October 2020

NO. 23 | OCTOBER 2020 | FREE

ELECTION 2020: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW | PG. 04 MOVIES TO WATCH FOR SPOOKY SEASON | PG. 6 BSME STUDENT MARCH | PG. 08 PUZZLES: CREEK & SHAPESHIFTER | PG. 14 SCAN WITH YOUR CAMERA!

LETTER FROM THE BARK EXECUTIVE BOARD Hey Bulldogs!

A letter from us here at The Bark is long overdue. We went pretty radio silent after the pandemic closed campus. We are here to apologize for that. We want you all to know that The Bark is here for YOU. For the students, staff and faculty of UMD but also the Duluth community.

This school year, The Bark is committed to serving our community in the best way possible. We want to be inclusive and encompassing in our coverage. 2020 has been a year unlike any other. We want to be sure we are covering the stories you want to see; the stories you as our readers find important.

We are a public platform serving our community and we want to give members of this community a megaphone. We want to raise the

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voices and give a platform to those who may otherwise not have one.

As students at UMD, we understand how valuable clarity is in this unprecedented time. We are all feeling the uncertainty and tension in our community, and we want to assure you that we will work to the best of our ability to provide you with the information you need.

As a news organization, we are committed to reporting with transparency and will continue to remain unbiased in our reporting. We have a duty to tell the truth.

We also have the honor of sharing your thoughts and stories.

Please never hesitate to reach out to us.

Stay safe Bulldogs!

The Bark Executive Board

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Election 2020: What You Need to Know

Fighting off Zoom Fatigue

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Movies to Watch for Spooky Season

Black Performers set Records at the Emmys

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BMSE Student March Photo Recap

October Cartoon

14 Puzzles: Creek & Shapeshifter

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

REPORTER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Heidi Stang barkumd@d.umn.edu

Kevin Fischer fisc0450@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

Karli Kruse kruse292@d.umn.edu

MANAGING EDITOR

REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Izabel Johnson joh18708@d.umn.edu

Atticus Hodges hodge270@d.umn.edu

Jaylynn Glaus glaus011@d.umn.edu

MANAGING EDITOR

REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Hunter Dunteman dunte009@d.umn.edu

Michael King king1072@d.umn.edu

Chas Morgan morg0323@d.umn.edu

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Bailey Misura misur009@d.umn.edu SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Madison Hunter hunte557@d.umn.edu

Alyssa Stellar stell234@d.umn.edu

October

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Karley Graves grave527@umn.edu

ADVISOR

Mark Nicklawske markatthebark@gmail.com

COVER ILLUSTRATION: CHAS MORGAN

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By Hunter Dunteman and Michael King

Voters in Minnesota are headed to the polls once again this November to cast their ballots in the 2020 general election.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, will see polling sites open where those who choose to can cast their ballot in-person.

Additional resources and information on absentee ballots, early voting and inperson voting can be found on the back cover of this issue.

Minnesota voters turned out in droves to cast their ballots in 2016. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s website reports a 74.8% turnout for the 2016 general election — the highest in the nation.

Minnesota has seen the highest voter turnout nationwide in every presidential election since 1988, according to statistics published by the United States Election Project. Before 1988, fewer states were accurately reporting voter turnouts.

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2020 ELECTION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW This year’s general election, however, has a catch — the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is expected to seriously impact how voters cast their ballot. A Star Tribune article published in August reported over 500,000 absentee or mail ballots were cast in the state’s August 2020 primary elections.

President Trump questioned the reliability of mail-in voting in a Twitter thread.

“There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed,” Trump tweeted. “This will be a Rigged Election.”

Organizations including the New York Times, Washington Post and FactCheck have repeatedly called Trump’s claims a “false narrative.” PBS and the Denver Post reported that election officials and the U.S.

Postmaster General also disagree with Trump.

flying on Air Force One with Trump.

Ballots have been recently discovered in ditches in Wisconsin and garbage cans in Pennsylvania.

Stauber postponed a roundtable discussion in Duluth after the exposure.

The President’s campaign is facing a sudden challenge after both Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

Trump announced the result on Twitter around 1 a.m. EST on Oct. 2, just over 24 hours after his campaign made a stop in Duluth.

Joe Biden shared the stage with Trump at the first presidential debate on Sept. 29.

Both Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, have since tested negative for the virus, Joe Biden announced on Twitter.

Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District and current U.S. Representative Pete Stauber tested negative for COVID-19 after

CDC guidelines dictate that anyone exposed to COVID-19 should “stay home until 14 days after last exposure and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others at all times.”

The Minnesota Department of Health also asked that anyone who attended events associated with Trump’s Oct. 2 visit should consider getting tested “right away.”

