September 2019

NO. 17 | SEPT 2019 | FREE

DULUTH ORGANIZATIONS OF FAITH OFFER WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT TO LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY | PG. 4 BULLDOG OF THE MONTH: JOHN HATCHER | PG. 6 ORDEAN COURT IN HOPES TO BE FINISHED

BY EARLY OCTOBER | PG. 12

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

For most of the campus, September sparks new Bulldog beginnings and a fresh start in our personal development. This is the only time of the year that it’s funny to ironically sing to Green Day and to debate whether it’s appropriate to start Halloween decorating.

For some of us, myself included, this September will be the last spent as undergrads. #LastFirstDay am I right?

Congratulations to the firstyear and transfer students!

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The Bark welcomes you all to our campus. There is so much for you to explore and learn about yourself, UMD and the Twin Ports community.

For around 87 years, this campus has had a student news organization. Just two years ago, The Bark brand was created, and we are identifiable by our bold logo and monthly news magazines. If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you visit our website and follow us on social media to get the scoop on what’s happening around campus and Duluth.

The Bark is campus’ studentrun news organization, but it serves YOU, the readers, the community members and creators of this campus. Feel free to email barkumd@d.umn.edu with any ideas, concerns, or criticisms. We want to hear

what you want to see and hear about.

Traditionally, The Bark has had one editor-in-chief for each semester, but I will be serving for the full academic year. This semester I hope to include more diverse voices and content. I want to see more content that includes research done by our science departments, feature stories of and by writers, artists, and musicians on campus and include the voices of diversity. This is a publication that serves the campus, and the campus is full of unique voices. I want to make sure The Bark is committed to this effort of paying attention to the many things that happen on this campus and to give you, the reader, a platform for expression.

Suenary Philavanh Editor-in-Chief Suenary is a fourthyear student majoring in International Studies and double minoring in Chinese Area Studies and Journalism. She was formerly a reporter for The Bark. She is originally from Rochester, Minnesota.

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Duluth organizations of faith offer a welcoming environment to the LGBTQ+ community

Album of the Month: The Highwomen - self-titled

06 Bulldog of the Month: John Hatcher

08 UMD alum Mike Kenyanya joins Board of Regents

10 Spilling and sipping tea on eighth street

12 Ordean Court in hopes to be completed by early October

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

REPORTER

Suenary Philavanh barkumd@d.umn.edu

Heidi Stang stang344@d.umn.edu

Clare Cade cadex025@d.umn.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER

PHOTOGRAPHER

REPORTER

Courtney Cornelius barkumdbiz@d.umn.edu

Madison Hunter hunte557@d.umn.edu

Abigael Smith smit9087@d.umn.edu

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

REPORTER

Zack Benz benz006@d.umn.edu

Karli Kruse kruse292@d.umn.edu

Brett Sharp sharp402@d.umn.edu

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

EDITOR

Brianna Taggart tagga015@d.umn.edu

Dominic Bisogno bisog003@d.umn.edu

VISUAL DIRECTOR

EDITOR

Evan Hughes hughe656@d.umn.edu

Paying Thao thaoo369@d.umn.edu

COVER PHOTO: EVAN HUGHES

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DULUTH ORGANIZATIONS OF F ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LGBT

By Zack Benz For members of the LGBT+ community, finding a place to practice your faith can be thought of as quite the struggle.

Historically speaking, faith and the queer community haven’t always gotten along. Coming from the Iron Range, where I practiced my faith on a regular basis while struggling with my own sexuality, I understand this fight first hand.

For years I was a Bible Bowl coach, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School volunteer, Church Camp volunteer and so much more. Everything extracurricular that I did was with my church. I loved my church. I still do. However, going to church every Sunday became a struggle.

There wasn’t a service where I didn’t hear how sinful same sex relationships are. I began to hate myself and doubted the existence of God. As time went on it became increasingly difficult to come to terms with my identity. When I came out, I slowly began to accept myself but in a stark twist of fate. I began to struggle with my religious identity. I craved to find a church that would not only welcome me, but fully embrace me, allowing me to participate in any practices just as any straight individual. I wanted a place I could go that was judgement

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free, so I decided to do a little research.

recognized this before it was “cool” was exciting to hear.

as well as members of our faith community at UUCD.”

