February 16, 2017

TOP HEADLINES INSIDE:

FOOTBALL PLAYER: NEW REGIME STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION PG 2

■ ■ Potential Obamacare repeal worries some

FLECK WILL HOLD PLAYERS ACCOUNTABLE, SAYS SOURCE.

■■ MSA presidential candidates talk platforms

At the University, most undergraduates must be insured. PG 3

There are four tickets vying for MSA president and VP. PG 10

MOSTLY CLOUDY HIGH 45° LOW 32°

U OF M

MINNEAPOLIS

ST PAUL

LATE WEEK

FEB. 16-19, 2017

BUSINESS

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Presidential options scant for COGS, PSG The two groups say they’re struggling to recruit applicants.

BY DAVID CLAREY dclarey@mndaily.com

CHRIS DANG, DAILY

Since closing his West Bank store on Nov. 17, 2016, Afro Deli owner Abdirahman Kahin decided to open a Stadium Village location. Pictured here, Kahin speaks before the ribbon cutting at his new store on Monday.

New Afro Deli location brings long lines, praise After closing its West Bank location, the popular University-area deli has reopened in Stadium Village.

A

delighted to be a part of the East Bank com-

fter shuttering its West Bank doors

Even though Stadium Village is satu-

Deli debuted its new Stadium Village loca-

rated with restaurants, Kahin said that he

tion Monday, ser ving long lines and gar-

and his colleagues aren’t worried about the

nering praise from University of Minnesota

competition.

students.

“Competition is there because there are

After tensions with the African Develop-

more restaurants than on the West Bank,

ment Center — the deli’s former building

but there are more people than on West

owner — Afro Deli owner Abdirahman Ka-

Bank, too. We like competition, it keeps us

hin said he is excited to open up the new

on our feet and we don’t take anything for

location, a former Dairy Queen storefront,

granted,” said Kahin.

and return to business as usual.

The new Stadium Village Afro Deli is u See AFRO Page 7

Bill would ban cities from passing employment rules A state proposal would cancel Minneapolis and St. Paul’s new sick leave ordinances.

State lawmakers could halt a potential Minneapolis minimum wage hike in its tracks.

A bill that would stop Minnesota cities in the state from passing their own labor laws — like minimum wage and paid sick leave — has cleared its first set of obstacles.

Legislators suppor ting the bill say it would prevent a “haphazard patchwork” of regulations, but opponents say a lack of state action has driven cities to craft their own rules.

The legislation would cancel local labor ordinances passed on or after Jan. 1, 2016 — ef fectively stymying the paid sick leave ordinances passed in Minneapolis and St. Paul last year. The bill passed its second House commit-

In mayoral bid, Jacob Frey pledges to be ‘visible leader’ The Ward 3 council member entered the mayoral race Jan. 3.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB FREY

announced his bid for mayor Jan. 3, and while he’s young, he embraces criticism of his age, selling himself as a hard worker.

“I’m extremely results[oriented]. I don’t want to be somebody. I want to do something,” Frey said, adding that he has a meticulous work schedule.

“We have the entire day u See FREY Page 3

EDUCATION

LEGISLATURE

BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com

CITY

Jacob Frey is clear on why he’s running for Minneapolis mayor.

“I’m not about keeping the seat warm,” Frey said.

“We need a visible leader who is willing to use the position as a bully pulpit, delve into controversial issues, build a coalition and get things done.”

In an age of political divisiveness, with a gridlock at the state and federal legislature, Frey said the city of Minneapolis needs a dif ferent leader than incumbent candidate Mayor Betsy Hodges.

The 35-year-old Ward 3 city council member

munity.”

more than three months ago, Afro

u See CANDIDATES Page 7

BY MIKE HENDRICKSON mhendrickson@mndaily.com

“We hit a homerun,” said Kahin. “We are

BY SAMIR FERDOWSI sferdowsi@mndaily.com

Lauren Mitchell is leading the race for president of the University of Minnesota’s Council of Graduate Students against her opponent: no one.

Meanwhile, the Professional Student Gover nment doesn’t even have a presidential candidate.

The low participation is becoming an annual tradition for graduate and professional student government.

Concer ns over time commitment, scheduling changes and lack of value to potential candidates may all contribute to the scarcity of candidates, represen-

tatives from both groups say.

“They’re big roles,” said COGS president Nicholas Goldsmith. “I think people are going to be hesitant to run for them, given the time commitment.”

Days after filing, Robert Dube withdrew his candidacy for PSG president.

“There’s no way I can juggle the jobs, the volunteering, all these things and then add PSG on top of it,” he said.

Dube, a full-time student who has two jobs and ser ves on the Law Council, is not currently a PSG member. He said he wasn’t originally interested in r unning, but filed after a PSG member asked him to r un since no one else was.

His vice presidential

“[By passing this bill], you’d be telling the cities and counties in Minnesota that you know better than they do on how to govern themselves.”

JEFFREY BENNY St. Louis Park resident

tee hearing Feb. 8.

One of the bill’s authors, Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Far mington, said the legislation would bring all city minimum wage and sick leave policies in line with the state.

The bill is necessar y to keep the state’s cities from enacting their own labor u See BILL Page 7

Teaching the ‘whole story’ in history class U professor J.B. Mayo works to incorporate LGBTQ history into public school curriculum.

BY RAJU CHADUVULA rchaduvula@mndaily.com

When the civil rights movement is taught in classes, historical actors like Bayard Rustin are often overlooked.

And though Rustin — a gay man who mentored Mar tin Luther King Jr. — bears historical significance, he is rarely spotlighted in curriculum, said J.B. Mayo, a social studies education professor at the University of Minnesota who has been working with several local schools to incorporate LGBTQ histor y in classrooms since 2009.

Mayo said teaching LGBTQ histor y in public schools is impor tant because many middle school and high school students are open about their sexual and gender identities. “[When] you’r e that queer kid, and you don’t see yourself in that curriculum … there’s psychological and emotional

ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY

Tartan High School Genders Sexuality Alliance member Gabe Marcotte speaks with U social studies education professor J.B. Mayo at Tartan High School on Wednesday.

damage,” Mayo said.

“When I was a gay kid in the 1980s in California, I didn’t realize there were any gay people in histor y.”

J.J. Kahle, a Spanish

teacher at Blake School who worked with Mayo in 2009, said she’s seeing more teachers integrate aspects of LGBTQ histor y into their classrooms.

For example, science and health teachers are beginning to examine the HIV/AIDS epidemic and u See LGBTQ Page 3 VOLUME 117 ISSUE 39

2

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Daily Review

THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1896 A massive explosion of unknown origin sinks the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor, killing 260 of the fewer than 400 American crew members aboard.

HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH

ATHLETICS Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 Vol. 117 No. 39

An Independent Student Newspaper, Founded in 1900.

2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (612) 627-4080 Fax: (612) 435-5865 Copyright © 2016 The Minnesota Daily This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER Dylan Scott Editor-in-Chief dscott@mndaily.com (612) 435-1575 Elizabeth Luke Business Operations Officer eluke@mndaily.com (612) 435-2761 NEWS STAFF Chris Aadland Managing Editor caadland@mndaily.com Allison Dohnalek Managing Production Editor adohnalek@mndaily.com Emily Polglaze Sports Editor epolglaze@mndaily.com Jack White Assistant Sports Editor jwhite@mndaily.com Sophia Vilensky A&E Editor svilensky@mndaily.com Alex Tuthill-Preus Multimedia Editor atuthill-preus@mndaily.com Maddy Fox Assistant Multimedia Editor mfox@mndaily.com Haley Hansen Copy Desk Chief hhansen@mndaily.com Sheridan Swee Assistant Copy Desk Chief sswee@mndaily.com Harry Steffenhagen Visuals Editor hsteffenhagen@mndaily.com Cedar Thomas Visuals Editor cthomas@mndaily.com Brenna Bast Chief Page Designer bbast@mndaily.com Jackie Renzetti Campus Editor jrenzetti@mndaily.com Ethan Nelson City Editor enelson@mndaily.com Nick Wicker Policy Editor nwicker1@mndaily.com Jessie Bekker In-Depth Editor jbekker@mndaily.com Lucy Carey Social Media Manager lcarey@mndaily.com =

=

=

JOE SULIK, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Gophers football players sit on the sidelines during a game at TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 3, 2015.

=

STATE REPORT DIVERSITY, CRISIS TRAINING FOR OFFICERS ON TAP IN MINNESOTA ST. PAUL — Minnesota lawmakers began moving Wednesday to require diversity training for law enforcement officers following two high-profile fatal shootings of black men by police in the state in the last 15 months.

Shootings of black men by police have touched off protests nationwide in recent years and prompted the Black Lives Matter movement to call for police reforms. But Minnesota’s effort is unusual because it has bipartisan support and the state’s powerful law enforcement groups back it too.

Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Dennis Flaherty said the effort isn’t a direct response to the shootings of Philando Castile last July and Jamar Clark in November 2015. But he noted that the shootings brought closer scrutiny of departments and training.

