January 30, 2020

HOPE BRANDNER NOT MEDICALLY CLEARED TO PLAY PAGE 6

LATE WEEK THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

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SERVING THE UMN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900

CITY GOVT.

Council member Warsame to head MPHA

Left, Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame addresses the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Warsame was selected as the next executive director and CEO for the MPHA. Right, Community members take selfies with Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame following his selection to serve as the next executive director and CEO of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)

If the appointment is approved by the city, the vacated seat would prompt a special election.

BY MOHAMED IBRAHIM mibrahim@mndaily.com

After serving on the Minneapolis City Council for six years, Ward 6 City Council member Abdi Warsame could leave the seat for a new position.

The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority has chosen Warsame as its new executive director and CEO at a Wednesday board meeting. Following a deadly fire in an MPHA-owned high-rise, Warsame would step into the role as the agency is under increased scrutiny.

If Warsame is approved by the City Council, the vacancy would trigger a special election for the seat.

MPHA owns and manages public housing units for 26,000 lowincome residents citywide. According to Warsame, Ward 6, which includes Cedar-Riverside and five surrounding neighborhoods, has the highest concentration of public housing units in the state.

“I can think of no greater opportunity than to lead an organization committed to preserving and improving public housing for Minneapolis’ lowest-income residents,” Warsame said. “It would be a noble mission to lead an organization with a tremendous history of helping those most in need.”

COURTS

After the deadly fire at the Cedar High Apartments in November killed five residents, the building’s lack of sprinklers on most floors led to calls for improvements of MPHA properties. The incident weighed into Warsame’s decision to apply for the executive director position, he said.

“I lost five people — they were friends, family, constituents,” Warsame told reporters. “That was one of the key moments that made me more determined to go for the role.”

In the weeks following the fire, Warsame drafted an amendment

to Mayor Jacob Frey’s 2020 budget to reiterate more than $2 million for improvements, particularly | installation of sprinklers and other fire-suppression tools in the agency’s high-rise buildings.

Tenant advocacy group Defend Glendale and Public Housing Coalition released a statement prior to the board meeting, claiming the agency did not solicit enough input from public housing residents throughout the process. The statement also criticized MPHA’s choice and Warsame’s performance u See WARSAME Page 3

NEIGHBORHOODS

Students U neighborhoods look to allocate thousands for local park neighborhoods show out for Local must follow certain rules allocating city Liu hearing when money for green space.

Lawyers discussed whether JD.com is liable for the rape Richard Liu allegedly committed.

BY JIANG LI jli2@mndaily.com

About a dozen Chinese supporters from across the nation gathered in Minneapolis Tuesday for the second hearing in the case of alleged rape filed by a University of Minnesota student against Chinese billionaire Richard Liu. In 2018, University student Liu Jingyao alleged that she was raped by billionaire Richard Liu while he took part in a doctoral program at the University’s Carlson School of Management. Richard Liu is the CEO of JD.com — a popular e-commerce company in China. He was not criminally charged for the allegation due to a lack of evidence in the case.

The supporters, including University students, wore purple accessories to show solidarity with accuser Liu Jingyao, holding boards reading “We support Jingyao” and “#METOO” and “#HEREFORJINGYAO.” Tuesday’s hearing addressed JD.com’s motion to dismiss Liu Jingyao’s claim that the company is liable for Richard Liu’s alleged rape.

Peter Walsh, lawyer for JD.com, argued that the allegations were personal acts by Richard Liu and have no relationship with company affairs.

Will Florin, Liu Jingyao’s lawyer, said that Richard Liu used company resources at the time of the alleged attack. In addition, he argued that JD.com should have the “foreseeability” that Richard Liu’s behavior might cause harm to others, so JD.com should bear the responsibility.

Florin said he is optimistic that the judge will dismiss JD.com’s motion.

Florin also said he met with Liu Jingyao many times in the past year and witnessed how she changed from a confident young lady to a person with frequent nightmares and diagnosed with disorders.

“I believe in her and support her,” said University graduate Xiaosiqi Yang. “I don’t ever want u See HEARING Page 3

BY BROOKE SHEEHY bsheehy@mndaily.com By collecting mandatory fees paid to the city, neighborhood groups near the University of Minnesota have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on park upkeep — but they’re still deciding how to allocate the money.

A survey by the Southeast Como Improvement Association, which closed at the end of December, asked residents for input on how to best spend park dedication fees for improvements to Van

Cleve Park.

Park dedications are made up of funds paid by developers of residential, commercial or industrial projects. Each neighborhood collects $1,614 per unit for new or additional residential units, or $215 per development employee, for new or expanded industrial or commercial buildings.

The fees go to the project’s neighborhood to ensure green space in the area keeps up with development, according to the city ordinance.

“Today [park dedication fees] actually provide services that are accommodating new needs based on the new residents who u See PARK Page 3

Currie Park is seen on Thursday, May 31, 2018 in Minneapolis.

(Ellen Schmidt / Minnesota Daily)

COMMUNITY

ELECTIONS

Design program brings opportunity to North Minneapolis classrooms The program hopes to reduce significant racial academic acheivement gaps in Minneapolis.

BY ABBEY MACHTIG amachtig@mndaily.com

Senior Sammy Lett reviews an early voting ballot at the Hennepin County Government Center on Wednesday, Jan. 22. (Yves De Jesus / Minnesota Daily)

Student early voter turnout could surge ahead of primary Minnesota residents will vote in a presidential primary this year for the first time since 1992.

BY YVES DE JESUS yjesus@mndaily.com Minnesota’s first presidential primary in nearly three decades could mean a bigger student turnout, experts say.

The state’s switch from a caucus to a primary system also allows voters to cast absentee

ballots, which includes in-person and by-mail early voting, for the first time since 1992. Experts say the move away from caucuses, which can go on for several hours and don’t allow for early or absentee voting, may encourage more students to participate.

“I’m going to argue that the students have more of an input into the presidential election in Minnesota this time than they ever did in the caucuses,” said u See VOTING Page 3

A new program founded by University of Minnesota professors will bring math, geometry and design into the classroom for youth in North Minneapolis.

In a state that ranks 48th and 50th in high school graduation rates of African American and Hispanic students respectively, according to the research study, the program will provide an opportunity for students to participate in design. Funded by a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the program will target an area in Minneapolis with an exceptionally high gap in educational achievement in K-12 students.

For underrepresented and minority students, this creative learning program will help to promote future academic and career success, said Abimbola Asojo, the lead investigator on the project and a University interior design professor. As part of the free program, students will take part

in workshops and activities aimed at creating an interest in the design career field, she said. “... The understanding of different programs available and what professions look like gives opportunity to explore careers students are otherwise not exposed to,” said Brian Kelley, owner of Young Builders and Designers, a local organization focused on building youth interest in design and architecture.

The program is the product of a collaboration between University researchers and communitybased partners, like Minneapolis K-12 schools and the Boys and Girls Club.

“I sought out Professor Asojo and partnered with the College of Design and started having a dialogue,” Kelley said. “The collaboration was a perfect fit for creating special programs.”

