July 3, 2019

KAFE 421 TO CLOSE AT THE END OF THE MONTH PG 2 WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

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THE GREEK RESTARAUNT WILL CLOSE AFTER 16 YEARS

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CRIME

ADMINISTRATION

Light rail crime trend consistent with past years Some community members are worried about a perceived jump in crime around the light rail.

BY MOHAMED IBRAHIM mibrahim@mndaily.com

ILLUSTRATION BY MORGAN LA CASSE

MEET JOAN GABEL Joan Gabel assumed her new role on Monday, July 1 as the University’s first ever woman president.

BY KATRINA PROSS kpross@mndaily.com

J

oan Gabel has her snow boots lined up in her closet, ready to take on her first Minnesota winter. She’s also ready to take over as University of Minnesota president.

Gabel officially stepped into her new role Monday, following Eric Kaler’s 8-year tenure. As the 17th president and the first woman to hold the position at the University, she said she hopes to hit the ground running.

“I’m very aware of how important it is to other women particularly, but not exclusively, our students and some of our female faculty and the idea that this is absolutely doable,” she said. “So, it’s very important for me to represent that well, and to make sure that as the person who carries that through the first time, that there’s no question that every other

woman who would want to do this, every other person who would want to do this has absolute opportunity to do it and every expectation of doing it as well as anyone else.”

Most Big 10 universities have presidents that are men.

Gabel has previously served as the provost at the University of South Carolina and the dean of the University of Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business. A world traveler and a mother of three, she’s also held positions in higher education in Florida and Georgia, and previously worked as an attorney.

Since being selected as the next president, Gabel has been traveling from South Carolina to Minneapolis once or twice a month to meet with University leadership to ensure a smooth transition.

She will meet with the University’s Board of Regents next week during their annual retreat, where she and regents will

u See COLLABORATION Page 3

Many say her prior experience in higher education and personality are an asset to the University.

BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com

A

s the University of Minnesota’s new president, Joan Gabel emphasizes collaboration and shared governance as pillars in her leadership style.

Gabel’s previous experience in higher education and focus on collaboration has University stakeholders excited to work under her leadership as the University’s 17th and first female president. Gabel said she wants to optimize opportunities for students, put faculty in the best position to serve their scholarship and focus on diversity and inclusion both on campus and throughout the state.

“It’s important to remember that presidents don’t make decisions in a vacuum,” Gabel said in an interview with the Minnesota Daily. “I don’t do anything without consultation or actual vote around shared governance.”

Establishing a direction Harmonizing around the new Board of Regents to develop a clear direction is important for Gabel, ultimately creating a new system-wide strategic plan, something many regents have been clamoring for.

Creating a strategic plan is more than a final document, Gabel said, rather a collaborative process involving input from across the system.

Board Vice Chair Steve Sviggum said a strategic plan needs to have focuses both in the short and long term with overarching goals and specific steps about how to get there. He said a plan could include pretty much anything including enrollment targets, performance metrics and goals for tuition.

Gabel said tuition would ideally remain flat, but realistically, funding the institution is a co-investment between the state and students. One way to address financial constraints is to recognize staffing

HIGHER ED

Recession impact lingers in state’s higher ed funding Since the Great Recession, higher education has made up about 7% of the General Fund.

BY J. D. DUGGAN jduggan@mndaily.com

One week ago, Abdirahman Kahin, owner of local chain Afro Deli, testified to a House committee in Washington on the positive contributions immigrants can bring to communities.

When Kahin first came to Minnesota in 1997, having left the small East African country of Djibouti in 1996, he knew there was something missing in the Twin Cities food scene.

At the time, he said, there were some African restaurants but none had smaller plates and a fast-casual atmosphere.

“The food that I grew up with... Every day, I want to share [it] with everyone,” he said.

For Kahin, that meant making the prices accessible for students and the food ready for u See AFRO DELI Page 5

u See HIGHER ED Page 8

A&E

Digging in: Afro Deli joins cultures, communities and flavors For nearly a decade, Afro Deli has introduced new flavors and built a diverse community.

