if passed, would apply to the University of Minnesota. “We’re probably going to have to address that before we put the bill in its final position,” he said. Limmer said the growing boycott, divestment, sanctions movement in general, rather than any
GREEK LIFE
specific events, prompted him to author the bill. In the House, the bill was passed after a phrase clarifying that it would impact Minnesota State Colleges and Universities was removed in the final edit. Multiple representatives listed as u See BILL Page 4
Greek life sex assault event met with protest Around 300 partipated in the annual ‘Walk A Mile in her Shoes.’ BY MAX CHAO mchao@mndaily.com
COLE FEAGLER, DAILY
Regena Yu and Richie Lange dance at the Unlimited Dance Marathon late Saturday night at Mariucci Arena. The event, a fundraiser for Amplatz Children’s Hospital, raised more tha
Hundreds of Greek life members and other students participated in an event to raise sexual assault awareness Tuesday evening. Several University of Minnesota Greek life leadership groups organized the fourth annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event to raise awareness for sexual and domestic assault and support survivors.
The event began at 7 p.m. and was attended by about 300 people. Fraternity and sorority members carried red ribbons around the Mall area and to the front of Northrop Auditorium. The event was also part of a campus-wide fundraiser for the Aurora Center. “It’s been great every year, but I think that this is the best showing that we’ve had,” said Interfraternity Council President Simon Beck. The event, which was met with a counter protest, comes amid increased pressure on Uniu See AWARENESS Page 12 VOLUME 117 ISSUE 53