TOP HEADLINES INSIDE:
MINNESOTA UNCLE-NEPHEW DUO MAKE PERECT MEME TEAM PG 4
■ Three men’s hockey players up for accolade
VINE MAY BE DEAD, BUT GAVIN’S APPEAL THRIVES.
■ Students struggle with campus-area leases
The Hobey Baker award is a top honor in college hockey. PG 7
Campus legal advisors have seen an influx in disputes. PG 10
PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 31° LOW 14°
U OF M
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
LATE WEEK
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM
MARCH 2-5, 2017
CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT
A FIGHT FOR THEIR WORTH On campus, reporting sexual assault can come with hurdles and distress. BY JESSIE BEKKER jbekker@mndaily.com
This is the second of a three-part series on sexual assault at the University of Minnesota.
H
aleigh Or tmeier-Clarke met her rapist on Tinder. For a week, the two chatted about school and their mutual greek life connection. They planned a date on a Friday night in mid-October — and she told him she wasn’t interested in sex. But when Ortmeier-Clarke’s perpetrator arrived at her apartment in Stadium Village, he smelled of alcohol and stumbled over his words. Ortmeier-Clarke said she was sober at the time. She told him to go home, but he was forceful, she said, so she decided to let him sleep at her apartment until he sobered up. “I went to the bathroom, and I came back out, and he was standing there naked. It was a lot of shock,” Ortmeier-Clarke said. He kissed her and took off her clothes. She told him she didn’t want to proceed, but her assailant forced Or tmeier-Clarke to per form oral sex on him. She said she pulled at his hair, but he pinned down her arms. Then, she said he raped her. She remembers him saying, ‘You know you want this. Loosen up. Just enjoy it.’ Ortmeier-Clarke rolled up in a ball, drifting in and out of sleep. She said she woke up to her assailant raping her again. In the morning, a friend texted OrtmeierClarke and asked how the date went. She responded: “It was fine.” Five months later, she took her case to the University of Minnesota with the hope that she’d find resolution. The school eventually found OrtmeierClarke’s perpetrator responsible for the assault and decided to withhold his diploma until she graduates in 2018. Following policy changes at the University, sexual assault reports doubled between fiscal year 2014-15 and 2015-16. Still, some victims say they struggle to report their assaults for fear of retraumatization. “We know that this is the most underreported crime. One of the big reasons it’s so underreported is because those survivors feel they won’t be believed,” said Jeanne Ronayne, director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual
BY NICK WICKER nwicker1@mndaily.com
MADDY FOX, DAILY
Haleigh Ortmeier-Clarke poses for a portrait in Magrath Library on the St. Paul Campus on Feb. 23. Ortmeier-Clarke came forward to share her story of sexual assault.
“There’s a lot of waiting. It really eats at you.” KAYLA PEDERSON ON REPORTING HER SEXUAL ASSAULT
CITY
Boynton State lawmaker eyes Minneapolis mayoral seat Raymond Dehn hopes promotes Rep. to create change in areas of SNAP for equity and policing. students BY MIKE HENDRICKSON mhendrickson@mndaily.com
The federal program could address food insecurity at the U. BY OLIVIA JOHNSON ojohnson@mndaily.com
To help ensure students have access to gr o c e r i e s , t h e U n i ve r sity of Minnesota will begin encouraging students to sign up for a food assistance program. After a student-led push, this month Boynton Health will send emails to encourage students to sign up for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Dave Golden, Boynton’s director of public health, said he wanted to promote SNAP because of Boynton’s 2015 College Student Health Sur vey results, which found more than 17 percent of University students worr y about having enough money to buy food before it r uns out. “[SNAP] is intended for people that have lower access to income, and it u See SNAP Page 3
Alleged rape of fraternity pledge under investigation The incident took place in January in Dinkytown.
u See REPORTING Page 6
HEALTH
CRIME
Raymond Dehn is 59 years old and will still be paying student loans well into his 60s. The mayoral candidate, a DFL state representative for parts of Min-
neapolis, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1993 with an architecture degree and star ted paying his loans in 2002. It’s par t of what shaped him as a politician. Before he graduated, he was convicted of a felony burglar y charge and was later pardoned by Gov. Al Quie in 1982. The pardon hangs on the wall of his of fice in the State Of fice Building in St. Paul, where he’s ser ving his third term. He said it ser ves as a
reminder that he may not have been so lucky in other circumstances. “That’s what was a motivating factor for me to really tr y to change a system,” Dehn said. “It is ver y structured against a lot of people in our society, primarily people of color and indigenous folks.” Throughout his time at the Capitol, Dehn said he’s focused on affordable housing and policing in u See DEHN Page 10
The Minneapolis Police Depar tment is investigating an alleged sexual assault by a University of Minnesota frater nity member who allegedly coerced a pledge into committing a sexual act late Januar y. The accused student, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, allegedly used his status of a chapter member to coerce the 18-year-old prospective member into committing a sexual act Jan. 29 at the Marshall apartments in Dinkytown, accor ding to a sear ch warrant af fidavit filed last month. No charges have been filed. The Minnesota Daily is not naming the suspect since he has not been charged with a crime. While the sexual encounter star ted cons e n s u a l l y, t h e a l l e g e d perpetrator coerced the repor ting par ty into continuing after the victim said he didn’t want to continue, according to the affidavit. The accused student said he would use his influence to keep the pledge from frater nity membership if he didn’t “do what exactly what [the suspect] wanted him to do sexually.” After the alleged rape, the pledge went to the hospital for a sexual assault exam, cour t documents show. During the assault the suspect threatened to take photos and video evidence for blackmail, although the victim-sur vivor was unsure if the suspect actually did. After the incident, the suspect continued to thr eaten and blackmail the victim over Snapchat, according to the sear ch war rant affidavit. The fraternity member has been suspended from the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter as a result of the allegations, according to cour t records.
LEGISLATURE
Kaler announces possible tuition hike at Capitol The president said the hike could come even if the U’s full budget request is fulfilled. BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com
CARTER JONES, DAILY
Eric Kaler speaks to students during Support the U Day at the Minnesota Capitol on Wednesday.
University of Minnesota resident and non-resident students could see tuition hikes this fall. At a House higher education committee meeting Wednesday, University President Eric Kaler told legislators an increase may come even if the state fulfills the school’s $147.2 million biennial budget request. And with a surplus in the state budget announced Tuesday, some think full funding may be more likely. Still, tuition could rise as much as two-and-a-half
percent for resident students and 10 percent for non-resident students, Kaler said in an interview Wednesday. The increase could come as early as this fall, he said, but students whose families make under $120,000 would likely see the increased costs mitigated with scholarships or other aid. Kaler said the tuition hike is a result of the Legislature not granting the University all of its requested funding in past years. At the meeting, where H o u s e H i g h e r E d u c ation Committee members u See CAPITOL Page 10 VOLUME 117 ISSUE 43
2
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Daily Review
THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1904 Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss, the author and illustrator of beloved children’s books, is born in Springfield, Massachusetts. HISTORYCHANNEL.COM/TDIH
CITY Thursday, March 2, 2017 Vol. 117 No. 43
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 =
=
=
MADDY FOX, DAILY
Karolynn Bratten mimics Kylo Ren’s pose at the Science Museum of Minnesota on Feb. 25. The museum hosted a Star Wars day that featured activities and events based on the series.
CAMPUS BRIEFING
Amid criticisms and scandals, U lobbyists work to fulfill requests The U’s government relations office works to balance pushing for state funding and building relationships with MN legislators. BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com
Whether it’s pulling for state funding, building relationships with lawmakers or fielding concerns over issues like the latest football controversy, University lobbyists stay busy at the state Capitol during the legislative session. J.D. Burton, director of University state relations, said he and other lobbyists ser ve as the school’s main contacts to legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton. Their duties include organizing advocacy, attending legislative committee meetings and working to draft bills. Their main priority, he said, is to fulfill the University’s funding requests. “There’s a lot of competing demands at the Legislature for resources and resources are scarce,” Burton
said. “It’s our job to try and make an argument that’s persuasive to them to support the [University].” Many requests vie for legislators’ attention, he said, and being respectful helps build trust. But University lobbyists are “on the frontlines” when scandals like the recent sexual assault allegations in the football team occur, Burton said. University lobbyists need to be transparent with legislators about what happened to avoid speculation, said Matt Kramer, newlyappointed vice president for University and Government Relations. “There are going to be no shortage of challenges, and what you do is you wake up in the morning, you put on your shoes and socks and you figure out how to be transparent, how to be
honest,” he said. But some lawmakers say school lobbyists dodge discussions of scandals, like the recent football one. Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, said the lobbyists avoid the conversation out of embarrassment. “They tr y to make the best of it, but it’s definitely had an adverse effect,” said Abeler, a member of the Senate higher education committee. Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, said he’s only seen University lobbyists conduct outreach on scandals before the stories came out in the press. The University’s government relations of fice has also struggled with turnover in recent years, said Pelowski, who sits on the House higher education committee. “The University is paying a lot of money for what I would call erratic government relations,” he said. “There’s ver y little consistency and the University
Kalamazoo, Michigan’s WWMT-TV repor ted T uesday that Gophers football head coach P.J. Fleck may have engaged in a recruiting violation. Rober t Spillane, former Western Michigan linebacker, recently received a release from Western Michigan University, Fleck’s last stop as head coach. WWMT-TV repor ted from an anonymous source that Fleck contacted Spillane about playing for Minnesota before Spillane had received full permission to transfer, which could be a violation of NCAA rules. University spokesman Paul Rovnak told the Star Tribune that the school is “not recruiting any students from Western Michigan”
Spillane has yet to make a decision on where to transfer. Fleck coached the linebacker during his three collegiate seasons. In a tweet Wednesday afternoon, Spillane said he hasn’t decided where to transfer and that his decision to leave Wester n Michigan had “nothing to do with PJ Fleck.” Spillane played in all 13 games last season for the Broncos and was the team’s leading tackler with 105. He had two sacks and three interceptions in 2016, including an interception against Ohio University that helped the team clinch their first MAC title and an undefeated season. The NCAA requires permission to contact for students transferring schools, which must be granted before any formal recruiting can occur.
EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST FRIDAY SATURDAY HIGH 36° HIGH 49° LOW 25° LOW 39° Partly cloudy
Mostly sunny
SUNDAY HIGH 62° LOW 48° Mostly sunny
=
=
=
=
=
“There’s a lot of competing demands at the Legislature for resources and resources are scarce. It’s our job to try and make an argument that’s persuasive to them to support the [University]” J.D. BURTON Director of University state relations
sort of lurches with them.” The turnover can cost lobbying staff “institutional memor y” of past sessions, Pelowski said, preventing them from learning from past mistakes. Another roadblock the University has faced is not being as expansive as Minnesota State schools, he said. “The best case is always made locally to legislators, and the University doesn’t have the number of senators and representatives that [Minnesota] State does spread throughout the state,” Pelowski said. This is an area where the school could improve, Kramer said, and added
there should be more media and marketing to rural Minnesota to emphasize the University’s statewide impact. “We have to tell a multilayered stor y that is more than just … ‘here’s our budgetar y request,’” Kramer said. Abeler said his interactions with University lobbyists have been mostly positive, but they sometimes struggle to consider needs other than their own. “They come in and tell their stor y and it’s a stor y that’s centric to what they want, and the legislators have to put it in the context of the whole big picture,” he said.
P.J. Fleck denies alleged Professional student gov has recruiting rule violation two presidential candidates BY JACK WHITE jwhite@mndaily.com
=
BY DAVID CLAREY dclarey@mndaily.com
After a rocky start, the University of Minnesota’s professional student government now has two presidential candidates. PSG lacked a presidential candidate after the original filing deadline, but the All Campus Election Committee granted an extension last week. Now, second-year law student Rachel Cardwell and first-year public affairs student Matt Berg are both running for president. “My ability to help other people advocate and create a team … is something I deeply care about,” Berg said. “This is a role that, I hope, if I win … will be a catapult toward something better.” Berg, who is the incoming vice president of the Public Affairs Student Association, said he was unaware of the original deadline but
MONDAY HIGH 56° LOW 33° PM t-storms
was quick to file after he received an email notifying him of the extension. He said his background in community organizing makes him qualified for the position and that he will prioritize improving graduation and admission rates for minority students. Cardwell, president of the University’s Federal Bar Association, said her experience in law and knack for collaboration would help her excel in her role as PSG president. PSG amended the voting process this year, allowing president and vice president to run separately and not on the same ticket. Keerthanaa Jeeva is the sole vice presidential candidate. Originally, another Humphrey student, Nicholas Rea, also filed, but after discussion with Berg, the decision was made to let Berg run alone. Rea said they didn’t want to split the vote among the public affairs student population.
TUESDAY HIGH 45° LOW 26° 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, March 2, 2017
3
U competes with MN state for funding House and Senate higher education committees work to balance funding. BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com
As state lawmakers mull budget allocations, higher education committee members seek to balance funds for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State. But the University’s budget request, which includes a $147.2 million increase for initiatives, may take a backseat to Minnesota State this year, which legislators say is in worse shape. Minnesota State — formerly called Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, or MnSCU — is under pressure from enrollment issues and other system-wide challenges like financial woes, said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, chair of the House higher education committee. “For that reason, you want to help them as much as you can to make sure that the campuses and the programs and ever ything is stable,” Nornes said. Minnesota State asked for a $178 million increase in state funding this session. The larger Minnesota State system serves almost 400,000 students at 30 colleges and seven universities across 54 campuses. The University has five campuses with more than 67,480 students. University officials need build trust with lawmakers, justify why their funding requests are necessary and
“You get a better feel when you’re listening to the real people out there in the real life, or beyond say, the central office.” BUD NORNES State Representative
ELLEN SCHMIDT, INTERN PHOTOGRAPHER
Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynsville, chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, discusses University funding in her office on Feb. 22.
change how they’re presented to lawmakers, Nornes said. “The University traditionally has, more or less, had the president do the speaking and maybe a financial person kind of filling in,” he said. This can turn legislators off from the University’s needs. Minnesota State took a more personal approach in its budget presentation to the House Higher Education Committee, he said, with students and faculty who shared their stories. “You get a better feel when you’re listening to the real people out there in the real life, or beyond say, the central office,” Nornes said. Dean Johnson, chair of the University’s Board of Regents, said the University
made a “strategic error” in its approach, adding he’ll meet with President Eric Kaler this week to discuss tweaking the presentations. “It’s about students and faculty, and it’s not about administrators,” he said. Legislators may also be more inclined to fund Minnesota State because it’s stateowned, while the University is a land-grant institution, Nornes said. Some regents think a disconnect between rural and metro legislators factors into funding considerations for the two systems. Rural lawmakers have shifted attention to Minnesota State in the last several years, said Regent Richard Beeson. “It’s not healthy for the state to have that sort of
Boynton Health advocates for food assistance program Snap
FOOD ASSISTANCE BY THE NUMBERS Age of SNAP-eligible adults
u from Page 1 100%
helps supplement food dollars so they can buy food,” he said. To qualify for the program, participants must have low income, have a workstudy job or work over 20 hours per week, Golden said. A one-person household must have a net monthly income of $990 or less to qualify for the program, he said. “It’s not a ton of money,” Golden said. “But depending on their need, it ranges between $80 to $180 per month, which can help out.” Less than 5 percent of those using the program are between 16 and 22,, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Boynton will send out 500 emails after spring break to a random sample of students to explain the eligibility requirements for SNAP. “We don’t know, necessarily where everybody is,” he said. “We’re going to see what kind of response we get.” Based on the response, Golden said Boynton will send out another 500 emails to students as well as followups with the first set to see if any signed up. Golden said long-term chronic stressors — such as worrying about how to pay for food amid a busy semester — can be detrimental to students. “Ever y little bit helps,” he said. “It takes away one of those big stressors.” Minnesota Student Association president Abeer Syedah said the group asked Boynton to campaign for SNAP to de-stigmatize food assistance programs. “This kind of came from early conversations … where we were prioritizing food and housing insecurity,” Syedah said, adding that MSA par tnered with students in the College
65 and older
80%
60 to 64 60%
50 to 59 40 to 49
40%
30 to 39 20% 0%
23 to 29 16 to 22 2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Food insecurity in the past 12 months I worried whether my food would run out before I got money for more.
The food I bought just didn’t last and I didn’t have money to get more. 8.2%
14.4% 1.9% 3.1%
1.9% 2.0%
80.6%
87.9%
Don’t know
Often True
of Education and Human Development to research what food insecurity looks like on campus. The campus food pantry, Nutritious U, gave away its entire food stock the first day it was open, something that Syedah said shows students will use food assistance programs if they are offered.. She said MSA also reached out to the Office for Student Affairs and Student Counseling Services to find out how students could use SNAP benefits on campus. “I don’t think a lot of students wouldn’t meet those income guidelines because we’re all broke,” she said. “A very notable number of students could be eligible.” Ensuring students have regular access to food is one of MSA’s priorities this semester. Will Macheel, an applied
Sometimes true
Never True
economics freshman and MSA intern, helped create the Gopher Community Supported Agriculture program, which allows students to pay $100 and get produce from a nearby farm for six weeks. “This program is a great oppor tunity for students to diversify the food that they’re eating and focus on food that is local and organic,” he said. Student Counseling Services is also taking note of students who indicate food insecurity issues and directing them to the appropriate programs, Syedah said. “If you’r e a student who’s ever sacrificed a meal to pay rent or if you go to bed hungr y, you’re probably food insecure,” she said. “It’s one of those things we want to have a conversation about.”
par tisan divide based on geography and then having money follow in that manner,” Beeson said. Johnson said Minnesota State also received more funding per student in the last biennium. Both schools should receive fair treatment, he said. “I don’t think we should pit Minnesota State versus the University of Minnesota.” Still, weighing funds for each system is a “delicate balance” because both have unique needs, said Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville and chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. The University’s coordinate campuses also need funding, she said. “I personally want to
“The University traditionally has, more or less, had the president do the speaking and maybe a financial person kind of filling in.” BUD NORNES State representative
hear about how the money that they’re asking for is going to help the students,” Fischbach said. But the University and state’s relationship tends to fluctuate, she said, and the recent athletic scandals don’t help the school’s standing with legislators. Nor nes said he’d like to see the University use state funds to flatten
tuition rates to gain trust with legislators. “That would build so much public relations and confidence … within the legislature that they are really doing their part,” he said. Kaler said Wednesday tuition will likely increase this fall for resident and nonresident students, even if the budget request is entirely funded.
4
Thursday, March 2, 2017
INTERNET
Meet Gavin: our own local meme star The six-year-old’s funny faces have captured the attention of internet users and celebrities alike.