Although the specifics of where and when the program will become fully operational are still being discussed, the program will build on initiatives that began through past summer camps and workshops also aimed at bringing design, math and geometry to the classroom. u See DESIGN Page 3 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 34

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

MN DAILY

Daily Review

MNDAILY.COM

CAMPUS EVENTS CALENDAR FRIDAY

Desserts-n-Drag

SATURDAY

6-8 p.m. Coffman Mississippi Room Enjoy games, sweets and drag queen appearances.

Danielle Brooks

SUNDAY

7 p.m. Coffman Union Theater Enjoy a night of conversation with the “Orange is the New Black” actor.

Super Bowl LIV

Kickoff at 5:30 p.m. CST Kansas City Chiefs vs.

San Francisco 49ers

NOW PLAYING

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Coffman Union Theater; Friday at 8 p.m. at the St. Paul Student Center

Inclusivity more pertinent for the Multicultural Greek Council The council hopes to organize a local community cleanup event this year.

BY JIANG LI jli2@mndaily.com Last summer, University of Minnesota sophomore Amina Qureshi became inspired by feminism while working on projects spearheaded by women, so she decided to integrate feminism into her everyday life by joining the University’s Multicultural Greek Council.

MGC is the entity that oversees many of the University’s fraternities and sororities that are founded upon celebrating diverse cultures and heritage. The council encompasses eight fraternities and sororities, each aiming to provide a sense of community for all of its members.

With the new year, MGC hopes to dedicate more effort toward philanthropy and plans to conduct programs that are inclusive and unifying.

University sociology senior Tyler Vongphachanh, the president of MGC who assumed his role earlier this month, said the council would like to encourage its fraternities and sororities to be a more supportive system for its members.

The council hopes to organize a cleanup event on campus among other initiatives that will bring members of the community together through service.

MGC is also creating a workshop for the end of this semester to teach members about toxic masculinity.

Members will discuss what it is and what they should do if they see it or experience it.

In the past year, MGC has conducted a variety of events to unify the community. It held an open forum for members to speak openly with one another.

Last month, MGC hosted its second winter formal at the Graduate Hotel where members from different cultures gathered in celebration, according to University economics junior Srinid Lakkimsetti, the former MGC vice president.

Thursday, January 30, 2020 Vol. 120 No. 34

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Members of the University’s Multicultural Greek Council meet in Bruininks Hall to discuss changes, plans for the future and welcome new members over pizza and music on Friday, Jan. 24. (Liam Armstrong / Minnesota Daily)

The council also coordinates events to promote pop culture on campus. Lakkimsetti said the council is still trying to improve itself and figure out what role it should play in such a big community.

“We have a lot of different cultures, not just by ...

where they come from in the world and what they grow up with, but rather also the culture they have within themselves,” Lakkimsetti said.

MGC held an information session on Jan. 24, and University political science sophomore Eva Garcia

attended. She became aware of the MGC in December, and she said she was impressed by the group’s sense of community.

“We have a lot of cool people; very different b a c k g ro u n d s , a n d e t hnicities and perspectives,” Vongphachanh said.

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Research paper highlights how to improve education and effort on patient safety UMN professor says there is an occasional disconnect between effort and education.

BY NATALIE CIERZAN ncierzan@mndaily.com A new international research paper provided guiding principles for quality improvement and patient safety education for physicians.

After many medical field professionals came together for a Toronto conference in 2016, including a University of Minnesota researcher, they began to think about how to improve the healthcare system. Four guiding concepts were published this month in the journal Academic Medicine revolving around bridging the gap between improvement efforts and education. Researchers said they hope this paper impacts not only physicians, but also health systems around the world.

“It’s not just one country, one profession, one medical specialty,” said Karyn Baum, a co-author on the paper and a University professor of medicine. “… These are universal problems.”

According to the paper, these problems include things like patient safety education not being fully integrated into providing clinical care.

“The education world sits in one silo and the health-

Illustration by Hailee Schievelbein / Minnesota Daily

care delivery system sits in another silo, and we don’t always talk to each other,” she said. “And what I want this paper to do is to spur people to talk to each other and to remember that they all have the same goals in mind, which is the improvement of the health of the population we serve.”

Part of how the University is attempting to diminish this divide is by using an anonymous reporting system for Medical School students, including students anywhere from nursing to pharmacy. The school is aiming to fix problems to

avoid negatively impacting patients, she said.

“If you can turn [the system] into an army of people to tell you the good ideas they have, that’s pretty amazing,” Baum said.

There are also plans to develop a more standardized quality improvement curriculum at the University, she said. The Department of Anesthesiology already debuted a new online course last year to better teach quality improvement.

Despite the fact it is recommended that patient safety topics be taught in residency education, more

progress could be made in implementing training, said Brian Wong, the lead author of the paper and an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

“The ultimate hope is that patient care improves.

The ultimate hope is that patient outcomes improve, but we believe that in order for that to occur, we would see a greater degree of alignment of the quality improvement patient safety activities,” he said.

This would include physician learners being more involved in training, Wong

said. “If we’ve been able to improve learning, we’ve also been able to improve care for our patients,” he said.

The University is taking multiple approaches toward quality improvement, said Barbara Gold, anesthesiologist, chief clinical risk officer for M Physicians, and University professor in the Department of Anesthesiology.

One of the new programs focuses on adverse clinical outcomes. The three pillars of the program include education, peer support and communication resolution.

Communication resolution prepares medical students to deal with adverse outcomes while showing them how to approach families respectfully, Gold said.

“We can keep the lines of communication open so that [families] understand that there isn’t a veil that comes down if there’s an adverse event,” she said. “… For students, it’s to try to give them a picture of what they may encounter going forward.”

The goal is to establish more skills and have these conversations to prepare future physicians, Gold said.

“In order for us to be effective in our constant pursuit to minimize harm, we need to educate our staff, as well as our learners, about how to prevent harm on an on-going basis … it’s a forever endeavor,” she said.

LGBTQ students more likely to develop eating disorders UMN researchers looked at variations between LGBTQ students and peers.

BY HANA IKRAMUDDIN hikramuddin@mndaily.com A new University of Minnesota study found that LGBTQ college students are more likely to develop eating disorders than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.

The study, which used data from the College Student Health Survey, aimed at finding the existing disparities between the rates of eating disorders in LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ students. The researchers also measured the

disorder’s impact on academic achievement and success.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, said Emily Pisetsky, the lead researcher and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. This makes eating disorders an important topic to delve into, especially as it relates to minority groups, she said.

“We know that early intervention is associated with better outcomes,” Pisetsky said. “Being able to identify folks who are high risk will allow us to have more targeted intervention and prevention efforts.”

According to the study,

cisgender women, transgender and gender-nonconforming students reported higher rates of eating disorder diagnoses than cisgender men.

In comparison to their heterosexual peers, lesbian, gay and bisexual students also had a higher likelihood of having these disorders.

Within these identities, bisexual students and students who were “unsure” of their sexual identity had the highest rates. “[Bisexuality] is not a group that you hear as much about, and we think that may be part of the stigma,” Pisetsky said. “It’s something that can often be sort of minimized and not feel … quite like they fit in with the queer

community or quite like they fit in with the straight community.”

In addition, bisexual students were more at risk of having eating disorders impact their academic performance and achievement.

