February 20, 2020

GOPHERS GYMNASTS PREP FOR SHOT AT OLYMPICS PAGE 7

LATE WEEK THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

MNDAILY.COM

SERVING THE UMN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900

ENVIRONMENT

NEIGHBORHOODS

Coyle Center additions are postponed

On the Twin Cities campus, 85 buildings have organics recycling.

The city’s Park and Recreation Board will now apply for funding in the 2021 session.

BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

BY BROOKE SHEEHY bsheehy@mndaily.com

Plans to expand a community center space in Cedar-Riverside have been delayed two years due to lack of funding.

A project that would expand the current Brian Coyle Center and potentially add a new location was first proposed five years ago by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

The original timeline for the project anticipated construction to start by 2021, but project officials needed more time to apply for state funding, pushing that date back tentatively to 2023. Project officials announced the new timeline this month.

The project is currently in the predesign phase, which consists of gathering community input on specific amenities for a potential design.

Community input meetings will go until June.

“We continue to just dig a little deeper and deeper as we engage the community around really programming priorities,” said Daniel Elias, project manager for the Coyle Center expansion.

The Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program and MPRB project officials have yet to go public with any sort of official plan for the project, but officials say improvements could include expanding the current Brian Coyle Center and adding additional facilities near Augsburg University. Stakeholders from the city and Augsburg are currently looking at potential sites for a second location.

“We are still actively sort of vetting all possible locations and we haven’t really settled on [a location], and that’s been I think the biggest evolution [of the project],” Elias said.

“But you know, we still have many options that are sort of actively on the table as of this moment.”

After a January community meeting, Elias said he and his team have a better understanding of the neighborhood’s needs, including transportation and youth programming.

“We are hoping to see a lot of things. We are hoping to see one more gym because we only have one here now,” said CRNRP co-Executive Director Bosteya Jama. “We are hoping to see a swimming pool and more programs that can be facilitated for the young people.”

The increased accessibility to recreation amenities an improved center would bring is especially important to Cedar-Riverside, one of the most densely populated residential areas in the city, Elias said.

MPRB will request funding for the project in a capital bonding bill next legislative session, which would require an application by the summer, u See COYLE Page 3

Student worker Bailey Krolnika sorts through organics recycling from a University residence hall at Como recycling center on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

(Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily)

Organics hit halfway mark One of the biggest challenges in organics recycling is contamination, when different recyclable materials are mixed together.

(Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily)

Student Worker Bailey Krolnika sorts through organics recycling from a University residence hall at Como recycling center on Wednesday, Feb. 19. (Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily)

u See ORGANICS Page 3

FACULTY

Transcribing queer history: UMN launches new podcast The Tretter Collection’s new podcast hopes to share trans stories in activists’ own words.

BY BECCA MOST bmost@mndaily.com

A nationally known LGBTQ archive from the University of Minnesota will launch a podcast this summer to share the voices and work of transgender activists.

As part of the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project, the podcast, titled “Transcripts,” will touch on a variety of topics including immigration, medical care, trans politics and activist movements both past and current.

The oral historians decided to create a podcast in part to help trans activists tell their stories with their own voices.

“It can disrupt a lot of stereotypes about trans people just to be able to hear those voices in the first person,” said Cassius Adair, the podcast’s audio producer.

“Trans people have low voices.

Trans people have high voices.

Some people have voices with different accents. And that to me feels really beautiful.”

The podcast is part of the University’s Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection, the largest archive of LGBTQ-specific material in the upper Midwest.

So far, the group only has funding for the first episode but hopes to produce a six-episode series.

Each episode will draw from more than 200 individual interviews collected by the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project.

“I think we’re in an interesting moment in terms of trans movements for justice,” said Mryl

University celebrates Black history on campus with film, discussion

Beam, the current oral historian for the project. “We simultaneously have more mainstream representation of trans life than

we’ve ever had in my lifetime, and at the same time we also u See PODCAST Page 3

New University epilepsy rescue treatment receives federal approval The medication, which is a nasal spray, is able to be administered outside of medical settings.

The African American and African Studies Department observed its 50th anniversary.

The University of Minnesota celebrated the 50th anniversary of the African American and African Studies Department with a discussion about Black history on the Twin Cities campus on Tuesday.

Hundreds gathered in Northrop for the premiere of “This Free North,” a Twin Cities PBS documentary showcasing the University’s long and complicated position in Black history. The viewing was followed by a panel discussion of current and former University scholars and activists. “[Activists] did this work and we [BSU] are the embodiment of the work that they did,” said Black

From right, Oral Historian Myrl Beam, Tretter Collection Curator Rachel Mattson and Project Assistant Myra Billund-Phibbs converse in the Tretter Collection offices on Tuesday, Feb. 18. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily)

RESEARCH

EVENTS

BY JASMINE SNOW jsnow@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus has integrated organics recycling into almost all of its buildings, marking the approximate halfway point in the University’s goal to roll out organics recycling on the entire Twin Cities campus.

By the end of 2020, the Twin Cities campus hopes to have organics recycling in all of its buildings.

Approximately three years into the initiative, 85 buildings have organics recycling, including all of the resident halls.

This organics initiative is a small part of the University’s larger goal to transition to a zero-waste campus.

“This is the direction our world is moving,” said Elizabeth LogasLindstrom, the University’s recycling coordinator. “It’s moving toward more sustainable communities and thinking about the impact that we’re having on our earth and our environment.”

A majority of the University’s organics recycling materials are food waste from dining halls and animal bedding.

One of the biggest challenges for many universities, including the University of Minnesota, is contamination in organics and recycling streams. Contamination occurs when different recyclable material is mixed together.

Allison Sawyer, the University’s organics roll-out coordinator, said the University has a goal of

Panelists John Wright, left, and Abdul Omari discuss “This Free North” at Northrop Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 18. (Emily Urfer / Minnesota Daily)

Student Union member Marcus Johnson-Luther.

The documentary went as far back as 1851 when the University of Minnesota first opened its doors.

It went on to detail more racist aspects of the University’s history, including accepting money from slaveowners, participating in segregation and resistance to Black activists and demands. The film was named after language used in an essay penned by activist Charlotte Crump, founder of the Negro Student Council at the University in 1937.

A large portion of the event was dedicated to the Morill Hall

takeover, a 24-hour protest in 1969 that resulted in the formation of the AAASD, among other things.

“We’re trying to just show that all the work that [protestors] did and everything they did was not for naught,” Johnson-Luther said. “[The takeover] is literally the formation of the BSU.” The viewing was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Daniel Bergin, senior producer at TPT. Panelists included former University Regent and BSU President Abdul Omari, activist and u See BSU Page 3

BY ABBEY MACHTIG amachtig@mndaily.com A new epilepsy ‘rescue’ medication developed by University of Minnesota researchers will make receiving treatment more accessible for patients who suffer from seizures.

The first of its kind medication is administered through a nasal spray by the patient or caretaker. The medication is able to stop seizures as they happen and aims to reduce the frequency and cost of medical visits for epileptic patients. Previous treatments required the use of an internal or injectable product that had to be administered in a medical setting and by a medical professional. “[This development] is enormously important. If people have a crisis that requires a trip to the emergency room, it is exhausting and life is out of control for that time,” said Robert Kriel, a professor in the University’s Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. “Having a product that is more feasible is

another big step forward, because it enables families and patients to control their lives.”

The medication, called VALTOCO, received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after more than a decade of clinical trials and studies. The product will be available to the market in the coming weeks, said Craig Chambliss, the co-founder and CEO of the neuroscience and pharmaceutical company Neurelis that collaborated with the University to develop the drug.