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY
Vine-famous Gavin with his uncle, Nick Mastodon, on Sunday at his grandmother’s home in Eden Prairie. Gavin became famous for his reaction faces.
Vine-famous Gavin on Sunday at his grandmother’s home in Eden Prairie. Gavin became famous for his reaction faces.
BY MADDY FOLSTEIN mfolstein@mndaily.com
Y
ou might know him as the meme kid, the boy with the lizard or the six-year-old from Vine. But his name is Gavin. He lives in Minnesota, his favorite food is french fries and he wants to be a swim instructor when he grows up. Unlike most children his age, passersby often stop Gavin on the street to
take pictures with him. His celebrity is thanks to the Vines he’s made with his uncle, Nick Mastodon. “I was working at the Apple store at the Mall of America, which is not as exciting of a role as it may sound,” Mastodon said. “So one day, I put in my two weeks. The day I left was the day Vine was released.” Mastodon immediately downloaded the app and star ted creating his own six-second-long videos. A few months later, Gavin made an appearance.
A s t h e y a r e t o d a y, Gavin’s cameos were candid and unrehearsed. “It all star ted when Gavin was 2 1/2,” said Gavin’s mom, Kate, who asked to be identified by first name only for privacy reasons. “He added Gavin in — I think he was just playing with stickers. “People started getting receptive to him around the same time that Nick was getting well-known. And then there was a Vine that came out where Gavin was holding a lizard,” Kate said.
“And it bit me!” Gavin piped up. The Vines of Gavin are simple and unadorned. He plays with Nick, Nick says something funny and Gavin reacts. “I would say that he stands on his own more than most memes probably,” Mastodon said. “Some of his biggest Vines we just recorded inside the app itself. We’d do a couple takes of something, but most of the time, I’d see something funny that was about to happen and I’d start to film.” Gavin’s reaction memes, however, ar e typically screenshots from Nick’s Vines. “People are always like, ‘Oh, I love your memes!’ And I’m always like, ‘Oh, I don’t make them. I’m a 33-year-old mom from Minneapolis,’” Kate said. Gavin’s popularity has skyrocketed since his humble beginnings on the app, allowing him to meet multiple celebrity fans. “When the summer Olympics were going on, [USA women’s gymnastics team members] Simone
Biles and Laurie Hernandez picked Gavin up and were tweeting about him,” Kate said. “And then Gavin got to see his girlfriend [Camila Cabello] at the Jingle Ball concert.” “No, I have five girlfriends,” Gavin said. “And at the concert, I took a hundred pictures.” Cabello later posted one of those pictures with the caption “w my big strong boyfriend Gavin.” For a six-year-old boy with celebrity fans and thousands of internet followers, Gavin is surprisingly humble. He spent most of his inter view playing with two rubber ducks or throwing a pinecone against a wall. “Sometimes people will ask for pictures, or we will volunteer for pictures. But we will always leave it up to him,” Kate said. “A lot of the time he’ll ask me to go up to somebody and ask them if they know him from Vine. Sometimes he’ll be a little shy, though.” “I’m not shy,” Gavin responded. “The big kids from fifth grade — they
know me from Vine. They think I’m famous.” Now that Vine has shuttered, Gavin’s fans wonder about his plans for the future. Some worry he’ll disappear from the Internet altogether. But his mom assures them there’s nothing to fear. “Gavin is really into watching unboxing videos and kids playing with toys on YouTube, so Gavin wants to create his own YouTube channel,” Kate said. And if you’ve ever watched The Ellen DeGeneres Show or Jimmy Kimmel’s “I Told My Kid I Ate All Their Halloween Candy,” you’ll know that there are plenty of funny kids on the Internet. But Gavin and his reactions are something special. “I’ve seen people comment, ‘Oh, he’s just a kid, just a funny kid.’ And yeah, a lot of kids could do well if captured in the right way,” Mastodon said. “But I think there’s just something about him that people are drawn towards. […] It’s almost like he’s a little man.”
MUSIC
Album review: Hippo Campus’ “Landmark” Minneapolis band Hippo Campus’s debut album falls short. BY JOE CRISTO jcristo@mndaily.com
U
ber-cool boy band Hippo Campus is exactly what’s wrong with modern rock music: they’re overblown and self-assuredly smirking; both parts are bleak drivel and derivative posturing. Up until now, fans have only had a few EPs, music videos and live performances on which to base their adoration. They’ve presumably been salivating for the band’s debut full-length record, “Landmark,” which was released on Friday. The truth is that Hippo Campus’s goal is to pluck emotion from the jaws of originality, leaving a sleeksounding record that borders on self-parody. Precision, rather than genuine emotion, is the focus. For some odd reason, everything that Hippo Campus gets their hands on is overstylized and curated. The cover art for “Landmark” is a picture of various household objects strewn across a living room floor. The record title for some reason is always
A&E EDITOR
Sophia Vilensky svilensky@mndaily.com
RADIO K TOP 7
1. CLOUD NOTHINGS, Sight Unseen 2. JOAN OF ARC, Full Moon & Rainbow Repair 3. XIU XIU, Wondering
The truth is that Hippo Campus’s goal is to pluck emotion from the jaws of originality, leaving a sleek-sounding record that borders on self-parody. Precision, rather than genuine emotion, is the focus. written in lower case. “Landmark” itself is predictably well-produced, shimmery and boring. The record opens with “Sun Veins,” a pastiche of musical glumness that segues into “Way It Goes” (which I guess is the best part of the album). Most of the tracks are well-written enough, and the chords themselves aren’t the problem. Instead, trouble lies in the need for each song to have a slightly goofy, bouncy lead guitar part, the insistence on yelping instead of belting, and the foot stomping, Imagine Dragons-esque breakdowns. The second-to-last track, “Interlude,” transitions into the finale “Buttercup” — a song that defies expectations because it doesn’t feature the classic strum pattern that peppers nearly ever y moment of the
4. EMPATHY CELL, Mind Control 5. MOIRE, Secret Window 6. CHERRY GLAZERR, Nuclear Bomb 7. HAND HABITS, Flower Glass
debut. Even then, it’s really just a new iteration of an old theme. Almost all of the album’s tracks feature singer and guitarist Jake Luppen riffing with an indie vocal timbre. Hippo Campus probably says that they’re more “Graceland”’ than The 1975, but that would be a distortion of the truth. Before you think I’m being too harsh about a couple of kids who are giving it their all, remember that they have throngs of passionate fans who throw money at them every chance they get — you know, the beanieand-argyle-sweater crowd. Maybe I really am the only one, but I don’t need to hear four suburban white kids appropriating world music and erasing subtlety in favor of commercial fervor. It seems a little too contrived for my taste.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
CULTURE to CONSUME /
5
By Katie Lauer, klauer@mndaily.com
Eat this:
Listen to this:
Watch this:
Restaurant Alma
“Drunk” by Thundercat
Jurassic Park
Recently named a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef, Alma’s Alex Roberts will have you eating and feeling good at this American eatery on University Avenue. Also, if you can’t get away for the University’s upcoming spring break, you can have a “staycation” in one of the seven overnight rooms at the restaurant’s “urban inn.”
This new release manages to encompass almost every genre and emotion. Thundercat’s falsetto traverses and combines soul, R&B and electronic in the record’s quirky 23 tracks. Featuring heavyweights Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa and Pharrell, this album really brings a unique, quality listening experience. Grab a drink and enjoy.
PSA: This classic just arrived on Netflix, and who doesn’t love a dystopian dinosaur tale? The stresses of daily life can sometimes make you feel like you’re being eaten by a velociraptor, and this hit of nostalgia might be just what the doctor ordered. Sit back, relax and let Steven Spielberg take you to 1993.
CLUBS
Student group Ski-Brew-Mah crafts the perfect pairing A new student group looks at the business and culture of Minnesota brewing and winemaking. BY KATIE LAUER klauer@mndaily.com
““I kind of wanted to combine my business background with something I was actually passionate about.”
B
eer and wine have a special place in college culture. They also have a culture of their own, and a new University of Minnesota student group, Ski-Brew-Mah, is dedicated to exploring that world. Sara Dick — a junior studying human resources who grew up surrounded by the beer business — wanted to bring that culture to the University. “I kind of wanted to combine my business background with something I was actually passionate about,” Dick said. “So that’s how the idea came about. I asked Hannah [Fox] because she has the wine background.” W ith family ties to a winer y, Hannah Fox was a natural fit for the group. The junior psychology major thinks the group fits per fectly on campus. “I think beer and wine are something that a lot of college students are interested in — business as well,” Fox said. “It’s just a good way to intertwine the two things.” The business-based student group focuses on pr omoting r esponsible drinking culture and educating students on the
SARA DICK University junior
HANNAH FOX, DAILY
Members of the Ski-Brew-Mah club tour a brewery. The club, which is relatively new to the University of Minnesota, focuses on the business and culture of breweries and wineries.
processes of brewing and winemaking. To accomplish this, the group has brewing venues come in to talk about their own culture and business processes. From entrepreneurship, supply chain, marketing and branding, the group looks at the entire picture of
the business’ success. Each discussion is paired with a tour of the venue itself. While the group strongly enforces the legal drinking age of 21, anyone can be involved, regardless of background knowledge. The club presents information for ever yone from beginners
to brew masters. “I think some people may have the misconception that we only need experienced beer drinkers, but it’s more like we want people who want to learn about it,” Dick said. “I’ve had a few students who specifically reached out and said, ‘This is so cool. I’ve been
looking for something like this forever.’ And then we have our friends who have never even heard of microbreweries.” “The cultur e of the business in general is really nice, especially for a student group,” Fox said. “Ever yone in the industr y is so relaxed and willing to
work with you.” In their first six months, Ski-Brew-Mah has talked with Town Hall and Insight Brewing. They will tap more into the world of wine as the year progresses. The group is also looking into “out of Minneapolis” events, where they’ll travel to vineyards and breweries beyond the Twin Cities metro area. No matter which venues they talk with and tour, Ski-Brew-Mah is ultimately a group for people wishing to explore the business and world of brewing and winemaking. That special interest ties ever ything together. “I think it’s a hobby for a lot of people, just tr ying dif ferent beers,” Fox said. “Especially in microbreweries, they’re so specialized.” “It’s ver y much a learning experience — even for people who are cultured in it,” Dick said. “It’s not a Bud Light.”