This election cycle includes candidates running for three federal offices, two state offices and multiple county and judicial offices.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO!

THE CANDIDATES

EDITOR’S NOTE: The candidates listed in this article were collected using a sample ballot, with the University of Minnesota Duluth’s address as a reference point. Ballots are issued based upon the address at which a voter is registered.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Joe Biden (D)

Running Mate: Kamala Harris

Donald Trump (R)

Running Mate: Mike Pence

Age: 77

Age: 74

Platform Highlights: Higher taxes on corporations, sustainable energy/clean energy, bankruptcy reform, criminal justice reform

Platform Highlights: Job creation, eradicate COVID-19, cut drug prices/healthcare premiums, congressional term limits, defend police, end illegal immigration

Endorsements*: AFL-CIO, National Education Association, Human Rights Campaign, National Wildlife Federation

Endorsements*: National Rifle Association, Proud Boys, Fraternal Order of Police, American Energy Alliance

Political Experience: U.S. Senator, 1973-2009; Vice President, 2009-2017

Political Experience: President, 2017-present

UNITED STATES SENATE Tina Smith (D)

Age: 62

Jason Lewis (R)

Platform Highlights: Affordable health care, quality education, gun reforms, protecting social security, supporting rural communities

Age: 65 Platform Highlights: Industries on the Iron Range, build the Enbridge Line 3 Oil Pipeline, permit boundary waters copper/nickel mines

Endorsements: Minnesota AFL-CIO, National Association of Social Workers, National Education Association, Council for a Livable World

Endorsements: GOP, President Trump Political Experience: U.S. Representative, 2017-2019

Political Experience: Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, 20152018; U.S. Senator, 2018-present

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE Quinn Nystrom (D)

Pete Stauber (R) Age: 34

Age: 54

Platform Highlights: Affordable healthcare, ending the opioid epidemic, strengthening unions, funding schools

Platform Highlights: Rebuilding Economy, Safe Communities, America First, Save Medicare

Endorsements: Voter Protection Project, Women Under Forty PAC Political Experience: Baxter (Minn.) City Councilwoman, 2014-2018

Endorsements: Duluth News Tribune, Iron Workers Local 512 Political Experience: St. Louis County Commissioner, 20132019; U.S. Representative, 2019-Present

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MOVIES TO WATCH FOR SPOOKY SEASON

By Heidi Stang

With Halloween 2020 landing on a Saturday, people everywhere are surely in for a fun night. However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still prevalent in America, CDC recommendations mean Halloween celebrations may look a bit different this year. A lower-risk option is to stay in and watch Halloween movies with your roommates. The list below is broken up between the classics and horror. Stay safe and happy Halloween!

CLASSIC MOVIES

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Halloweentown (1998)

Twitches (2005)

E! Online

Mickeyblog.com

Disney Wiki

Haunted Mansion (2003)

Ghostbusters (1984)

IMDB

IMDB

It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966) Walmart

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SCARY MOVIES

Halloween (1978) Amazon

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Scream (1996) IMDB

IMDB

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Insidious (2010)

Edward Scisscorhands (1990)

IMDB

IMDB

IMDB

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By Madison Hunter

BMSE STUDENT MARCH PHOTO RECAP

“Members of BMSE watching the speakers before the march.”

Photo by: Bailey Misura

“ UMD Assistant Football Coach and Black Men Serving Excellence Group Advisor & Founder Marcus McLin gives his opening speech before the march.”

Photo by: Madison Hunter

“UMD Chancellor Lendley Black joins the community and looks on as leaders from BMSE give their speeches before the march.”

Photo by: Madison Hunter

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“Approximately 300 students and community members gathered for the march.”

Photo by: Madison Hunter

Black Men Serving Excellence, a new student organization at UMD, hosted a march where they encouraged students, faculty and community members to come together to peacefully protest against police brutality and racial injustice. The march took place on September 16th.

“Leaders of BMSE lead the march.”

Photo by: Bailey Misura

“Protesters kneel for a moment of silence. They kneeled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in memory of George Floyd before they finished the march.”

Photo by: Madison Hunter

“Protesters hold up signs supporting the movement.”

“The members of the Black Men Serving Excellence.”

Photo by: Bailey Misura

Photo by: Madison Hunter

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FIGHTING OFF ZOOM FATIGUE:

By Alyssa Stellar

Fresh out of bed and straight to the computer. This is beginning to describe more and more Americans’ morning routine in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past five weeks, society has become involuntarily attached to screens. In an attempt to ward off the lack of motivation that comes from most of today’s pandemiccentered workspaces,

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How the UMD Community is Coping the main source of entertainment has come from the nearest electronic device.