BY LIV MARTIN omartin@mndaily.com

TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY

u See LIGHT RAIL Page 3

With higher education among the casualties of the Great Recession, students are left to bear a larger burden of the lost revenues.

Higher education has taken up less of the state’s spending pie since the Great Recession in the late 2000s. Facing competing priorities and declining student enrollment, Minnesota’s Legislature spends less of its General Fund on higher education than most other Midwestern state governments.

“What we see in many states is that postrecession funding levels become a new normal to some extent,” said Aaron Horn, Midwestern Higher Education Compact’s vice president of policy research. “A few states have fully recovered, and Minnesota has recovered significantly, not fully.”

The state budget’s largest bank of money is the General Fund, which precludes special grants, federal funds, bonds or dollars dedicated for specific causes, like fuel taxes.

Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, said higher education was among Minnesota’s greatest cuts following the Great Recession. From 2011 to 2012, higher education spending as a portion of the General Fund was slashed from about 18 percent to about 8 percent, or $3 billion to $1.3 billion.

Since then, higher education spending, including infrastructure, has stagnated at around 7 percent of General Fund expenditures.

Besides Ohio and Illinois, Minnesota allocates less of its General Fund toward higher education than the rest of the Midwest.

North Dakota tops the list at 17 percent.

Postsecondary enrollment throughout the state has declined since peaking in 2010, cutting into another funding source: tuition.

Minnesota student enrollment fell by nearly 46,000 from 2010 to 2017.

“If you have less kids enrolled, should you be spending more money?” said Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

Thomas Sanford, finance and accountability manager for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, said economic downturns tend to see increased enrollment, while the

u See MEET GABEL Page 3

Lunch hour fills the restaurant on Friday, June 28 at Afro Deli in Stadium Village, Minneapolis.

While University of Minnesota area community members have expressed concern about safety on light rail platforms, local officials say current crime trends mirror past years.

Light rail platforms around the University have been the sight of recent violent crimes, including a June 19 assault and robbery near the West Bank station and an assault and attempted robbery in mid-May at the East Bank station. But officials say the perception of heightened criminal activity does not reflect actual crime rates.

At a June 11 safety meeting in CedarRiverside, home to two of the five stations around the University, residents voiced concerns about robberies on platforms and individuals coming into the neighborhood via the light rail and committing crimes.

MPD officials and community members at the meeting discussed gangs from St. Paul using the light rail to come into the neighborhood. MPD spokesperson Darcy Horn declined to comment on this issue, citing it as an ongoing investigation.

University professor and Prospect Park Association member Evan Roberts said the opposite side of the University campus doesn’t have many concerns about the light rail, historically and as of late.

“Largely, we’ve been working on transportation things but we occasionally have concerns brought to us about that crime and other sort of personal safety,” Roberts said.

Metro Transit Police Interim Chief A.J. Olson said 2019 year-to-date crimes at stations around the University are close in number to previous years and remain fairly low compared to downtown stations in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The University of Minnesota Police Department’s presence on campus bolsters coverage at campus-area stations, he said.

“Whenever serious crime of any kind

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1863 Arguably the most important battle of the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg ends after three days of combat.

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U advancing diabetes research Native Americans have higher rates of diabetes than any other ethnic group.

BY KATRINA PROSS kpross@mndaily.com

The University of Minnesota recently received a grant from a Native American tribe to aid the school’s diabetes research.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community gave $100,000 to a diabetes researcher at the University who is aiming to provide kidney and islet transplants without the need for anti-rejection drugs. While the research is not just tailored to diabetes in Native American communities, Natives and all individuals with diabetes will benefit.

Native Americans in particular have a greater chance of having diabetes than any other racial group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From 2013 to 2016 the number of deaths in Minnesota caused by diabetes increased by more than 100, according to the University of Minnesota Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team.

The research will focus on people who have developed kidney failure. For these patients, dialysis or kidney transplantation are the only available treatments, said Bernhard Hering, the University diabetes researcher who received the grant. The lifespan prognosis for these individuals is poor, and kidney transplants are not always readily available and require

lifelong medications which suppress the immune system to prevent rejection. Dialysis can also be a long and tiring process.