“We were presented with this idea in 2002 and have been working on trying to figure out how to pull together a treatment. I talked with Dr. James Cloyd about a proof of concept study in 2010.

Four more studies were requested by the FDA, and we treated over 4,000 seizures, more than in the history of epilepsy,” Chambliss said.

In addition to being a more accessible and cost-effective treatment, the rescue therapy is capable of preventing clusters of seizures, said James Cloyd, a University professor and director of the Center for Orphan Drug Research at the College of u See EPILEPSY Page 3 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 40

Daily Review

2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

CAMPUS EVENTS CALENDAR FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Professionalism in Vietnam Soap Making 4 - 6 p.m. in Coffey 120 VSAM and Small World Coffee Hour discuss business culture in Vietnam.

SUNDAY

Ballet West: ‘Jewels’

Thursday, February 20, 2020

NOW PLAYING

“Terminator: Dark Fate”

7 - 9 p.m. at Goldy’s Gameroom 2 - 4 p.m. at Northrop Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at This Let’s Get Crafty! event is part of a “Jewels” is considered the first abstract the Coffman Union Theater; Friday at series to flex creativity through crafts. full-length ballet. Features live orchestra. 8 p.m. at the St. Paul Student Center

Vol. 120 No. 40

An Independent Student Newspaper, Founded in 1900.

2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 450, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (612) 627-4080 Fax: (612) 435-5865 Copyright © 2020 The Minnesota Daily. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER Cleo Krejci Editor-in-Chief ckrejci@mndaily.com (612)-227-5914 Kyle Stumpf Business Operations Officer kstumpf@mndaily.com (612)-435-5772 Charlie Weaver General Manager gm@mndaily.com (612)-435-5657 EDITORIAL STAFF Max Chao Managing Editor mchao@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Managing Production Editor dkamas@mndaily.com Michelle Griffith Campus Activities Editor mgriffith@mndaily.com Katrina Pross Campus Administration Editor kpross@mndaily.com Madeline Deninger City Editor mdeninger@mndaily.com Audrey Kennedy Features & Freelance Editor akennedy@mndaily.com Paul Hodowanic Sports Editor phodowanic@mndaily.com Nick Jungheim Assistant Sports Editor njungheim@mndaily.com Liv Martin A&E Editor omartin@mndaily.com Jack Rodgers Multimedia Editor jrodgers@mndaily.com Emily Martens Copy Desk Chief emartens@mndaily.com Layna Darling Assistant Copy Desk Chief ldarling@mndaily.com Creston Halstead Chief Page Designer chalstead@mndaily.com Hailee Schievelbein Visuals Editor hschievelbein@mndaily.com =

Rapson Hall, home of the College of Design, on the University’s Minneapolis campus on Tuesday, Feb. 18. (Andy Kosier / Minnesota Daily)

Design school to refocus on diversity CDes professors received awards for their work in promoting diversity.

BY ABBEY MACHTIG amachtig@mmndaily.com The University of Minnesota’s College of Design is focusing on advancing equity, diversity and inclusion into the classroom for students and faculty.

Through faculty and student research, course curriculum, guest lecturers and community projects, leaders within the college will continue to place emphasis on the integration of these concepts. On Jan. 29, professors from the School of Architecture were recognized by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture for their work that brought these college-wide goals to fruition. “ [ W i t h t h i s w o rk ]

students enact our collegiate values of diversity, collaboration, excellence, flexibility, and the selfawareness needed for ongoing learning,” said College of Design Dean Carol Strohecker in an email to the Minnesota Daily.

“They are well prepared to transform and create places that welcome and equitably host broader ranges of people, an essential turn as our culture becomes increasingly global.”

Recognized for her research on accessibility for those with disabilities and the preservation of historic sites, College of Design professor Gail Dubrow was recognized as a distinguished professor by the ACSA. Her work includes the publication of a series of journals and letters documenting historic Japanese American architecture.

“As a teacher, I aim to connect students’ identities

with their values and work in the world … As a woman, feminist and an out lesbian, my ideas are driven by equity and diversity, which are animating forces in my work,” Dubrow said. “I encourage all students to explore how life experiences, identities and values can lead them to doing original and important work in the world.”

Jacob Mans, an assistant professor in the School of Architecture, received an award for completing research early on during his teaching career. He was recognized for his work on affordable housing in communities and the ways in which universities interact with them.

“Given everything that we are dealing with issues of diversity, the context for education is different than it has been. We shouldn’t accept existing models — the best way to prepare

students is to teach how to engage and interact with communities,” Mans said.

Mans also developed a series of lectures presented within the College of Design on the topics of inclusion and exclusion in relation to the field of design. Additionally, Mans traveled to Puerto Rico as part of a University effort to study energy alternatives following natural disasters. “[I have] a community and outreach focus in teaching and research; how can design figure into community engagement and structure?”

Mans said.

Looking ahead, the College of Design will continue to pursue initiatives related to diversity and community building, Dubrow said. “ W h a t I va lu e a b o u t the University is the outright commitment to increase equity and

diversity,” Dubrow said.

“There are really important places within the University ecosystem where great things are happening.”

“As a teacher, I aim to connect students’ identities with their values and work in the world ... As a woman, feminist and an out lesbian, my ideas are driven by equity and diversity, which are animating forces in my work.”

GAIL DUBROW Professor, College of Design

Ilhan Omar stops in to discuss foreign policy Rep. Ilhan Omar discussed how the U.S. sets foreign policy precedent.

Representative Ilhan Omar addresses an audience in Cowles Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

The event centered around her “Pathway to Peace”, a package of seven bills which aim to reorient U.S. foreign policy. (Emily Urfer / Minnesota Daily)

BY YVES DE JESUS ydejesus@mndaily.com U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar stopped at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday to make the case for her plan to reshape the nation’s foreign policy to “one that centers on human rights” after unveiling it a week before.

Dozens of students, constituents and supporters gathered at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs to hear Omar’s ‘Pathway to Peace’ plan. She outlined seven pieces of legislation calling for, among other issues, the promotion of an international youth program for disadvantaged children, a global migration framework, and the ending of arms sales to human rights abusers.

“This approach allows us to be able to set the standard for how we will engage with the world,” Omar said at the event. “I believe it will put the world on notice, on what the United States will accept and what it will not.”

Omar cited her unique experience as a war refugee, which she said lends credibility to her position in the overall U.S. foreign policy debate.

“As someone who lived through the ravages of war as

a young person, I understand what the cost of war is, and why it’s important for us to be fighting for peace and a just world,” Omar said in an interview. “And so that’s why I feel like if not me, who?”

Three human rights experts at the event discussed Omar’s progressive vision for foreign policy. The panelists included Peter Dross, external relations director at the Center for Victims of Torture; Barbara Frey, director of the Human Rights Program at the University’s Institute for Global Studies; and María Méndez Gutierrez, a Ph.D. candidate in the political science

department.

Frey said that the nation’s position on foreign policy can have a ripple effect on other governments around the world.

“If we don’t take the human-centered approach, then when it comes to us on the global sphere, other people are going to think, ‘Well, we don’t have to abide by those standards anymore, because the United States doesn’t abide by those standards,’” Frey said at the event.

Méndez Gutierrez, a graduate student from Honduras, said students need to think about how foreign policy

impacts the decision of immigrants to come to the United States.

“We need to understand how linked issues happening in the domestic space of the United States are very much connected to what’s happening outside,” Méndez Gutierrez said. “So there’s no way of thinking inside without thinking outside.”

Omar said that her position as a congresswoman has given her the opportunity to put a progressive plan for foreign policy into action.

“We’re no longer going to talk in platitudes,” Omar said.