“This will be a game-changer for law enforcement,” Flaherty said.

Castile, 32, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb. Officer Jeronimo Yanez has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. There were no charges against two Minneapolis police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 24-yearold Jamar Clark.

Other states that have beefed up officer training requirements include Colorado and Connecticut. Meanwhile, Republican-controlled legislatures in Arizona and Pennsylvania have responded to the increased scrutiny on police by trying to delay the identification of officers until a month or more after an officer shoots someone. Governors in both states vetoed those measures.

Chuck Wexler, executive director of a group dedicated to improving officer training called the Police Executive Research Forum, was struck by the $10 million of public money Minnesota lawmakers were prepared to put toward the new training.

“What Minnesota would be saying to the country is: ‘We think this is a significant enough issue that we’re willing to put a significant amount of money into retraining every single officer,’” he said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAMPUS BRIEFING

Football player talks boycott, sexual assault prevention A Gophers player discussed the recent controversy involving the team.

BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com

As a new Gophers football coach and athletics director try to change the culture of the program, one football player says the new tone is more serious than that of previous coaches.

The player spoke with the Daily Friday and asked to remain anonymous to preserve his standing with teammates as he discussed the boycott, how the team has changed under the leadership of new head coach P.J. Fleck, and past run-ins with sexual assault training.

He said Fleck told the team if any of them are involved in incidents similar to the alleged assault, “there’s no place for you in this program.”

“The big thing that [Fleck] said was, ‘you can’t change whatever did happen,’” he said. “’But either way, this is the new standard.’”

This approach to misconduct is more proactive than those taken by former coaches Tracy Claeys and Jerry Kill, the player said. “There’s definitely some walk behind the talk [with Fleck].”

At a Friday meeting of the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents, Athletics Director Mark Coyle presented potential changes to reduce the chance of student athletes committing sexual assault. The changes come amid fallout from a football team sexual assault scandal that left six players disciplined.

Coyle announced changes to the department’s student athlete housing policy, saying the department will require all freshman athletes to live in dorms.

University President Eric Kaler had previously told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Jan. 13 that the sexual assault training the football team received “didn’t seem to make the point.”

The Minnesota Daily ran a story on the team’s sexual assault training and prevention plans Feb. 2, in which several

EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST FRIDAY SATURDAY HIGH 55° HIGH 55° LOW 35° LOW 33° Sunny

Mostly sunny

players declined to comment.

The same day, a football player reached out to the Daily to set the record straight.

When players announced the team would boycott the December Holiday Bowl game after sexual assault allegations resurfaced from a Sept. 2 incident, support wasn’t unanimous.

“I didn’t know enough about it to say unequivocally that these people haven’t done anything wrong,” said the player, who opposed the boycott. “Everyone went around, and … I wasn’t in the majority.”

Players supporting the boycott were most vocal, he said, but roughly half of the team never spoke up.

These early discussions framed the boycott as a protest against the suspensions, which players said came before the accused could give their account of what happened, the player said.

“It was never about condoning sexual assault or … whether sexual assault happened or not,” he said, adding some players didn’t realize “inherently it’s going to be about that.”

The team did discuss how the boycott might impact the alleged victim-survivor, he said.

Still, the player said many team members saw the “injustice” towardtheir teammates as the more pressing issue.

“A lot of people saw it as a racial thing as well,” he said.

The University’s Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action headed the investigation that led to the suspensions of 10 AfricanAmerican players.

There was also a lot of concern over their teammates receiving due process, he said, but “you don’t have … a right to play football.”

“I’ve never thought that the U was either attacking football players or not taking the issue seriously, which I think is a good balance,” he said.

And the EOAA repor t contributed to the team’s decision to end the boycott, the player said, in addition to fan backlash.

The boycott backfired, the player said, partially because the team didn’t make their

SUNDAY HIGH 57° LOW 47° Mostly sunny

reasoning clear enough.

The team should have stepped back and considered other options — like meeting with administrators — before boycotting, he said.

“The decision was always either to boycott or not,” the player said. “It was black or white.”

But many on the team grew frustrated with the administration’s communication throughout the process, he said.

“A lot of people were really mad at Mark Coyle because there was a lot of bad communication … right before the boycott and going into it,” the player said.

Coyle “wasn’t very forthcoming” when he briefed the team on the suspensions recommended by the EOAA, the player said.

There was also miscommunication with Kaler, he said.

More anger toward the administration came when Claeys — who had publicly supported the boycott — was fired Jan. 3, he said. “We saw it as him getting punished for making a mistake that we made, and a lot of people didn’t like that.”

Much of the frustration has evaporated since the coaching transition, he said, as P.J. Fleck has brought changes to the program.

Coaching a new culture

The new coaching staff has created an atmosphere of accountability, the player said.

While Fleck has yet to address sexual assault and consent with the team, the player said there are plans to discuss those topics as well as other personal development lessons.

The football team had four sexual assault awareness training sessions in 2016 — including education on sexual assault prevention, bystander intervention, University sexual assault policies and relationship violence.

Still, the player said the training doesn’t always reach everyone.

The presentations typically highlighted “the most heinous” instances of sexual assault, he said, which many players dismiss as improbable.

MONDAY HIGH 58° LOW 40° Rain

But the University isn’t solely to blame for the training’s flaws, he said.

“I think the programming could be better to prevent that, but I think sometimes you need to look past those sort of things as well,” the player said.

Annual athletics department sexual assault training sessions could use some tweaks, he said, since men and women need different lessons on the topic.

He said many football players view consent as a complex topic and said alcohol can further complicate situations.

Team members have grown more cautious since the events of this fall, the player said.

Room for improvement

Some ef for ts have already been made to promote awareness for sexual assault victim-survivors.

When the boycott ended, the team contacted the University’s Aurora Center for potential collaborations on sexual assault prevention awareness, the player said, but he hasn’t heard any updates.

Still, he said not all on the team are “hyper-passionate” about awareness efforts.

None of the players condone sexual assault, but “I don’t think a lot of people are maybe actively pursuing anything,” he said.

The player said the team should be involved in awareness efforts and have conversations with victimsurvivors about their experiences.

“I think that’s where a lot of progress gets made, is when the two dif ferent groups sit down together,” he said.

Reaching out to sexual assault survivors could help curb the perception that the team doesn’t care about sexual assault, he said.

“You can say something as much as you want,” the player said. “But actions speak a lot louder, so getting out and doing something to support sur vivors of sexual assault or help educate people about sexual assault, I think that would do a lot image-wise.”

TUESDAY HIGH 55° LOW 37° Partly cloudy

=

=

=

=

=

EDITORIAL STAFF Grace Thomas Editorials & Opinions Editor jthomas@mndaily.com Anant Naik Senior Editorial Board Member anaik@mndaily.com BUSINESS Catherine Vaught Retail Sales Manager cvaught@mndaily.com Emily Vermeulen Creative Director evermeulen@mndaily.com CORRECTIONS The Minnesota Daily strives for complete accuracy and corrects its errors immediately. Corrections and clarifications will always be printed in this space. If you believe the Daily has printed a factual error, please call the readers’ representative at (612) 627–4070, extension 3057, or email errors@mndaily.com immediately.

THE MINNESOTA DAILY is a legally independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is a student-written and student-managed newspaper for the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus.

The Daily’s mission is: 1) to provide coverage of news and events affecting the University community; 2) to provide a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University community; 3) to provide educational training and experience to University students in all areas of newspaper operations; and 4) to operate a fiscally responsible organization to ensure its ability to serve the University in the future.

The Daily is a member of the Minnesota News Council, the Minnesota Associated Press, the Associated Collegiate Press, The Minnesota Newspaper Association and other organizations.

The Daily is published Monday and Thursday during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and it is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn.

Midwest News Service distributes the 13,000 issues daily.

All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste.

U.S. Postal Service: 351–480.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

3

ACA repeal unpredictable for students If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, it will likely have little impact on students.

BY OLIVIA JOHNSON ojohnson@mndaily.com

W ith r umblings that the Af fordable Care Act could be disbanded, some health care professionals are worried about the potential impact on University of Minnesota students.

If the entire act is thrown out, most students would have to purchase their own healthcare due to a University of Minnesota requirement that students be insured, though the future status of the ACA is uncertain.

Carl Anderson, Boynton Health Ser vice’s director and chief medical of ficer, said President Donald Tr ump’s administration could repeal and replace the act, repeal it and not replace it, only replace por tions of it, or do nothing.

“The problem is, with those four scenarios and no clear direction, we have no idea what the impact is going to be on anyone,” Anderson said. “Nobody has said for sure what they’re going to do.”

Heidi Johng, a medical and public health graduate student, expr essed uncer tainty in what the Republican Par ty, at the federal level, would do with the act, and said a repeal would be detrimental

because one of the current proposed plans leaves out marginalized populations.

The act allows students to stay on their parents’ healthcare plans until age 26, and in Minnesota, the uninsured rate went from 8.8 percent to 4.3 percent after it was enacted.

“We are in a ver y privileged position, even if we are over 26 years old,” she said of the impact on University students. “The only thing that I see happening is that we would be limited in our options.”