According to Google Maps, there are around 26 known places of worship in the city of Duluth. The religions in this bracket include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. I compiled a list of every place of worship and contacted someone who could help me find the information I wanted. Around 11 have officially confirmed that their religious organizations are welcoming and involving, open and affirming to everyone.

Others did not respond.

According to Boelhower, Peace United, Pilgrim Congregational, Gloria Dei Lutheran and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation have held an annual conference about welcoming members of the LGBT+ community for about 10 years.

According to Stinnett, UCC currently has a group that is constantly working on ways to inform others about this “very open and affirming faith family.”

“Peace United Church of Christ has been an open and affirming church for many years,” Gary J. B o e l h o w e r, professor of theology and religious studies at The College of St. Scholastica and Lay Moderator of Peace United said. “Our lead pastor, Kathy Nelson, has been celebrating weddings for gay and lesbian couples for many years, even before the legalization of same-sex marriage in Minnesota.”

When I initially thought about doing this article I mentally prepared myself for negative comments towards my way of life. I’ve spent a majority of my post pubescent years hiding a part of myself that I thought would condemn me to Hell. I learned to hate myself but I did not learn to fall in love with men.

Learning that churches in Duluth

“Peace Church has welcomed, with open arms and radical hospitality, many in the LGBTQI community over the years,” Boelhower said. “My spouse, Gary Anderson, and I celebrated our sacred wedding at Peace two years before the legalization of same-sex marriage.”

As

I progressed forward in my research for this article, my heavy heart was lifted slightly higher after every positive comment came to my attention.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation (UUC) is also welcoming to all and encourages involvement in numerous groups and activities held by the church.

“Our congregation is certainly welcoming and also very open and affirming,” Kathy Stinnett, Congregational Administrator for the UUC, said. “We have many long-time and newer members who are LGBTQ+ community

“Many of our members are also supporters of the local activities of the greater community in Duluth and Superior and are frequently photographed by the news media when there is a march or an event to support LGBTQ+,” Stinnett said. “I can honestly report that we have several leaders in the LGBTQ+ community who are also members at UUCD.” Other places, such as Temple Israel, also welcome people of the LGBT+ community.

“I would think that our congregation is both,” Rabbi for Temple Israel, David Steinberg said. “For what it’s worth, I am openly gay and this is my ninth year as rabbi here.

My predecessor, Rabbi Amy Bernstein, was fully out as a lesbian during her years as rabbi here [from] 1996-2010.”

When I heard this, I was stunned.

Growing up on the Range it was rare to hear of a woman pastor, let alone an openly gay rabbi. This filled my heart with so much pride and hope. Finding a religion that would accept everything about me, everything that I previously thought of as a sin, seemed like more of a possibility. Similar to myself, Rabbi Steinberg came out in his late 20s.

“In itself, [being openly gay]

F FAITH OFFER A WELCOMING BTQ+ COMMUNITY you but celebrates you,” CoffinLangdon said. “There will be a lot of churches that say they want to accept you but still want you to change.”

A FLOAT DECORATED BY THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANNE COFFIN-LANGDON

was a religious turning point for me,” Rabbi Steinberg said. “To sum it up, I basically came to the realization that since God had created me gay it would be like spitting at God to pretend to be anything other than who I was.”

It wasn’t long after that that Steinberg decided to go to rabbinical school.

“My seminary, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, had been admitting openly gay and lesbian students for several years before I applied.”

Rabbi Steinberg was ordained in 1997 and has been open about his sexuality throughout his entire career.

UMD also hosts a number of religious organizations, from Newman Catholic Ministries, Muslim Student Association, Minnesota Hillel at UMD, CRU

at UMD, Lutheran Campus Ministries to a support social, called Coffee and Christ, every thursday by Joanne CoffinLangdon, UMD’s United Campus Ministries Minister to assist those who identify as queer and sometimes struggle with their faith.