“Instead of constantly asking

what could a progressive foreign policy look like, we can now say this is what it is.”

“As someone who lived through the ravages of war as a young person, I understand what the cost of war is, and why it’s important to be fighting for peace and a just world.”

ILHAN OMAR U.S. Representative

=

=

EDITORIAL BOARD Ariana Wilson Editorials & Opinions Editor awilson@mndaily.com Sammy Caldwell Editorial Board Member scaldwell@mndaily.com BUSINESS Jacob Kenyon Sales Manager jkenyon@mndaily.com Tiffany Welty Assistant Sales Manager twelty@mndaily.com David Keane Controller dkeane@mndaily.com =

=

The Minnesota Daily strives for complete accuracy and corrects its errors immediately. Corrections and clarifications will always be printed in this space. If you believe the Daily has printed a factual error, please call the readers’ representative at (612) 627–4070, extension 3057, or email errors@mndaily.com immediately.

The Minnesota Daily is a legally independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is a student-written and student-managed newspaper for the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus.

The Daily’s mission is: 1) to provide coverage of news and events affecting the University community; 2) to provide a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University community; 3) to provide educational training and experience to University students in all areas of newspaper operations; and 4) to operate a fiscally responsible organization to ensure its ability to serve the University in the future.

The Daily is a member of the Minnesota News Council, the Minnesota Associated Press, the Associated Collegiate Press, The Minnesota Newspaper Association and other organizations.

The Daily is published Monday and Thursday during the regular school year and weekly during the summer, and it is printed by ECM Publishers in Princeton, Minn.

Midwest News Service distributes the 10,000 issues biweekly.

All Minnesota Daily inserts are recyclable within the University of Minnesota program and are at least 6 percent consumer waste.

U.S. Postal Service: 351–480.

3

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Organics u from Page 1

maintaining less than a 5 percent contamination rate in all organics recycling.

Something unique about the University is it owns the trucks that bring organics, recycling and garbage to their respective facilities. Drivers also let program directors know if they see contamination in the stream.

Owning its own trucks allows the University to easily add new buildings to the program. Organics need to be picked up daily or they will start to smell.

For other Big Ten schools, like the University of Iowa, this kind of hands-on approach is just not possible.

Many of the university’s dining halls have a pulper, which grinds up food scraps.

Pulping reduces the number of organics bins needed to be changed daily, something that has proved to be a logistical problem associated with limited dock space, said Beth MacKenzie, the recycling

coordinator at the University of Iowa.

“I think one of the big lessons that we have learned is that when you’re implementing a program like on this scale, you can’t operate in a silo,” Sawyer said. “There is a lot of collaboration and buy-in that has to happen between different stakeholders in order to make the program successful long term.”

Part of the success of an organics recycling program involves educating students and staff and getting them engaged with initiatives, said Nathan Jandl, the assistant director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Office of Sustainability.

Like in many other schools, the UW-Madison’s Office of Sustainability offers an opt-in organics program where students and faculty can request personal compost bins for their dorm rooms or offices and empty them at designated sites around campus.

UW-Madison also has a student intern program that the sustainability office designed to give students

hands-on experience working with organics, recycling and other sustainable fields.

Sustainability is important, and having a combination of grassroots efforts and institutional changes are part of what makes conservation efforts successful, said Shane Stennes, the University of Minnesota’s director of sustainability.

“Our success is derived from the fact that we have a broad base of support and we’ve done this in a collaborative fashion,” Stennes said.

“It’s as much of a process as it is a destination.”

“Our success is derived from the fact that we have a broad base of support and we’ve done this in a collaborative fashion.”

Kids enter the Brian Coyle Community Center on June 15, 2017. (Easton Green / Minnesota Daily)

Coyle u from Page 1

Elias said. MPRB did not apply for funding the bonding cycle session because the project was far enough along in the predesign phase to be considered in the bill.

u from Page 1

Professor Emeritus John Wright, the University’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center Executive Director Makeda Zulu-Gillespie and current BSU president Sharon Ogata.

Fourth-year University student Natasha Rice said that she went to the event in an effort to celebrate Black History Month.

“I thought it was really great that the panel we had included different generations, different genders and different skin tones,” she said. “I think that really [showed] the diversity of the Black community.”

Graduate student Adam

Podcast u from Page 1

have unprecedented levels of violence, specifically focused on black trans women.”

“Transcripts” is unique, the historians said, because it centers specifically on the histories of trans activism, with a focus on the experiences of trans and gendernonconforming people of color.

“The idea is that there’s not one idea of what trans politics looks like,” Adair said. “We really want to make sure those stories are

Epilepsy

Pallas, who specializes in research on institutional responses to racial bias incidents on college campuses, said he went to the event to educate himself further on the University’s history.

“I’m also just personally interested in the history of the University and Black history is our history,” Pallas said.

Wright, who authored the seven demands sent to President Malcolm Moos during the Morrill Hall takeover, helped develop the film, which he was also featured in. He said his work on “This Free North” is part of a 20-year effort that will hopefully act as a “springboard” for future projects.

“We intend to keep trying to tell the story of Black folks at this University and

their connections with the larger community going forward,” Wright said in an interview with the Minnesota Daily. “Without understanding where we’ve come from … it’s very hard to chart any kind of coherent path to the future.”

Eighth grader Riya Stebleton attended with her teacher to gather information for her school project on the Morrill Hall takeover.

“The Morrill Hall takeover broke racial barriers, and it created the African American Studies Department and on other campuses too, and I thought that that was really cool,” she said.

University president Joan Gabel and MSA President Jael Kerandi were also in attendance and gave opening remarks.

being told, and people really don’t have this idea that trans activism is this single, narrow and obscure issue that only affects a tiny population.”

Rachel Mattson, the curator of the Tretter Collection, said a lot can be learned by listening in on conversations happening within trans activist circles.

One of the team’s goals is to share these stories with a broader, non-academic audience and bring attention to the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project as a whole.

Beam said he hopes the

podcast will help educate people and provide the tools future activists need to build upon the work of their predecessors.

Myra Billund-Phibbs, the oral history project’s assistant, said she also hopes the podcast will help people feel less alone.

“Most people don’t believe that they have any power,” she said. “But I do think that if people can be made aware that throughout recent history people have come together and worked and fought and sweat to change things … it’s going to make them feel empowered.”

M Health program aims to reduce food insecurity among cardiac patients The program used a food insecurity screening process to offer resources.

BY NATALIE CIERZAN ncierzan@mndaily.com

M Health Fairview is now screening cardiac patients’ possible food insecurity in an effort to prevent future health issues.

If the program identifies a patient as food insecure, they are referred to Hunger Solutions Minnesota, an anti-hunger organization. There, they can access additional resources, such as food programs or a local food shelf. While this program is currently being implemented at the University of Minnesota, it will also be spread to other Fairview Health System sites.

The cardiac rehabilitation program focuses on reducing risk factors that could lead to another cardiac event, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stress or a lack of exercise.

To determine if a patient is food insecure, the program uses the Hunger Vital Sign screening tool, which asks if the patient has been worried that food would run out or not last before they were able to buy more within the past year.

“It even could benefit the patient in a roundabout way, if they have extra money because of this … maybe they can afford transportation to cardiac rehab to get more health

benefits,” said Whitney Quast, the cardiopulmonary rehab supervisor at M Health Fairview.

In the cardiac rehabilitation program, they educate patients on nutrition in addition to exercise, she said.

“One thing that we do know is that eating healthier helps with decreasing overall cardiac risk factors, as well as helps become more healthier in general,” said Aaron Pergolski, the system director of outpatient cardiac rehab at M Health Fairview. “We wanted to try to provide as much information and give as many resources as we can to help patients achieve that goal.”