“Life-expectancy is the most impactful complication [of diabetes],” Hering said. “[Natives] haven’t been given the privilege of very good health care or education programs,” he said.

The research aims to create a treatment where these immune system-suppressing drugs are not required after kidney transplants. These medications are costly, and can also have adverse side effects, sometimes even resulting in cancer.

“Our focus is on improving outcomes and improving the safety of the treatment required to prevent kidney transplant rejection,” he said.

Diabetes in Native Americans is a sociocultural, environmental and public health problem, according to Tiffany Beckman, a University professor in the Department of Medicine, in an email.

Beckman is the first American Board of Internal Medicine certified American Indian endocrinologist in the world and is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe tribe.

Native Americans have a heightened genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes, have lost access to natural resources and do not have adequate access to care, she said.

“Diabetes resulted in [American] Indian people because of a loss of our language, land and our culture. It’s part of the continued genocide unfortunately,” Beckman said in an email.

THE PERCENTAGE OF DIABETES DIAGNOSES AMONG U.S. ADULTS 18 AND OLDER BY RACE/ETHNICITY IN 2013-2015

WOMEN MEN 15%

BY CAITLIN ANDERSON canderson@mndaily.com

Kafe 421, Dinkytown’s longtime Greek food staple, is closing its doors this summer to instead focus on the catering.

The restaurant’s last day of service will be July 31, ending a 16-year-run in Dinkytown at its current location — 421 14th Ave. SE. Owners say Kafe 421 will solely run their catering service out of the location.

“Over the years while the

restaurant has grown, so has the catering,” said Antigoni Sander, who runs the restaurant with her mother, Georgia Sander. “As life adjusts itself, we have to look at what we’re doing, and we want to make some changes, too.”

Antigoni Sander became a mother in December, and Georgia Sander, a grandmother. They are hoping to focus on their family and catering business while staying in the neighborhood.

“This will remain our hub,” Antigoni said. The Sanders’ plan to stay at the location for an indefinite amount of time to run their catering service.

The location, cozy atmosphere and sense of community drew people into the door,

5%

BY DYLAN ANDERSON danderson@mndaily.com

At the University Senate meeting in May, senators thanked then-President Eric Kaler for his work with the governing body during his eight years at the University of Minnesota. The prolonged standing ovation brought a tear to his eye.

“You’re seeing a lot of it in these last few months, as he is going through events for the last time,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Karen Hanson. “He was moved to tears at the kind of connection that he had with folks here.”

Having left Morrill Hall for the last time as president last week, Kaler leaves a University that many say is far better than what he inherited.

During his tenure, graduation rates increased, the University’s national standing improved and he tried to limit tuition increases while facing underwhelming state support.

In 2013, Kaler announced plans to reduce $90 million in administrative spending over six years after the University was criticized for administrative bloat.

“Some would say he was an engineer in that way, [regents] give him a metric and he’ll figure out how to do it,” said Regent David McMillan. “Not everyone can do that.”

While critics say the cuts are inadequate compared to the University’s nearly $4 billion yearly budget, and reducing administrative spending remains a focus for some on the board as Kaler departs, the University is on track to exceed its goal by about a million dollars this year.

About 71 percent of the class of 2018 graduated in four years, up from about 59

=

=

0% AMERICAN INDIAN/ MEXICAN HISPANIC, BLACK, ALASKAN NATIVE OVERALL NON-HISPANIC

FILIPINO

ASIAN, WHITE, CHINESE NONNONHISPANIC, HISPANIC OVERALL

SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

The research has been ongoing for several years, but the recent funding will allow the researchers to expedite and continue their work.