ART
Darwin dearest New Weisman exhibit mixes science and art. BY JOE CRISTO jcristo@mndaily.com
F
rom now until July 23, the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum will host an exhibit, “Dear Dar win,” focused on how ar t and science interact. The name comes from the process the artists took in creating their work. Most of the ar t is accompanied by a letter written to evolutionar y biologist Charles Darwin. “Each ar tist wrote a musing letter to Dar win,” curator Diane Mullin said. “About how they were inspired to make their pieces and why they were working on those subjects.” “Dear Dar win” falls outside the typical pur view of an art museum. For many people, science and ar t seem antithetical to one another. “There are two reasons as to why science and ar t mesh well together,” Mullin said. “First, we recognize that most people are just interested in the
intersection of the two. The audience likes it. Secondly, art and science are often seen as diametrically opposite, but eventually reveal themselves to be more alike than you initially think.” Featured ar tist Vesna Kittelson has a foot in both doors. Her husband is an engineer and her social circle is often populated by those interested in science. Kittelson, who splits her time between Cambridge, England and Minneapolis, found herself in England on the 200th anniversar y of Dar win’s bir th. Using this moment as a backdrop, she quickly went to work studying his life, looking at his writings for inspiration. “While I am not a scientist, I have been thinking a lot about what I can do as an ar tist to make a statement about protecting the environment more than we are,” Kittelson said. And since I ar rived [in England] at such a key time when people were celebrating his work, I star ted to learn about him.”
CULTURE COMPASS /
Kittelson’s work is different because it focuses on Dar win’s personal life. Inspired by letters written between Dar win and his wife, Kittelson’s goal was to create a compelling recollection of other people that existed in Dar win’s orbit. “I lear ned about his relationship with his wife Emma,” Kittelson said. “It was loving and full of sacrifices. It’s a great measure of what a wonder ful relationship can be. So, I thought, ‘What can I do to celebrate their love?’” Kittelson took the idea of Dar win’s infamous intellectual walks through his garden and expanded it. She decided to invent a garden with fake plants and flowers as a visual representation of Dar win’s irascible nature. She presented it as a gift in Emma’s memory. Another ar tist, Julia Randall, took a dif ferent approach to the scientific theme. Instead of focusing on
CARTER JONES, DAILY
Dear Darwin, photographed on Tuesday, Feb. 28 features work from artists Vesna Kittleson, Carolyn Halliday and Julia Randall. Each artist interpreted the work of Charles Darwin in three ways. The exhibit runs at the Weisman Art Museum until May 14.
Dar win himself, Randall focused on biology and the artistic notions behind anatomy. Randall’s work included colored pencil drawings of lips, mouths and other body parts. Since these drawings are oversexualized and fantastical, her work focused on the conclusions and implications you can draw from Darwin’s theories on evolution and how they af fect the erotic.
Science and modern art mix together well, even if it seems counterintuitive. “Dear Dar win” is all about the ways this mixture can happen. “It’s about shining a light on how ar t and science are not diametrically opposed,” Mullin said. “It’s understanding that drawing is a scientific receipt of something you’ve seen visually. Basically, picking images based on obser vation goes back a long way.”
“While I am not a scientist, I have been thinking a lot about what I can do as an artist to make a statement about protecting the environment more than we are.” VESNA KITTELSON Artist
By Katie Lauer, klauer@mndaily.com
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Decoding Nicki Minaj
University of Minnesota Jazz Festival Concert
Tchami at First Avenue
Is Nicki Minaj a feminist? This discussion will try to answer that question. By analyzing the rapper’s music videos for “Anaconda” and “Starships,” a Twitter feud with Taylor Swift and more, the conversation will take a look at Minaj’s impact on modern day feminism. Minaj might be “Feeling Herself,” but is she feeling feminism?
Who doesn’t love some good jazz? Saturday’s event will feature Rex Richardson, a celebrated trumpeter, as the guest artist alongside University Jazz Ensembles. The event is conducted by University professor Dean Sorenson. If you can’t make it, the night will be live-streamed to satisfy your jazz needs.
Come Sunday, this Parisian DJ will put on a great thumping EDM show downtown. A pioneer of “future house,” Tchami co-wrote “Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake and Lil Jon and has supported Skrillex and Diplo on the road. From his Janet Jackson remix “Go Deep” to his 2013 single “Promesses,” he might just bring the house down with his tunes.
Where Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis Hours 3:30 p.m. Cost Free
Where Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 4th St. S., Minneapolis Hours 7 p.m. Cost Free
Where First Avenue, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis Hours 7:30 p.m. Cost $22 in advance of $25 at the door
6
Thursday, March 2, 2017
MADDY FOX, DAILY
Maria poses for a portrait in her apartment on Feb. 14.
A FIGHT FOR THEIR WORTH
Reporting u from Page 1
Assault and Rape. Women who were sexually assaulted say they endure post-incident distress, self-denial, holes in memory, mental health issues and lost friendships. Still, they find ways to cope. Ortmeier-Clarke sought help from Aurora Center advocates. And in May 2018, she’ll graduate with a degree in plant science.
A long process Women who have reported their assaults to the University say telling their stories can be just as difficult as living them. Though the percent of falsely reported sexual assault mirrors that of other crimes — 2 to 10 percent, Ronayne said — cases are difficult to prove, and victims often feel doubted. For Kayla Pederson and Maria, two women who were assaulted by members of Delta Upsilon in 2015, discombobulated memories of their assaults became a point of contention during University disciplinary hearings. “That’s what’s been hard about the whole thing, is not being able to trust my own memory,” said Maria, who asked to be identified by first name only. A University panel expelled Pederson’s assailant after finding him responsible for Maria’s assault, too. “There’s a lot of waiting. It really eats at you,” Pederson said. “It’s just a lot of agony because when you don’t report it, you just put it in a box and don’t look at it. But then when you do report it, you can’t take it back.” Pederson said she had to “fight for [her] worth in the system.” Ortmeier-Clarke reported her assault to the Minneapolis Police Department in January 2016, three months after it took place, she said. But after filing her case, Ortmeier-Clarke didn’t hear from an investigator. She said she called the special crimes investigation division, which informed her that she would need to submit a rape kit. When Ortmeier-Clarke told an investigator she completed a kit the night of her assault, the investigator said it must have gone missing. Ortmeier-Clarke was ready to relinquish all hope of criminal prosecution in her case, but in March another investigator contacted Ortmeier-Clarke to interview her about her rape. The officer met with Ortmeier-Clarke and an Aurora Center advocate in March 2016. “The last conversation between the Aurora Center and [the officer] was ‘Well, [the perpetrator] said it was consensual, so there’s no other evidence pointing any other way,’” Ortmeier-Clarke said. “At that point … I was feeling angry.” For Abby Honold, a University student who immediately called police and underwent a rape examination after her assault in November 2014, justice took two years. Despite sustaining bruises and lacerations, Honold had to fight for a conviction for her rapist, former University student and Sigma Phi Epsilon member Daniel Drill-Mellum. Drill-Mellum was sentenced to six years in prison last August, after the University found him responsible for the assault and two separate investigators pushed to open — and later, reopen — Honold’s case.
The aftermath The University’s Aurora Center lists denial, loss of control, guilt, anger and post-traumatic stress disorder as symptoms sexual assault victims might face. Maria denied her assault was “that bad” for eight months before reporting it to the University. “I Googled ‘Was I raped?’” Maria remembers. In the months after her assault, Maria returned home for summer break and tried
to block the incident from her memory. But when she had no desire to return to campus, she said she began to realize something was wrong. “During freshman orientation, when they have the girl talk about how her sexual assault affected her and how she was sad all the time, I was just like … ‘I can’t, I don’t have time for this,’” Maria said. Leading up to December 2015, when she filed a report with the University, Maria said she felt depressed and suicidal. Anishaa Kamesh, a genetics, cell biology and development senior, kept her story a secret to close friends and relatives for a year. “I pretended it didn’t happen. I didn’t want to accept that something that horrible could have happened to me,” Kamesh said. She said she was allegedly assaulted during a fraternity house party in the spring 2015. “It definitely felt like I had lost my purpose and identity,” she said. Honold still suffers from PTSD as a result of her assault. She said she has to practice better self-care and can no longer engage in things she used to love — like teaching young, loud elementary school children. About 94 percent of women experience PTSD symptoms for two weeks after their rape. Thirty percent experience those symptoms nine months later, according to the Aurora Center. “I get jealous of friends of mine who are having a great college experience and still getting to go out and have fun,” Honold said. “I think of everything as a danger to myself. I think that’s kind of what PTSD does to your brain, is that everything is scary all of a sudden. Everything is a threat.”