The program looks at patients’ overall health, including their exercise history, nutrition status, psychosocial well-being and tobacco use.

“Addressing the food insecurity could really benefit the whole health picture of a person because we can talk to them about doing more exercise or quitting smoking, but if they’re feeling hungry all the time, it will limit their ability to be successful in the other categories,” Quast said.

Hunger Solutions Minnesota runs the Minnesota Food HelpLine, which is a toll-free number that patients can be referred to in the program, said Jill Westfall, the program and communications manager for Hunger Solutions Minnesota. The helpline gives information about

be. But he estimates a price tag in the “tens of millions.”

“If state funds could be secured in 2020-21, then construction, renovation or reconstruction could begin as early as 2023 with an opening in 2024,” Elias said. “But, that is the best case scenario.”

next seizure,” Cloyd said.

Treatments with the capacity to be administered outside of the home are critical to stopping seizure emergencies and hospitalizations, said Claire Colliander, interim executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota, in an email to the Minnesota Daily.

“Expanding safe treat-

ment options and delivery methods is a positive outcome for people with epilepsy,” Colliander said in the email.

“We always encourage individuals to work closely with their doctors to find the best treatment for them. We are grateful for the work of the U of MN researchers who are working to improve the lives of people with epilepsy.”

SHANE STENNES U director of sustainability

u from Page 1

BSU

“We do not have any guaranteed funds for the project yet. All we have is money to discuss that idea.

But that is all,” said MPRB project planner Siciid Ali. Without a solidified predesign, Elias said the park board does not know how big their bonding request would

various food and nutrition programs available to patients.

“The SNAP Rx program that we run connects people from healthcare settings to the helpline, and then the helpline takes it from there and helps individuals find the resources they need,” she said.

This connection allows Hunger Solutions to reach out to many patients who have not asked for help yet, Westfall said, for “folks who are on the edge, who may not think of themselves as being food insecure or think that they’d ever be eligible for this sort of help.”

This cardiac rehabilitation program is a part of a larger initiative at the Minnesota Department of Health to address cardiovascular disease and diabetes in innovative ways, said Sara Johnson, the clinical systems specialist in the Cardiovascular Health Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Most cardiac rehabilitation programs include up to 36 one-hour sessions that address different topics including physical activity, healthy eating and nutrition, and stress management, Johnson said.

“As a healthcare provider, we know that many things impact people’s health outside of our clinic walls and addressing food insecurity [as] part of our cardiac rehab program is a great way for patients to become healthier and live a healthier lifestyle,” Pergolski said.

Pharmacy. “[VALTOCO] can actually prevent the next seizure.

When a patient, family member or doctor can recognize when a cluster [of seizures] is going to occur … the drug can be administered to stop the

Violent crime down in Marcy-Holmes

A homicide and attempted kidnapping were reported last week.

BY J.D. DUGGAN jduggan@mndaily.com Crime in University of Minnesota neighborhoods is down this month compared to February last year, according to Minneapolis Police Department crime data.

Crime trends Year-to-date as of Feb. 16, violent crime has more than doubled to 19 incidents in Cedar-Riverside and increased from one to five incidents in Southeast Como, compared to crimes last year.

Year-to-date violent crime has dropped in other areas around the University. For Marcy-Holmes, the number has decreased from 11 down to five incidents. In Prospect Park, this year saw three reported violent crimes — a third of what was reported last year by this time.

Although some neighborhoods started the year with increased crime, February

crime has slowed around the University. Throughout all four University-area neighborhoods, six violent crimes were reported between Feb. 1 and Feb. 16.

The first 16 days of February in Marcy-Holmes have indicated a drop in violent crime compared to the same timeframe last year, decreasing from 10 incidents to two incidents.

Property crimes have continued to decrease in all areas around the University. While Marcy-Holmes has faced the largest number of property crimes at 15, it’s a decrease from 17 incidents during the first 16 days of February in 2019.

Notable crimes An attempted kidnapping was reported Tuesday in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood.

The suspect — a male with gray facial hair, a gray hoodie and blue pants with a stripe — attempted to push the victim into the back seat of a car near the intersection of 6th Street Southeast and 10th Avenue Southeast at 10:31 a.m. He fled northward after the attempt-

ed kidnapping, according to a campuswide Safe-U Emergency. This was the second campuswide safety notification sent out this year.

A homicide occurred near Van Cleve Park in Southeast Como early Saturday morning, according to information released by MPD and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office.

A 39-year-old male was found by police with a stab wound in the chest. He later died at Hennepin County Medical Center. The Medical Examiner’s office reported the cause of death was homicide by stab wound.

The woman he was with was taken to a detox center and later booked into Hennepin County Adult Detention for probable cause murder.

An assault with a deadly weapon was reported on the 400 block of 4th Street Southeast Feb. 9. The suspect was gone on arrival.

An assault with a knife or cutting instrument occurred Feb. 4 at around 4 a.m. in Dinkytown. The incident occurred on the 400 block of 15th Avenue Southeast.

4 MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

ART

BY FRANKIE CARLSON AND MEG BISHOP

This weekend is all about celebrating.

Dance the night away by making a tribute to some of the best 90s hits on Friday, honor the work of local artists by celebrating Black History Month on Saturday and awaken your creative side by making art this Sunday.

‘Black to the Future’ new WAM exhibit celebrates a rich African history

FRIDAY:

All That 90s Party Get out on the dance floor this Friday night! First Ave is hosting another decade dance party and this one’s dedicated to all the 90s hiphop fans. Shake it to some throwbacks from artists like NSYNC, Britney Spears and the Spice Girls.

9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

First Avenue, 701 N. 1st Avenue, Minneapolis $12 online tickets, $15 tickets at the door

SATURDAY:

Celebrate Black History Commemorate Black History Month at Midtown Global Market. Enjoy live music celebrating Black artists and scholars. Come for the screening of the documentary “Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks,” and make sure to stay for a panel discussion with the film’s director along with various local artists and social workers.

12:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Documentary screening at 2:45 p.m.; panel discussion at 4 p.m.

Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis Free

SUNDAY:

Sunday Sketch In Stop by the art supply store Wet Paint for some casual studio sketching and painting. Drop in with your friends and take your mind off of your classes with an afternoon of art and expression. Bring your own materials or borrow some of the supplies offered by the store.

Register on Wet Paint’s Facebook page or call ahead at 651-698-6431 to reserve your spot.

1 - 4 p.m.

Wet Paint, 1684 Grand Ave., St. Paul Free

Artist Lauren Evans displays her art in Weisman Art Museum on Saturday, Feb. 15. Yo Mama’s House, an artist, activist and healer cooperative, is celebrating Black History Month and Women’s History Month with this pop-up display. (Emily Urfer / Minnesota Daily)

The new exhibit encourages visitors to reimagine North Minneapolis’ past, present and “Afrofuture.”

BY ALEX STRANGMAN astrangman@mndaily.com

As an artist, mother and activist, Amoke Kubat uses her art to shed light on North Minneapolis’s history and empower her community.

In partnership with North Minneapolis creatives and the Yo Mama’s House cooperative, Kubat is continuing her residency at the Weisman Art Museum’s Target Studio with a new exhibit, “Black to the Future: Yo Mama’s Northside Black History Month and Women’s History Month

Pop-Up Museum.”

The goal of the gallery is to explore North Minneapolis’s own Afrofuturism by reimagining a future through the lens of the African diaspora. Running from Feb. 8 through April 5, the pop-up museum is currently on display and features works from over fifteen artists, with pieces ranging from handmade dolls to repurposed maps celebrating North Minneapolis.

