February 2021

NO. 25 | FEBRUARY 2021 | FREE

COFFEE ON CAMPUS: A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR GETTING YOUR MORNING JOE | PG. 04 NICK SWANEY CONTINUES TO PERFORM ON THE ICE AS HIS SENIOR YEAR FLIES BY | PG. 06 LOCKDOWN ACTIVITIES TO LOWER STRESS | PG. 08 CAUSING TREBLE: GETTING TO KNOW UMD’S NEW ATHLETIC BANDS TEACHER, SEAN PHELAN | PG. 10 SCAN WITH YOUR CAMERA!

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME EVENTS COMING THIS MONTH

By Heidi Stang Highlights of some events coming this month, be sure to check Bulldog Connect or the University Calendar for more! Find your favorite clubs on social media to stay connected Be safe and have fun Bulldogs!

EVENTS LATER THIS MONTH Every Saturday

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUNTER DUNTEMAN

Free Snowshoeing, fat tire biking or cross country skiing in Bagley Nature center.

10 a.m. to Noon hosted by UMD Recreational Sports and Outdoors Program.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY BAILEY MISURA

VALENTINES SPECIFIC Feb. 16

Feb. 8-12

Kirby Programming Board Throwback game night 7 p.m. via Zoom

Palentine’s Week with the Women’s Resource and Action Center, Free friendship bracelet kit pick up available (KSC 266)

Feb 17 Black History Month Event: Sustaining Voices Through Deaf Leadership 6:30 p.m. via Zoom hosted by UMD Department of Education and the CEHSP Social Justice Action Committee.

Feb. 11-14 UMD theatre presents “Love and Information” a virtual production 7:30 p.m. Daily via Zoom

Feb. 23 Visual Culture Lecture Series: Sophia Brueckner, “Sculpture” 6 p.m. via Zoom presented by the UMD Art & Design Department.

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Thursday Feb 12 Kirby Programming Board’s Valentine’s Happy Hour 7 p.m. via Zoom

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Coffee on Campus: A How-To Guide for Getting your Morning Joe

Lockdown Activities to Lower Stress

05 Monthly Comic

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10 Causing Treble: Getting to Know UMD’s New Athletic Bands Teacher, Sean Phelan

Nick Swaney Continues to Perform on the Ice as his Senior Year Flies By

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

REPORTER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Heidi Stang barkumd@d.umn.edu

Sara Guymon guymo002@d.umn.edu

Mark Stanton stant197@d.umn.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER

REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Grace Henriksen barkumdbiz@d.umn.edu

Izabella Zadra zadra012@d.umn.edu

Jaylynn Glaus glaus011@d.umn.edu

MANAGING EDITOR

REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Michael King king1072@d.umn.edu

Atticus Hodges hodge270@d.umn.edu

Chas Morgan morg0323@d.umn.edu

MANAGING EDITOR

REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Hunter Dunteman dunte009@d.umn.edu

Alyssa Stellar stell234@d.umn.edu

Karley Graves grave527@umn.edu

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

REPORTER

Bailey Misura misur009@d.umn.edu

Lucy Baumann bauma487@d.umn.edu

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

REPORTER

Madison Hunter hunte557@d.umn.edu

Rebekah King king1250@d.umn.edu

February

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TOP STORIES ON THE WEBSITE NEW YEAR NEW NETFLIX...

By Izabella Zadra

FRESHMAN 15...

By Izabella Zadra

JOE BIDEN SELECTS TRANSGENDER...

By Michael King

COVID-19 UPDATES

By Bailey Misura

COVER PHOTO: SARA GUYMON

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By Alyssa Stellar

Whether you’re waking up to a bird-chirping alarm at 8 a.m. or a somewhat rude door slam at 1 in the afternoon, many Bulldogs can agree there is only one way to start the day: a good cup of coffee.

On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Northern Shores Coffee Shop, located on the lower level of Kirby Plaza, opened its doors to students, staff and faculty for the first time in the 2020-21 academic year. However, coffee pick-up looks a little different this year with an online ordering system through GrubHub, an online ordering platform.

Maggie McLeod-Shovein, Assistant Director of Business and Strategy at UMD,

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COFFEE ON CAMPUS: A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR GETTING YOUR MORNING JOE spearheaded the integration of GrubHub and Northern Shores.

“When it came down to the options [of how to open the store] it was about being user friendly for both us and our guests...and keeping everyone physically distanced safely,” McLeod-Shovein said.

The coffee shop is open Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will remain closed on weekends. Jodie, a Northern Shores employee, shared details of her experience.

“The top of every hour is the busiest,” Jodie said. “There are fewer people on campus and less business than usual, but business is doing pretty well.”