Moving for ward Since Drill-Mellum’s guilty conviction, Honold has become a vocal advocate for sexual assault victims. At the University and nationwide, Honold has used her experience to speak up for those who don’t feel they have a voice, she said. “It took me a couple days to really give myself the permission to be like ‘This is going to change things, and you need to start taking care of yourself now,’” Honold said. After her assault, Maria blamed herself for being drunk, for remaining silent, for being “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” In an unsent letter to her assailant, Maria told him she felt “violated and icky in a way that I couldn’t wash off in the shower.” She just wanted a good cry and to feel angry, she wrote. “I have to pay, why don’t you?” Maria wrote. Maria said she was happier before her assault. She had dreamt of coming to the University of Minnesota — a school she is now excited to leave. Pederson, too, felt more carefree. “Life just seemed less heavy,” she said. And while the women were allegedly assaulted by fraternity members, they say they have struggled to find support within the University’s greek community. Of 305 reports at 104 schools nationwide, 10 percent of perpetrators were fraternity members, according to a 2015 report by United Educators Insurance. “I see a culture of not supporting survivors,” said Honold, who was disinvited — and later re-invited — to a speaking event at the University greek community’s sexual assault awareness event, Walk A Mile In Her Shoes. A member of the committee originally texted her saying her appearance might “cause more harm.” Simon Beck, president of the Interfraternity Council, said that text message was sent without communication between IFC and Panhellenic Council leaders. Despite their belief that University greek life needs to take a stronger stance against sexual assault and improve education on consent and bystander
Abby Honold poses for a portrait in her apartment on Feb. 13.
Kayla Pederson poses for a portrait in Dinkytown on Feb. 18.
prevention, the women have found healing through other channels. For Or tmeier-Clarke, reminding herself that each day is a fresh start and her assault doesn’t have to define her has been key in moving for ward. Ortmeier-Clarke, Pederson and Maria all attend a suppor t group at the Aurora Center. Maria and Pederson met under what
MADDY FOX, DAILY
MADDY FOX, DAILY
they call unfortunate circumstances, but the two have become close friends and have found common ground outside their mutual offender and traumatizing experiences. “Before this happened, I was an optimist. I’m still an optimist,” Maria said. “I’ve been working on tr ying to be thankful for what I can do, what I have and the people around me.”
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Sports
7
@MNDAILYSPORTS
MEN’S HOCKEY
Hobey Baker means more to Minnesota Neal Broten was given 1981’s inaugural award, and three Gophers have won since.
BY DREW COVE dcove@mndaily.com
Sixty-six college hockey players, including three Gophers, have been nominated for this year’s Hobey Baker award. The awar d’s histor y is deeply rooted in the state. The Hobey Baker is awarded annually to the nation’s top college hockey player. N i n e M i n n e s o t a n atives have won the award — including four Gophers players — in the award’s 36-year histor y. Minnesota’s three nominees are Big Ten leadingscorer Tyler Sheehy, Jake Bischof f and senior captain Justin Kloos. “It’s definitely really special,” said Gophers defenseman Jake Bischof f. “The tradition that that award has, the great people that have not only won it but have been nominated, it’s a huge honor.” The award was first presented by the Decathlon Athletic Club of Bloomington, Minnesota to a Minnesota native and former Gophers for war d Neal Broten. C o i n c i d e n t a l l y, B r o-
ten’s teammate at the University of Minnesota, Steve Christof f, is the model for the statue on the award. Robb Stauber, Brian Bonin and Jordan Leopold are the other former Gophers players to win the award. Nineteen have been top-10 finalists. The only team that has more Hobey Baker winners than the University of Minnesota is in-state rival Minnesota-Duluth. “Being a Minnesotan, you grow up, and hockey is your life,” Bischoff said. “There’s a lot of great people that have played hockey in this state, and it’s definitely special.” Kloos was nominated for the award last season. “[Kloos is] one of our top scorers,” said head coach Don Lucia. “Six game-winning goals, [he] plays in ever y situation, and [he’s] a guy that you can count on at the end of a game.” This year, the captain has already surpassed his season-high goal total at 17 and is only four points away from breaking his career high in points of 43. Sheehy and Kloos are
DAILY FILE PHOTO
Justin Kloos, Jake Bischoff and Tyler Sheehy play at Mariucci Arena.
first and second, respectively, for the Gophers in scoring this season. Bischof f provides a stable presence on the defensive end. He’s provided 24 assists — second on the team. “All three of them are having great years,” Lucia said. “[Bischof f] has
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
grown so much each year he’s been here; he’s a program guy, a tremendous leader … T yler Sheehy has really had a ter rific sophomore campaign … He’s really put together a nice year; [he] has scored some big goals, but he can not only score goals, but he can feather some nice
passes too.” Bischoff leads all defensemen on the Gophers and in the Big Ten in points with 28 points, and he is in his second year of leading the defensive corps as an alternate captain with the team. Sheehy has been the stor y for Minnesota offensively, scoring at 1.5
points per game. He has 48 points in the 32 games played so far, leading all players in the Big Ten. “To be recognized as a premier college player is pretty special,” Kloos said. “I think it’s a little more of a team award that we’ve had success here to have three nominees.”
SOFTBALL
Dani Wagner enjoying breakout junior season The junior already has two walk-off hits this season. BY KYLE STEINBERG ksteinberg@mndaily.com
CHRIS DANG, DAILY
Junior guard Carlie Wagner looks to pass on Saturday Feb. 11, 2017 at Williams Arena. The Gophers won 80-46 against Rutger’s University.
Carlie Wagner finding her voice as senior leader on and off court Wagner led the team in scoring with 18.8 points in the regular season. BY DOMINIC DAVIS ddavis@mndaily.com
When any team graduates a player of Rachel Banham’s level, the question becomes who is going to step into that role. This season, Carlie Wagner answered the call. The junior has taken over as team captain in a season where the roster is full of young players in need of guidance. Wagner first realized she was captain during one of the first practices. “The girls were asking me all these questions,” Wagner said. “They were coming to me, and I was like ‘whoa, that’s not usual’. Usually, it’s Rachel [Banham] or Shayne [Mullaney] or [Mikayla Bailey] that they’re going to, so it was weird to me being the girl that they were asking the questions to.” Challenges come naturally for anyone entering a new position, but Wagner said her biggest challenge is finding a consistent voice. “It’s definitely something I want to improve on with my leadership skills is just always being that voice on the court.” Head coach Marlene Stollings said that having that voice isn’t natural for
Wagner, but it is something that she continues to learn. Teammate Jasmine Brunson emphasized the importance of not just Wagner’s voice but her ability to let others do the talking when needed. “She just listens to everybody’s opinions,” Brunson said. “She doesn’t think she’s above anybody because she gets all this hype, and she gets all this recognition. She’s very easy to talk to.” Br unson, along with three other rookies, were named February captains for the team. They’re now lending Wagner some of the same advice she told them earlier as Wagner’s senior season winds down. “Just to play [her] game, and have fun,” Brunson said. “Sometimes she tends to overthink, and I’m just like ‘You had what, 38 points in a game this season? Why are you overthinking? Shoot the ball.’” The contribution from the underclassmen has impressed Wagner. She said they came in with a foundation many freshmen don’t have but has also enjoyed passing on what she knows to them. Stollings said Wagner’s transition to her leadership role is easier since seniors who were key players have graduated, and that Wagner was a very supportive teammate, which doesn’t always happen at this level. “She was a great teammate to the great players of
“[Wagner’s] so excited. She’s sitting on the edge of her seat the whole time because she knows what the tournament is about.” MARLENE STOLLINGS Head coach
Rachel [Banham] and Amanda [Zahui B],” Stollings said of Wagner’s now professional teammates. “They had their time, and then she knew that this was going to be her time.” Wagner said she’s spoken to Banham at times during the season for guidance and leadership advice and said it’s good to have someone around who has been through the same situations. Minnesota will play Penn State in its first game of the Big Ten Tournament this weekend. Stollings said Wagner is looking forward to leading this team on a stage where much of the roster hasn’t been before. “She’s so excited. She’s sitting on the edge of her seat the whole time because she knows what the tournament is about,” Stollings said. “She wants to get with the newcomers on our team … before we head out to Indianapolis and really talk to them about what the tournament feel is like.”