“The cognitive burden of navigating your identity development [takes] up a lot of mental space, which may take up more space than the off-the-wall college student, where you have a lot going on already,” said Melissa Simone, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

The fact that a sexual identity can put some at a higher risk of eating disor-

ders and can impact academic success is something that needs to be looked into further, said Autumn Askew, who works at the Minnesota Center for Eating Disorder Research and contributed to the study.

“We are actively educating all of our clinicians here to recognize that eating disorders come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, colors, everything,” said Jennifer Krzmarzick, who is on the eating disorder team at Boynton Health.

For those worried about a friend’s mental health or eating patterns, Krzmarzick recommended a visit to Boynton or The National Eating Disorder Association website.

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The editorial “Citizen first? Or journalist?” incorrectly stated Laura McCallum’s title; she is the interim director of MPR News. This article has also been updated online to reflect the context of MPR News discussion of primary election voting.

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Park u from Page 1

Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame addresses the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Warsame was selected as the next executive director and CEO for the MPHA. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)

Warsame u from Page 1

representing Ward 6.

“Abdi Warsame is not qualified to lead MPHA because he is not about the people,” the statement reads.

MPHA’s former executive director, Greg Russ, left the position in August after being named head of New York City Housing Authority. Warsame would replace interim executive director and CEO, Tracey Scott.

The search committee, comprised of city officials and MPHA commissioners, began their search in late September with the help of executive search firm CohenTaylor.

The firm sought input from

Voting u from Page 1

David Schultz, a political science professor from Hamline University.

Minnesota opened up early voting on Jan. 17, making it the first state in the country to do so. University of Minnesota students who voted early said it was both simple and convenient.

Environmental science major Max Yusen normally votes in his home state of Missouri. Friday was his first time casting an absentee ballot in Minnesota.

His experience casting absentee ballots by mail in past elections was a long, drawn-out process that involved mailed correspondence, notarization and ID verification, he said.

“And so that’s way harder than here where I just went online and registered in, like, five minutes,” Yusen said.

In Minnesota, residents must register either online, by mail or in-person before they can vote.

Samual Lett, a political science major from Wisconsin, voted early in Minne-

MPHA staff, city officials, residents and community leaders through surveys and interviews before presenting the committee with seven candidates on Jan. 2.

Following multiple rounds of interviews, the committee unanimously recommended Warsame for the position earlier this month.

In their Wednesday decision, board members cited Warsame’s familiarity with public housing, including as the executive director for the Riverside Plaza Tenants’ Association, where he led a staff of 30 and represented more than 4,000 residents.

“Mr. Warsame brings valuable experience to this role in many different ways,” said Andrea Brennan, the city’s

director of housing and policy development and MPHA board vice chair. “He brings lived experience growing up in public housing, and he brings professional experience advocating for the rights of tenants.”

sota. He said he was excited about voting early because it opens up the time for people to go to the ballots.

“It gives you a lot more opportunities to vote because for some people, Election Day, you know, it’s a Tuesday, and it’s just a very specific time frame,” Lett said.

The Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services division, tasked with administering federal and local elections in the city, will focus on educating residents on their voting options, including early voting, for this year’s highly anticipated election cycle.

Projections by the Elections and Voter Services division predict a turnout of more than 40,000 early votes this year in Minneapolis. In the 2018 midterm primary, around 15,000 early votes were cast in the city.

“We’re increasing our touch points in order to train the trainer and encourage other organizations in assisting us and getting that education and information out,” said Grace Wachlarowicz, director of Elections and

Voter Services.

The Elections and Voter Services division’s goal is to engage all parts of the city, including students, Wachlarowicz said.

“We provide whatever is within our capability, under the law, as much service as possible so that each and every voter can vote independently and confidently,” Wachlarowicz said.

Looking at the general election, the city plans to install three satellite early voting centers ahead of Election Day, with one at or near the University campus, Wachlarowicz said.

ABDI WARSAME city council member

“We provide whatever is within our capability, under the law, as much service as possible so that each and every voter can vote independently and confidently.”

GRACE WACHLAROWICZ director of elections and voting services

A University of Minnesota neighborhood could see more tiny apartments – a trend mirroring the Twin Cities as a whole.

Marcy-Holmes’ newest tiny apartments, also known as micro-units, are currently being built with more potentially on the way. This micro-unit project, along with another similar development going through the city process, is being led by developer North Bay Companies in partnership with architect DJR Architecture, Inc. Developers said this type of living caters to University student needs and provides the area with more single-living options.

“There needs to be a variety of housing … stock on campus, there’s a ... few amount of studio units because the cost is so high to build,” said North Bay founder Daniel Oberpriller.

“People do better when they live alone and closer to campus in general.”

Sizes of micro-units around the University have ranged from 320 to 787 square feet per unit.

Across the Twin Cities, new apartments catering to a population willing to

transient, said MarcyHolmes resident Hung Russell, but creating infrastructure for these populations could cultivate a lack of longevity in the community. He said micro-units could prove to be a fad.

“There comes a time when this type of housing falls out of favor, then it’s going to make it rather difficult to come back and retrofit these.”

In each of North Bay’s developments, all units will have a kitchenette, bathroom and furnishing, with each floor containing a community lounge space, full kitchen and laundry room, according to city documents.

These studios would go for market-rate with utilities included in the price, Oberpriller said.

University student Hank Berger said the units would probably be best for those who go out often.

“It sounds cozy but ... I don’t know if I would like to live in it. I think I’d go kind of crazy,” Berger said.

Nicholas Licht, a former University student who lives at Coz Flats, said he likes the size of his onebedroom, which is slightly larger than the apartment’s studios.

“The space is very manageable, especially when you’re living by yourself or even with one other person,” he said. “You don’t have a lot of work maintaining it.”

Illustration by Eva Berezovsky / Minnesota Daily

Design u from Page 1

“The goal is to get kids excited about the usefulness and beauty of mathematics. Along with providing skills and more opportunity, we can provide ... confidence in their own skills

Hearing u from Page 1

this happen to any of my brothers and sisters. And I’ve seen how for Richard Liu in power doing this terrible thing to her, [which] is heartbreaking.”

Xiaowen Liang, a practicing lawyer in the state of New York, said she helped start the group of supporters who attended the hearing.

“I want the public to keep following the case and know that Jingyao is still working hard to defend

and a willingness to keep going,” said Lesa Clarkson, a coinvestigator on the project and an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development.

With continued funding, the program’s creators hope to expand the project to include more students and families in

the Minneapolis area, Clarkson said.

“Students will be able to meet people that look like them and use a skill set that will give students access to jobs,” Clarkson said. “When students have access to jobs that changes family dynamics and community dynamics.”

herself,” Liang said. “I have seen many rumors and attacks on the internet, and this drives me to do something to show that there are people that support Jingyao.”

The hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 7 but was postponed to Tuesday.

After the hearing, supporters uploaded a video clip to inform people in China about the case’s updates. Within hours, the video drew a variety of comments, both attacks and praise, on social media.

Wushuang Liu, a

Columbia graduate, said he has always been a feminist and was outraged both by Richard Liu’s action and the response of many people in China.