Kubat says a big part of this gallery is looking at Black history which isn’t fixed in one place or time.

“The thought of this was looking at Black history with a past, present and future. Usually when you’re talking about Black history, you’re talking about contribution and it’s in the past.

It’s fixed,” she said. “I want

ordinary people to express their own Black experience and think about it from terms of where we came from and where we’re going.”

One of the gallery’s featured artists, Damian Winfield, whose works on display include sculptures dedicated to the victims of the 1920 Duluth lynchings and hand-decorated “memory vases” inspired by late family members, uses his work to highlight the importance of remembrance.

Artist Lauren Evans’ work focuses on shedding experiences and identities dictated by institutions in order to connect with her inner self.

“I hope [patrons] leave with the inspiration to do the same when it comes to decolonizing themselves,” she said.

In addition to being a Black history pop-up museum, “Black to the Future” also highlights women – mothers, activists, healers and artists – and the art they produce, which Kubat says is often underappreciated.

“This is largely female,” she said of the art on display.

“We’re showcasing the invisible, emotional and visible labor of women that’s just not valued, and telling women you do make art… your grandmother is art.”

A former teacher, Kubat says the gallery is also about teaching everyone who walks through the door about the experiences tied to the art, even if that takes a little work.

“You can’t do what you do with the European community. People put stuff on the wall and people come

Black to the Future: Yo Mama’s Black History and Women’s History Month Pop-Up Museum

Feb. 8 - April 5 Weisman Art Museum, 333 E. River Road, Minneapolis Free

and kind of meander around.

For this [exhibit] people will come and run… We have to figure out another way to invite people into something that’s different, and may not be what they know,” she said.

In addition to the art on display in the gallery, Kubat also set up an accompanying lineup of performances, movie screenings and workshops.

A full schedule can be found on WAM’s website.

ART

‘Tangible Thoughts’ holds space, love for Black creatives “Tangible Thoughts Open Mic,” part of the Tangible arts collective, is a monthly event.

BY KSENIA GORINSHTEYN kgorinshteyn@mndaily.com

Zania Coleman and Ricki Williams knew they wanted to create together since the eighth grade.

They stayed friends through high school, both involved in extracurriculars and the arts. College finally came around and they thought, “Why don’t we actually start something now?”

“We were getting to that age where we were looking for things outside of our school to do,” Williams said.

“We’ve been talking about doing it since we were young.

So, we one day decided, ‘You know what, let’s just try and have an open mic.’”

“Tangible Thoughts” is a monthly open mic night and part of their collective “Tangible.” While deciding on a name, they sat in Coleman’s room with a notepad.

“We started thinking about ‘thought,’ and the importance of Black thoughts and ideas,” Williams said.

“We wanted something that you can, like, feel and touch. We’re trying to bring Black thought to people, so we ended up with the word ‘tangible.’”

When they began building it, Coleman and Williams thought about spaces, but not in the physical sense.

“We really were intentional about making a space that was something that we would have wanted to go to,” Coleman said. “All the spaces [we’ve been to] weren’t places where Black girls could

Minneapolis Musician KingEmpress performs at the Tangible Thoughts Open Mic event at A-Mill Artist Lofts on Saturday, Feb. 15. The recurring event serves as a platform to highlight Black thought and expression in the Twin Cities. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily)

hang out and relax and be in community.”

Coleman and Williams wanted to hold a space that was a loving space, where Black millennials could express themselves and facilitate dialogue.

“Our age group have roughly all come out of moving into their 20s, and as creatives, there isn’t space for us to continuously develop,” Coleman said. “With ‘Tangible Thoughts,’ you can say ‘I was in performing for two years straight and I had a following just from that.’ It’s a platform that allows creative space to actually propel your career forward.”

The Tangible Collective was first established in September 2017, and since then, it has fostered a community that focuses on building members up rather than competing.

“In the ‘thoughts’ portion of [‘Tangible Thoughts’] we want to allow Black creatives to actually talk about themselves and their art and who they are as people,” Williams said. “Even Black thinkers, Black activists, giving them a wider platform and exposing more people to the things that they’re doing.”

Those who attend the open mic see this come to

fruition during each month’s event.

“They’ve been very intentional about who they create space with and being a consistent source for the people who want to celebrate in this space,” said Atlese Robinson, an artist and friend of Coleman. “It’s like when you plant the seed, it’s not going to be a big tree in a couple of weeks, but it will grow and be able to flourish with time.”

The Tangible Collective wants to expand past the open mic and a few other events that they host.

One way they’re hoping to stretch their influence is through collaboration,

Third Thursday: Afrofuturism

Thursday, Feb. 20, 6 – 9 p.m.

Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis Free

including an event at the Minneapolis Institute of Art on Thursday.

“Even though we’re Black-centered, it includes everybody,” Coleman said.

“Blackness isn’t exclusive.

Black female energy isn’t one that is exclusive. We want everybody to feel welcome and comforted.”

5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

Editorials & Opinions

EDITORIAL

The University should invest more resources in Boynton Health

Wait times at the University’s on-campus clinic are on average two to three weeks after an initial consultation.

M

any students on campus seek resources from Boynton Health, the University’s on-campus clinic.

While Boynton serves an immense purpose on campus, we believe that in order to best serve students, the University should invest more resources in it.

Why? Wait times.

COLUMN

The average wait time between an initial consultation and first appointment is two to three weeks at Boynton, said Matt Hanson, associate director of Boynton’s Mental Health clinic, based on 2018 data.

Boynton has increased resources in the past couple of years to keep up with demand, and will continue to increase them going into 2020-2021. It currently has 48 mental health providers on staff.

Those times depend on the urgency of a student’s needs, and Boynton is one of other resources for mental health support on campus. Still, waiting two to three weeks can be a long time for someone struggling with their mental health, and 48 staff is small compared with the size of campus.

Sometimes, wait times are longer, said Alexa Peterson, a senior at the University.

After her initial consultation, she said she had to wait more than three weeks before seeing the therapist she thought was right for her. When she decided that the therapist was not the right fit, she went through another consultation, and then more waiting, she said.

“Last year sometime I was super

desperate and needed to see someone ASAP and I had to do another eval to get matched with someone,” Alexa told the Daily editorial board. “I wouldn’t have been able to see them until spring break, this was in January. So again it was useless to me, so I didn’t even bother.”

There are a number of other mental health resources on campus — PAWS, Student Counseling Services and more. But, getting medical help, something of a clinical and long-term nature, offers a different type of support that students undoubtedly need.

Long wait times aren’t an issue exclusively on our campus. According to a study done by GoodTherapy, there are 33.2 psychologists for every 100,000 people in metropolitan counties. The number is even smaller for rural counties, where there are 9.1 psychologists for every 100,000 people.

Boynton’s College Student Health Survey Report from 2018 only further proved that students at the University of Minnesota need more access to mental health resources. The report says that a little over 31% of students on campus have reported

being diagnosed with anxiety in their lifetime, and 27% have been diagnosed with depression.

Compare this to a national survey included in the Journal of Adolescent Health, which says that compared from 2013 to 2018, rates of moderate to severe anxiety in college students rose from 17.9% to 34.4%.

We recognize that Boynton has made a valiant effort to hire a well-trained staff to support students, and does so in many ways.

Students are better off for it. But, there is still work to be done: wait times are too long, and the enormity of the campus deserves more mental health staff when it is such a growing issue on college campuses, ours included. The University should prioritize funding for Boynton Health in order to increase students’ access to mental health care.

Light pollution; an undervalued issue

Why we should be taking a more aggressive approach to combating light pollution.