As a college student, staff, or faculty member, it’s safe to say that most people are feeling a little worn out.

Along with this new humdrum workload, there may be another common feeling: something the masses have been calling “Zoom Fatigue.” Rising to fame in April of this year, the term has become the popular phrase to describe the exhaustion from nonstop video calls and lack of physical interaction.

Whether it’s becoming more interested in setting the correct time on a digital clock, making a new cup of coffee, or rearranging a desk drawer, video

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calls make it easier to zone out than ever before. At the end of the day, this new online environment may leave people feeling worn from the strain of paying attention or the stress of playing catch up.

Wyatt Thurber, a firstyear student at the University of Minnesota Duluth majoring in environmental and geographical sustainability, has a fix to this. At the beginning of the 2020 fall semester, Thurber began his Zoom experience on the mobile app on his phone instead of on a computer.

While to some, this may seem like a rather challenging situation, Thurber shared that “it helps if anything.”

Thurber said it keeps him from going on his phone during class and getting distracted.

For those who’ve found themselves more captivated by YouTube or Buzzfeed than an 8 a.m. meeting or class, the mobile app may be a quick and simple solution.

For those more distracted by birds outside a window or the enticing warmth of a bed, Emily Otto, a sophomore at UMD majoring in social work, has a study tip.

“I try to look at my notes from the week before about 30 minutes before the class starts,” Otto said. “I also create a comfortable space with everything I need, including water.

Whenever I get super tired, I try to drink water and it helps.”

While those are manageable ways to boost academic losses

reconnect with reality is essential these days.

from Zoom Fatigue, what can be done about personal losses?

How does one fix the mentally, emotionally, and physically draining burnout that comes with little human contact and constant screen time?

Alastair Knowles, a professor of Interpersonal Communication and Public Speaking at UMD, calls attention to the importance of pre-established relationships.

“It can be soul-sucking at times, not seeing students face-toface,” Knowles said.

“With online learning, we don’t get the opportunity to bump into someone on campus [or] to make connections at heart.”

Knowles emphasized the importance of communicating with those you have already connected with, advising to “make sure to connect with... friends who live outside of... academic life.” Knowles stressed that the ability to break away from school in all areas and

In addition to talk therapy with loved ones, there are many hobbies and physical activities that help relieve the mind of unwanted strain and stress.

Knowles promotes physical activity and working out at home.

has dominated most humans’ entire existence — diminishing social lives to blue bubbles and quirky captions.

Whether relaxing during Zoom, recharging through physical activity,

or unwinding through artistic endeavors, it’s become essential to be able to step away from the screen and back into reality; to find a way to be human again at the end of the day.

“For those that always exercise, it’s worth investing in some at-home workout equipment, whether that be a subscription to services, such as the at-home Nike camp, or something as simple as a pull-up bar,” Knowles said.

Stacy Crawford, Advising Director at UMD, also stressed the importance of outdoor activity and suggested walking for 10-15 minutes when feeling the gloom that humanity has grown accustomed to lately.

Crawford also has recently taken up the hobby of playing the ukulele, taking lessons over her lunch break.

She described the experience in one word: “awesome.” Other strategies for recharging could include a bullet journal or coloring book.

Technology has revolutionized lives, but in recent years, and especially in the past few months, it THEBARKUMD.COM

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BLACK PERFORMERS SET RECORDS AT THE EMMYS

By Atticus Hodges

Schitt’s Creek, Watchmen and Succession among other big winners

The Emmys in 2020 were headlined by an uptick in nominated Black actors and performers. The amount of nominations for Black performers, as well as winners, set a record, with 33 nominations, and 11 wins in the performance (acting, hosting, and voice) categories.

King and Zendaya both made history, with King tying the record for the most Emmys won by a Black performer and Zendaya becoming the youngest person to ever win Best Actress in a Drama Series.

Performers who won included Regina King for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her performance in the hit HBO limited series “Watchmen,” Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for her “Watchmen” performance and, for one of the most unexpected wins of the night, Zendaya for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in the television series “Euphoria.”

Zendaya holding her award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in HBO’s “Euphoria”. Photo courtesy of emmys.com

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Other winners included Eddie Murphy winning his first Emmy for hosting “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), Maya Rudolph for impersonating Kamala Harris on “SNL’’ and RuPaul for “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Not only were there a record number of Black winners in performance categories, but according to NBC News, “[t]he telecast paid particular attention to issues of representation, inclusion and diversity in the entertainment industry — both on screen and behind the scenes.”

Speakers included Issa Rae from “Insecure,” who spoke about her struggles finding a voice in Hollywood as a woman of color, which she has spoken of before, and Anthony Anderson, who said this year’s show would be “the Blackest Emmys ever.”