“S upport ing Jingy ao is also building solidarity among us who want to right the wrong,” Wushuang Liu said. “...I think this case is a powerful tool to mobilize people and demonstrate the power of transnational solidarity among Chinese, which is why I came here today.”

The trial for the civil case is expected to be held in spring 2021.

Illustration by Hailee Schievelbien / Minnesota Daily)

BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com

sacrifice space for a lower cost are popping up, including SoPHI in Minneapolis and RAY in St. Paul.

These micro-units also are not new to the University area. Coz Flats opened in 2014 with units ranging from 402 to 787 square feet.

Despite its potential benefits, micro-unit living is not for everyone, said MarcyHolmes resident Marcus Mills.

“The idea is, it’s a place that you’re not going to be spending a whole lot of time,” Mills said. “I think it’s brilliant. I think it can work in a number of ways. I worry about it in Minneapolis because the tedium of six months of winter enclosed in such a small space.”

North Bay’s “Trademark” apartment, currently under construction at 1121 4th St. SE, will likely open by this fall. The apartment would total 64 units with each sized at 320 square feet. The rooms will feature a “murphy bed” that has the ability to fold into the wall and convert into a couch.

Next door, more microunit apartments at 1127 4th St. SE have been proposed

by North Bay and will be presented to the city’s planning commission committee on Thursday. These plans include larger micro-units, ranging from 398 square feet to 420 square feet per unit, Oberpriller said.

Students are naturally

“Since those funds must be used for new or enhanced capital investments, it is hard to spend rather modest amounts and make a difference,” Wallace said.

The Marcy-Holmes neighborhood has yet to allocate any funding from its $1,495,286.30 in park dedication fees.

MHNA has received a number of recommendations from the community on how to allocate this money, including a new dog park or basketball court at Marcy Park or a new adult fitness space at Elwell Park, Lautenschlager said.

“By large, the community doesn’t understand fully what’s possible versus what’s not possible when it comes to these the park dedication fees,” Lautchenschlager said. “It’s not as if you can just purchase a new swing set and call it a day.”

“It would be a noble mission to lead an organization with a tremendous history of helping those most in need.”

New micro-unit apartments moving into University area One micro-unit project is being constructed in Marcy-Holmes.

live within the community,” said Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association Executive Director Chris Lautenschlager.

Park dedication fees must be spent in the neighborhood they were collected, and they must go toward park system developments or improvements like land acquisition, new recreation centers or other new amenities. The fees cannot be used for maintenance of existing projects.

After evaluating the survey’s results, SECIA’s board will address the community on how the neighborhood will allocate its fee funds at its Feb. 4 meeting. SECIA Executive Director Alex Farrell said the survey’s biggest requests included improved lighting, native

flowers and rain gardens, sand volleyball courts and public art in Van Cleve Park.

Como has an available sum of $214,402.20 in park dedication fees, none of which has gone to specific projects yet.

Available funds vary widely across Minneapolis depending on how much new development a neighborhood has seen.

Prospect Park has already allocated $1,419,471.40 toward a new unnamed park adjacent to the Prospect Park light rail station.

The neighborhood has no specific plans to spend the remaining $612,602, said Julia Wallace, a University faculty member and staff neighborhood contact for Prospect Park. She said allocating park dedication fees can prove difficult given the specific requirements for projects.

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MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

EVENTS

A&E’S WEEKEND GUIDE

BY FRANKIE CARLSON

Looking to get off campus after a busy start to the semester?

Check out these weekend events for some winter fun both indoor and outdoor.

FRIDAY:

Family Skating & Bonfire Enjoy a night of winter sports and games at the Northwest Como Recreation Center.

Lace-up your skates, bring your sticks and hit the ice!

Show shoes and cross country skis will also be available. Cozy up around the bonfire with complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn.

No pre-registration required; free and open to all.

6 - 8 p.m.

Northwest Como Recreation Center, 1550 Hamline Ave N, St Paul, MN 55108 Free

SATURDAY:

Free First Saturday: Cabin Fever 2020 Feeling ready to get out of your winter hibernation?

Grab your friends and family and head over to the Walker Art Center for Free First Saturday. Enjoy free gallery admission, as well as open art stations to create your own masterpiece. Bundle up for a snowshoe tour through the sculpture garden or head inside for a winter film.

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Free

SUNDAY:

SIP ‘N BLOOM Super Bowl Party Celebrate the big game a little differently this Sunday: with arts and crafts. While you enjoy a beer and watch football, Lakes & Legends Brewings has the supplies for do-it-yourself flower arrangements so you and your friends can craft a Superbowl centerpiece.

Select a vase, browse the wide selection of seasonal flowers and receive expert advice from a master florist.

Make sure to stick around and enjoy the game! All ages are welcome.

Flower arranging from 12 - 4 p.m.; kickoff at 5:30 p.m.

Lakes & Legends Brewing Company, 1368 Lasalle Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 Free admission.

Vases start at $7, flowers sold individually.

Monica Tran “feeds” the lion during the Lion Dance performed by Hu’s Lucky Lion Dance Team while attending the Lunar New Year celebration at University Food Hall with her father Vu Tran on Sunday, Jan. 26. “Feeding” the lion, either with fruits or with rewards for the lion troupe, is a tradition to bring prosperity and good luck in the coming year. (Andy Kosier / Minnesota Daily)

New food hall opens its doors to celebrate the Lunar New Year

The Dinkytown food hall opened for the holiday and will open permanently in the coming months.

BY NORAH KLEVEN nkleven@mndaily.com

The year of the rat is officially upon us. On Sunday, there was scarcely an empty stomach or frown in sight as people from across the Twin Cities celebrated the arrival of “chun jie” — or, Chinese New Year — at the new University Food Hall in Dinkytown.

Considering that the University of Minnesota is home to more than 3,100 students from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan — countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year — it made sense for the Food Hall to host the celebration.

Harrison Jao, a University alumnus, attended the event while in town visiting for the holiday. After graduating from the University last year, Jao moved back to China. But the 13 hour flight to the United States could not deter him from spending the family-oriented holiday with his loved ones in Minnesota.

“It’s like Thanksgiving for you [in America],” he said,

Qingjun Zhang prepares Tianjin crepes at the Lunar New Year celebration. The crepes are a traditional northern Chinese food, one of many dishes available for purchase at the celebration.

(Andy Kosier / Minnesota Daily)

emphasizing the importance of being with family for the holiday.

Chinese New Year celebrations span 15 days and each day has its own significance and traditions. Dates of the Chinese New Year change from year to year, as the holiday is based on the position of the moon.

One of the most prominent traditions is the giving and receiving of red

envelopes, a color which is symbolic of good fortune in Chinese culture. Upon arriving at the event, every attendee received a red envelope. During Chinese New Year, the envelopes are filled with money and given to children and young adults.

Traditional red and multicolored lanterns adorned the ceilings of the Food Hall, some tagged with riddles to be solved, which

Yama Zhong, manager of the University Food Hall and the organizer of its Lunar New Year celebration, said is a common game for the holiday.

Zhong said she waited for the second day of the New Year to allow revelers to spend New Years Day with their family. Hundreds attended the event, enjoying traditional Chinese and Taiwanese fare, dances set to

Korean pop music and raffle prizes. Food was central to the event, with every corner of the space filled with culinary offerings.