I reached out to potential sources and was invited to join UMD’s coffee and Christ, held every Thursday by Coffin-Langdon. It felt so freeing to share my story with others who understood me. Every member constantly struggles with their sexuality and faith. Coffin-Langdon has been married to her partner, Pastor Cynthia Coffin-Langdon of the Hillside United Methodist Church, for over 10 years. They have nine children together.

“It is super important to have a place that not only accepts

Going to Coffee and Christ really allowed me to breathe freely.

Being around people who truly understood what I was going through was such an enjoyable experience. I felt like I began to find that place of faith that I have been needing since coming out.

Hearing Coffin-Langdon tell me that I wasn’t sinful, one of the pivotal parts of my existence wasn’t sinful, made me finally feel content with myself. I met a handful of wonderful people there, one of them being Jana Picotte who is looking at a future career in faith herself.

“Growing up I always thought it was so weird that people obsessed over the crossover of sexuality and faith,” Picotte said. “Whether it was just the idea of sex before marriage, or homosexuality someone always has an opinion on what they think God would think. It’s as if some people feel shame about their own thoughts, or urges, or feelings and need to put shame unto others.”

When Picotte came out she was ashamed, but only towards those in her family who were Catholic and those she had once heard question the validity of gay marriage.

said. “Shame has an origin and it is not God. Adam and Eve had no shame until they listened to a snake. God is not ashamed of her creations. God doesn’t make mistakes. My sexuality’s mine, and I know I am loved unconditionally.”

Newman Catholic Campus Ministry, however, isn’t exactly as open to the LGBT+ community as other religious organizations on campus due to strict religious views and practices.

“When it comes to all people on campus, students, faculty and staff, the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry is not merely ‘welcoming’ to all, but we want to be a place where every person is invited,” Father Mike Schmitz said. “We want to create a community in which each person is known, loved, and cared for.

This does not exclude anyone, but is an invitation that is literally extended to all people who are part of the collegiate community in the Duluth area.”

According to Father Schmitz, Newman Catholic Campus Ministry hopes to create an atmosphere that is not disruptive.

The organization wishes to unite people from whatever background in “the love that God has for them in Christ.”

SEE PAGE 7

“I have learned over the years that true family will stick with you no matter what and love you like Jesus would want,” Picotte

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THE STREETS OF VIETNAM. PHOTO BY JOHN HATCHER

BULLDOG OF THE MONTH: JOHN HATCHER

By Dominic Jose Bisogno

Minh City, Vietnam.

John Hatcher, a professor at UMD with a Ph.D. in Journalism, has been exploring the many worlds of journalism for as long as he can remember.

In addition, he will be taking part in classes and workshops in other parts of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, though the focus of the project will be in Ho Chi Minh City. The entire journey is set to last ten months.

Hatcher began working at UMD in 2007 and has been a centerpiece of the Journalism program ever since. Some of Hatcher’s classes have included Local Journalism, Media Law and Ethics, and Journalist’s Toolbox.

In addition to over a decade of work at UMD, Hatcher is the co-editor of “Foundations of Community Journalism” (Sage Publications) and has been published in peer-reviewed journals including “American Journalism”, “Journalism & Mass Communication Educator” and “Community Journalism”.

Now, a new journey has opened up for Hatcher to explore, one that will combine his life-long passions for journalism and teaching with a trip across the globe to Vietnam.

PROFESSOR JOHN HATCHER SITTING IN HIS CLASSROOM IN VIETNAM PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HATCHER

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Hatcher will be journalism classes University of Social and Humanities in

teaching at the Sciences Ho Chi

Hatcher will not be taking part in this adventure out of thin air. His trip is due to his new status as a Fulbright Scholar, via the Fulbright Program.

The Fulbright Program has existed since the 1940s due to the work of Senator J. William Fulbright. The organization’s website explains its history further, expanding on its connections to Senator Fulbright.

“In 1945, Senator J. William Fulbright introduced a bill in the United States Congress that called for the use of surplus war property to fund the ‘promotion of international goodwill through the exchange of students,” the Fulbright program’s site explains. “President Harry S. Truman signed the bill into law, and Congress created the Fulbright Program.”

The program works to find scholars in participating

H:

countries, which now include much of the world, and send them to different countries to help garner a cultural exchange.