A

Sidney Clarke columnist

nyone who has ever walked past the unlit parking ramp on Huron can tell you about the absolute importance of public street lighting. Our natural inclinations drive us to avoid shadowy alleyways and side roads, but a simple

association between well-lit environments and security contributes to a major metropolitan crisis.

Light pollution is created by an excess use of artificial light sources, causing repercussions for both the environment and humans. Streetlights, small business lighting, personal properties and advertisements are some of the main contributors to light pollution. These sources can create a ‘glare’ which reflects light off of its intended subject and into the atmosphere. Contradicting light sources aimed in directions where light is not necessarily needed, in coercion with inefficient bulbs creates that lovely orange hue over Minneapolis’s skyline at night. The view from the Washington Ave. bridge is just as problematic as it is stunning.

Light pollution is contributing to a growing number of environmental issues in our city. Recently, Minneapolis was ranked one of the most deadly intersections in the United States for migratory animals. Birds, which prefer to travel at night to avoid predators, become distracted by the glow of Minneapolis’s skyline and become disoriented. Researchers estimate that approximately 600 million birds fall to their deaths cross-country. Other plants and animals rely on the earth’s cyclical tendencies, too. Light pollution can

make nocturnal wetland creatures and amphibians more susceptible to predators.

Evidence suggests that even animals outside traditionally urban environments are impacted, such as bats, insects, primates, coral, invertebrates and fish. These issues may seem diminutive, but small changes at the bottom of a food chain can have drastic consequences for the whole ecosystem The issue goes beyond flora and fauna, though. When photons make contact with the human retina, a series of chemical reactions release hormones that regulate sleep-wake cycles, appetite and body temperature. Trying to sleep with a streetlight shining through the window, or after scrolling through pictures on a blue-light phone, can upset many bodily functions, upsetting the body’s circadian rhythm.

For these reasons, light pollution can cause a number of health issues, including obesity, insomnia, heart conditions and mental illness.

A number of cities across the United States have adopted policies for light conservation. Flagstaff, Arizona became one of the first cities to join the ‘Dark Sky Community’ and revamp its infrastructure and policy in favor of conservation in 2001. Toronto, Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York have all adopted more

restrictive policies as well. Some cities take special precautionary action semi-annually during bird migration, or cooperate with the owners of skyscrapers and other large light pollutants to reduce the city’s footprint. Minneapolis began gradually replacing higher watt bulbs with more sustainable alternatives through routine maintenance in 2015. Policymakers hoped that the plan would reduce the city’s energy usage by nearly 60 percent and greatly reduce utility costs. However, the policy doesn’t intend to make any changes to lowlevel street lights and pedestrian lighting for cost reasons. Choosing to recognize the issue has been an important first step for Minneapolis, but lacks the necessary aggression to make timely improvements.

The environmental and social result of pollutants we create today will haunt us indeterminately — and unfortunately for us, the cosmos is just the beginning.

season of trashy television, he made me dinner and we drank all the good wine. And I didn’t check my phone once. I told my boyfriend I couldn’t make it that night and totally went off the grid: I crashed and didn’t leave the house/ talk to him for three days.

I know what I did is totally awful, but I don’t know how to try and explain. I have a feeling my relationship is over. What do I do?

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.

Sidney Clarke welcomes comments at sclarke@mndaily.com.

CARTOON BY ROBERT MCGRADY

Dr. Date,

I am desperately in love with my boyfriend. Like, really, I feel like a second grade girl planning her whole wedding with Barbies. He’s so handsome and kind and wonderful and funny and smart and all the great things — you get the point.

Obviously, other people have noticed my gorgeous man, and one group in particular: the Love Island producers.

Yes, that Love Island: the reality show that sends hot people to a villa somewhere to make them all fall in and out of love. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m secretly a huge fan. And they were recruiting in Minneapolis!

Hooray!!!!! NOT. My boyfriend got a DM from someone suggesting he audition and as a joke, he did. I was pissed, but figured there was no way it would go anywhere. Apparently it is. He just got a call asking him to come in for a formal interview!

I love the show, but I love him too.

Should I skip the season and avoid heartbreak, or watch while the man of my dreams finds the love of his life?

–Mrs. Love Island

Dear Mrs. Love Island, Okay, I get you’re upset, but have you ever

looked up how many people on Love Island ACTUALLY stay together? I have a feeling he’ll get kicked off and run straight into your arms, bringing his 1.2 million Instagram followers and clout with him.

No offense to your man, but the interview doesn’t mean he’ll get the spot. And even if he gets an offer, you guys can have a conversation about it and figure it out. You have the right to be upset that he tried to get onto a dating show, but don’t get ahead of yourself — this hasn’t gone anywhere permanently and doesn’t have to.

Personally, I’d question being with someone who would go to an audition like that, but hey, maybe future famous people are your thing. And when it comes to watching the show, I’d steer clear for now.

There’s always more trashy television without your ex-boyfriend.

–Dr. Date Dr. Date,

My boyfriend and I were going to spend our very first Valentine’s Day together last week. He had planned a whole surprise day for me that I was really excited about. But right before we were supposed to meet on V-Day, I found out some really bad news about my family. It’s a long story, but it’s stuff I don’t feel comfortable talking to my boyfriend about.

I did what I thought would be best for me.

I ran to my best friend’s house, who knows everything. I cried hysterically, watched an entire

–Love Killer

Dear Love Killer,

I obviously don’t know most of the situation, but I’ll trust you and say that it was the best decision at the time to go to your best friend’s place. But as you know, ghosting for three days, especially over V-Day weekend, was not a good move. There’s no going back now, though, so talk to him and see how he’s feeling. This doesn’t have to necessarily be a relationship ender.

Apologize, offer as much information as you can and ask if you can plan a total redo of the day/ weekend, with or without bad tv.

–Dr. Date

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 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 FEB 17

Women’s Golf

Moon Golf Invitational Minnesota: 15th of 16

The four-member class will be essential to the Women’s Basketball program’s future.

FEB 20

Swim & Dive

Big Ten Championships Feb. 19 - 22

Men’s Gymnastics Winter Cup Feb. 20 - 22

FEB 21

Softball

Baylor Tournament vs. Texas State - 9 a.m. vs. Tulsa - 11:15 a.m.

Track & Field

Minnesota Cold Classic 2 p.m.

Baseball

@ Minnesota Twins 6 p.m.

Women’s Gymnastics @ Big 5 Feb. 21 - 22

Swim & Dive

Big Ten Championhips Feb. 21 - 22

Women’s Hockey vs. Minnesota State 7:07 p.m.

Men’s Hockey @ Penn State 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling

vs. Nebraska 8 p.m.

FEB 22

Softball

Baylor Tournament vs. Texas State - noon @ Baylor - 4:45 a.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. Minnesota State 4:07 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Indiana 5 p.m.

Men’s Hockey @ Penn State 5:30 p.m.

Baseball vs. TCU 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

Freshmen undertake larger role

Minnesota: 5 Arizona: 2

UPCOMING

MN DAILY

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Baseball

Minnesota: 54 Michigan State: 66

MNDAILY.COM

BY NICK JUNGHEIM njungheim@mndaily.com On head coach Richard Pitino’s most successful teams at Minnesota, freshmen have always made an impact. Amir Coffey and Eric Curry played significant roles on the 201617 NCAA Tournament team, as did Daniel Oturu and Gabe Kalscheur a season ago.

With the team’s tournament hopes now hanging in the balance, the Gophers are in need of increased production from their role players.

In order to find it, they may look to their four freshmen.

The team has said that they feel these players will be important to the team’s future success. But with Minnesota in need of victories, the future might be now.