Anderson said about 25 percent of students are covered by the Student Health Benefit Plan, 20 percent are covered by the Graduate Assistant Health Plan and the rest are under third-par ty

commercial insurance or public-funded healthcare like Medicare and Medicaid.

Dane Thompson, a medical and MBA student, said the act’s goal was to stabilize the individual healthcar e market and provide access to people who had preexisting medical conditions.

He said a repeal would hur t many people in the countr y, despite the fact that students are of fered healthcare through the University. Families of students who are covered by the ACA would be impacted more.

“There’s a lot of people with chronic medical conditions that won’t be able to find insurance at all if the act was repealed,”

Thompson said.

A total repeal would also impact recent graduates who wouldn’t have the safety of their parents’ plan if they didn’t immediately find a job with insurance benefits, said L ynn Blewett, a health policy professor in the University’s School of Public Health.

“Usually if you’re working for retail or a small employer, you might not have access to employer-sponsored coverage,” she said.

Blewett said a full repeal would increase the uninsured rate and Minnesota’s existing programs would receive less funding. “I think Minnesota would have to star t from scratch.”

The act, signed in 2010,

aimed to increase access for the uninsured, Blewett said She said she thinks the provision allowing people 26 and under to stay on their parents’ plan would remain in place under a new plan because of its popularity.

Blewett said a fraction of the Republicans on the federal level want to repeal the whole ACA, while others would rather keep parts of it.

“There are a lot of advantages to the program at the state level, so there are some moderate Republicans who don’t want to repeal ever ything,” she said. “It’s a real oppor tunity to pass something, but there’s currently a lot of disagreement.”

Jacob Frey discusses run for Minneapolis mayor Frey u from Page 1

divided into 30 minute increments,” Frey said. “20 minute meetings, five minutes of staf f direction and then five minutes of me answering emails.”

During his time on the Council, his ward — encompassing Dinkytown, Marcy Holmes and part of downtown Minneapolis — has seen a hefty amount of development.

Frey’s critics have argued that his focus on development constitutes gentrification, but that’s not how he sees it.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Frey said. “The development I have pushed for … [has] generated tax revenue … and it’s contributed to a ton of small, local business growth.”

In his time as a c o u n c i l m e m b e r, F r e y said he is most pr oud of the increased density in residential housing and his fight for

affordable housing.

He pointed to the development of River ton Community Housing and new affordable housing in Nor th Loop as a positive example of cooperative living.

Ward 2 City Council Member Cam Gor don, who works with Frey on a committee and as members of the University District Alliance, said the two have always maintained a positive working relationship.

“We get along well,” Gordon said. “He’s been a great par tner in helping work with the University making sure we ser ve ever ybody in the neighborhood, not just the students.”

Kristen Eide-Tollefson, co-owner of The Book House in Dinkytown, has worked with Frey over the course of his term, and said Frey has grown over his years in public of fice, and has come to understand the wide variety of constituents in his ward.

“I have watched him evolve into quite a sensitive and responsive council member,” she said. “He understands how passionate people are and that we are a force in tr ying to save the character, identity and quality of life in Dinkytown.”

The density and height in residential housing isn’t an area where Frey and Eide-Tollefson see eye-toeye, she said, but the two communicate openly when various Dinkytown development proposals come up.

Another Dinkytown owner —Randal Gast, who owns Qdoba and is the president of the Dinkytown Business Alliance — said he could see why some people may have a problem with Frey’s development agenda, but appreciates how Frey carries himself.

“He’s been a good listener, he knows how to compromise and understands there’s two sides to ever ything,” Gast said.

CARTER JONES, DAILY

Ward 3 Council Member Jacob Frey sat down for an interview with the Minnesota Daily on Jan. 25 at Taraccino Coffee. Frey talked about affordable housing on campus, jobs and his run for mayor.

“I may not have liked the results … but he’s ver y straight-up.”

F o r E i d e - To l l e f s o n , she knew Frey’s r un for

mayor would come one day; the pace of the mayoral race will begin to pick up in April, when the precinct caucuses

take place.

“He’s a ver y savvy and appropriately ambitious politician,” Eide-Tollefson said.

U professor works to incorperate LGBTQ history into schools LGBTQ u from Page 1

address accusations that it was the “gay cancer,” English teachers are discussing Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America,” and histor y teachers are talking about Baynard Rustin, Kahle said.

“These issues are being given their time in curriculum … and it needs to be there all year long,” Kahle said.

Mayo said kids need to be taught about LGBTQ issues and histor y in order to fight the “hidden curriculum” in schools, which he explained teaches that being straight is what’s normal.

“We need to expand what is the norm at schools,” Mayo said.

Apar t fr om working with teachers, Mayo also

works with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance student groups at schools.

Mayo is working with Skyview Middle School in St. Paul, where he is involved with the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

“I think by [Mayo] being there, it gives the students a safe space to share,” said Jeanette Landin, a teacher at Skyview.

Landin, who’s also a GSA advisor, said Mayo helps the gr oup af fect change in the school when it comes to LGBTQ issues.

Mayo held a workshop at the school on Wednesday to address the use of hurtful language and how teachers can get involved. The workshop was attended by three seniors from Tartan High School in Oakdale who talked about their experiences and answered questions from teachers on how they can help.

“In 2017, there’s people

who are still having an issue with language … there’s always a need for endless conversation,” Mayo said.

Going for ward, Mayo said he is working on helping teach about the intersection of race and sexuality, and how dif ferent communities struggle with sexual and gender identities.

“That’s been a personal sor t of thing … I can be a ver y good black man and also be gay,” Mayo said.

Mayo said since he star ted working on LGBTQ issues in schools over a decade ago, during his postgraduate days, progress has been made.

When he worked with Blake School in 2009, the weekly GSA meetings averaged 30 members, a large jump from previous years.

While LGBTQ issues

and rights have come a long way, there’s still backlash, he said, adding that “there’s never a straight line in progress.”

The goal, Mayo said, is to teach students that LGBTQ histor y isn’t separate from the rest of histor y, he said.

“[When] you’re that queer kid, and you don’t see yourself in that curriculum … there’s psychological and emotional damage.”

J.B. MAYO U social studies education professor

4

Thursday, February 16, 2017

THEATER

Twin Cities theater accessibility takes center stage Many Twin Cities theaters actively provide accomodations for their patrons, but that level of accessibility isn’t always the norm.

BY KATIE LAUER klauer@mndaily.com

A

l b e r t Wa l l a estimates that he’s seen over 2,000 theater per formances in the last 30 years.

But as deaf person, Walla faces his own set of challenges when attending theater shows.

When the 64-year-old saw his first interpreted show in 1975 — a performance of “A Chorus Line” on Broadway — he was hooked.

“It’s in my blood to love theater,” Walla said. “Interpreting opened the doors.”

For Walla, going to “Phantom of the Opera” or “Mamma Mia!” seven or eight times is the same as re-seeing a favorite band live, or replaying an old movie. “It’s different and great every time,” Walla said.

Accessibility in theater can take many forms. Alongside American Sign Language interpretation, audio description and captioning are just a few of the services available to patrons.

From the Orpheum and Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis to St. Paul’s

“Accessible programming is another way to add diversity. It allows us to reach these audiences and get them to engage with the Guthrie in a meaningful way.”

“How can a show be all about diversity not be accessible to all people?”

ALBERT WALLA Theater enthusiast

HUNTER GULLICKSON Guthrie accesibility manager

Histor y and Park Square Theaters, there are many local accessible theater options for those who need them.

Walla’s favorite — the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis — offers multiple scheduled, interpreted shows and tries to accommodate individual requests as well.

Hunter Gullickson, the Guthrie’s accessibility manager, said these ser vices have been a part of the theater’s mission since they were first offered in the ’70s and ’80s.

“It’s important that anybody has the ability to come and experience something,

CHRIS DANG, DAILY

Albert Walla poses for a portrait on Tuesday at Northrop Auditorium. Walla is an ASL teacher at Eden Prairie High School and an avid theater attendee.

whether they want to be entertained or challenged.

That’s kind of why we do it and have such an emphasis on it,” Gullickson said.

“Accessible programming is another way to add diversity. It allows us to reach these audiences and get them to engage

with the Guthrie in a meaningful way.”

However, the accessible environment of the Twin Cities hasn’t been adopted in other parts of the country.

Walla has flown all across the United States for performances, and many times interpreted shows are only shown in the middle of the

week — days when many people have to work.

“In New York, Chicago or San Francisco, there’s only ever one interpreted show. And it’s usually on a Wednesday,” Walla said.

He thinks theaters sometimes do the bare minimum when it comes to access, deterring some

theater-lovers from the already-small community.

Despite today’s culture, some shows still aren’t accessible at all. The awardwinning Broadway musical “Hamilton” does not have a single interpreted show available.

“How can a show all about diversity not be accessible to all people?”

Walla said.

He’s not the only one upset by the lack of access. In one case, a blind Denver patron is filing a lawsuit against the production after they would not provide accommodations, claiming a violation of federal disability laws.