ILLUSTRATION BY CHAS MORGAN

This past week, the coffee shop has opened its “Grab & Go” section which is home to small sandwiches, healthy

snacks and bottled water and juices for a quick lunch on the go. Bagels and pastries are also available and make a nice breakfast or afternoon snack.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA CHURCH

As if the variety of snacks and pastries wasn’t enough to get the taste buds jumping, Northern Shores also offers a wide selection of hot and cold specialty drinks. Between their locally-sourced gourmet drip coffee, dirty chai lattes and strawberry banana smoothies, it’s no wonder their lines are usually out the door!

To experience the flavors of the Northern Shores Coffee

Shop first hand, download the GrubHub app on any smartphone and set up an account today. From there, go to the settings menu, select “Campus Dining” for the University of MinnesotaDuluth, add a UCard, and get started with your first order!

For more information go to www.d.umn.edu/ dining-services/meal-plansdining-dollars/grubhub.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHAS MORGAN

MONTHLY COMIC ILLUSTRATION: Karley Graves Instagram: @KurlyFry_Design

Want your work published?

Submit any creative written works to barkumd@d.umn.edu to be featured in ‘The Bite’ via our print or online publications!

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By Sara Guymon

The crowd went wild as the buzzer signaled the end of the game. Sweat was dripping down the athletes as they barrelled onto the ice and exchanged victorious cheers, embracing each other. Nick Swaney, a freshman at the time of his first national championship, will always remember this moment, especially now as he reflects on his time as a Bulldog.

Swaney is a senior forward this season and one of the highest point scorers in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). So far this season, he has tallied 21 points from 7 goals and 14 assists. Throughout his career as a Bulldog, he has been on the winning team of two national championships and hopes for the opportunity again this year. This would be

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NICK SWANEY CONTINUES TO PERFORM ON THE ICE AS HIS SENIOR YEAR FLIES BY especially meaningful after the abrupt end to last season due to COVID-19. On top of all that, he was a 7th round draft pick for the Minnesota Wild in 2017.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native started skating at the age of 2 at Apple Valley Ice Arena and played on his first team shortly after that. However, he was not always the forward that UMD is so used to seeing on the ice.

“I actually played defense until right before my freshman year of high school,” Swaney explained. “Then I switched and the switch has paid off pretty good. So, I’m glad I did it.”

Growing up in Minnesota, Swaney watched a lot of

PHOTO BY SARA GUYMON

it’s something that can work in the opposite direction.

For me, it’s just coming out and playing my game every night and just understanding that if I do play my game, the points and stuff will follow.”

As the season begins to come to a close, Swaney and the rest of his team look forward to finishing their season strong. They are keeping the Penrose Cup in the back of their mind and would love the opportunity to defend

their national champion title if given the chance. Even with those goals in mind, Swaney is not quite ready to close this chapter of his life yet.

“It kind of doesn’t feel real. It feels like I just stepped onto campus my freshman year,” Swaney said. “I have for sure loved every experience I had here and I’m not quite ready for it to be done yet, so I’ve got to enjoy this last semester as best as possible.”

PHOTO BY SARA GUYMON

Gopher and Bulldog hockey games. When it came time to look at colleges and talk to teams, UMD just stood out.

“I took my first visit here and I fell in love with the coaches, the campus and it’s hard to pass up on a hockey program like Duluth,” Swaney said about his decision to play for UMD. “It was a pretty easy decision once I got talking to everybody.”

Swaney is one of the six seniors graduating this year. However, this was not the senior year any of them were expecting.

The team spent the first three weeks and nine games of their competitive season in Omaha.

Every NCHC team was there to play the first half of the year in a pod to limit the spread of COVID-19. In addition to that, the regular season is conference matches only. This means the team will miss out on playing a couple big games like the Minnesota Gophers, but they will play St. Cloud State six times this season.

Games were not the only thing affected by the coronavirus though. Practices were also

managed differently. The team actually had to practice in two separate groups and be in different locker rooms to start their season. The practices were mainly separated by house and the locker room is grouped the same way. This made it difficult to catch up with the team or get to know the new players.

“The pod for us was a huge stepping stone into that team bonding aspect,” Swaney said.

“It for sure brought us closer together. I think that when you look at the best teams and teams in the past when we’ve been successful, it’s a lot of the time it’s because of how close we are off the ice.”

PHOTO BY SARA GUYMON

Throughout the season, Swaney has fluctuated between the first and second place for the NCHC’s top point scorer.

Currently, he sits one point behind North Dakota’s Shane Pinto. However, Swaney tries not to think about it.

“I try not to really think about it.

I think that being with linemates like Noah Cates and Quinn Olson and different guys for sure makes it easier,” Swaney stated. “I think if you get too worried about scoring points,

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LOCKDOWN ACTIVITIES TO LOWER STRESS

By Jaylynn Glaus

Listen to music

Clean or organize

Listening to your favorite songs helps boost your mood and can take your mind off the stress of school. Try creating a new playlist, exploring different genres of music, or find a good podcast!

Go through that closet you haven’t touched in years or grab a dust rag and wipe down your bookshelf. Taking the time and minimal energy to clean your space can inspire other projects and give you a sense of completion.