“Native Americans are twice as likely to suffer from Type 2 diabetes than Caucasians. The University of Minnesota Schulze Diabetes Institute is leading the way

with pioneering diabetes treatments and research – work that is crucial to these individuals and their families. Dr. Hering’s research to advance islet transplants in kidneys will improve the quality of life for many diabetes patients, and we are glad to support this important work,” said Charles Vig, the tribe’s chair, in a written

statement to the Daily.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has a long history with the University. Since 2007, the tribe has donated $17 million to the University, according to Sara Swenson, a spokesperson for the tribe.

The tribe also created the Tribal Nations Plaza at TCF Bank Stadium.

said regular Kafe 421 customers Josh Winter and Chris Cunnington.

Winter has been coming to the restaurant since 2006, in a regular, and superstitious, manner — believing that going to Kafe 421 could pull the Gophers hockey team out of a losing streak.

“It was such a flexible place. You know, you could have the dean of students there, and you could have the theater people,” Winter said.

“You could have my sister and I are rolling in, getting ready to have a couple beers, ready to go to a hockey game.”

Cunnington once worked at the Weisman Art Museum, which often catered events with Kafe 421.

“They make you just feel so much like family. They’re so wonderful and so warm,” Cunnington said. “I think it’s a shame that Dinkytown is losing an authentic place that’s not a chain [restaurant.]”

Dinkytown has seen its fair share of changes over the past years, including the closure of Espresso Royale and Vescio’s.

“We’ve definitely seen the decline of locally owned small businesses throughout the community … but at the same time, we always have to remember that there have been corporate entities within Dinkytown for decades,” said Chris Lautenschlager, executive director of the

Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association. “We’re sad to see [Kafe 421] go but happy to see that they’re entering a new phase in their life.”

For the Sanders’, Dinkytown is a place they have called home. They are excited to keep a continued presence in the area, Antigoni said.

“We very much thank the U of M community just for the ability to sustain us here for so long. We got so much energy from the student body [and] so much support from departments,” she said. “So that’s really what’s kept us grounded here ... all the many types of people from different walks of life that we get to meet.”

Former President Eric Kaler leaves his mark on the U Many think that Kaler is leaving the University better than how he found it.

EDITORIAL STAFF Max Chao Managing Editor mchao@mndaily.com Christine Ha Managing Production Editor cha@mndaily.com Michelle Griffith Campus Editor mgriffith@mndaily.com Madeline Deninger City Editor mdeninger@mndaily.com Paul Hodowanic Sports Editor phodowanic@mndaily.com Madeline Folstein A&E Editor mfolstein@mndaily.com Liv Martin Assistant A&E Editor omartin@mndaily.com Courtney Deutz Multimedia Editor cdeutz@mndaily.com Bailey Davis Copy Desk Chief bdavis@mndaily.com Emily Martens Assistant Copy Desk Chief emartens@mndaily.com Desmond Kamas Chief Page Designer dkamas@mndaily.com Morgan La Casse Visuals Editor mlacasse@mndaily.com =

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Kafe 421 to close after 16 years in Dinky They plan to focus on catering while operating out of the same location.

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

percent in Kaler’s first year as president. Each year under Kaler’s tenure, more students graduated without student debt and during his time, the median amount of debt at graduation decreased by about $2,000.

Kaler is often heralded as a talented fundraiser and works closely with the University Foundation on the Driven campaign, which has a goal to raise $4 billion, a quarter of which is for student scholarships.Foundation President Kathy Schmidlkofer said the last five years are some of the most fruitful for the foundation and the current year is on track to set a record.

Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of the Office of Undergraduate Education, pointed to access initiatives such as the President’s Emerging Scholars program, which identifies students they believe will be successful, a large percentage of whom are students of color

and first-generation students.

For many students, tuition is a central focus. While Kaler has emphasized keeping increases to a minimum, he held it flat for residents during his first three years. Still, non-resident, non-reciprocity students saw steep increases, as they will pay more than $14,000 more per year this fall than when Kaler took over.

In May, the board rejected an effort to rename several buildings on campus, a move Kaler called one of his top priorities before he stepped down.

Many have criticized the haste in which renaming was pushed by Kaler, as well as the lack of vocal support he showed for members of the task force when their academic honesty was called into question. Kaler admitted he could have “slowed the process” to allow more time for regents to engage with members of the task force.