When it comes to accessibility and working for all people, Walla has one request for “Hamilton” and the theater community as a whole.

“Practice what you preach,” he said.

FOOD

College kitchen: Smoothies Cold weather. Cold tongue. Can’t lose.

BY JOE CRISTO jcristo@mndaily.com

I

t’s a common misconception that during cold winter nights, sipping on hot cocoa or coffee will keep you warm.

The opposite is true: drinking something colder actually helps regulate your body temperature.

In other words, drinking a chocolate shake or a cold glass of water is more advantageous.

But flavorful drinks like chocolate shakes can be expensive if you’re making them yourself.

Smoothies, on the other hand, are cheap, not too sweet and healthy.

Thus, I have decided to create a scientifically accurate and suitably delicious list of my favorite winter smoothies.

Let this be the season your life changes forever.

Cucumber mango winter smoothie 1 cucumber

1 apple 2 cups spinach 1 mango 1 cup orange juice 1 cup water Blend the fruits and veggies while slowly adding water. Keep blending until the mixture is completely smooth.

This smoothie is based on out-of-season earthy fruits and vegetables.

The sweetness of the fruits helps mask the bitterness of the veggies. I strongly recommend over-blending this smoothie and adding a few ice cubes for texture.

Gingerbread smoothie 1 banana 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/3 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup ice Blend all of the ingredients together. Make sure to peel of f the first few

layers off the ginger so all that is left is the mouthwatering interior.

Consider adding alcohol for a boozy alternative. The sweetness will help cover up the intrusively noxious flavor of your favorite cheap white rum.

Citrus smoothie 3 peeled small oranges or clementines 1 cup orange juice 1 cup unflavored (or flavored if you’re into that) yogurt 1 cup water 1 cup ice This is a really simple smoothie that’s impossible to mess up.

If you want to add some sugar or whipped cream on top, it will taste like a Creamsicle. If you don’t, it’s a healthy, sweet indulgence.

You could probably do this with any fruit now that I think about it. Just make sure to add the yogurt as a thickener.

EASTON GREEN, DAILY

The Winter Smoothie consists of orange juice, apple, mango, spinach and cucumber.

A&E EDITOR

Sophia Vilensky svilensky@mndaily.com

RADIO K TOP 7

1. CLOUD NOTHINGS, Sight Unseen 2. YUCKY DUSTER, Duster’s Lament 3. AUSTRA, Utopia

4. THE BAIRD SISTERS, On and On 5. PRIESTS, JJ 6. BONOBO, Surface (feat. Nicole Miglis) 7. L’ORANGE, Consider

Thursday, February 16, 2017

CULTURE to CONSUME /

5

By Joe Cristo, jcristo@mndaily.com

Watch this:

Listen to this:

Watch this:

“24: Legacy”

“Prisoner” by Ryan Adams

John Wick: Chapter 2

Okay, the television show “24” was problematic. Having started in the early 21st century, it was largely a reaction to 9/11 and featured an overzealous America seeking to destroy “terrorists.” Thanks to sharp writing and acting, however, “24” was one of the best shows of its era. Now it’s back, and the new series is just as good as its predecessor.

Hot off the success of his Taylor Swift cover album, singersongwriter Ryan Adams has released his best album in the last ten years. Adams is undeniably one of the best songwriters of his generation, but he has been in a bit of a creative lull for a while.

“Prisoner” is a throwback to a ’80s arena-rock aesthetic, but with a freak-folk ethos.

With a funny yet deftly-serious script and a supporting cast that was undeniably incredible, the first John Wick was a return to form for Keanu Reeves. Picking up where the first movie left off, Wick finds out that a massive bounty has been placed on his head (basically from all the killing that took place in the first movie). Come for thrills, stay for a well-crafted film.

ART

Exhibit explores the relationship between outer space and art Artist Jennifer Merchant finds layered perspectives in layered acrylic with New/Dazed exhibit.

BY MADDY FOLSTEIN mfolstein@mndaily.com

J

ewelry designers typically think in the language of metal.

Jennifer Merchant, a local jewelry designer and artist, was forced to think differently.

“I went to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and got my degree in metalsmithing and jewelry,” Merchant said. “When I graduated in 2005, I moved back to Minneapolis. I was tinkering in my studio, and I didn’t have the tools to work with metal.”

Like any well-tuned creative mind, Merchant began to toy with other concepts, and ended up creating her own technique.

“I was sculpting with acr ylic and making small jewelr y pieces with that,” Merchant said. “That’s when I decided to layer acr ylic with prints. [I] worked with that for five years and developed a line of art jewelry.”

Merchant creates multifaceted objects that appear clear at first glance. When you look at the pieces from a cer tain angle, however, the print is displayed.

“I’m really inspired by crystals, crystal structures and faceted gems. You’ll see a lot of those shapes in the images,” Merchant said.

The process of creating layered acr ylic structures can be tricky, though.

“I use a special resin to glue special papers between the solid acrylic,” Merchant said. “Then I create a solid slap of materials … and then I’ll shape it into whatever form I need.”

This method of

construction allows Merchant to expand into multiple art forms.

“I’ve always wanted to make a chandelier with acrylic layered like crystals,” Merchant said.

With the help of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Merchant recently moved from making smaller jewelry pieces to designing large sculptures.

These larger works will be on display at the Public Functionary this weekend in an exhibit titled Night/Dazed.

The prints Merchant selects for her sculptures often vary from piece to piece, but the Night/Dazed exhibit has a specific focus: “All of the pieces in this show have two themes: images from deep space and then also really graphic op art,” Merchant said.

“Op art has also been a big interest for me. Black and white images are so crisp, and it’s connected to how my work is — it sort of moves or changes without doing anything. With the space or stars images … they’re just cool.”

Night/Dazed Where Public Functionary, 1400 12th Ave., N.E., Minneapolis When Feb. 17-19

Merchant does see a connection between the two themes — illusion.

This connection ties itself to the nature of her layered acr ylic work.

“When you’re looking at stars, you’re seeing them light years [away].

They may not even exist anymore,” Merchant said.

“There’s illusion like time, and then the illusion of the op art images. They all fit.”

“I’ve always wanted to make a chandelier with acrylic layered like crystals.”

JENNIFER MERCHANT Artist

CHRIS DANG, DAILY

Jennifer Merchant sands one of her sculptures on Sunday in her studio in Minneapolis. Merchant is holding a public exhibit from Feb. 17-19 at the Public Functionary.

CULTURE COMPASS /

CHRIS DANG, DAILY

Jennifer Merchant poses for a portrait on Sunday in her studio in Minneapolis. Merchant is holding a public exhibit from Feb. 17-19 at the Public Functionary.

By Joe Cristo, jcristo@mndaily.com

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Los Lokos Presents: Anodic Melange

Yeah Maybe #14: Joe Smith

Adam Devine at Pantages Theatre

I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of electronic music — it usually tends to be more boring than other musical experiences.

Luckily, the acts here are well versed in live performances. Lazer Mission’s icy synths and throbbing bass pair perfectly with dirtcheap drinks. It’s free and the food at Asian Taste is delectable.

“Yeah Maybe” is one of the best places in the Twin Cities to see live music and incredible visual art — the DIY venue is a favorite of all ages. This week’s show is centered around the visual artist Joe Smith, and the music acts presented by Six Families include popular pep-rock band Fiji-13. It’s BYOB, so make sure you’re prepared.

Sure, maybe Adam Devine is a bit obnoxious. I still have to admit that he makes me laugh, and his unassuming presence has brightened up nearly every comedy movie in the past two years.

We’re also currently in the midst of the Pantages Theatre’s 100th year, so why not pay homage to a Twin Cities staple?

Where Asian Taste, 1400 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis Hours 10 p.m.

Cost Free

Where Yeah Maybe, 2528 E. 22nd St., Minneapolis Hours 7:30 p.m.

Cost Free

Where Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Hours 7:30 p.m.

Cost $39.75

6

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Sports

@MNDAILYSPORTS

BASEBALL

Gophers baseball opens season Friday Minnesota won its first regular season Big Ten title since 2010 last year.

BASEBALL PREVIEW

VS

BY TOMMY SLETTEN tsletten@mndaily.com

Minnesota’s baseball team is fresh of f of a Big Ten Championship and ready to take on the 2017 campaign by storm.

The Gophers were recently picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten, but the adversity is nothing new.

Last season, Minnesota finished at the top of the conference even though the preseason polls didn’t place it within the top six.

While the Gophers did lose some key players like Dan Motl, Austin Athmann and Matt Fiedler, some reliable names still remain.

Senior right handed pitcher Toby Anderson will headline the pitching staf f, giving the Gophers experience and leadership.

Anderson tallied a 7-1 record on the mound last season with a 3.32 ERA and was named the team’s Most Improved Player.

UC - IRVINE

MINNESOTA WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Irvine, Cal.

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Irvine, Cal.

WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Irvine, Cal. SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

The Gophers not only succeeded on the field but continued a tradition of excellence as studentathletes.