“There is lots of traditional food [that] you cannot find on a normal day in a restaurant,” Zhong said.

For Ziyi Qian, the food was the highlight of the event. Qian traveled from from Eagan to take part.

Lines wrapped around the food court for steamed buns and Chinese barbecue. Among the vendors were Ichiddo Ramen, Tea House, Haiku Japanese Bistro, MinneBun and Ichigo Tokyo Crepes.

And there was no shortage of other festivities. Attendees also dressed up in Hanfu garb — traditional Chinese wrap dresses — and took photos in a corner of the food hall.

Overall, Zhong said her hope for the event was to offer a place that felt like home to the Chinese community.

“We tried to make it as traditional as we could,” said Zhong.

“We [hoped] a lot of students [who were] homesick can come here and join us, so we can celebrate together. And they’ll feel much better.”

ART

Bringing books back to Baghdad Iraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal will begin his fellowship at the Weisman Art Museum in fall.

BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com

In 2003, the library at the University of Baghdad’s College of Fine Arts saw its tens of thousands of books vanish into ash.

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq left the library in shambles. Seventeen years later, the library is rebuilding its shelves, one book at a time.

Iraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal, who had spent many hours at that library as a student, is determined to help fill those shelves.

To do this, Bilal began a project called “168:01” in 2015, where he eventually reached Kickstarter Gold status and collected over 5,000 books. He’ll be expanding on this work during the 2020-21 academic

year as a fellow for the Weisman Art Museum’s Target Studio for Creative Collaboration.

“This is a great place to bring people together from all different disciplines to collaborate on this vision of the library that addresses the needs of the Iraqis,” Bilal said. “It does that both that as a social sculpture, but it also addresses infrastructure needs and environmental needs of the Iraqi people.”

Bilal first came to the University of Minnesota as a guest lecturer in the art department about a year ago, which is when he met Boris Oicherman, the museum’s curator for creative collaboration. Bilal eventually sent Oicherman a proposal for a project that he thought was fitting for the Target Studio. “[The Target Studio] has a philosophy that says that we will be much better in dealing with world challenges if people work together rather than

separately,” Oicherman said. “It’s ‘systems art,’ which means that artists are looking at the entire systems of relationships as opposed to just making an art object. [Bilal] does just that.”

In a sense, the coming project follows a social sculpture structure, as Oicherman calls it.

“The artist designs all of the relationships between participants as if they were an art material, like a sculptor would design the figure,” Oicherman said.

Bilal’s fellowship is in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change and the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Design Center. They are looking for collaborators from disciplines like engineering to social sciences and anything in between.

“We’re doing theory and practice at the same time, but we need the students and the public to be part of the entire process,” Bilal

That’s the nature of participatory art. You can see the contribution of the individual as part of its rise to the final work.”

WAFAA BILAL artist and University guest lecturer

said. “That’s the nature of participatory art. You can see the contribution of the individual as part of its rise to the final work.”

Although the Weisman is over 6,000 miles away from the University of Baghdad’s College of Fine Arts’ library, Bilal and others working on the project believe there’s still a connection between the communities surrounding UMN

and those in Baghdad.

“There is this notion of, ‘Could we construct a course or series of courses around the role of a book in the digital age?’” said Tom Fisher, director of the Minnesota Design Center. “What is the role that books might play, where we might, in fact, understand each other better if we were exchanging books rather than bombs.”

As for what the project will actually look like, it’s still a little unclear. Bilal and Oicherman are working closely with the ICGC and the Minnesota Design Center to figure out how to most effectively bring their concept to the public in both Minneapolis and Baghdad.

“This project has already become a successful platform for conversation and it has such a way about it that is really rewarding for everybody,” Bilal said. “This is just one way of education and it’s really raising awareness of this existential threat that faces humanity.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

COLUMN

MN DAILY

Editorials & Opinions

I’m greener than you

Shaming the varying ways people counter our climate crisis is counterproductive and not getting us any closer to saving the planet.

O

MNDAILY.COM

5

Samantha Woodward columnist

ur earth is undergoing drastic changes and it would be irresponsible to ignore our planet’s shifting climate. From the wildfires in Australia to the ice caps melting in Antarctica, our home is under attack from its very own inhabitants. The American Meteorological Society found that “it is extremely likely that human influence has been the

dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-twentieth century.”

The blame is pointed at humanity. It’s our move. People around the world are recognizing the severity of our actions, and some have even begun to criticize the ways in which others choose to help. But is this eco-shaming effective?

Starting in the 1990s, the climate movement became more prominent. We have seen years of protests, lobbying and teaching the importance of recycling in schools. Climate activism is continuously evolving and is garnishing intergenerational support. I remember learning how to recycle my papers before I knew how to write my name in cursive. Now, kids are watching Greta Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations in their social studies classes.

Millennials and Generation Z-ers alike are becoming more vocal and dedicated to fighting climate change. The Global Climate Strike that happened on Sept.

20, 2019, gathered thousands of young people on every continent to protest politicians who are remaining stagnant when it comes to environmental policies. Their argument? “You had a future, and so should we.”

While not everyone can organize and protest, concern for our environment has made its way into our social trends. “VSCO Girls” are known for their love of reusable straws, hydro-flask water bottles and saving the turtles. But, while some may not consider this activism, it involves a lot of posting on social media encouraging others to “be green.” It’s not the typical route of advocacy.

Traditional climate activists criticize the younger generation because they see their small efforts as too insignificant to make any difference in this ongoing battle. Our youth have every right to be involved, and we should encourage it in as many facets as possible, instead of further criticizing it.

Regardless of how people are trying to save our planet, it is important that they are doing just that – trying. Caring about saving the turtles isn’t a bad thing, and neither is wanting to overthrow big corporations responsible for producing our country’s plastic. Some people do not have the luxury of altering their lives for the sake of helping the planet.

This lack of “green” choice is especially prominent in lower-income communities. Not everyone has access to the right resources that allow them to take care of themselves and live a greener lifestyle.

Erika Beras, a reporter for Marketplace, found that while looking at Pittsburgh, those who were financially disadvantaged typically hurt more than those who were able to make their homes and businesses more environmentally friendly. “As more city residents and businesses produce their own energy, they pay less into traditional systems. And that shifts a bigger burden per person to those left behind,” according to the piece.

We can’t blame those who cannot afford to be greener. We need to respect the varying ways in which people prioritize their care for the earth and create more conversations around how we all can access greener alternatives. Using metal straws in your coffee is not going to stop

the wildfires in Australia nor will shaming people who are working to limit the use of single-use plastic. Activism is now showing up in numerous ways in our culture. We should encourage older and younger generations alike to become more environmentally friendly and find different ways to engage. Our planet is burning and it can use all the help it can get.

Samantha Woodward welcomes comments at swoodward@mndaily.com.

COLUMN

Heroes who never die Why do fans react so strongly to celebrity deaths?