Last year, Dani Wagner recorded just eight at-bats with a total of zero hits. Fast forward a year, and Wagner is hitting .359, is third on the Gophers in RBI and has two walk-off hits. The junior may seem like one of the biggest surprises at the plate during Minnesota’s programrecord 14-0 star t. But it’s nothing new to her teammates. “The biggest thing is [Wagner] is finding confidence within her at-bats,” said head coach Jessica Allister. “We’ve seen this hitter in practice for a long, long time.” As a sophomore, Wagner saw quite a bit of the field but not so much of the plate. She started 22 games at shortstop and had 21 putouts but was often kept out of the batting lineup, stepping up to the plate for just eight official at-bats. “The main philosophy for me was just helping my team where it needed it,” Wagner said. “At that time it was just on the field … I was all for it.” The Gophers have continued to look to Wagner for defense. She moved to center field after all three
“The main philosophy for me was just helping my team where it needed it. At that ti e it as ust on the field as all for it.” DANI WAGNER Junior
starting outfielders graduated last year. Not only has she had to learn a new role in the field but also a new plate presence. Wagner was able to score 14 runs for Minnesota last season and went a perfect 6-6 in stolen bases, so the future loomed bright, but she’s taken this season’s hitting to a whole new level. She has racked up 39 atbats, with 14 hits and three home runs — good for second on the team. Although hitting consistently is a big part of Wagner’s improvement, she has also proven her poise in high-pressure situations. Minnesota has found itself in a few tight battles on the way to an unbeaten start. T w i c e , Wa g n e r h a s stepped to the plate with an opportunity to keep the Gophers’ winning streak alive. And twice she came through. While being counted on for offensive production— just a year after not seeing many pitches—isn’t easy, Wagner attributed her re-
sponse to offseason work. “The main thing for me was getting a good mental approach at the plate,” she said. “It’s a little more exciting when you have to go up to the plate and make a difference on the offensive side of the ball.” Senior outfielder Sam Macken said Wagner’s mental approach has made a big difference. “I think she’s just more confident in her abilities,” Macken said. “I think she’s just getting more comfortable being in her position right now.” Minnesota will next travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a new programbest ranking — 10th in the countr y — for the LSU Invitational. The no. 13 Tigers could provide the first true test for the Gophers this season although Macken said the key is not looking at it any differently. “Just approaching it the same way we approach ever y weekend,” she said. “We’re here to have fun, and when we have fun we do well.”
NITI GUPTA, DAILY FILE PHOTO
Dani Wagner rounds a base at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on April 23, 2015.
8
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Editorials & Opinions COLUMN
A misinformed path to reform The Board of Regents must be observant of our diverse community to meet needs.
I
never thought I’d use “nail-biter” and “regents” in the same sentence. Never theless, in late Februar y, four new members were elected to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents. They consist of two incumbents, General Mills CEO Ken Powell and former regent Steve Sviggum. What has the appearance of backdoors politics might seem inconsequential amid the average lifestyle of an on-the-go college student. Heck, the new regent election might even be classified as “boring old guy stuff.” But there are ramifications in the latest Board of Regents appointments. Firstly, state legislators in charge of the regent selection dismissed input from University of Minnesota student leaders. Considering that regents’ policy choices will directly impact the lives of students, to ostensibly neglect our insight is concerning. Steve Sviggum — although concerned that the University’s
TAYLOR SHARP columnist
recent budget has “cost-shifted a lot of the costs to students,” according to Minnesota Daily repor ting — might be a little more numb to student anxieties that reach deeper than financial transactions. Last month, many student leaders raised concer ns about gender imbalances and a general lack of diversity on the board — and these demographic issues inevitably impact decision-making. “Whenever I brought up issues like sexual assault, [female regents] are one of the first ones to believe you, because they have similar experiences to yours,” Callie Livengood told the Minnesota Daily last month. “It’s upsetting that we’re recommending four typically white men who don’t represent … students at this university,” she added. Now, with regent selections solidified, the new members seem ill-prepared when it comes to working closely with University of Minnesota students. They don’t seem to represent the student
body, either. Don’t get me wrong, I’m familiar with the general attitude of members who sit on the Board of Regents. I know they will work hard and will be committed to fostering an environment that brings success for those who teach and those who learn. But good intentions aren’t always as good as experience, especially proven experience of listening to students. There are a myriad other issues — social, political and personal — that our representatives must take into consideration. And regent members must be able to empathize with the diverse goals of a student body. To elect a homogenous group of incumbents, former members and company heads reduces the probability that many student voices will be heard and responded to. I have no doubt that the new Board of Regents will have a degree of open-mindedness, I just hope they’re open to hearing what students really have to say. Taylor Sharp welcomes comments at tsharp@mndaily.com.
2017 U.S. GUN VIOLENCE Total gun-related incidents: 9,638 Total number of deaths: 2,485 Total number of mass shootings: 57 Data compiled by gunviolencearchive.org
DAILY DISCUSSION
Editor’s Note: An expanded version of this editorial originally ran in the Mankato Free Press.
If the MSA presidential candidates really cared about suppor ting sexual assault survivors, they would advocate shutting down the antiquated systems that perpetuate rape culture. Calling to shut down greek life is so taboo, however, ever y ballot panders to that community. Ever y ballot includes candidates that aim to empower cultures that enable hyper-masculinity and rape culture. We need to stop deluding ourselves that having greeks watch a movie or have an hour discussion on toxic masculinity will solve these systemic problems. Remember, greek life is only 11 percent of the student population and is responsible for a disproportionate number of reported sexual assaults on campus, and we cannot know how many go unreported. If
E
ver y year, the University of Minnesota’s student body leadership — the Minnesota Student Association —changes hands. This year, students at the University will choose from four different president and vice president tickets. The Minnesota Student Association’s objective is to act as a conduit for relaying student needs and demands to the University administration as well as helping conduct programs that help the entire student body. While each college has their own student government and other legislative bodies that determine policy, the Minnesota Student Association helps coordinate many of the activities that are essential to student life. Because of this, we urge students to par ticipate in this year’s election. Students have the oppor tunity to elect individuals that best represent their views on how to reform our college campus. There are many critical issues at stake — issues ranging from legislation, to robust increases in suppor t for the University’s Aurora Center, to improving the accessibility of campus dining options. In the past, we have discussed the many issues that plague the MSA culture and structure. We encourage candidates running for MSA offices to address issues of gridlock and par tisanship. More impor tantly, we encourage students to be more active in student government and to vote on issues that are important to them. It is only by making our voices heard that we can strive to make a difference.
W Helen Teague welcomes comments at hteague@mndaily.com.
COLUMN
Represent the student body The white male experience isn’t universal and our Board of egents should re ect that.
L
ast week, the Minnesota Daily published an article about the election of four regents to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents. All are white men. Four days prior, the Daily repor ted that student leaders were disappointed with the regent finalists due to their failure to accurately represent the student body. A month earlier, student leaders wrote a letter ranking the candidates to reflect the values and diversity they felt best represented our university. “It didn’t have any direct bearing on the final selection,” the ar ticle quoted Bud Nornes, chair of the House Higher Education Committee and representative from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saying. “Those quotas to me are just something that I don’t worr y about. I should maybe,
you are part of the system, you enable and perpetuate its protection of rapists. And ever y pair of Minnesota Student Association (MSA) presidential candidates either has a social greek member or has pledged to support greek interests. We must be inflammator y and call out for change. The university’s actions have made its position painfully clear: It will not protect victims of greek life’s violence. It will not meaningfully punish organizations that spawn and protect rapists. DU only suspended the chapter after it learned that the Minnesota Daily knew about assaults perpetrated by its members. The fraternity’s headquar ters knew months beforehand and still did nothing. Abby Honold was personally texted to not speak at a PHC/IFC event because her “assault was so tied to the
THE EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPARTMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEWSROOM
KATHRYN SCHULTZ columnist
but I don’t,” he continued. Fergus Falls, which is also my own home town, is over whelmingly — 95.5 percent to be precise — white. It’s not surprising that Nor nes doesn’t understand the impor tance of taking diversity into account considering the makeup of his own community. Regardless, his comments are disappointing. Representation matters. Maybe this is a controversial statement considering our histor y of U.S. presidents, Academy Award voters, Congress, film leads, etc., but the white male experience isn’t universal. If we want our student body as a whole to get the most out of our university, they need to be unders Kathryn Schultz welcomes comments at kschultz@mndaily.com. EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.
CONTACT THE EDITOR Grace Thomas jthomas@mndaily.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dismantle greek life
Get out and vote in MSA elections
Journalist ban is an opportunity
Immigrants are key to area’s growth There may not be a more divisive issue at the moment than immigration. Much of the rhetoric of the campaign leading up to the last election suggested that immigrants were a threat to the nation’s security and a major drain on the economy, taking away jobs from others. The security risk was always overblown and the economic argument flat out wrong. Businesses and community leaders across the state know ver y well that immigrants are taking jobs that would otherwise go unfilled and providing the economic growth that will keep communities and businesses growing and successful. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and many other groups, including those in agriculture, are sending the message that immigrants must be welcomed if the state’s economy is to grow and rural towns are to survive. They note that the state will need immigrants to arrive at a higher rate in order to keep up with jobs opened by baby boomers’ retirements, not to mention any new job openings. The chamber said that the focus on immigration enforcement and a wall is diverting attention from the real need of overhauling the immigration system. And they know reform needs to address the 11 million undocumented people already in the country and provide them with some route to citizenship, following whatever requirements Congress and the president believe are necessary. They intentionally list border security as their last goal, believing that if good immigration reform is passed, border security would mostly take care of itself. Finding ways for more immigrants to legally enter, work and strive toward citizenship doesn’t mean security or background checks need to be weakened.