“We just need everybody offensively and defensively connected at all times,” Pitino said. “I don’t want to play guys major, major minutes. I want to go to that bench and give guys opportunities, so we have to continue to develop that.”

Of the bench options, freshman Tre’ Williams has seen the most playing time. The guard has appeared in every game this season, averages 17 minutes

per contest and has made five starts in place of redshirt junior Payton Willis, who has battled injuries.

Williams ranks sixth on the team with 3.4 points per game.

The first of the group to commit to Minnesota, signing his letter of intent in November 2018, Williams benefited from a productive final year of high school ball at Wasatch Academy in Utah to climb the recruiting rankings. He ended as the No. 25 shooting guard recruit in his class according to 247 Sports. When it came time to make his decision, Williams says the Gophers stood out.

“It seems like everybody pours everything they have into all the sports here,” Williams said. “They take care of all the athletes and there are just a lot of good people here.”

In April 2019, Minnesota received another commitment from a talented prospect in forward Isaiah Ihnen. A four-star recruit, the native of Germany was an intriguing prospect, touting a 7-foot, 4-inch wingspan. Though unpolished, Ihnen possessed an exciting skill set that combined his length with ball skills rarely seen in a player his height.

Ihnen says he chose to play college basketball in the United States because of the previous success of Europeanborn players, especially in the

Guard Bryan Greenlee looks on from the sidelines at Williams Arena on Monday, Dec. 2. (Nur B. Adam / Minnesota Daily)

Big Ten, such as Moritz Wagner and Ignas Brazdeikis, who both played for Michigan.

What first struck Ihnen was the passion for college basketball in America, something that is unrivaled in Europe.

“The only game that kind of had this experience was our All Star game in Germany,” Ihnen said, comparing European to American basketball. “It can’t even compare to this. I think there are 14,000 people who can fit into [Williams Arena], so I’m definitely excited for this.”

A wrist injury forced

Ihnen to miss the first two games of the season but he has appeared in 15 contests since. Pitino says he has been pleased with Ihnen’s progress in gaining strength and getting up to speed in the college game. Results began to show in Sunday’s game against Iowa. Ihnen played 16 minutes, making a positive impact in an otherwise frustrating 58-55 defeat by making a 3-pointer and grabbing three offensive rebounds.

“Isaiah was a very bright spot off the bench,” Pitino said.

“He had three blocked shots,

had some good rebounds and was disruptive on the ball.”

The final two freshmen on the team have seen limited action. Guard Bryan Greenlee and forward Sam Freeman have appeared in 15 and six games respectively, combining to play 56 minutes. Still, Williams says the group shares a close bond and is excited to grow with his teammates.

“I love my guys, we’ve been living together,” Williams said. “We’ve built a good relationship so I’m just excited to play with them.”

SOFTBALL

Hansen fills void at first base for Gophers With Brandner out, Minnesota has turned to Emily Hansen to play.

BY NOLAN O’HARA nohara@mndaily.com A week before the Gophers’ softball team would head to Florida for their season-opening series in Clearwater, the team announced infielder Hope Brandner was not medically cleared to play, leaving a void at first base.

With Brandner out to start the season and with a roster short of experience at the position, it was left to speculation who would take over the position for the Gophers.

With Brandner coming off an

excellent 2019 season where she hit .354 with 59 RBI, had a team-leading 19 home runs and was named to the Softball America top-100 list, her replacement would have big shoes to fill to replicate that offensive production. Senior Carlie Brandt, who’s played nearly every position for the Gophers, was one player on the roster with collegiate experience at first, but instead she took over at shortstop after the Gophers’ graduated Allie Arneson.

The replacement the Gophers chose was sophomore Emily Hansen. The Buffalo graduate was a standout shortstop in high school, hitting .685 her junior season before winning the 2018 Ms. Softball Award her senior

year. Hansen didn’t see much time in her freshman season at Minnesota, only appearing in 12 games, and before then she didn’t have any experience at first.

“I think I kind of got thrown into it my freshman year,” she said. “I’ve never played [first] before, never played in travel ball, or high school ball. This has been my first time at first base, so it’s been a great opportunity.”

Hansen has made the most of the opportunity. She’s been a spark plug for the Gophers through nine games, with a .345 batting average and a team-leading nine RBIs. She brought in two of those runs on Feb. 15 against Missouri with Minnesota trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, forcing the game into

extra innings.

“I didn’t really realize anything of it until I got to second. I was like, ‘This is great,’” Hansen said. “I was just happy to be the person to do that and I always want to be in that moment and be that person.”

Although the Gophers would go on to lose the game 7-4, they won three of the five games that weekend.

Head coach Jamie Trachsel said while there was room for improvement, she was happy with the team’s performance overall.

“A lot of big hits. [Hansen] did really good. We did a lot of really good things and people had opportunities they took advantage of,” Trachsel said.

“We’re excited about where we are. We know we have to

get better in certain areas, we came back ready to work.”

The Gophers had a rematch with Missouri on Sunday, taking the advantage by earning a 10-1 runrule victory. Playing first again for Minnesota, Hansen went 2-4 in the game with a single and a triple.

After two weekends of play, the Gophers have had no shortage of big hits in big moments, showing they’re a team willing to fight in every inning. That’s a mindset Hansen believes the team needs all season long.

“I think we’re a really gritty team and a really courageous team. I think we need to fight,” she said. “I think that’ll be our attitude for the rest of the season, just battle out there.”

FEB 22

Softball vs. Tulsa 9 a.m.

Women’s Tennis

vs. University of Missouri 10 a.m.

Men’s Tennis

vs. Pepperdine University 2 p.m.

Baseball vs. TCU 2 p.m.

Men’s Basketball @ Northwestern 2 p.m.

Source: Gophers Athletics.

Times and scores accurate as of time of publication.

BASEBALL

Minnesota opens up season against West Coast teams Meanwhile, San Diego’s Carter Rustad shut down Minnesota from the mound, throwing five innings while giving up only two hits and not allowing a run. The Gophers’ bats did not wake up until the top of the sixth inning when sophomore Chase Stanke hit a sacrifice fly to score Raabe.

Junior starter Patrick Fredrickson took the loss for Minnesota, giving up six earned runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Sophomore Andrew Wilhite led the Gophers in hitting and went 2-4 with an RBI.

The Gophers split the four games they played over the weekend.

BY NICK JUNGHEIM AND BRENDAN O’BRIEN njungheim@mndaily.com, bobrien@mndaily.com While the Twin Cities are still in the clutches of winter weather, Minnesota’s baseball team traveled south over the weekend where they found green grass, blue skies and brown infield dirt to begin the season.

The Gophers participated in the Angels College Classic in Tempe, Arizona, playing four West Coast opponents.

Friday — Minnesota 12, Oregon 10 Minnesota’s bats took little time to heat up to start the season as the Gophers’ beat Oregon 12-10 in their first game of the season.

The Gophers led the Ducks 11-2 through five innings as infielders Zack Raabe and Jack Wassel each drove in three runs.

Despite the strong start, the Gophers were tested in the later innings, especially in the eighth. Sophomore J.P. Massey came in to relieve freshman Sam Ireland after Oregon loaded the bases with no outs. Massey then hit Oregon’s Jack Scanlon with a pitch and threw a wild pitch in the next at-bat which allowed two Oregon runs.

Outfielder Drew Hmielewski runs for first base at Siebert Field on Friday, March 29, 2019. Eli Wilson’s home run in the bottom of the tenth inning lead the Gophers to a 5-2 win over Nebraska. (Jack Rodgers / Minnesota Daily)

Oregon’s Anthony Hall then hit a two-run triple with a Gopher error to follow which made it an 11-10 game.