Sidney Clarke columnist

K

obe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, along with several others, were tragically killed in a helicopter accident last Sunday. According to the Los Angeles Times, Kobe hoped to attend his eldest daughter’s high school volleyball game that evening. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant’s childhood hero stated, “Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. He was a fierce competitor, one [of] the greats of the game and a creative force. Yvette [Jordan’s wife] joins

Dr. Date,

We’ve all seen him: the guy who is oblivious as to how uncomfortable he makes girls when commenting how hot they are on their Instagram pics. Whether it be the casual “sexy” or the drawnout ramble of how this photo made his genitals feel, every encounter makes the reader feel almost as icky as the girl who posted the photo. Honestly, I was a little happy when I found out the guy I’ve been seeing doesn’t even have an Instagram — at least he’s not one of those guys, right?

Or so I thought. Through a series of unfortunate events (aka my friend found him when he direct messaged her to say she was hot), I discovered he not only has an account, but follows about 1,000 Instagram models and comments on every girl’s photo he can find. Not in the charming way that got him into my bed in the first place — the “you won’t hook up with me? Nevermind, you’re ugly anyway” kind of way. When I looked through his DM’s, they were full of him harassing women who obviously didn’t want his opinion.

This guy is great in every other way, but his online presence is super toxic. What do I do?

–Not A Creep

Dear Not A Creep,

RUN. Why are you even debating staying with this guy? Someone who publicly reduces women to nothing but their attractiveness level is not worth your time or anyone else’s. I could maaaaaybe (probably not) excuse the awkward Instagram comments, but taking it into

me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization, and basketball fans around the world.”

This response, in addition to others from figures such as Shaquille O’Neal and Lebron James, was to be expected. Close friends of the Bryants and prominent figures in the game mourn an incredible loss this week. However, the confounding response, which is a phenomenon foundational to popular culture, is the one from Kobe’s massive fan base.

Following the announcement of Kobe’s death, thousands of people sporting jersey no. 24 gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to grieve. However, L.A. isn’t unfamiliar with these kinds of crises.

Eleven years ago, over 17,000 fans attended Michael Jackson’s memorial service in the city of angels. For weeks, the city was bursting with floral arrangements, candles, concerts and even a parade of elephants in the artist’s honor. Fan grief reached its height in arguably the most famous funeral procession of all time, when hundreds of thousands of mourners swarmed the streets of London to wish former Princess Diana of Wales farewell in 1997.

Kobe’s unexpected and sudden death rattled fans across the country — and rightfully so. He was a young, well-liked personality whose impressive athletic career spoke for itself. Kobe’s humanitarian work and mentoring of young basketball players undoubtedly played into the eruption after his death, in that his life extended past a small circle of people.

DM’s to try and hook up with other girls who obviously are uncomfortable is way too far. Make sure you tell him exactly why you’re angry — hey, maybe he’ll realize behavior like this is incredibly unattractive.

But sadly, ten bucks says when you dump him, he says you weren’t even hot.

–Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

I met this girl through our intramural sports team last semester. She was a friend of a friend who filled the last space on our soccer team, and after one look, I knew I was in love. After trying to find excuses to hang out “as a team” after games, I finally asked her out. We’ve only gone out a few times, but I really like her and want to keep seeing her.

The problem is, she’s super competitive. I’ve only ever played with her, not against her, so until now her aggression was a good thing. But once we started dating, I realized she turns everything into a competition. Whether it’s who can down their drink faster, who wins the race to the restaurant or who... finishes a certain bedroom activity first, I can’t enjoy our time together without feeling like a loser.

She’s determined to win at everything, even if it wasn’t a race in the first place.

I’ve only seen her lose a few times, and each time I was terrified for the person on the other side. I’m worried that if we keep dating, I’ll end up mocked for not brushing my teeth fast enough. How can I convince her to calm down?

However, death occurs every day in proportions much greater than those contained in a small engine aircraft and rarely instigates grandiose processions.

The difference, some might say, is that we don’t know enough about strangers kicking the bucket to illicit a meaningful emotional response. However, despite having little to no personal relationship with most celebrities, they feel like family. This strange, but seemingly natural occurrence reveals more about ourselves than those we mourn.

A community’s guttural reaction to a celebrity passing as it relates to other daily tragedies illuminates the severity of our emotional exhaustion. Critics protest dramatic memorialization of celebrities in favor of more pressing humanitarian issues. In fairness to that argument, Kobe Bryant’s death in a privately owned aircraft pales in comparison to other tragedies like terrorism, which killed approximately 21,000 people in a year over the last decade.

A certain level of global awareness is vital, but it would be cognitively impossible to process every issue that modern technology offers access to. Most of us lack the necessary coping mechanisms required to recognize every human loss equally, so these inconsistencies in receptivity aren’t indicative of ignorance, but of a balancing act for the sake of sanity.

Celebrity deaths also tend to expose the depth of our dependency on media.

Audiences comfortably develop trust for figures founded in pixels and soundbytes

Dear Losing Streak,

There’s nothing wrong with a competitive streak, especially during team activities, but this is definitely more of a red flag. You shouldn’t be scared around someone you like! Mention to her that her competitions are coming off as more aggressive than friendly — if the other side is terrified to lose, no one may have told her it’s too much. If she turns that into a ‘who can deny the fastest’ race, you might want to think about letting her go — no one wants to spend their relationship in the penalty box.

–Dr. Date

without questioning the one-sided nature of these relationships or differentiate their distinctly separate personal and public identities. Their constant influence in our lives — on TV, cereal boxes, and Cartoon Network commercials — allow us to perceive them as personalities not far from ourselves. Consequently, we discover the true appeal of a celebrity: despite being bound by the same limitations as anyone else, he accomplishes what no one else can.

Sidney Clarke welcomes comments at sclarke@mndaily.com.

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

letters@mndaily.com Fax: (612) 435-5865 Phone: (612) 435-1578 Letters and columns to the editor 2221 University Ave. SE Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414 EDITORIALS & OPINIONS DEPARTMENT Editorials represent the voice of the Minnesota Daily as an institution and are prepared by the editorial board.

THE EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPARTMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEWSROOM

–Losing Streak

Dr. Date is a satirical advice column dissecting real-world situations. Want advice from the love doctor? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com

6

Sports

SCOREBOARD JAN. 26

Men’s Tennis Minnesota: 1 Harvard: 6

Men’s Basketball Minnesota: 52 Michigan State: 70

Wrestling

The senior won the first event title of his career against Illinois last week.

JAN. 27

For the first time in his career, Gopher men’s gymnast Timmy Kutyla saw his name at the top of the standings.

The senior captain for the Minnesota squad has competed in the high bar event in every meet for the Gophers dating back to the beginning of his sophomore year, but until last week, he had never won an event.

That changed on Friday, Jan. 24, when Kutyla earned his first career event title in the high bar with a score of 13.850.

“I feel like, for me, it’s about time,” Kutyla said with a laugh. “I’m really happy with my performance and I can’t wait to keep performing like that.”

With his showing against the Illini and at the Rocky Mountain Open, where he scored a 13.900, Kutlya has achieved the two highest scores of his career in the high bar in his last three events.

His average score has steadily risen each year, from 12.339 his sophomore season to 13.083 last season and now 13.783 in a small sample size as a senior.

To head coach Mike Burns, it’s the natural maturation process for a college gymnast.