EDITORIALS
greek community.” SAE served only one year of suspension before the university let it back on campus. Let us not forget that sexual assault is not the only issue that the greek system reinforces: Misogyny, toxic masculinity and racism abound in these groups. This is intolerable behavior and it should shock us to see how normalized it still is. I personally quit a fraternity after being an active member for six months. While I did not see any criminal activity, I did see systematized sexism and toxic masculinity. Of course not all greeks are bad people, but I cannot support the system and neither should MSA candidates with bold claims of victim support. If you are greek, you are responsible for furthering the toxic ideologies and unapologetic criminality of the greek system. Cameron Gray , CBS student senator Drew Honson, student
hite House Press Secretary Sean Spicer barred a number of press outlets, including The New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN, from attending a press briefing on Friday. The Washington Post notes that such practice is “unusual, if not unprecedented.” The majority of new organizations that were admitted to the briefing have conservative leanings, including Brietbart News, the Washington Times and the One American News Network. On Friday, President Donald Trump singled out The New York Times and CNN, tweeting “FAKE NEWS media knowingly doesn’t tell the truth. A great danger to our country.” The Associated Press and Time magazine declined to attend the briefing in solidarity with their colleagues who were denied access, but if this practice becomes the norm, are reporters to boycott the very events they are supposed to report on? Trump may rail on the nation’s newspapers of record for promoting fake news, but it’s clear that he only acknowledges the First Amendment when it suits his needs. Trump’s dark fantasy — Orwellian in its ver y nature — is a media landscape that lionizes his every move, and feeds his narcissism. But that is not reality. Reporters will continue to seek the truth and report it, and they’ll certainly continue to hold Trump accountable for his actions. Blocking journalists from a press briefing hosted by one of Trump’s cronies won’t stop that. This, above all else, is an opportunity for deeply incisive, adversarial journalism. And unfortunately for him, it’s unlikely that Trump is prepared for the full-force of uncompromising truth. So be it. Editor’s Note: This editorial originally ran on Monday, Feb. 27.
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. he ail 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 lightly edited for style and grammar.
LOOK FOR ONLINE EXCLUSIVE COLUMNS AT WWW.MNDAILY.COM/OPINION
@MNDAILYOPINIONS
Thursday, March 2, 2017
CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle FOR RELEASE MARCH 2,28, 2017 FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 2017
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (3/2): This year benefits your shared finances, with cash flow surging after May. Apply yourself professionally for fantastic results. An August vacation lays the ground for revitalized health and work.
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 a 9 — An intensely creative moment flowers naturally. It could get profitable. Too much of a good thing can cause unexpected difficulties.
Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Take time to review the numbers. Get practical with budgets to avoid wasting money. Discuss shared dreams with your partner.
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is a 9 — You’re especially powerful and confident over the next two days. Don’t give up what you’ve got for piein-the-sky fantasies. Listen to intuition, though.
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 9 — Collaborate with your partner for greater efficiency. Take turns directing the show. Envision the desired result, and make promises toward realization.
Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 6 — Slow down and listen. Spend time outdoors. Peaceful meditation suits your mood. Consider a spiritual inquiry.
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 9 — Adjust the rhythm and tempo as you go. Listen for key changes, and dance with unexpected circumstances. Put your heart into your movements.
Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is a 7 — Your team comes to the rescue. You’re on the same wavelength. Provide emotional support. Accept a nice offer, and get promises in writing.
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is a 7 — Go out and play with people you love. Talk about dreams, visions and what could be possible. Invent and take notes.
Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 9 — Take charge, and delegate what you can. Gather support for your project, and reaffirm a commitment. Don’t fund a fantasy; friends help you advance.
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is a 7 — Domesticity suits your mood. Handle practical household matters. Imagine renovations and upgrades, and choose realistic goals.
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is an 8 — Investigate a dream. Write your discoveries and visions. You’re especially sensitive to insight. Commit yourself to a cause, and reap emotional benefit.
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — Read, write and share data. Communicate the big picture. Travel may be required. You gain more through wit than seriousness.
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 ill not be responsible for any errors after that. The Minnesota Daily discourages sending credit card information through email.
HOUSING
EMPLOYMENT
Now renting 3,4,5 bedrm aprtments, duplexes and houses. Reasonable rents near campus call 651-635-9336
Cashier & Stockperson Wanted Franklin/Nicollet Liquors, PT and FT, Flexible Scheduling, Contact Chuck or Dave 612-871-1511.
Sandy Hill Apartments 2 BR, large patio, heat/water & garage incl., high speed internet/ cable ready. Available now. www.sandyhillapartments.com (651) 775-0511
Photo Studio Rental $40/ hr: 1200 sq ft, natural light. Lights, stands & grip included. Assistant available during shoot. University Av & 280 toaststudiosmn@gmail.com 612-799-1277
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
This winter break, I went on a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon with my boyfriend. It was sort of just a nice little get away for us, and it as going ust fine until it happened. He found a piece of beef jerky on the ground, and this sick motherf*cker just bends down, picks it up and eats it. What the hell? Trail jerky, he called it. asted ust fine, he said in his defense. ust ashed the sand off ith ater. This brought up a couple problems for me. First of all, the obvious one, who the hell eats stuff off the ground? It’s gross to eat food off the oor, let alone a dirt , sand path in Arizona. Do you know how many sweaty, filthy hikers have stepped their mud-caked boots down on the spot where that stick of jerky was laying? How many hikers decided to take a pee there? How many wild animals have sh*t in that exact spot over the years? The second issue this presented to me was the notion that my boyfriend wanted a piece of beef jerky that badly. Who wants JERKY, of all things, badly enough to eat it off the ground? If it was a dollar, or some sort of NON-EDIBLE object, I could understand that, if not condone it.
3/2/17 2/28/17
By Christian By Kevin C.C. Burnikel
DOWN 71 Poked at, catstyle pres. 1 39th 2 “Bummer” DOWN 3 Runs amok First sitcom 41 Uncouth types, in episode slang Canadian Hockeyanxiety venue 52 Severe *Auto feature that 63 Yellow __ doesn’t need a 7 Adidas rival crank 84 Left in thetodust College, 9 Nos. that are Aussies thewas point 5 beside Per what 10 Actor Fiennes previously 11 It’s across the mentioned 6 Pyrenees Mistreatingfrom 7 France Frilly addition to a skirt measure 12 Tailor’s “A __ Good 138 Auction spielMen” Capitol Hill 189 Destroy lawmakers 22 New York suburb 10 bordering Put back inNew office 11 Rock singer Rochelle Rose amt. 24 Recipe 12 Tinge Prefix with 25 political or logical 27 giver 13 Once-over NNE opposite 29 USCG rank 19 Failed, as a fuse 30 outawful!” 22 Took “That’s 33 25 Gossip Divested (of) 35 27 Santa *Headportrayer rest on a in “Elf” sofa 37 __: body 28 Alguna Lawmaking 31 something, Oil or gas in follower Spain
Early Week’sPuzzle Puzzle Solved Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved Monday’s Solved
©2017 ©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
32 Cavs, Dampens 38 on a 33 scoreboard Stinging remark 34 White Stifled way laugh 39 35 Chem Long ride, for 43 class short suffix 39 Intolerably 44 “Game of confident 41 Thrones” Put out bait, say patriarch Stark 44 Beau or boo 45 stealer 46 Covers “Sign me up!” 46 club 48 Join Relaythe race part 47 for a with 50 Guide Trio member Crosby and Stills chair
3/2/17 2/28/17
51 High Metrostandards stop: Abbr. 49 54 Scold Electrical pioneer 50 Nikola 52 Weighted down 55 __ Dodger 53 boomPee Wee 56 Met Zapped with a 56 delivery beam 59 “Then what 60 Activate, as a happened?” phone app 61 61 Critter Tint on the Australian 62 Home security 50-cent giant coin 62 63 Machine “Cool!” part 65 Beer Nest egg initials 63 source
SUDOKU
Server/Banquet server/Set uplocated on Marshall Ave. at the Lake St. bridge seeking self starting and outgoing people for Servers, Banquet servers, Poolside servers, Set up personel. Great working environment, training, flexable hours, meals, golf. Apply in person at the clubhouse300 Mississippi River Blvd. N. St Paul MN, 55104Call 651-659-2548Email jsargent@ tcc-club.com
But Christ, kid, jerky? It’s made me question our entire relationship.
—Jerked Around Dear Jerked,
Sounds like your boyfriend is an incredibly resourceful human being, and his frugality should be commended. So he ate some meat off the ground, big deal! That jerky would have gone to waste if he hadn’t done what he did. hen first started dating husband, found half a pizza (still in the box!) lying outside the office ork in, and picked it up and ate it right in front of him. He looked at me with wonder and ust said, od, ou’re a a ing. I think it was when he really began to fall in love with me. What I’m saying is, a man like that should be cherished. Think of all the money you two can save on food if you follow his lead and just do a little scavenging. alf finished coffee in the garbage on’t mind if I do. Someone spilled their fries in the street outside a restaurant? Get me some ketchup. Sidewalk pizza? Sounds like dinner. Your boyfriend just got three square meals and didn’t spend a dime. Sounds like a keeper.
—Dr. Date
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.
Love Dogs?! Love People?! Love Cleaning?! Downtown Dogs is seeking energetic and motivated candidates who love dogs! Please stop by for an application and directions are on our website www. dtdogs.com. Any questions please email!