Tyler Perry accepted the Governor’s Award and in his speech talked about a metaphorical quilt made by his grandmother.

“In my grandmother’s quilt there were no patches for Black people on television,” Perry said. “But in my quilt, her grandson is being celebrated by the Television Academy.”

Tyler Perry accepting the Governor’s Award at the Emmys. Photo Courtesy of people.com However, while there were many wins in terms of diversity and representation, there is still evidence of more strides to be taken in terms of Hollywood and the Emmys.

In the last ten years, about 15% of Emmy nominations went to Black performers, just under 3% to Latinos, nearly 2% to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and barely 1% to those of Middle Eastern or Northern African descent, NBC News reported. The report also said that about 80% of acting nominees over the past ten years went to white actors.

Another noteworthy aspect of the ceremony was the fact that many shows that have long dominated the Emmys recently completed their final seasons, including “Game of Thrones” and “Veep.”

This year looked to be the opportunity for many shows to stake their own claim in the awards and many did just that, with “Schitt’s Creek,” “Succession” and “Watchmen” dominating their respective categories.

In particular, the Canadian show “Schitt’s Creek,” which found a passionate fan base when it started streaming on Netflix, made history, sweeping the entire comedy series genre.

Father Eugene Levy (left) and son Daniel Levy (right) accept the award for Outstanding Comedy Series for “Schitt’s Creek.” Photo Courtesy of emmys.com Eugene and Dan Levy (father and son), as well as Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy combined to sweep the Comedy acting categories and gained additional wins for Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Writing and, the big award, Outstanding comedy series.

You could say that not many had a bigger night than everyone involved

with “Schitt’s Creek.”

Even more, the show is representative of the LGBTQ+ community — another win in terms of diversity for the Emmys.

However, HBO’s “Watchmen” topped “Schitt’s Creek” in terms of Emmys won. In addition to the aforementioned King and Abdul-Mateen II, the show won 11 total awards out of 26 total nominations, the most of the night for one show, including Outstanding Limited Series.

“Watchmen” is a reimagining of the longpopular graphic novel about vigilantes, using the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma massacre, known as the “Black Wall Street” of the time, as its origin story.

In regards to one of the biggest overall categories of the night, “Succession” dominated the drama awards. The HBO show about a media conglomerate villainous family won Best Writing, Best Directing, Best Series and Best Actor for Jeremy Strong’s performance.

Regina King in a poster for HBO’s “Watchmen,” which won 11 awards at the 72nd Emmys.

Perhaps the most anticipated aspect of the night was how the first major awards show held during the

COVID-19 pandemic was going to handle the new circumstances. Even though the ratings were not good, with a 12% drop from last year and a 33% drop the year before that, according to Variety, reviews of the ceremony were overall quite positive.

Variety wrote, “Thanks to precision work by Kimmel, Hudlin, director Hamish Hamilton and a crew that more than earned its pay, the Emmys at last did what every awards show has tried to do for years but none has quite managed: innovate.”

TIME also had good things to say: “[D]espite the unprecedented challenge — or, perhaps more accurately, because

of it — this year’s Emmys turned out to be one of the most enjoyable awards shows in recent memory.”

With no audience in attendance, a camera person coming to the respective nominees’ areas to film and trophies being handed out by people in hazmat suits, the fact that so much positivity has surrounded the show is remarkable.

With many awards shows looking to go forward in the near future, the Emmys will be a good building block. But, perhaps more importantly, the record amount of diversity in both nominees and winners will do the same thing for future shows.

ILLUSTRATION: KARLEY GRAVES INSTAGRAM: @KURLYFRY_DESIGN

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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 Dawson Do

PUZZLES: CREEK & SHAPESHIFTER

Shade cells such that the numbered intersections have the given number of shaded cells around them and all unshaded cells form a single connected area (the creek).

Watch out for the forks that lead to dead ends!

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In each grid you can make two sets of words: “Short” words by sliding the two halves together horizontally, or “Long” words by sliding the two halves together vertically. The answers are clued in order top to bottom.

Short

Long

1. Featherweight

1. Airplane ride

2. Well-known

2. Collaborated, with ‘up’

3. Maryland athletes

3. Imitates a bird, say

4. The longest country

4. Tinder users, often

5. Lightly burn

5. Harsh or serious

6. Cut off

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WAYS TO

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES Request: Nov. 2nd Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3rd Return in person: Nov. 3rd by 3:00 p.m.

EARLY VOTING Sep. 18 - Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live

VOTE IN PERSON Voters registered in Minnesota can look up where to vote on Minnesota’s site.

Election day is on Nov. 3rd!

SCAN WITH YOUR CAMERA!