Still, Minnesota prevailed.

Junior Max Meyer picked up the win for the Gophers, throwing for five innings of work. The righty gave up only one earned run on two hits and struck out seven batters while walking three.

Saturday — Minnesota 6, Pepperdine 8 After nearly conceding a large lead the night before, Minnesota came close to completing a comeback of its own against Pepperdine.

A ninth-inning rally brought

the tying run to the plate but the Gophers could not capitalize further, falling 8-6 to Pepperdine.

Junior Sam Thoresen started on the mound for Minnesota but lasted only 2.1 innings, allowing six walks and four earned runs.

Minnesota grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second but Pepperdine tied the game with a pair of basesloaded walks in the bottom half of the inning.

Pepperdine went on to score eight unanswered runs and held an 8-2 lead entering the ninth.

Wassel drew a basesloaded walk to account for

the first RBI of the inning.

Then, freshman Drew Stahl drove in two more runs with his first collegiate hit. Wassel later scored on a wild pitch but Minnesota could do no better as redshirt freshman Riley Swenson struck out swinging to end the game.

Sunday – Minnesota 3, San Diego 7 Minnesota failed to rally for a second straight game and fell 7-3 to San Diego.

The Gophers fell behind quickly as the Torreros opened the game with seven unanswered runs through four innings.

Monday – Minnesota 5, Arizona 2 After two consecutive losses to wrap up the Angels College Classic, Minnesota got back on track with a 5-2 win against Arizona Monday.

The Gophers led 3-2 heading into the eighth but were able to knock in a couple of insurance runs as junior Ronald Sweeny walked with the bases loaded which was followed by an RBI single from redshirt senior Jordan Kozicky. Massey pitched 4.2 scoreless innings for the Gophers and recorded seven strikeouts.

The Gophers return to action Friday when they will face the Minnesota Twins in Fort Meyers, Florida in an exhibition game. Minnesota will then return home for a threegame series against TCU.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

MN DAILY

Sports

MNDAILY.COM

7

MEN’S GYMNASTICS

Wiskus, Moran prepare for Winter Cup

The annual event is Mike Moran’s first Winter Cup and Shane Wiskus’ third.

BY AJ CONDON acondon@mndaily.com

While most of the Gophers men’s gymnastics team will be taking a much-needed weekend off from competition, two of their top competitors, junior Shane Wiskus and sophomore Mike Moran, are headed west to Las Ve g a s f o r t h e a n n u a l Winter Cup. The event allows gymnasts the opportunity to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. That sets them up to try and qualify for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials. Competition begins Thursday Feb. 20. If they make the cut after the first day, they will compete in the finals on Saturday.

The event is a culmination of hard work that both gymnasts have put in all season and in seasons past. Now, they get another opportunity to compete alongside some of the best gymnasts in the country.

It will be Wiskus’ third Winter Cup as a Gopher as he competed in the event in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. It’s Moran’s first appearance.

For the veteran Wiskus, it’s all about consistency and showing the high level of gymnastics that has made him an NCAA national champion and backto-back Big Ten Gymnast of the Year.

“I want to keep proving consistency, just show that I can go out and hit sets no matter what, no matter what kind of pressure,” Wiskus said. “Keep this upward trend continuing forward.”

Moran has a different outlook.

“Go out and learn how I react, how I can perform and, at least this one, I can use as a stepping stone towards summer championships and next seasons afterwards,” Moran said.

Gophers Junior Shane Wiskus prepares to perform a floor routine at Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Feb. 7. The Gophers went on to a 398-375.55 victory over the Washington Huskies. (Parker Johnson / Minnesota Daily)

Just getting the opportunity for Moran is a huge accomplishment and one he’s had as a goal for a few years.

“Even the opportunity of getting to go, I’m grateful. It’s an honor to compete along with guys like Shane and the rest of the country,” Moran said. “My goals are to go out and make a statement that I belong in that all-around spot and break into a bigger scene in the gymnastics world.”

Wiskus did well his freshman year but struggled at last year’s event.

However, he knows it’s a blank slate each year.

“Anything can happen at the Winter Cup. It’s kinda the first meet of the year for a lot of those older guys. But really it’s

anyone’s game at Winter Cup. Anyone can mess up, anyone can fall, so it’s a huge opportunity for those guys trying to make it in, and a huge opportunity for guys like me to step up,” Wiskus said.

Gophers head coach Mike Burns expressed his excitement for Moran and Wiskus, who he has seen develop from when they both started as freshman.

“I think it’s a statement of what our program is about and what’s important to our program,” Burns said. “If we wanna attract the top recruits in the country, we have to be playing at that level. I think that’s just a statement of where we’re at, our program, and what it is we’re capable of doing here.”

CROSSWORD

The Gophers cheer for a teammate during their meet against against the Fighting Illini at the Maturi Pavilion on Friday, Jan. 24. (Parker Johnson / Minnesota Daily)

SUDOKU

Last Issue’s Puzzle Solved

Last issue’s solution 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.

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

2/20/20

8

Thursday, February 20, 2020 The Como Congregational Church stands amid freshly-fallen snow on Monday, Feb. 17. The historic site faces the potential of being developed into an apartment building. (Jasmin Kemp / Minnesota Daily)

Development could oust Como church A new building could replace Como Congregational Church in summer.

BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com

Plans for a residential building in Como have been proposed, with some neighbors raising concerns over the site’s historical significance.

Representatives from Valerian LLC and HL Architects presented preliminary plans for a 9-unit residential building on behalf of property buyer Northland Real Estate Group to the Southeast Como Improvement

Association last week. The development will be aimed at students and recent graduates, but neighbors said these plans don’t justify the demolition of a historical landmark.

The site currently houses the vacant Como Congregational Church, which was built in 1886. For decades, the church was the only religious institution in the area.

“We envision being part of this neighborhood, and we want to be a good and contributing neighbor,” said Northland project developer Michael Margulies at the meeting.

The two-story building, located at 1035 14th Ave SE, would include 39 bedrooms,

10 parking spaces and bike storage facilities both in-unit and in the parking lot. Each unit would have an outside entry, and each bedroom would cost $600 to $800 per month, according to the developer’s presentation.

Neighbors have been pushing instead for the church to be renovated to serve as a theater or other cultural resource, said Larry Crawford, a Como resident living near the site.

Margulies said the development team had looked into ways to reuse the church, but determined it was not structurally sound enough for residential use.

Newly formed group Concerned Como Neighbors said the development

could harm the neighborhood character and lacks sufficient on-site parking according to an email sent to community members. The group also raised concerns over the development’s effect on less dense parts of the neighborhood.

These issues were also raised in a recent petition community members have started.

“We needed to be more organized to call attention to things, [to] present our case right away,” Crawford said, who is also a representative for Concerned Como Neighbors.

Margulies said at the meeting that based on their research, one parking space per unit is sufficient.

Representatives for the development were unable to be reached for additional comment.

“If this was more outright on Como [Avenue], I’m not sure that the residents would have been so concerned, but it’s also a building that they care about a lot,” said Ward 2 Council member Cam Gordon, who represents areas of Southeast Como.

Karl Smith, president of SECIA’s Board, said some neighbors are worried about the precedent the development could set for Como.

“Their argument is that if this gets approved, this just opens up the floodgates that developers who own multiple properties for long

blocks ... there’s nothing now [that] would be the limit to stop them from just tearing them down,” he said.

The development team hopes to start construction this summer, with the first residents coming in the fall.

“We envision being part of this neighborhood, and we want to be a good and contributing neighbor.”

MICHAEL MARGULIES Northland project developer