“I kind of always talk about these guys being able,

UPCOMING JAN. 30

Men’s Basketball at Illinois 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Nebraska 7 p.m.

JAN. 31

Wrestling at Purdue 6 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. Duluth 7:07 p.m.

Men’s Hockey at Wisconsin 7 p.m.

Source: Gophers Athletics.

Times and scores accurate as of time of publication.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

Finally, Kutyla climbs to the top

BY AJ CONDON acondon@mndaily.com

Minnesota: 52 Indiana: 65

MN DAILY

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

Minnesota: 13 Ohio State: 22

Women’s Basketball

MNDAILY.COM

Timmy Kutyla competes in the parallel bars at the Maturi Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. (Jack Rodgers / Minnesota Daily)

and then they become capable, then capable becomes dependable and then you can become unstoppable,” Burns said. “[Timmy] is at the dependable stage right now. To see where he’s at right now and to see that sort of materializing has been really heartening for me to see.”

Kutyla, however, isn’t just focused on his gymnastics.

As the only senior on the team, Kutyla wants to help the younger guys on the team like how he was helped by Gophers alum Tristan Duran his freshman year.

“I didn’t know anyone except a junior named Tristan Duran who kind of brought me under his wing,” Kutyla said. “That’s kind of how I try to bring in new freshmen by just honestly showing them like what the true team is, not trying to be fake or anything and really bring them into the family.”

Though Kutyla isn’t always the most vocal leader on the team, he is able to use leading by example to help this team.

“I think a certain level of quietness also provides a level

of calmness that everyone can sort of tap into,” Burns said. “In this sport, there’s a lot of emotional spikes when things maybe don’t quite go according to plan, and [Timmy] has had those moments and he finds a way to calmly work his way through it.”

As a sophomore, David Pochinka looks up to Kutyla. “[Timmy] impacts me a lot. His energy is really different from, I think, really anyone. He has this aura about him, like you want to gravitate towards him,” Pochinka said. “He brings you up a lot

and he is a person I would want to be.”

Going into his final season, Kutyla has team and personal goals that he wants to achieve and thinks he and the team are on the right track.

“My goal is to make this team a championship team,” Kutyla said. “Some personal goals are to AllAmerican on high bar and All-American on parallel bars. I’m on the track right now, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA [on high bar], so I’m excited for that.”

WRESTLING

Steveson eyeing National Championship, Olympics With suspension over, Steveson is undefeated in seven matches.

BY NOLAN O’HARA nohara@mndaily.com Gable Steveson was all smiles ahead of the Gophers’ wrestling team’s dual against Ohio State on Sunday. Sitting in the stands an hour before the dual, he posed for photos as young fans jumped at the opportunity to get a picture with the top-ranked heavyweight.

While the Gophers would go on to lose the dual 22-13, Steveson shined. Within 10 seconds of the first period, he landed a takedown and would eventually earn a 132 major decision to stay undefeated on the season. His victory momentarily put the Gophers back within reach of a dual victory against a loaded Ohio State team.

In his own words, “the atmosphere hasn’t left” inside Maturi Pavilion. It’s been just over a month since Steveson’s return to the mat and the fan atmosphere inside the Pav, after a less-thanideal start to the 2019-20

Gable Steveson competes at 197 during the match against South Dakota State at the Maturi Pavilion on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. (Elle Moulin / Minnesota Daily)

campaign, remains strong.

A suspension had sidelined Steveson following his June arrest on suspicion of criminal sexual assault. On Dec. 20, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced there would be no charges in the investigation.

Steveson was immediately reinstated.

Since his return, Steveson has only built on the success

from his impressive freshman season. Undefeated in his sophomore campaign, he’s off to a 7-0 start, two wins coming from pins. He’s currently ranked as the No. 1 heavyweight in the nation and his collegiate success is only the beginning. He’s also prepping for the Olympic trials in April.

The Olympic trials consist of a two-part

process. The first determines who wrestles the Team USA competitor from the latest World Championships, and the second part is a best of three-match with that representative. If Steveson survives both, he’ll represent Team USA in the 2020 Olympic Games.

“I think I got a real good shot to be on the team, and

it’s just a matter of time now until I get to show what I’m capable of,” he said.

After he qualified for the Olympic trials, Steveson had the opportunity to take an Olympic redshirt. But with the NCAA Championships taking place in Minneapolis, he declined. He believes the grind of his Gophers’ season will only help him prepare for April’s trials.

“I think it helps real well because I can give myself a chance to wrestle different body styles. The Olympic trials is full of guys that are 10 years older than me, 13, 12 years older than me,” he said.

“Some guys are just grown men and I think wrestling season gives me a feel on everybody who’s here and just making sure I’m okay in all spots.”

While the Olympic trials are on the horizon for the sophomore heavyweight, that isn’t his primary focus.

He’s more concerned with the NCAA Championships in March. They take place at U.S. Bank Stadium, just over the river from the Pav. “I think it was a big deal to compete for a national championship in Minneapolis, by one of my home cities,” Steveson said. “Now the

main goal is focused on winning a national championship in March in U.S. Bank.”

If the Gophers want to win a national championship in March, they’ll need the help of the nation’s topranked heavyweight. His coaches and teammates are glad to have him back on the mat.

“It makes our team feel whole again,” said redshirt senior Devin Skatzka. “It’s always nice having Gable wrap up the lineup, he’s ranked No. 1 in the country.

He’s always getting bonus points and winning big ranked matches for us, gives us a little extra confidence.

Fans come down for Gable.”

After dropping the last two duals, there is certainly progress to be made as the Gophers look towards a national championship in their city. With five conference duals and the Big Ten Championships remaining, they’ll have plenty of time to get ready for March.

“There’s always improvements in each weight class, especially me. We can always improve,” Steveson said. “Our main goal is to win a national championship in March. Our main goal is not to win a Sunday night dual.”

SOFTBALL

Gophers announce Hope Brandner not medically cleared to play Brandner hit .354 last season with 19 home runs and 59 RBIs.

BY PAUL HODOWANIC phodowanic@mndaily.com With the University of Minnesota’s softball team set to open its season against North Carolina State in just 10 days, the t e a m a n n o u n c e d T u e sday that star infielder Hope Brandner has not been medically cleared to play.

The team did not get into specifics of the situation but said her status moving forward is “not yet known.”

Brandner, a junior,

played in all 60 games last season in her first year with the Gophers and hit .354 with a team-leading 19 home runs. She was second on the team with 59 RBIs and was an All-Big Ten First-Team selection.

She spent her freshman season at Oregon State before transferring to Minnesota.

“Finding different ways to win and different people stepping up in big moments is what was the catalyst and the strength of our team last year and it will be this year too,” said Gophers head coach Jamie Trachsel, adding they won’t try and overcompensate without Brandner playing. “We can’t be something that we’re not. We’re not asking

players to be anybody that they’re not.”

If Brandner is out for an extended period of time, it remains unknown who would take over the daily first base duties.

The team has several experienced utility players that could fill the spot but only one, senior Carlie Brandt, has seen time at first base for the Gophers.

Brandt appeared in 51 games last year and has played seven different positions for the Gophers in her career.

“Adversity is a thing in its own,” said senior infielder MaKenna Partain.