Those working closely

with Kaler say his personality isn’t captured in prepared statements and he is a very personable, attentive and funny person.

Minnesota Student Association President Mina Kian said she was able to uniquely relate to Kaler because of their shared engineering background, often joking with each other in semesterly meetings with MSA. While his response to topics discussed with MSA depended on the issue, Kian said she was encouraged by his response to sexual misconduct problems on campus.

After listening to feedback from students, Kian said Kaler was “extremely vocal” and has made meaningful strides to “ensure that our campus is safe for students of all backgrounds.”

“Nobody finishes the job of a University president,” Hanson said. “That’s one of the things that is exciting about it.”

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3

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Meet Gabel u from Page 1

inefficiencies but acknowledge only so much can be slashed from the budget.

“You can’t cost cut your way to excellence,” Gabel said, emphasizing that too much of a focus on reducing spending can impact the quality of education.

Ian Ringgenberg, former chair of the Professional and Administrators Consultative Committee, said conversations about administrative bloat should be more precise.

P&A staff are often the focus of these conversations, and Ringgenberg said they would like to be a larger part of them and other

Collaboration u from Page 1

discuss what goals and actions should be implemented.

The systemwide strategic plan was a major talking point at last year’s board meetings. Gabel has been charged to ensure that the plan is created and implemented during her presidency. The plan will focus

Light rail u from Page 1

occurs at a light rail platform or within the area of a platform where we may be answering the call, we make sure that [UMPD] not only knows about that call but that they have all the details required ... and actually work together to solve that crime,” Olson said.

Perceived criminal activity persists occasionally due to rumors, according to Metro Transit Public Relations spokesperson Howie Padilla.

He said false reports of teenagers with metal pipes and hammers assaulting passengers on platforms circulated last month, gaining national attention. Denouncing all false reports immediately, as well as diverting resources to those areas and coordi-

discussions involving them from the start.

Building a team Sviggum said he thinks the most important first decision for Gabel is appointing a new University provost.

Executive Vice President and Provost Karen Hanson said the breadth of what the position involves makes it important that her successor is someone to whom Gabel can feel comfortable delegating vital educational duties.

Sviggum said the relationship between Gabel and the board is a team effort and regents need to have a good balance of pushback and support for her goals.

“You recognize and respect the differences that there might be, you agree to the direction that you’re going to go and then you open the door for each other’s success,” Sviggum said.

When it comes to working with the legislature, Sviggum said he thinks she will bring a whole new energy and enthusiasm to the Capitol.

Gabel said the University is unique in having a world-class experience for students, faculty doing research with top-tier funding and a state that, while may not provide all the money the University requests, is still investing in the institution. Rather than weaknesses, Gabel sees the University as having oppor-

tunity for improvement.

“To be in a really vibrant, creative economy that has really robust industry, both here in the Twin Cities and what the state does statewide in agricultural industry and otherwise is a unique vibrancy that I think could be maximized,” Gabel said.

on how to support students and faculty and will also include efforts to improve diversity and inclusion and ways to uphold the school’s mission. Gabel will work with the board to establish the plan’s priorities.

To better orient herself with her new position, Gabel will be attending a seminar at the Harvard Graduate School of Education this month.

Those who have worked

with Gabel in the past say she is well-prepared for the role as president.

At the University of S o u t h C a ro l i n a , G a b e l prioritized diversity and inclusion, and enacted a requirement that there be a diversity officer in every academic unit, said John Dozier, chief diversity officer at the University of South Carolina.

“She wanted to make sure that we were doing all

nating with other local law enforcement, help eliminate that perception, he said.

“That’s what I appreciate the most about the collaboration with the [University], specifically with the police department and being able to knock down some of those false rumors quickly,” Padilla said.

The Metro Transit Police Department has 35 to 40 officers assigned to riding the light rail and commuter train per week, and each station has between six and 20 surveillance cameras depending on its size and location, according to Padilla.