“It was ver y impor tant for me to come to this school,” Anderson said. “I wanted to be a Gopher, absolutely, but the academics made me ver y excited. It’s a Big Ten university, and the oppor tunities for a full time job [are] huge.”

The team has had 14 straight seasons with a team GPA above 3.0, headlined by senior outfielder Jordan Smith and senior catcher Matt Stemper.

Smith, who was an Academic All-Big Ten selection last season, worked over time last season as

one of only two team members to appear in 57-plus games.

Minnesota lost its top two batters this season, but retains junior Micah Cof fey, who hit .333 last season and tied for first on the team in RBIs with 42.

Cof fey was r ecently named to the Big Ten “Players to Watch” list with left-handed pitcher Lucas Gilbreath and shortstop Terrin Vavra.

Gilbreath did not allow a run in 12 of his appearances last season and held a team-low ERA of 1.36.

The junior will star t in the team’s first game of the season Friday.

Vavra retur ns to help power Minnesota’s bats.

The sophomore hit .358

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Freshman factor: Rookies continue to pace Gophers

ALEX TUTHILL-PREUS, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Gophers pitcher Toby Anderson throws the ball against Kansas State at Siebert Field on April 28, 2015.

last season and had six doubles, two triples and a homerun.

The Gophers will find new challenges and bring in nine new faces but will still be guided by head coach John Anderson.

Anderson won his 10th Big Ten Championship with Minnesota last season and helped lead his

MADDY FOX, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Taiye Bello recently scored a career-high 19 points in a Feb. 8 loss to Penn State.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

VS

BY DOMINIC DAVIS ddavis@mndaily.com

The Gophers have had big changes to the roster within the last year.

While freshmen and transfers make up a significant portion of the squad, the freshmen class has been a bright spot in what has been a roller-coaster season.

With freshmen Taiye Bello and Jasmine Brunson in the starting lineup, Minnesota (14-12, 5-8 Big Ten) has posted a 3-1 record in its last four games.

Bello has inserted herself at the center position.

She is currently star ting over Jessie Edwards and Bryanna Fernstrom, upperclassmen who would usually start in that position.

“It is definitely a battle in terms of getting playing time,” Bello said. “It keeps us competitive as post players.”

The freshman scored a career-high 19 points in the team’s loss to Penn State last Wednesday.

Head coach Marlene Stollings is telling her to take more smart shots after Bello displayed what she can do on the offensive end.

“Taiye works extremely hard,” Brunson said. “She’s really hard on herself, very critical of herself, so to see her have a game like that is

MINNESOTA (14-12, 5-8 BIG TEN) WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday

MICHIGAN STATE (19-9, 6-6 BIG TEN) WHERE: East Lansing, Mich.

SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

really exciting.”

Br unson has been a threat to opposing teams on the defensive end. She is quick on her feet, which makes life difficult for opposing guards tr ying to score inside.

The freshman guard continues to figure out her place in Minnesota’s offense, but after shooting 3-6 from the field against Northwestern on Monday, she seems to know where she is most efficient on the court.

Using her speed, she can get to the hoop when there is an opening.

But Brunson plays for the team and tries to do what is best for the team to win games.

“Just locking in and listening to instr uction,” Brunson said. “That’s been a big thing for me this year.

Working on translating what we work on in practice into the game.”

Making the transition to college basketball is difficult for many players, but Brunson said Minnesota’s freshmen are handling the change well thanks to the upperclassmen having their backs.

Junior guar d Carlie Wagner has been the most influential teammate to Brunson.

“I talk to her a lot. She’s always encouraging me to just play my game, go out and have fun, and take in what the coaches are saying.”

Stollings understands there is a learning curve for young players.

She said young players are getting used to collegiate-level basketball as they are taking on more responsibility in games and at practice.

“Their confidence level is really showing. They are earning the minutes and they are getting more comfortable out there. The game is slowing down to them,” Stollings said.

The potential this team has excites Stollings and gives her hope for the end of this season and future seasons.

“The possibility of an enormous jump is there with the youth gaining this experience,” Stollings said.

“Ever ybody that’s playing the bulk of the minutes will be back for us next year.”

legacy he left behind will positively impact the program for years to come.

“There’s evidence of him ever y single day around here,” John Anderson said. ”Whether it’s in how we prepare and how we work. As good as a pitching coach as he was, he was even better as a person.”

MEN’S HOCKEY

Bristedt’s journey at Minnesota combines hockey and education The junior is just the fourth Europeanborn player to suit up for the Gophers.

BY DREW COVE dcove@mndaily.com

Gophers forward Taiye Bello handles the ball at Williams Arena on Nov. 12, 2016.

team to a 36-22 record.

It was not all smiles for Minnesota last year, however, as pitching coach Todd Oakes passed away at age 55 after a long battle with leukemia.

Both Anderson and Oakes’ players had nothing but good memories of their for mer mentor and leader and said the

Hockey and education go hand in hand for Gophers forward Leon Bristedt.

The junior has had to adjust to a new team and a new countr y in the past three years but is taking it all in stride.

“It’s been up and down this season,” Bristedt said.

“I know what I can do … I feel confident in myself.”

A Stockholm, Sweden native had a jour ney to college hockey that most hockey players from Europe don’t experience.

Bristedt is only the fourth European-born player in Minnesota’s history.

“It goes way back,” Bristedt said. “First, with my dad, [we] liked the oppor tunity of getting an education and playing hockey at the same time.

When I got a little older, the opportunity came, and I went over [to America] and played with the Swedish National team, and some colleges star ted recruiting me.”

All of Minnesota’s European players — Bristedt, for wards Thomas Vanek, Erik Haula and Robin Hoglund — have played during Lucia’s tenure.

Bristedt said he struggled to get used to the Nor th American style of play his freshman year.

He said captains Kyle Rau

and Ben Marshall and his roommate, cur r ent defenseman R yan Collins, helped make the transition easier for him.

The junior emphasized the impor tance of being able to have an education on top of his ability to develop into a high-level hockey player.

“I really wanted to have that security after my hockey career,” Bristedt said. “It’s not even sure [if I] make it, so when [I’m] done with hockey, I felt like I wanted to have something that [would] back me up and that I could feel good with. I don’t think it matters if it’s in school, business or hockey, I want to be successful, so I just wanted to make sure that I made a good base.”

While he isn’t on the goal scoring pace that he was last season, Bristedt has consistently playedwell for Minnesota.

Bristedt is still playing at an almost pointper-game rate and has 27

points in 28 games this season with 11 goals and 16 assists.

“He plays in ever y situation,” said head coach Don Lucia. “He’s one of those six for wards that’s on the power play, he kills penalties, he plays four-on-four. When we’re ahead by a goal late, he’s on the ice, [and] when we’re down a goal late, he’s on the ice.”

Last season, Bristedt put up 20 goals, which was tied for the team lead with former Gophers for ward Hudson Fasching.

On top of his success on the ice, the forward has received recognition through winning the most determined player award and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in his sophomore season.

“You can’t play out there as 20 individuals,” Bristedt said. “You’ve got to be one unit. It’s all about getting together, and for me it doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, senior or junior, you just want to come together as a team and do it together. And I think that’s what it’s all about here.”

MEN’S HOCKEY PREVIEW

VS NO. 5 MINNESOTA WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Friday & 7 p.m. Saturday

NO. 9 PENN STATE WHERE: University Park, Penn.

SOURCE: GOPHERSPORTS.COM

CARTER JONES, DAILY FILE PHOTO

Gophers forward Leon Bristedt carries the puck into the Ohio State zone on Dec. 2, 2016, at Mariucci Arena.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Bill would bar cities from making biz rules

CARTER JONES, DAILY

Members of the public addressed the Government Operations and Elections Policy committee during a meeting on Wednesday at the State Office Building.

Advocates for and against the bill were given time to appeal to lawmakers.

Bill u from Page 1

policies, Garofalo said, which would make it “impossible to do work here.”

“Minneapolis and St. Paul star ted it, but now other communities ar e picking up on it,” he said.

Garofalo said Minneapolis’ and St. Paul’s sick leave ordinances could impact those who don’t live in the city but work there temporarily.

The ordinance would make rural businesses provide sick leave for employees who work in the cities long enough to meet the threshold, he said. “It’s a regulatory nightmare.”

A potential minimum wage hike in either of the Twin Cities could also hurt

the economy of rural Minnesota, said bill co-author Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFLWinona.

Minnesota’s rural workforce could shrink if the metro minimum wage increases and draws workers, he said, adding that statewide preemption is a “fairness issue.”

“We’re having trouble in greater Minnesota, just as everybody is, with having a workforce,” Pelowski said.

“It doesn’t help us if salaries are improved in the metropolitan areas.”

But not all support the proposed legislation.

War d 3 Minneapolis City Council Member Jacob Frey said the paid sick leave ordinance the council passed in May would “significantly help” people by letting them recover from

illness without financial burden.

Paid sick leave passed after a previous version of the ordinance was scrapped and reworked over the course of seven months.

“Obviously you don’t want that work to be for naught,” Frey said.