This will be his first time in Vietnam, having visited the nearby nations of Singapore and South Korea while serving in the United States Navy.

By doing so, students are able to learn from an outside perspective, while scholars are able to develop their own craft while working with an audience different from their usual students.

“It will be a new adventure for me,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher has previous experience working across nations and cultures to find the binding threads of journalism, including his studies in Norway and South Africa.

In a public announcement about the trip, Hatcher expanded on his excitement for the new chapter.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity and humbled by the support and encouragement of friends and mentors who have helped me realize this milestone,” Hatcher said. “I am honored to carry on the Fulbright tradition

It will be a new adventure for me.

JOHN

H AT C H E R

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 “We all show up with our own stories and our own experiences, but realize that we are united in our need for God and God’s personal love for each person, in the midst of their stories and experiences,” Father Schmitz said.

Father Schmitz stated that there are many who would identify as LGBTQ+ who have been part of the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry community.

I’d like to clearly state that I believe every person has the right to practice their beliefs. We are supposed to live in a free society that permits people to enjoy their best life as long as they aren’t intentionally harming others.

I can understand why the Catholic faith doesn’t condone homosexuality, but it still stings to know that there are those out there that see a pivotal portion of myself as a sin. However, it’s extremely liberating to see that other denominations don’t practice their faith in the same manner. They see everyone as God created and that was genuinely rewarding and so heartwarming to hear.

Another place of faith that welcomes all is Lake Superior Interfaith.

He feels that there is often more in common between countries than people realize.

“I found that people from different parts of the world share many of the same ideas when it comes to journalism, regardless of cultural differences,” Hatcher said.

“I look forward to seeing how Vietnam compares because it’s a different culture to the places I’ve focused on before and has a very different government, being a communist country,” Hatcher said.

of building intercultural relationships one person at a time and representing our country overseas during this tumultuous and troubling time.”

With years of experience crafted in Duluth, the 20192020 academic year will be an exciting one for one of UMD’s educators. The ten-month program will provide Hatcher with a unique opportunity to expand his own talents and reputation.

“Our congregation is most definitely open and affirming, and has been for some time,” Jasmine Phoenix, Twice Past President for Lake Superior Interfaith said.

The Pilgrim Congregational Church has been open and affirming for nearly two decades and proudly employs a number of members who are a part of the LGBT+ community.

The Pastor of Pilgrim Congregational Church, Karen Schuder, felt remorseful for those, like myself, who received a negative message about a pivotal part of their identity growing up in a religious community.

“I’m so sorry that you have heard that message,” Schuder said.

“I’m so sorry that God’s love and Grace has been confined to a narrow perception of what’s right and wrong. The blessing of who you are is a gift to the world.”

Another pastor who felt it necessary to apologize for the mistreatment of others was reverend Sarah Lawton of Hope United Methodist Church, across from UMD. In a conversation she expressed deep remorse in regards to any negative message received by those in the LGBT+ community.

“God loves you,” Lawton said.

“You are perfect.”

These words were the complete opposite when compared to the phrases that have been echoing in my head for over a decade.

Lawton expressed that there are communities and places of care out in the world and urges those who have ever felt like they don’t belong to find them.

“If it’s in a church, I’m so thankful,” Lawton said. “If it’s not in a church, I’m so thankful. Just find people who support you and love you for who you are.”

When it came to my religious peers and my childhood churches, for some time I felt as if God hated me because I was a sinful being. Then that self hatred began to morph into religious doubt. I almost lost my faith along the way as I often pondered on how God could hate someone they created. In my efforts to find places of worship for others in my situation, I found something I thought was long gone: hope and faith.

Love is love and people should never feel ashamed of an emotion that I believe was gifted to us by God.

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UMD ALUM MIKE KENYANYA PHOTO COURTESY OF UMDSA PUBLIC RELATIONS

By Brianna Taggart From UMD student body president to joining the University of Minnesota Board of Regents on May 9, 2019, 22-year-old alum Mke Kenyanya aims to serve the university students anyway he can.

“It’s an absolute honor to sit on the board,” Kenyanya said.

“There’s still so much to learn and I’m excited to keep learning and expanding my service for not just UMD but the whole University of Minnesota system.”