“Much of what we do is not about addressing crime, it’s about addressing the perception of how safe our passengers feel when they’re using the light rail system,” Olson said. “If we

Addressing the University’s history Faculty Consultative Committee Chair Amy Pittenger said she already has familiarity with Gabel as she was on both the search and transition committees.

From those conversations it was clear to her that Gabel valued shared governance and the role of faculty in the decision-making process.

The FCC wants to work with Gabel on initiatives to expand mental health services for students, Pittenger said, and partner with her to continue conversations about reckoning with the University’s history.

When the board rejected former President Eric Kaler’s recommendation in April to rename four campus buildings, it also charged Gabel to acknowledge the University’s history in other ways. Gabel said she wants to include many University voices in this discussion and is open to revisiting renaming if it seems appropriate.

“Renaming is a very toggle on toggle off method for addressing reckoning,”

Gabel said. “Educational programming gives us some real degrees of freedom … it gives us some real opportunities to be really creative and do more than one thing.”

Minnesota Student Association Vice President Jael Kerandi said she wants this conversation to be a collaboration and however it is done, the result is something that teaches future students about this history and isn’t just something students will pass by at orientation.

“My hope is to make sure [institutional history is] memorialized in a way that first-year students coming in 10 years are still able to understand this history,” Kerandi said.

that we can to recruit and retain underrepresented minority faculty across the university and across disciplines,” he said.

Taylor Wright, former student body president at the University of South Carolina, said he met with Gabel while she was provost about once a month, and that she wanted the interests and concerns of students to be addressed.

“Everyone was just

absolutely blown away by how poised and how really personable she is and how down-to-earth and intelligent she is at the same time,” Wright said. “She got along really well with students.”

Wes Hickman, the former chief communications officer at the University of South Carolina, knew Gabel professionally and personally while she served as provost. During her time

there, Gabel established living learning communities where students could meet and live with others who have similar career interests. He said she was also involved in the university’s strategic planning efforts.

“She’s a visionary leader, she’s somebody who understands big picture strategy and knows how to put a team together … she is student-focused all the way,” Hickman said.

“Much of what we do is not about addressing crime, it’s about addressing the perception of how safe our passengers feel when they’re using the light rail system.”

A.J. OLSON Metro Transit Police Interim Chief

can just make them have some sense of comfort while they’re coming and going, and if that’s done by just having some presence, we can do that.”

The light rail as seen on Thursday, June 20 in Minneapolis.

TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY

4

Sports

MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

FOOTBALL

Too many running backs? Not a problem Minnesota’s top four running backs have a combined total of 6,506 rushing yards.

BY JOHN MILLER jmiller@mndaily.com

The Gophers football team has a tough decision to make for the top running back spot heading into the 2019 season, but to head coach P.J. Fleck, it’s a decision he looks forward to making.

Heading into 2019, Minnesota will have four running backs with previous college experience on its roster. Trying to find playing time for all four could provide challenges for head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff, but it is a position they are glad to be in. The four running backs at the top of the depth chart have a combined total of 6,506 career rushing yards.

“Sometimes you’re saying we’re not deep enough — that’s one position we’re deep,” Fleck said. “You can call it a plethora, you can call it depth. Those are really good words for a head coach.”

The depth will be important for the team, which is all too familiar with having an injured backfield. In the 2018 season, star running back Rodney Smith suffered a torn ACL in the second game of the season and was out for the rest of the year.

Shannon Brooks, who was injured to begin the year,

DAILY FILE PHOTO

Runningback Mohamed Ibrahim breaks a tackle at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. The Gophers beat the Badgers 37-15 for the first time since 2003. only appeared in one game before getting re-injured.

Both players were awarded medical redshirts to extend their college careers for another year. Smith, now a sixth-year senior, ranks seventh on the program’s alltime rushing list with 2,962 yards and is within a thousand yards of being in second.

Brooks, a fifth-year senior,

ranks No. 15 in program history with 1,882 yards.