He said he and others on the council are ready to testify against the bill if necessary and added they have lobbyists working to stop the bill.

At the Feb. 8 House Gover nment Operations and Elections Policy Committee meeting, Ward 8 Council Member Elizabeth Glidden told lawmakers the city chose to act on paid sick leave because the state failed to.

“We are all lear ning quite quickly which of

you have an interest in the safety and security of the American worker, and which of you instead ser ve to enlarge the bottom lines of the corporate voices,” said Sanjeev Mishra, an organizer with Neighborhoods Organizing for Change.

Small business owners and community advocates also voiced opposition to the bill at the meeting. “[By passing this bill], you’d be telling the cities and counties in Minnesota that you know better than they do on how to govern themselves,” said Jef frey Benny, a St. Louis Park resident and the owner of Benny Machine Company.

Frey said the bill’s impacts could go beyond preempting sick leave and minimum wage increases.

“Depending on how they draft the statute, we could be prevented from doing practically ever ything but filling potholes,” he said.

Still, Pelowski said the statute wouldn’t stop employers from raising workers’ wages or providing paid sick time. “[It] should be left up to the employer, not up to a municipality to mandate it,” he said.

After its latest committee approval, the bill will now head to the House Ways and Means Committee.

So far, the bill has gained bipartisan support, Garofalo said, and legislators have added provisions to the bill that Gov. Mark Dayton supports to increase its chance of approval.

7

Afro u from Page 1

bigger than the old location, at 2,000 square feet, compared to 800 at the former restaurant.

On opening day, the extra space was welcome as the line to check out was wrapping around the entirety of the restaurant’s interior. Both loyal customers and first-timers came to celebrate the grand opening of the eatery.

University of Minnesota students Camden Coble and Martin Rose said they came to Afro Deli for its unique African food. “It’s delicious,” Coble said.

“The food is great and I really like the fusion-type dishes they have, along with a combination of others,” said a relatively-new fan of the restaurant, graduate student David Goldfeld.

Long-time Afr o Deli devotee, computer science student Alex Arnold said that he is excited for the new location.

“It’s a meal people can’t get anywhere else. And it’s so uniquely Minneapolis that one would be hard-pressed to find something similar,” Arnold said The Somali steak sandwich — a sandwich with peppers and East African spices — was a popular choice. And the first 500 customers were given a free sambusa of their choice.

The idea for the original restaurant came from a simple observation, said Kahin.

“I saw the demand for African food. There were a lot of African Somalian restaurants but they never opened to the mainstream … so I said why not make African food available like this for everyone.”

Aside from the restaurant’s popularity and success, the expansion was made possible by a loan given to Afro Deli by the City of Minneapolis, Kahin said.

With preliminar y plans to continue expansion into North Minneapolis and at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, the local franchise doesn’t plan on stopping its growth.

“Right now we’re just talking, but we’ll see,” said Kahin.

COGS, PSG continue to struggle to recruit presidential candidates “I think sometimes people need to feel licensed to say no to things . . . Once COGS is able to move past the specter of burnout . . . that’s going to do a lot for us in terms of participation.”

LAUREN MITCHELL COGS Presidential Candidate

CHRIS DANG, DAILY

Lauren Mitchell poses for a portrait on Tuesday at Coffman Memorial Union. Mitchell is running for president of the Council of Graduate Students.

Candidates u from Page 1

running mate, Keerthanaa Jeeva, reluctantly filed, and while she has no interest in running as president, she said she would still run for vice president if needed.

Without a formal candidate, the election would go to whoever gets the most write-in votes.

A s o f We d n e s d a y evening, PSG vice president Dane Thompson said no PSG members have announced a write-in

campaign. PSG may ask the All Campus Elections Commission (ACEC) for a deadline extension for candidate filing to simplify the voting process, he said.

PSG president Max Hall said he will encourage PSG cabinet members to r un at its next meeting.

The ACEC is still determining the status of the PSG debate scheduled for Feb. 21, said ACEC public relations of ficer Tommy Keller.

At the COGS town hall on Feb. 20, sole

presidential candidate Lauren Mitchell will lay out her platform, which includes making participation in the gover nment easier and mor e rewarding.

Mitchell, who is r unning enthusiastically, said burnout has always been a factor for COGS. Tr ying to help students find balance between work, life and student gover nment is a way to help, she said.

“I think sometimes people need to feel licensed to say no to things,” Mitchell said.

“Once COGS is able to move past the specter of burnout … that’s going to do a lot for us in terms of participation.”

A histor y of burnout

Current PSG and COGS presidents say their groups have suffered from low par ticipation because of its high time commitment and low professional value.

Undergraduate student government is a boon to resumes, but the value is diminished at the graduate

level, Hall said.

Jeeva, the PSG vice pr esidential candidate, said her involvement as PSG speaker and president of the School of Public Health’s Stud e n t S e n a t e h a s h i ndered her professional development.

“A lot of the other things I should’ve had already, like internships, are on the backbur ner,” she said.

Professional and graduate students also are more likely than undergraduates to have family commitments and live fur ther away fr om campus, he said.

While it is rewarding to hold a presidential position and meet many dif ferent people, representing 8,000 students can be taxing, Goldsmith said.

“You simply can’t do ever ything you hear is a need, and that’s dif ficult,” he said.

COGS of ficer positions don’t really prepare candidates for the job, Goldsmith said.

Both Hall and Goldsmith approached people about r unning, but professional concer ns caused the candidates to decline.

They said ACEC’s decision to move the election to earlier in the year was a factor as well.

“It just left people with a shor ter amount of time to consider it and think through whether or not they want to r un,” Hall said.

In an email, Keller said the scheduling changes did not affect participation in the elections.

In recent years, graduate and professional student gover nment have had low tur nout for presidential candidates.

In 2015, the then-combined Graduate and Professional Student Assembly split into two separate bodies — COGS and PSG — to help distinguish professional and graduate student dif ferences and needs.

Since the split, COGS has had thr ee straight unopposed elections, and this will be the second out of three years PSG has an unopposed election.

In 2014, GAPSA had two candidates. And in 2013, GAPSA had three separate candidates for its election, but two withdrew before the election.

8

Editorials & Opinions COLUMN

Feel-good art can make us feel … limited Although feel-good art is nice, we should also pay attention to art with darker tones.

S

ometimes it’s hard to keep our frowns upside down.

To soothe the day’s tensions, many turn their gaze to ar t. More than ever, I’m seeing current-day art that’s intended to be vigorously optimistic.

The popularity of “good vibes” art can be seen in the hullabaloo surrounding La La Land, Minneapolis’s own “‘I Like You,” store that sells Loonicorn — combination loon-unicorn — shir ts, and our culture’s renewed obsession with Bob Ross.

It’s the kind of ar t a unicorn would make if unicorns had opposable thumbs, but it makes me wonder if ar t should, in fact, ser ve jubilant interests, or if it should explore the nittier, grittier parts of the world. In this dark storm-cloud of civilization, is it ethical for art to solely bring comfort to its audience?

Light or dark, icky or cuddly, ar t is

TAYLOR SHARP columnist

limitless. I don’t want art to only be of value if it’s the visual equivalent of hot cocoa and fuzzy bunny slippers. That sounds great today, but tomorrow I might want hard cider and clogs.

Ar t is capable of conjuring up challenging feelings as much as it can blanket people in good vibes. With a variety of forms there are more opportunities to get a kick out of something in par ticular or find a niche in an artistic space you didn’t expect.

This week I’ve wandered around campus, wearing out of the soles of my fuzzy bunny slippers and tr ying to do some hardcore perusing of student art. Alongside pieces I could describe as “quirky,” I saw art that I could describe as “emotionally and profoundly disturbing.” I’m glad the two can coexist. Both are impor tant.

A multitude of ar t out there is expressing political or cerebral ideas, and by

recognizing both, we are opening ourselves up to the possibility of being moved.

I hope I don’t sound like a boneheaded ar t critic or a guy who wouldn’t join a good conga line. I’ll cer tainly smile at a tapestr y woven of a smiling piece of French toast. But there’s potential staying power in, say, a piece of French toast being sorrowfully eaten by a sad clown.

Just like artists create art, art creates a slew of reactions, unexpected or clear, out of the variety of people who view it.

We can’t undervalue an artist’s imagination or circumstantial inspiration and favor completely one kind of art with one kind of objective. In comparison to a person’s possible moods, it risks becoming ill-fitting or confining or, heaven forbid, even too superficial to resonate in any way other than a nod or a “Aw, now that’s cute.”

Taylor Sharp welcomes comments at tsharp@mndaily.com.

Total gun-related incidents: 7,342 Total number of deaths: 1,950 Total number of mass shootings: 43 Data compiled by gunviolencearchive.org

DAILY DISCUSSION Distracted driving has become a growing problem

Editor’s Note: An expanded version of this editorial was originally published by the Mankato Free Press.

Helen Teague welcomes comments at hteague@mndaily.com.

COLUMN

A bit of hope in a grim news cycle Let’s do what we can to be more environmentally conscious in a difficult time.