With a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and the experience of being UMD’s student body president from April 2017 to April 2019, Kenyanya is ready to start this new leg of leadership among the university.

According to Kenyanya, only the board as a whole has authority and the power to make decisions, not the individuals.

Some of the responsibilities of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents include approving programs, major policies, longterm plans, and annual budgets.

They also have the responsibility to ensure human, financial, and

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UMD ALUM MIKE KENYANYA JOINS BOARD OF REGENTS physical resources the university system.

“We have the responsibility to help as many people as we can,” Kenyanya said.

While Kenyanya’s service for UMD really kickstarted in 2017 when he became a student body president, he didn’t always think this would be the path he’d be on.

“I never truly thought about doing it,” Kenyanya said. “But, my mentors brought it up and I thought ‘no, I can’t do that.’ But, once that seed is planted it’s hard to let go.”

So, after his mentors Peter Angelos, Dr. Lisa Erwin, and Corbyn Smyth, planted the seed, it kept growing and growing until his passion for serving the university came to fruition.

“I love UMD,” Kenyanya continued. “That was a life changing thing for me, and now I’m excited to expand my focus and help serve not only UMD but the entire system in the state.

For the current students, take full advantage of everything, because you paid for it. Meet

people, join clubs and get out there. You live and learn in a hub of experts on everything.”

Kenyanya is not the only person excited that he’s on the Board of Regents. His fellow regents are honored to have him on the board as well.

Chair of the Board, Kendall Powell, believes Kenyanya’s young age and recent experience with UMD will help the board to discover new approaches to improve the University of Minnesota in ways it wouldn’t have before.

“Mike is extraordinarily committed to our university and how it transforms lives,” Powell said. “He has told me that he really valued his experience at UMD and wanted to find a way to ‘give back.’ Mike will bring to the board the reality of what it is like to be a student today.”

Steve Sviggum, Vice Chair of the Board, said Kenyana’s personality and performance is “exceptional.”

Regent Mary Davenport is also impressed with Kenyana’s work ethic and outlook.

“He is reflective upon his experience and the experiences others have shared,” Davenport said. “He is knowledgeable about the issues, especially from his student government work.

Yet, Regent Kenyanya continues to do his research by examining current news and issues, data, and innovations beyond the university and the state of Minnesota. I am very impressed with his due diligence.”

Kenyanya does not know right now where he wants to take his future as he is really focused on being a regent on the board.

However, he does have advice for current and incoming students.

“For the current students, take full advantage of everything, because you paid for it,” Kenyanya said. “Meet people, join clubs and get out there. You live and learn in a hub of experts on everything.”

A

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: THE HIGHWOMEN - SELF-TITLED industry and it’s fans, questioning the assumption that men should rule the home, the road and the charts. And at the same time, they’re weaving themselves into the very fabric of men and women’s history of country music.

By Andy Wolfe In the tradition of answering to another artist’s song, written and sung in a similar fashion, The Highwomen’s (Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires) debut delivers a fourpart harmony response to 1985’s “Highwayman,” where Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jenning each told a story of an outlaw dying like martyrs, but still alive in spirit.

This year’s Highwomen begin their 12-song serving of similar tales with their own female outlaws: a Honduras refugee, a healer accused of witchcraft, a civil rights freedom rider, and a preacher.

These heroines also die and stake out the determination to “ride” and to “come back again, and again, and again.”

In the second track “Redesigning Women,” they sing of “running the world while we’re cleaning up the kitchen,” as in, they can do it all, even “get home to feed the babies.” These women are “redesigning” country expectations. Doing more than just honoring an older country song by retelling the stories, they’re making a fistclenched statement of female resilience, challenging the very notion of the country

Unlike other women who have tried to break through in contemporary country, from Shania Twain to Taylor Swift, the Highwomen are practically an antithesis of pop music with its digitized beats and synths, relying instead on country instrumentation at its finest: guitars shimmer throughout - picked acoustics resembling trickling streams, slide guitars swimming through channels of honey, and unleashed twangs of electronic guitar all nestled among percolating organs and the soft rhythms of drums and tambourines.