“I think our team handles it really well and we’re just excited to go after the season.”

Hope Brandner takes a swing at bat on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (Minnesota Daily File Photo)

7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

MN DAILY

Sports

MNDAILY.COM

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Road games to decide Gophers’ fate Minnesota is 1-6 in road games, with its NCAA Tournament status at stake.

BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com

In college basketball, earning a victory in another team’s arena is never easy.

It’s a fact that Gophers head coach Richard Pitino is well aware of. His teams have gone 2-9 in true road games each of the past two seasons.

Minnesota’s schedule in 2019-20 has presented them with an even more challenging slate featuring two true road games back-to-back in November before a gauntlet in the Big Ten. As a result, the Gophers began the year 0-6 in road games before breaking through with a 6259 victory at Ohio State last week, a victory Pitino hopes propels the team down the stretch.

“We were down 11 in the second half,” Pitino said.

“We weren’t really playing great but we just found a way to fight through and defend when we needed to. I hope it inspires great confidence, but every game is so different.”

Not only was the victory over Ohio State the first road win of the season for Minnesota, it was also the Gophers’ first victory in Columbus, Ohio since 2005.

After a number of narrow defeats, including a double overtime loss at Purdue, players said it was a relief to finally get a win away from The Barn.

“That was a much-needed win, a big win for us,” sophomore Gabe Kalscheur said. “We haven’t won a road game all year besides that one. That was a good one

Center Daniel Oturu drives the ball through a defender at Williams Arena on Sunday, Jan. 26. The Gophers lost to the Michigan State Spartans 70-52. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)

just to get off our backs and hopefully there’s more to come.”

This season, road victories have been rare not just for Minnesota, but for the rest of the Big Ten as well.

Through Jan. 28, road teams are a combined 16-49 in conference games.

“It’s really hard to win on the road and we learned that early on,” senior Michael Hurt said. “Even last year we didn’t have a whole lot of success on the road. ... When it comes to Big Ten play, the

crowds are bigger and it’s hard to win on the road.”

One explanation for the struggles of road teams is increased parity in men’s college basketball. Upsets seem to occur on a nightly basis and there have been a record seven teams ranked AP No. 1 at some point already this season. With teams so evenly matched, home court can serve as even more of an advantage than usual.

No conference has embodied this competitiveness better than the Big

CROSSWORD

Ten. In his latest NCAA Tournament projections, Joe Lunardi of ESPN has 12 Big Ten teams, including Minnesota, making the field of 68 teams.

“In this league, there’s great talent on each team,” Kalscheur said. “You are going to get each team’s best shot every single game.”

At the halfway point of the Big Ten season, the Gophers have a 5-5 conference record, going 1-4 on the road but 4-1 at home, the only defeat at the hands of

No. 14 Michigan State last Sunday.

The Gophers have reason for optimism with the schedule moving forward.

For one, road teams have show improvement lately, going 8-5 last week after starting conference play 7-42. Also, one of Minnesota’s remaining road games is against Northwestern, which, at 4-7, is the only Big Ten team more than one game below .500 at home this season.

However, there are

still plenty of challenges ahead for Minnesota. There are four opponents on the Gophers’ schedule currently ranked in the AP Top-25.

Minnesota will play two of those teams on the road, beginning with a trip to take on No. 19 Illinois, who have not yet lost a Big Ten home game on Thursday, Jan. 30.

“I think you can sit here and say ... five more wins, you’re an NCAA Tournament team,” Pitino said. “I don’t want that. I want to win every game.”

SUDOKU

Last Issue’s Puzzle Solved

Last issue’s solution 9 3 1 6 4 3 2 5 2 7 9 3 7 6 4 1 6 5 4 6 8 3 3 8 1 1 2 9 7 5

8 4 1 9 1 2 3 3 9 2 7 4 8

2 7 5 3 7 8 6 1 9 2 3

1/30/20

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. © 2020 Michael Mepham.

Distributed by Tribune Media Services.

All rights reserved.

IN THE KNOW Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis. © 2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Breaking Down the U’s News

8

Thursday, January 30, 2020

‘One small step in the right direction’ With bike initiatives, car share programs and bus passes, the University hopes to encourage students to rely less on gas-fueled cars.

BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

Every morning for the past 25 years, Steve Sanders has left his house at 6:50 a.m. to bike to work.

Depending on the weather, Sanders strategically dons several layers of synthetic long sleeves, silk long johns and mid-length winter boots.

If it dips below zero, he adds a fleece jacket, battery-heated gloves and a pair of ski goggles.

Sanders makes it a point to brave the harsh winter weather not only because he loves to bike, but also in an effort to combat climate change.

As the University’s alternative transportation manager, he knows that not everyone is able to do what he does. His job, however, is to make it easier for students and faculty to commute and navigate campus without relying on gasoline-powered cars.

Through a variety of bike programs, bus lines, ride-share collaborations and electric scooter docks, the University works to make eco-friendly modes of transportation readily available on campus.

The goal is to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and encourage a healthier community, Sanders said.

“When people realize that the choices they make have consequences, that’s the first step in anything,” he said.

One of the biggest difficulties Sanders said he faces is changing the car-centered culture on campus.

“Half the battle is just making people aware of what [eco-friendly options] there are, and then encouraging them to try it,” he said. “And when the car is always the first [and]

easiest choice, it’s even harder.”

Some of the programs he manages include the Zap biking initiative, which incentivizes ecofriendly transportation habits by recording how many miles bikers ride and how emissions are reduced.

The program rewards bikers with points they can exchange for gift cards to local companies and restaurants.

Other initiatives include the Gopher RideShare — which encourages carpooling — bike and electric scooter rentals, and the U-Pass program.

Since the University is the third-largest generator of traffic in the state, another problem it faces is the lack of space for parking.

Sandy Cullen, the assistant director of the University’s Parking and Transportation services, said the number of applicants for the student parking lottery on campus has grown by over 50 percent since the spring of 2014, while the number of available spots on campus has remained relatively the same.

“People’s cars and their

Top, The inside of Sanders’ office, decorated with cycling memorabilia, as seen on Monday, Jan. 27.

Left, Alternative Transportation Manager Steve Sanders gets ready for his 9-mile commute home on Monday, Jan. 27.

Sanders rides his bike to the university everyday, regardless of the weather.

(Emily Urfer / Minnesota Daily)

parking spots are a big part of their day,” she said. “But how do we get people to think twice?”

Ellie Hedlund, the president of the University Cycling Team, said making even the slightest change in one’s daily routine can make a big difference.

“If [people] can take

public transportation, or walk more, or ride our bikes, it’s just one small step in the right direction,” she said.

Over the past couple of years, Hedlund has noticed an increase in the number of bikers, both on campus and within her club. As someone who bikes every

day to class to reduce her carbon footprint, she said there’s community value in participating in something that contributes to the greater good.

“We have the opportunity to really have an impact on our community,” Sanders said. “And I think that’s super rewarding.”

“Half the battle is just making people aware of what [eco-friendly options] there are, and then encouraging them to try it,” he said.

“And when the car is always the first [and] easiest choice, it’s even harder.””

STEVE SANDERS U of M alternative transportation manager