L

Last week, the Minnesota Daily repor ted that the University successfully reached the halfway point of its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2020.

Admittedly, this good news feels small when faced by the bigger picture. In a recent astronomy lab, my instructor projected a slide depicting a graph of climate change over thousands of years. The line ebbed, but once it reached the modern industrialized era, its movement became more dramatic. The graph continued past present day, projecting future climate change scenarios. In the best case scenario — in which greenhouse gas emissions peak in the upcoming decade — the line began to right itself after about 2040. In the worst case scenario, which our current path points to, the line peaked dramatically, nearing a literal off-the-charts level of change.

To me, this prediction is made even

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In defense of our students’ children Eligible funding from the University’s Student Ser vice Fees has been cut back for the Community Child Care Center.

What a shameful mistake.

As the outgoing General Manager of Commonwealth Ter race Cooperative — which provides 464 units of student housing on the St. Paul Campus of the University in the same building as the Community Child Care Center (CCCC) — I have witnessed what quality child care can mean to limited income University of Minnesota students. I have obser ved kids from all over the world learn and grow because of a great atmosphere of quality care; this does suppor t University students in a ver y vital way.

This year they have been subject to Student Ser vice Fees cuts. The fees had provided funding since the early 1980s.

They say that there are so many clubs to fund. Is it because the friendship club

EDITORIALS MSA, like all politics, is subject to stalemates For the past few years, students have petitioned for the installation of a fall break.

Nearly every year, candidates running for top positions in the Minnesota Student Association — the University’s student government body — campaign for fall break.

This year, MSA passed a resolution “supporting” fall break. Some will laud this as a victory, but in reality, we should be cautious of accepting this as a victor y; it could be much more opaque than that.

The resolution’s primar y author, Makda Biniam, is now running for MSA’s vice president role. The reality is that getting the resolution’s implementation is far-fetched — necessitating much deliberation from various administrative bodies at the University and long-term planning regarding the length of the term and the start day of school.

If anything, these final discussions should have begun at the beginning of the school year to ensure that the policies that people voted for in the past election could be implemented as soon as possible.

2017 U.S. GUN VIOLENCE

Although an imperfect solution, a bill being considered at the Minnesota Legislature that would ban hand-held cellphones brings to light how big a concern distracted driving has become.

The proposed ban on hand-held cellphone use by drivers is meant to get them to pay more attention to driving and less to making calls, picking up calls and messing with other phone functions.

Texting, emailing and internet surfing while driving are already illegal in Minnesota.

How could you legislate everything you logically shouldn’t be doing in a moving vehicle?

All of the behaviors fall under distracted driving laws if they impede the driver’s performance and are already a punishable offense if law enforcement cites you. Lawmakers may want to take a closer look at increasing fines for distracted driving. Right now first offenders only pay a $50 fine and second-timers $250.

There should also be some concern that those who can’t afford hands-free devices will be singled out to be stopped more than those who have the newer, more expensive technology in their vehicles.

The proposed hands-free bill is well-intended and obviously brings to the forefront the need for much more education about the importance of eliminating distracted driving.

Public information campaigns have trained many of us to fasten seat belts and not drink and drive.

Mobile phones are ubiquitous and will be for a very long time. It’s unlikely people will detach themselves from their use, even while driving. But constant and imaginative public education about the dangers of distracted driving can play a role in helping drivers make better choices.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

or the knitting club or any other club that students think would be fun is more impor tant to fund? Do they really need funding to exist on campus? It is nice to fund all of those groups, but is it necessar y? Quality child care is sorely lacking at the University of Minnesota.

Child care for adult University students is vital — and the care that is being provided at the student cooperatives, Community Child Care Center and Como Early Learning Center prepares children to start school and provides the peace of mind that University students need for success — and deser ves to be included in the annual distribution of Student Ser vice Fees.

It seems that the changes that have been made to the Student Ser vices process were not well thought out, and putting the funding of such a vital par t of the University student’s lives in the hands of those who most likely know nothing about being a student with children is not fair to the students who need quality child care. To me, it is clear that

THE EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPARTMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEWSROOM

KATHRYN SCHULTZ columnist

more ter rifying by the election of a president who has repeatedly referred to climate change as a hoax. Being environmentally-conscious is a value I hold tightly as a consequence of who raised me. My dad is a Ron Swanson-type who works for the Department of Natural Resources. My mother was raised in a family of nine kids, and knows a thing or two about recycling and reusing as a result. I’m convinced that both could successfully live off of the land indefinitely.

It’s important to be conscious of the state of our planet. But just because the situation is grave doesn’t mean we should give up hope, and this small bit of good news from the University gives me hope and motivation for action.

Kathryn Schultz welcomes comments at kschultz@mndaily.com.

the Student Ser vices people need more training or at least more outside input on what is really impor tant when spending students’ money.

Childcare is one of the areas that we as Americans need to step up and star t funding. It is impor tant to ever yone in our society and to all of the University students with children to have a safe and affordable place to leave their children as they attend school, whether they are an undergraduate, which I was, or a graduate student.

With the huge budget that the University deals with, it is hard to believe that President Kaler can’t find a line item in his budget to help suppor t some of the kids who belong to the students of the University of Minnesota. There are literally no other resources for the child care facilities to count on. Let’s not stop funding things that really do help students succeed.

Kris Graham B.S. Housing Studies, University of Minnesota Grandma and mother of a U of M graduate.

The resolution also does not specify any concrete implementation strategy despite demanding that it be implemented “effective immediately.” There was no specific event that prompted the drafting of this resolution this late into the year — the discussions of fall break began as early as 2015.

If anything, these final discussions should have begun at the beginning of the school year to ensure that the policies that people voted for in the past election could be implemented as soon as possible. Such strong language without any legitimate implementation plan in the resolution suggests that the function was just to pass something.

Last year, MSA started the “How Are You?” campaign spearheaded by thenPresident Joelle Stangler and Vice President Abeer Syedah, along with many other leaders. The timing was oddly coincidental — mental health was part of the winning ticket’s platform for a while, yet publicity on mental health awareness floundered until the next election when current President Abeer Syedah was running.

Certainly, MSA did pass many important resolutions that helped the University shape their mental health policy. This work, regardless of the timing, was important.

Even the idea to add a fall break has value.

When thinking about the role of “politics,” it is easy to point to legislators at the state and federal levels. However, politics does not escape the University student body.

This fall break resolution is a microcosm of the political nature of any student government. It was drafted by a prospective candidate for MSA vice president in the heat of an election between many candidates, each competing with a list of accomplishments — each trying to get the upper hand. But the resolution still has not resulted in tangible results — rather it has restarted a dialogue that has already been occurring for several years.

CONTACT THE EDITOR Grace Thomas jthomas@mndaily.com EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.

SHARE YOUR VIEWS The Minnesota Daily welcomes letters and guest columns from readers.

All letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. The Daily reserves the right to edit all letters for style, space, libel and grammar. Letters to the editor should be no more than 500 words in length. Guest columns should be approximately 350 words. The Daily reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication.

letters@mndaily.com Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414

Editor’s Note: This letter has been edited slightly for style and factual clarity.

LOOK FOR ONLINE EXCLUSIVE COLUMNS AT WWW.MNDAILY.COM/OPINION

@MNDAILYOPINIONS

Thursday, February 16, 2017

CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 14, 16, 2017

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (2/16): This year is a journey of academic discovery and adventure. Strengthen your community connections to fly farther. Shift strategies with a collaborative effort this month, leading to a moneymaking boom.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Written by Nancy Black

Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is an 8 — Review family resources, and study the money flow.

Your words inspire others to act. Make an excellent suggestion, and invite participation.

Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is a 9 — Compute expenses and update financial accounts. Focus on making money. More work increases your sense of security.

Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 9 — Get inspired from another’s insights. Strengthen partnerships and alliances. Share information, resources and results.

Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 9 — Focus on personal matters. Keep your faith and your word. Listen for what’s most authentic. Dreams reveal your true feelings.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 9 — Get moving. There’s plenty of action coming.

Ratchet the tempo up a notch. Take breaks, rest deeply and nourish yourself well.

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 6 — Slow down and think things over. Clean up from the last project. Envision your next direction in detail, and map out steps and milestones.

Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 7 — See the world through another’s eyes. You’re developing a new perspective. Give up something that no longer serves. Grasp a fleeting opportunity.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 7 — Talk things over with your team. Don’t take action without considering the impact on others.

Promises made now are good.

Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Family holds your attention. Domestic responsibilities call.

Take advantage of an offer. Listen carefully for what’s required. A spiritual lesson sinks in.

Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — Advance on a professional goal. Do your best work. The more you learn, the farther you go.

Listen to your team. They see your blind spots.

Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — Research and writing flow easily. Ask probing questions and get the full story. Reveal interesting developments. Friends help you advance.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is a 9 — What’s on the itinerary? Travel conditions suggest smooth sailing.

A business trip or seminar quenches your thirst for learning with interesting professional connections.

