TOP HEADLINES INSIDE:
IDEOLOGICAL IMBALANCES MAY AFFECT LAW EDUCATION PAGE 3
■ Minnesota STI cases rose significantly in ’16
STUDIES SHOW LAW SCHOOL PROFESSORS LEAN LEFT.
■ U officials call for more higher education funds
An MDH report shows large increases in syphilis, gonnorrhea. PG 3
The U could receive far less from the state than requested. PG 2
U OF M
CLOUDY HIGH 43° LOW 33°
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
LATE WEEK
APRIL 27-30, 2017
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
CULTURE
The changing face of drag Masoudae Rezvani, a gender non-binary University of Minnesota student, is one of the Minneapolis drag scene’s up-and-comers. Minnesota Daily photographer Maddy Fox documented the evolving drag culture. BY MADDY FOX mfox@mndaily.com
T
he first time Masoudae Rezvani competed in a drag competition — they won. In the six months since that per formance, Rezvani has become a regular par ticipant in the amateur drag shows at LUSH, a queer bar in nor theast Minneapolis. Rezvani, a linguistics junior at the University of Minnesota, identifies as gender non-binar y. As their drag persona — Heda Thrasher — they are one of many queer performers changing the face of drag. The ar t of drag has been a critical element of LGBTQIA expression and community since the rise in its popularity in the ’70s and ’80s in large urban centers, such as New York City. Traditionally consisting of gay, cis-gender men dressing as women, the definition of drag is constantly evolving as individuals who exist outside of the gender binar y continue to gain visibility and perform. “For me, drag means being able to bend gendered expectations while expressing myself creatively and building a community based on ar t and acceptance,” Rezvani said. Cultural icons like RuPaul and Divine have helped bring drag to the masses through television and film, but local communities are what truly keep the culture thriving. Rezvani par ticipates in the local drag community at LUSH while also balancing school and work. Though time-consuming and often expensive, the hobby is ultimately rewarding. “Drag is an artistic expression of myself,” Rezvani said. Minnesota Daily photographer Maddy Fox followed Rezvani through a per for mance night on March 23. u See PHOTO ESSAY Page 5
CAMPUS
Police search underway for U student who fell in river A Wednesday evening prayer vigil was attended by roughly 250 people. BY NATALIE RADEMACHER nrademacher@mndaily.com
MADDY FOX, DAILY
Masoudae Rezvani puts on makeup in their bedroom, transforming into their drag persona, Heda Thrasher.
Masoudae Rezvani takes a dollar bill from a LUSH patron while performing as Heda Thrasher.
GREEK LIFE
STUDENT ISSUES
New sexual assault prevention training slated for University Greek members The Interfraternity Council will work with two U groups for the training next fall. BY NATALIE RADEMACHER nrademacher@mndaily.com
Trained sexual assault advocates and additional training could be next steps in University of Minnesota Greek life sexual assault prevention efforts. The Interfraternity Council is working with The Aurora Center and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action to provide Greek members
with information on how to address accused perpetrators and victims in their community and will train some members to respond when a sexual assault occurs. The new prevention measures will start in the fall. “We will be giving them the resources to provide people within the Greek community with additional knowledge, skills and a sense of community surrounding sexual assault prevention,” said Aurora Center Director Katie Eichele. u See TRAINING Page 3
LEGISLATURE
Student service fee proposal may violate U autonomy, some officials, experts say The measure would allow students to opt-out of paying student service fees at the U. BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH AND DAVID CLAREY rfaircloth@mndaily.com dclarey@mndaily.com
A legislative proposal to make student ser vice fees optional at the University of Minnesota could violate the school’s constitutional autonomy
MADDY FOX, DAILY
A University of Minnesota student is missing after he was swept into the Mississippi River Tuesday evening. Chris Stanley, a neurobiology senior, fell into the rivernear St. Anthony Falls. Stanley and a friend were sitting near the river when a large wave knocked them into the water, according to the Minneapolis Park Police Department. The friend pulled himself out of the river after he went over St. Anthony Falls but couldn’t locate Stanley, authorities said. As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities had searched the river near Waterpower Park and the 3rd Avenue Bridge, a Hennepin County Sherif f ’s Of fice spokesman said. About 250 family and friends gathered a prayer vigil Wednesday evening at the Oak Grove Lutheran Church in Richfield. Shir ts with the hashtag “Find Chris” were distributed. “Keep your faith,” said Stanley’s mother, Melissa Melnick, who is also pastor at the church. “Walk with each other, pray with each other.” Throughout the vigil, people hugged and sang songs for Stanley, whom friends described as smart and kind. “Chris … is such an empathetic person,” said his friend, biology senior Lisa Persson. The University of Minnesota Police Department have also assisted the search. “There is no news right now,” Melnick said. “We don’t really know what happened. There isn’t an answer.” Stanley is about six feet tall and was last seen wearing a blue rain jacket and plaid shirt.
from the state. If passed, the measure would request that the University make student service fees optional, but if it didn’t, the state would penalize it by withholding some state funding. University leaders, officials and political experts say the penalty could be a violation of the school’s independence from the state and trigger a legal battle. The University’s constitutional autonomy gives the school the power to u See PROPOSAL Page 10
Some U nonresidents uneasy with possible tuition hike Despite nonresident, non-reciprocity tuition hikes, enrollment has been stable. BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com
As University of Minnesota officials consider nonresident tuition hikes, many are split over how they might impact students. The University is considering a tuition hike of up to 10 percent for nonresident, nonreciprocity students. University officials say the bump will likely have minimal impact on nonresident student retention because the school has one of the lowest nonresident rates in the Big 10. However, some current nonresident University students say a potential increase could hur t them financially. Since 2012, nonresident, non-reciprocity tuition at the University has risen roughly 28 percent — or $4,900. Still, the University’s nonresident tuition is the second-lowest in the Big 10. But while tuition for nonresidents has risen swiftly in the last five years, demand hasn’t fallen, said Bob McMaster, University vice pr ovost and dean of undergraduate education.
COURTNEY DEUTZ, DAILY
Kai Saito, a junior from Colorado, attends a meeting for the Minnesota International Student Association on Tuesday at Coffman Memorial Union.
The number of nonresident applications rose from 12,990 in 2012 to 19,963 in 2016. Enrollment has also increased. “There’s been no dampening ef fect at all,” McMaster said. “In fact, the rate of increase from [nonresident, non-reciprocity] students in terms of applications has been faster than any other categor y.” The University has also ramped up its nonresident
recruitment ef for ts, he said, which has helped increase the number of applicants. Some nonresident students at the University are unhappy with the tuition raises — including the possible 10 percent hike that could come this fall. For Kai Saito, a University junior studying biochemistr y and microbiology, the school’s u See TUITION Page 10 VOLUME 117 ISSUE 55