It’s the harmonies and lyrics of these women that rise and linger even after the songs end, like soft pink clouds haloing a western horizon after sunset. In verses and choruses, voices and melodies captivate the listener’s mind while the contemporary stories challenge the imagination. A mother claims that “My Name Can’t Be Mama” in the eponymous track that also explains that she doesn’t regret becoming a mother, but that the road and some night-time partying is also irresistible, though disappointing to her own mother. It’s to the credit of these talented songwriters that they don’t just paint the character in a simple tone; after all this, it’s just today

that she can’t come through.

Capitalizing on another theme typically ostracized in country music, Brandi Carlisle taunts a man eyeing her lesbian girlfriend, saying her girlfriend will never leave her for him “If She Ever Leaves Me.” Disclosure: I have been recently obsessed with Brandi Carlisle, having seen her thrill audiences in the past few weeks from the intimate Big Top Chautauqua to the expansive Minnesota State Fair. I also am only a little familiar with Maren Morris and not familiar at all with the other two Highwomen (other than listening to them for research on this review). But a few songs in, it’s apparent that this album doesn’t capitalize on pop-country, folk or country-rock. Rather, the entire album (probably closest to Hemby’s sound) remains faithful to sounds

steeped in female country traditions ranging from the story-telling of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to the harmonies of the Dixie Chicks.

Listen to Highwaymen and then Highwomen and you’ll hear the bookends of the great range of modern country music - like a wideopen western highway where there’s room for all.

Andy Wolfe UMD Alum Andy is a UMD alum and an English / Journalism teacher at Superior High School.

Aside from teaching, Andy is an avid music listener and writer.

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A VARIETY OF TEAS SIT ON A SHELF AT THE SNOOTY FOX. PHOTO BY ABIGAEL SMITH

By Abigael Smith Just when Elizabeth Spehar thought she had her life planned out, everything came to an abrupt halt. She couldn’t face such a dramatic change in her life without one person by her side — her mother, Peggy.

SPILLING & SIPPING TEA ON EIGHTH STREET Peggy don’t give themselves enough credit for how much they’ve been through together in creating and maintaining The Snooty Fox Tea Shop.

would’ve happened if it hadn’t been for the unexpected.

Elizabeth and Peggy Spehar are the owners of The Snooty Fox Tea Shop, which, for five years, has operated on the corner of Eighth Street and 19th Avenue.

“It’s amazing,” Elizabeth said, “the way the community responded to this place — the meaningful connections I make on a daily basis with this shop is what surprised me the most.”

Elizabeth said she and her mother

But none of these connections

As an undergraduate student studying literature at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2004, Elizabeth decided to study abroad in London where she became exposed to tea culture and cute pubs — where her love and passion for tea, plants, and herbalism began to brew.

The root of inspiration

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Elizabeth’s mom, Peggy, had been a chief financial officer for the city of Duluth for over 30 years. She was nearing retirement age when she received an unexpected call from Elizabeth with the idea of opening a tea shop.

Elizabeth never considered starting a business in Duluth until a car accident in 2009 that changed the course of her life.

“She asked me to be her business partner, and I thought ‘well this doesn’t happen every day,’” Peggy said.

The accident took a toll on her mental capacity. She had three eye surgeries during her first semester of graduate school.

She couldn’t read or concentrate, making it difficult for her to work.

The more Elizabeth and Peggy discussed the vision for the shop, the more excited they became.

“It completely changed me,” Elizabeth said. “It made me an entirely different person.”

CUSTOMERS GO ABOUT THEIR DAY INSIDE THE SNOOTY FOX. PHOTO BY ABIGAEL SMITH

actively sought out another path for herself. Coming back from Grand Marais with some of her friends after being rejected for a job, she was stuck with the idea: “and I said ‘I should open a tea shop.’”

Elizabeth’s idea to bring the first tea shop to Duluth was “completely unexpected,” as she

“It was a great idea,” Peggy said.

“Duluth didn’t have one [a tea shop] like this, especially one with kombucha and bubble tea so I just decided to not overanalyze it and just — give it a whirl.”

Family first Elizabeth and Peggy have had quite a journey together, being business partners and family.