DR. DATE Dear Dr. Date,
ACROSS ACROSS 11 Bleach __ Newcontainer Guinea 46 Shed door Closest buddies, for short attachments 10 Cleaning cloths 9 Like iceberg 14 lettuce Three through nine, in many 14 Freudian topic golf club sets 15 Marginally ahead 15 Relative On the sheltered 16 of side, at sea bongos 16 Queen’s Old flames 17 domain 17 Cause “The Daily 19 of aShow” skid, regular Black perhaps 18 *In Hades, 20 Tom Jones’ “__ a euphemistically 20 Lady” Back to 21 Payroll square service __ 21 co. Ballet skirt 23 23 __-à-porter: Every bit 24 ready-to-wear Béarnaise sauce 24 Keep herb from 26 happening Pearly whites 26 29 Queen’s Escorteddomain by 30 Corporate *Puffy Chinese 28 big dog shots 33 With Where to find a 29 false sleeper hit, modesty perhapsopener? 31 Bubbly 35 Hide Lascivious 32 from alook 36 hunter “Good point!” 37 Coppertone’s “Raggedy” doll30, 33 38 e.g. 601, to Seneca 40 Obstinate mount 34 Bit of IM mirth 42 East, in Essen 36 Queen’s domain 43 Fishing poles 40 45 Versailles Leave out 47 monarch Actor Cary __ of 41 West “Kiss __: the highGirls” furniture 49 end *Bovine yogurt retailer brand 42 51 Related Part of a process 45 Arthur 52 Actress Adjust just a bit 48 53 Slyly “Waydisparaging to go, sister!” 50 Back of a single 57 Queen’s Hook shape 51 domain 58 Picked “Very cool!” 53 up 59 De Where bovines 54 Matteo of graze of “Sons 60 Anarchy” Pained expression, 55 One in favorand a hint to two cries 57 Baseball analyst hidden in each Hershiser answer to a 58 Odyssey on the starred clue road 64 Makes angry, 60 Queen’s with “up” domain 64 yesteryear 66 Of German 65 Keep down automaker 66 who 67 Writer Commuter’s inspired choice the 68 Raven PoppedAward up 67 or pituitary 69 Pineal Fountain of jazz 70 Chef’s Poet St.creation Vincent 68 Millay need 69 Soufflé
3/2/2017
Early Week’s solution © 2015 Michael Mepham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
9
10
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Kaler announces possible tuition hike Capitol u from Page 1
reviewed the school’s budget request, Rep. Randy Jessup, R-Shoreview, said he was concerned that a 10 percent tuition increase could hurt retention with non-resident University students. Kaler said at the meeting only 14 percent of students would have to pay the price, as the other 16 percent of non-residents come from tuition reciprocity states. The question about retention “worries me to death,” Kaler said, adding he’s unsure how financially flexible the non-resident student population is. “If we don’t invest, frankly, tuition will go up, quality will go down,” he said. The University’s biennial budget request included an almost 12 percent boost in state funding for initiatives to retain faculty and staff, expand research, improve student retention and restore health training ser vices, among others. University representatives also fielded questions about its budget request from the Senate’s higher education committee Tuesday.
Students lobby legislators
Students from the University’s five campuses gathered at the State Capitol Wednesday to help regents and administrators lobby legislators for the University’s request. At 12 p.m. Wednesday, as part of the annual Support the U Day, about 200 students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered in the capitol building’s rotunda to hear speakers like Kaler, head football coach P.J. Fleck and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. “Your voices really, really
Gov. Mark Dayton answers questions during a press conference about Minnesota’s budget at the Capitol in St. Paul on Tuesday.
matter,” Kaler said. He encouraged students to talk to their legislators to help build relationships. After the rally, students were able to speak with legislators individually. “I am here today to encourage my representatives to continue to support the [University] and continue to fund us,” said Scott Benz, a biochemistry junior at the Morris campus.
Budget forecast shows possibilities for U funding
University officials are optimistic about funding chances after Minnesota Management and Budget released the state’s latest
budget update Tuesday — revealing a $1.65 billion surplus. While some are hopeful this could mean more money for the University, others think school funding could take a backseat to other matters. Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, said the additional funds make it more likely for the University to receive its $147.2 million budget request. “To see [the budget has] grown a little bit more is all positive,” said Nornes, chair of the House higher education committee. Dean Johnson, chair of the University’s Board of Regents, said the school is in a better position for funding
than before, but the Legislature will still weigh between many priorities. “We at the University are hopeful that strong consideration will be given to our budget request, which the Legislature will now digest, amend and investigate,” he said. Both of the University area’s legislative representatives, Rep. Ilhan Omar, DFLMinneapolis, and Sen. Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, released statements encouraging higher education funding. With the new forecast, budget negotiations will get more serious, Nornes said. Still, other priorities — like tax cuts and slowing the growth of a rising state budget — may compete with the
Dehn vies for Minneapolis mayor Dehn u from Page 1
Minneapolis. He ser ves on a public safety committee and passed a 2014 bonding bill to help developers build low-cost housing, he said. He said he should be elected Minneapolis’ mayor because the city is at cr ucial point and can do better, especially in areas of equity, af fordable housing and policing. Dehn said his connections at the Capitol would be impor tant for Minneapolis moving for ward. “Talking to former colleagues when the city has to ask for something from the state or fight back from something the state is tr ying to do, I think that would be a huge advantage to the city of Minneapolis,” Dehn said. During his time at the Capitol, Dehn has worked closely with Rep. Fue Lee, D F L - M i n n e a p o l i s , who represents District 59A.
University for the funding, he said. “It just raises the competition I think that much more,” Nornes said. Sen. Richard Cohen, DFL-St. Paul, a member of the Senate higher education committee, said he doesn’t think the surplus will lead to more higher education funding. Tax cuts and a transportation bill could also take away some of the extra funds, Cohen said. But the increased budget could be at risk due to federal uncertainty, which Cohen said makes him want to invest some of the surplus into the state’s reserve fund. The risks — detailed in the budget and economic
SAMIR FERDOWSI sferdowsi@mndaily.com
CHRIS DANG, DAILY
Dehn represents District 59B. “I often reach out to [Dehn] for his advice on cer tain issues or cer tain projects … just to get his thoughts on how it might af fect Minneapolis and the rest of the state,” Lee said.
Dehn has also worked extensively with TakeAction Minnesota, a community group that works to promote racial and economic equality. TakeAction Minnesota hasn’t made any mayoral endorsements. The
gr oup is working with Dehn on a voting rights bill, said Justin Ter rell, the Justice 4 All Program Manager at TakeAction Minnesota. “He’s definitely shown up and done the work in the community,” Ter rell said. “He’s been one of my strongest allies at the Capitol.” His campaign has University ties, as well. Joelle Stangler, the University’s undergraduate student body president from 2014 to 2016, is Dehn’s campaign manager. He said his histor y with student debt is part of why his campaign will connect to the University. “Education, higher education, these are all things that are critical I think to not only to the success of individuals but to the success of communities,” Dehn said. As a former architect, Dehn said he has a unique way of looking at the city. He approaches a problem through “strategic and design” thinking, he said. He said his architectural background and histor y with the law and student loaDens set him apar t fr om the r est of the Minneapolis mayoral candidates. The first stage of the election is the precinct caucuses on April 4.
forecast — included federal policy uncertainty, inflation and international trade. At a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Mark Dayton said he was satisfied with the budget increase but urged legislators to be cautious of the potential federal risks. With the surplus, Dayton said he may now consider putting some of the money into the state’s reserve fund to account for the risks. “The uncer tainty surrounding this budget forecast demand extreme caution and restraint from my administration, the legislature and various affected interest groups,” he said. Natalie Rademacher contribute to this report
Students visit legal service after leasing issues near campus U’s legal service says it has seen an influx in disputes involving landlords.
Rep. Raymond Dehn, DFL-Minneapolis sat down for an interview with the Minnesota Daily in his office in the State Office Building in St. Paul on Monday.
ELLEN SCHMIDT, DAILY
Some University of Minnesota students are str uggling with confusion over specific terms on leases and promises from campus-area landlords. This school year, the University Student Legal Service has seen an influx in cases where a student loses a space in the apartment because management has already given it to someone else. The center saw about 140 cases involving lease disagreements last school year and has seen 350 so far this academic year. Often, this happens during price specials, which could include waiving signing fees, or an overall reduction in rent per month, said Student Legal Service attorney Bill Dane. While the practice is causing turmoil for some leasers, the practice by landlords is legal — and profitable. “Everyone has their own interest, and this is always being debated back and forth,” Dane said. “Students need to be aware of it, and they need to know to ask questions.” Last school year, junior cinema and media culture student Courtney Reistad said she was promised a certain unit at WaHu Student Apartments if she signed quickly with her roommates. “Then on move-in, we were told that the specific unit we were promised was not actually our unit,” Reistad said. “We went up and it was not anywhere near the square footage we had been told.” After confronting WaHu management about the problem, Reistad said she and her roommates were told the issue was due to new management and being unfamiliar with the building’s layout. In addition, she and her roommates realized the lease’s fine print specified
that they were signing for the unit they saw — or a similar one. “It was very chaotic and ver y unorganized,” said Reistad. A WaHu manager was not immediately available for comment. Sophomore health and wellness student Kirsi Merikoski, had a similar case while tr ying to sign with 412 Loft proper ties, owned by East Bank Communities in Dinkytown. Two of her roommates had already re-signed for their same apartment, and management had told her and her friend that the two other spots would be reserved for them. They were waiting for a time they were both available to sign the lease, she said. “All of a sudden, the other two got an email saying that the empty spots had been assigned to someone else,” said Merikoski. Merikoski said she then had to pay fees totaling $700 for moving into a new room and for not having a specific co-signer on her application. However, Merikoski said, there were fliers around the apar tment adver tising the waiving of these same fees. “The leasing office kept saying there were specials if you resign, [but] when we went to resign, they said it was too late,” she said. “Nothing matched up, and it seemed really unorganized,” Merikoski said. A manager from East Bank Communities did not respond to a request for comment. Dane said situations like Reistad’s and Merikoski’s are not uncommon cases for the Student Legal Ser vice Center. With cumbersome language in contracts, students are advised to thoroughly read all aspects of these legal documents, he said. In almost all instances, what landlords and proper ty management are doing with lease agreements is legal, Dane said.