Go outside

Order take-out

Duluth is filled with amazing trails to explore. Try out a new winter sport such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, fat biking, cross country skiing, skating, ice fishing, or sledding!

If none of these activities suit you, take a walk around your neighborhood.

Endulge in your favorite meal or treat while also supporting a local business. This will not only leave you full and happy, but also help a business owner in your area so you can continue to enjoy their products as our area slowly returns to normal.

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PHOTO BY BAILEY MISURA

Connect with others

Learn something new

With face to face connection being so minimal it’s very important to reach out to the people you care about and catch up. This not only let’s you have a slight sense of normalcy, but also let’s your loved ones know you care.

Now is the perfect time to try something you’ve always wanted to learn. Try a new instrument, sport, craft, or any hobby to help you de-stress during lockdown.

Do a puzzle

Binge your favorite show

Puzzles are a great distraction and a fun way to excersize your brain. The more pieces the better. You could also try a Rubix Cube or a word puzzle for something different.

TV can be a distraction and help you de-stress during this challenging time. Re-watch your favorite tv show or try something new. Be sure to manage your time spent watching TV to avoid future stress and issues.

Read a book

Cook or bake

Ask your friends for good book reccommendations or dust off your favorite novel. If you’re really feeling abitious you could try writing your own story and share it with friends and family.

Make the new dish you’ve always wanted to try or bake your favorite treats. Cooking is an easy way to de-stress and has the best reward.

Workout Exercise pumps up endorphins which help you de-stress and give you a positive feeling throughout your body. You don’t need a fancy gym or workout equipment, a walk around your neighborhood or an at home workout have the same effect.

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By Izabella Zadra

For the first time in over four years, UMD has hired a new band teacher, Mr. Sean Phelan.

Phelan is not like any other band teacher that has ever worked at UMD due to the many out of the ordinary band experiences he has been a part of throughout his life.

Phelan got his undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin Madison with a double major in Music Education and Mathematics. He taught high school band and orchestra before returning for a master’s degree in conducting at Jacobs

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CAUSING TREBLE: GETTING TO KNOW UMD’S NEW ATHLETIC BANDS TEACHER, SEAN PHELAN School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington, one of the largest music schools in the country.

Right after getting his master’s, Phelan applied for jobs all over the country and was sent to Pflugerville Texas where he worked as a high school band teacher for two years; his next job was to be at UMD. Because of the Coronavirus, the Fine Arts department wasn’t able to conduct normal procedures used when hiring a new band teacher due to the high amount of

BAND TEACHER SEAN PHELAN HEADSHOT COUTESY OF UMD

interaction that normally would have taken place.

“When everything shut down it was kinda like hey let’s find...whatever we can for like an interim position type deal,” explained one of the band’s graduate assistants, Kara Metzger.

“He ended up being the guy and it worked out!”

“It’s an exciting opportunity to get offered,” Phelan said.

He had worked with college students during his master’s program which helped craft his interest in teaching post-secondary. For him, getting an opportunity to teach at a university was a dream come true.

Phelan may have had experience with college students from his master’s program in Indiana, but he has also worked closely alongside people of all ages while playing with and intrusting for Drum Corps International; Marching Music’s Major League.

Drum Corps International, or DCI’s, mission statement is “to bring the life-enriching benefits and enjoyment of marching music performing arts to more people worldwide”(dci.org).

DCI has been accomplishing this mission for almost half a century by traveling to perform floorshows for people all over the country and is considered to be the ‘major league’ of athletic band.

With an age cap for performers, Phelan aged out of the performing portion of the DCI after six years but was then brought to the instructional team for his Corps.

After a while, he ended up becoming The Captain Head of his Corps and later a different Crops which he is still a part of today.

exciting as the big shot DCI, but Phelan has big dreams for the bands that he has been working with here at the university.

With the main goal of creating a welcoming environment for all of his students, he believes that, “if we’re not providing a good experience to the people who are part of the band, then we’re not doing our job.”

Phelan is grateful for the position that he now holds up here at UMD and is enjoying the people, the community, and can not wait to attend his first Duluth hockey game.

Phelan’s job as a Captain Head was not only to help his regular group of brass players bring their best foot forward but lead the whole band in tasks that needed to be accomplished each day that would help them better their performance.

“It’s like a traveling circus,” said Phelan. “Every day is [like] band camp... you wake up in the morning, you rehearse, you eat lunch, you rehearse, you eat dinner, you rehearse, you go to bed.”

No matter what type of band program you are involved in, Phelan describes playing in a band with others and the creation of music as something that is much bigger than ourselves; something that creates the best moments that at the end of the day, dissipate and only exist in our memories. “I think that’s special,” Phelan states with a bright smile.

UMD might not be as

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Look for this image of Bernie in this months print for a chance to win a $15 UMD stores gift card. Send us an email at barkumd@d.umn.edu or tell us on social media!

February