“Sometimes I think it’s amazing that we still get along,” Elizabeth said, “because we work together all the time and we have different ways of communicating and problem solving.”

Plants are placed on every table to add to the calming environment.

The Snooty Fox offers over 115 types of tea customers can choose from.

“This is very out of her comfort zone,” Elizabeth said about Peggy. “She’s very much sitin-my-office-and-work kind of person, but I’m really proud of

her getting out of her comfort zone.”

partners of The Snooty Fox Tea Shop.

Elizabeth said Peggy is the role model for creating a welcoming space for people. “She’s very much about hospitality,” Elizabeth said.

“And we just did it,” Peggy said.

“I think our naivety actually helped us in the way — we didn’t know what we didn’t know.”

Peggy agrees — hospitality is an important aspect to her. So being able to create the atmosphere for the tea shop was one she was happy to do.

Peggy welcomed the idea of retiring and becoming her daughter’s business partner. She never thought she’d be working or starting a business after she retired, but she’s ecstatic that it worked out that way.

Peg, left, and her daughter Elizabeth — owners and business

Both Elizabeth and Peggy agree that one of the best parts of running the shop is the customers they get to know, listen to and understand.

“I mother customers,” Peggy said. “I’m mothering. You just see some kids come in and all they want is for someone to actually see them. So that’s what I try to do.”

“You get to be a little part of people’s lives,” Elizabeth said. “I have life-shifting conversations every day or at least weekly.”

Elizabeth and Peggy both hope to continue to bring bodily wellness with the teas they provide to the community and to create a welcoming, safe space for everyone.

“Tea brings people together,” Elizabeth said. “It brings you to the present moment and creates a sweet moment between people. It’s empowering it really is.”

Elizabeth, like her mother, also loves to engage in meaningful conversations with community members.

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ORDEAN COURT UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION. PHOTO BY ZACK BENZ

By Zack Benz UMD’s Ordean Court is currently undergoing a major facelift and is expected to be completed by early October. (I’M WAITING ON A PRICE. TO BE INSERTED LATER) According to Robert Kase, Dean of the School of Fine Arts, the much needed project will provide the campus with a “pedestrian” centered space for students and patrons to visit, relax and soak in the “majesty of these Art complexes while enjoying a wonderful green space.”

“I am pleased that the Ordean Court is finally receiving the badly needed remodel and redesign that will replace the crumbling and sinking one of the past,” Kase said in a comment.

Facilities Management is anticipating that concrete and asphalt work will be finished by mid Sept. and hope to install light poles and plant trees soon after that.

Eric Freberg, Project Manager for Facilities Management, stated that Facilities Management has been working very closely with the performing

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ORDEAN COURT IN HOPES TO BE COMPLETED

BY EARLY OCTOBER arts and other departments affected by the courts closure during construction. They’re also keeping a close eye on performance schedules as well.

“The project, not surprisingly, is a bit behind but we are hopeful it will be completed in time for the opening of the first main stage Theatre production in October, and if not we have alternative entrances via Voss-Kovach Hall,” Dean Kase said in a statement.

UMD.” The purpose for this remodel was to provide additional green space to the campus community to utilize and enjoy.

“The existing courtyard was not very utilized and we are hoping the new design gives people a place to get outside and enjoy the nice weather while they can,” Freberg said. “We are

also hoping the new space gives people a place to gather before and after activities in [the Marshal Performing Arts Center], Weber and [the Sports and Health Center].”

According to Facilities Management, some landscaping may need to be held off until early spring depending on if Duluth experiences an early winter.

Kase also stated that preparations have also been made for other alternative routes and entrances if the need arises.

“Alternative entrances for the Tweed Museum are available via the Solon Entrance, and Weber Hall via the South entrance on the lower level as well as through Sports and Rec Center,” Kase said. “We look forward to having the Ordean Court completed soon. In the meantime, we enjoy watching the daily progress as we continue our artistic endeavors at

ex CONSTRUCTION WORKERS (FROM LEFT) TONY MOSELLE, ADAM WITTROCK, JASE OIEN, CHARLIE MCCUNE, JOHN ENGBRETSON ON SITE IN ORDEAN COURT. PHOTO BY KARLI KRUSE

D

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