CLASSIFIEDS The Minnesota Daily must approve all ad copy and reserves the right to request text changes, reject or reclassify an ad. Advertisers are responsible for the truthfulness of their ads. Advertisers are also subject to credit ap- proval. Corrections are accepted until 2 p.m., Mon.-Fri., by calling 612- 627-4080.

To cancel an ad, call 612-6274080. In order to ensure proper credit, cancellations must be made by 1 p.m.; otherwise the ad will appear in the fol- lowing day’s paper and be charged accordingly.

Prepaid ads will be re- funded by mail or in per- son if canceled before the end date. Please check the ad carefully after its first run; linage will not be responsible for any errors after that.

The Minnesota Daily discourages sending credit card information through email.

ACROSS 1 Truly wretched Bindle-toting 7E equivalent, on migrants 6 scores “Oliver!” no12 Bygone goodnikspace station intl. carrier 11 Bygone 15 to a 14 Reaction Face in the comeback crowd, in film 16 15 Contact With no help 17 16 Long-necked A, in Aachen bird 18 challenge 17 Fitness Crude early 20 Metz moniker version of a work 21 Colo. of art setting 22 19 See-through Bottom-row PC 23 Even-odds key 20 situation Natural salve 25 Scand. additiveland 27 much 21 Not Slightly 29 23 Nosebag Financial fill claim 30 pal, in slang 26 Male Coin-in-a32 Cold sorethought relief fountain 28 product Pakistani 35 Cellist with language Grammys 29 multiple “The Lord of the 38 Baseball Rings” beast 30 collectibles Computer 41 Pure programming 43 Stated glitch as fact 45 in a cell 33 Sits What 48 Set up in a glade, marathoners say load up on 49 35 Bike WWIIwhose conference company 66site ends 2636 Across Like swimming Down competitions 50 39 Name Gettingonbya whose 43 shuttle, Rants and raves 6645 company Bold ends 2446 Across New York City Down zoo locale 51 Lamb sandwich Slithery fish 54 52 Pamplona Et __: and kudos others 56 53 Outrage Harp constellation 57 predator 54 Mountain Daly of “Cagney 60 Trojan War epic & Lacey” 62 based in 55 Church Sun protection SLC, Utah for kissers?

65 58 Center Former Russian 66 Market ruler 60 representative? “__ no use!”

69 61 Foofaraw Lakeside 70 “American launching aid ...

Buffalo” playwright and, literally, eachCanal set ofcity 71 Erie circled letters 72 Passel 66 More Pot pie veggie 73 than 67 amuses When Macbeth kills Duncan 74 Greenery 68 French-speaking Caribbean DOWNcountry 69 FDR successor 1 Splitting target 70 2000scuts TV series 2 Short set in California 3 Reagan-era 71 slogan Snooze

2/16/17 2/14/17

By C.C. MarkBurnikel McClain

4 Outer: Pref.

DOWN 5 after 1 Run Seagoing 6 __ support pronoun 7 2 Liberty Good Grips 8 Auto with a brand kitchenware prancing horse 3 A/C capacity logo, meas.whose 4 company Church 66Across ends 18instrument 5 Across Satirist Mort 9 Trout’s team, 6 Mike Secret agent’s on scoreboards passport, say 10 no. beer 7 Check Some craft 118 “Sons of Anarchy” Advanced in actor one’sRossi career 12 bunch 9 Brainy At no addl. cost 13 remark?

10 Passing Grape soda brand 14 Beef cuts 11 Italian playhouse 19 12 Field “I’m on it, boss” 24 13 Alternative Pre-poker deal energy demandvehicle 26 way 18 Unreserved Planted, as seed to go Orleans 22 New 28 “Hulk” star Eric university 23 Fly-__: “Livin’ La __”: 30 airVida passes Ricky Martin hit 31 Juicer’s juice?

24 Nonsense Baghdad’s land 33 25 “__ Beige shade 34 Holden”: 27 Crafty Irving Bacheller 30 To be, in novel Barcelona 36 Cactus League 31 __-mo replay spring training 32 Perform city miserably 37 Neil deGrasse 34 Bill for subj. drinks Tyson

Early Week’sPuzzle Puzzle Solved Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved Monday’s Solved

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

39 Blizzard restriction, 37 “Hometown Proud” perhaps supermarket chain 38 Roomie in prison 40 Final Four 40 Earl __ tea matchup 41 Pizza storehouse cooker 42 Rural 42 44 Actor Plays Chandler usually of “Bloodline” involving the SS 44 CIA a operative 46 “I’m fan!”

46 Muslim bigwig 47 Shoelace holders 47 Upper crust 51 IM option groups 52 “Seriously?”

48 Attacks, 53 Apply, aspuppystyle sunscreen

SUDOKU

RATES PER LINE/DAY • PREPAID: $2.70, BILLED: $3.10, CREDIT CARD: $2.70

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

To place a Classified linage ad, call: 612-627-4080 or email: classifieds@mndaily.com To place a display ad, call: 612-435-5863. For billing questions, call: 612-627-4080. *$60 minimum billing

HOUSING

EMPLOYMENT

Furnished House 1 BR, Kitchen, Dining Room. 5 mls from campus, access to train. $600/mo, utilities incl. Contact 612-323-1730

Cashier & Stockperson Wanted Franklin/Nicollet Liquors, PT and FT, Flexible Scheduling, Contact Chuck or Dave 612-871-1511.

30 Arthur Ave SE - 1 BR (Prospect Park)1 BR apartment located near the Univ of MN, less than a block to the light-rail.

Available March 1, $750/month includes heat. Newly remodeled apartment: kitchen, paint and carpeting. No pets/No Smoking. Call 612-747-1256 or 952-928-0021 Sandy Hill Apartments 2 BR, large patio, heat/water & garage incl., high speed internet/cable ready. Available now. www.sandyhillapartments.com (651) 775-0511

2/16/17 2/14/17

55 Respectful 49 Super cold word 50 Motorolapiece 56 Pastoral phone before 58 Stop-offs 54 __ jury bigby dates, 56 Blind as __ maybe 57 Ness, for one 59 Muscat money 59 Massage 61 Rush job letters reactions 63 “Knock it off!”

62 Padre’s brother 64 Stallone and 63 Whopper Stone 64 in 67 Summer, Nashville awards 68-Across gp.

65 Fabric degree mishap 68 Mgmt.

For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.

SERVICES Vit Manicure Come try it out. It's thinner, lighter,stronger, and doesn't have chemicals. No liquid primer. It is as natural as it gets We have over 700 colors to choose from. By Cub Foods at the Quarry Center 651-442-0664

2/16/2017

Early Week’s solution © 2015 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services.

All rights reserved.

9

10

Thursday, February 16, 2017

MSA candidates and goals Four teams will vie for MSA president and vice president positions.

Four teams are running for the Minnesota Student Association’s president and vice president spots.

Three out of the four teams running this year have previously

held positions within MSA. The candidates will debate at Coffman Memorial Union on Feb. 22.

Voting takes place online from March 1-3.

A common theme within the candidates’ platforms this year is allocating more resources toward mental health and creating a better campus climate.

Extend pass/fail declaration deadline for courses.

Increase yearly cap on mental health visits to Boynton Health.

Advocate for lower rent off-campus.

Create student coordinator position to represent undocumented immigrants in MSA.

Coffman Memorial Union theatre

President: Matt Snow

Political science and global studies junior Current MSA position: Director of Membership

Political science and communications sophomore

Vice President: Simran Mishra

Vice President: Lauren Loeb

Implement Swipe Out Hunger, a program that takes students’ unused meal plan swipes and donates them to foodinsecure students.

Carlson School of Management first-year student

GOALS Allocate more funding toward the Gopher Chauffeur program.

Reduce ticket costs for Homecoming events and Spring Jam.

Establish a sexual assault bystander awareness program; require students to watch training videos every year.

Increase frequency of University bus routes on St. Paul campus on weekends.

President: Nick Alm

President: Trish Palermo

Management information systems junior Current MSA position: Speaker of the Forum

Political science junior Student Senate Consulatative Committee Chair

Vice President: Makda Biniam

Finance and management information systems sophomore Current MSA position: Director of the Academic Affairs Committee

GOALS

MSA DEBATE Wednesday, Feb. 22, 6-8 p.m.

President: Charlie Parker

Finance and computer science junior Current MSA position: Co-director of Divresity Inclusion Committee

GOALS

The Minnesota Daily recently sat down with each team to talk about their platform if elected. Here is a summarized version of their goals.

Improve student group outreach by using committees to act as liaisons to student groups.

Advocate for creation of online public landlord reviews.

Add Title IX training for Housing and Residential Life staff and Orientation and First-Year Programs.

Push for state legislation to require landlords to advertise utility prices.

Publicize grants for student groups that recruit diverse populations.

Propose a one-credit course on self-care.

Vice President: Erik Hillesheim

Marketing Junior President of Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Epsilon

GOALS Push for better food quality in University dining halls.

Implement more Title IX training for faculty members and staff on campus.

Push for funding to help hire two more advocates for the Aurora Center.

Create a student outreach position within MSA to help student groups on campus.

Advocate for mental health awareness and support.