While Brooks and Smith were out, two newcomers were left to fill the gaps: Mohamed Ibrahim and Bryce Williams. Ibrahim racked up 1,160 yards on 202 carries last year, good for 5.7 yards per attempt and nine touchdowns. Williams averaged 4.2 yards per carry on 117

rushing attempts, giving him 502 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Williams returns this year for his sophomore season and Ibrahim returns for his redshirt sophomore season.

Fleck will likely be rotating the carries in the backfield and look to not stray too far away from how he has run the offense in the past. He

also wants to turn the running backs into weapons in the receiving game, but the goal is to keep them healthy.

“I think you got to stay true to who you are,” said Fleck. “I think having our one back system, there’s probably going to be opportunities for two backs on the field at some point. We’re going to be creative in how

we use them all and it will be a lot of fun to be able to do that.”

The running backs themselves, on the other hand, are not worried about how they will be used, which drew high praise from Fleck.

“One thing I love about that room is they’re incredibly selfless,” he said. “Rodney doesn’t care how many carries or yards he gets, same with Shannon, same with Mohamed, same with Bryce. It’s the selflessness they continue to show that whatever is good for the group, they’re going to do.”

Incoming freshmen running backs Cam Wiley from Las Vegas and Treyson Potts from Pennsylvania will also look to find playing time in the crowded backfield. Both were three-star high school players, according to 247 Sports. However, with the logjam in the backfield, they have a possibility to redshirt this season.

“We lose two backs in five months to graduation and then you want to have people behind them,” said Fleck when talking about abundance of running backs.

For a team that ran 524 times last year and only threw 346 passes, having depth at running back is a key part of the Gophers’ success.

“Can’t have enough running backs,” Fleck said. “I look forward to really good things from those guys.”

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Temi Ogunrinde hoping to “throw” her way to Tokyo The All-American will be competing internationally for the Nigerian team.

BY JOHN MILLER jmiller@mndaily.com

Temi Ogunrinde’s prolific career with the Gophers’ track and field team took a complete left turn after her first year. Despite having success as a sprinter in high school and freshman year of college, her coaches thought that she would have the most success at the hammer throw.

“The first time she touched the hammer, she was fearless,” said Gophers throwing coach Peter Miller. “She basically just spun around as best she could and let it go. That’s probably half of what it takes to be a really good hammer thrower.”

Her endless hours of training over the last five years paid off. In her last season with the Gophers as a redshirt senior, Ogunrinde was named an AllAmerican.

“I’ve worked five years for this goal — blood, sweat and tears,” Ogunrinde said.

“I gave everything I could to achieve this goal.”

Being an All-American was just one of the accolades she earned. She also won her third-straight Big Ten

title in the hammer throw and broke both the Minnesota and Nigerian national records with a throw of 68.85 meters at the NCAA Championship.

Those accomplishments would not have come to be if it were not for Miller’s coaching, Ogunrinde said.

“I think a lot of my success is a true testament to his coaching, to be honest,” Ogunrinde said. “He knew that I was all in and I knew that he had my best interest at heart, so it just created a mentorship of trust.”

Despite a career full of accomplishments at Minnesota, Ogunrinde has bigger goals and dreams in mind. She wants to be remembered for more than being a college All-American thrower.

“It’s so cool to be an AllAmerican,” Ogunrinde said. “I hope that five to ten years from now I’m not holding on to just in college I was an All-American. I’m really hoping there are bigger things down the road.”

Ogunrinde will get her chance to do bigger things.

She is planning to compete in the 12th African Games in Morocco, which take place in August. After that, she plans to head to Doha, Qatar for the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in late September.

COURTESY OF BECKY MILLER, GOPHER ATHLETICS

Temi Ogunrinde holds up a medal during the Big Ten Championship on May 12, 2017.

Both of Ogunrinde’s parents are from Nigeria, giving her eligibility to try and earn a spot on the Nigerian national team.

The big goal for Ogunrinde is to make it to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.

Her parents are already planning a trip to Tokyo to see

her compete. She’ll continue to work with Miller as she prepares to compete on the international stage.

“To go there and experience that and be on a world stage of just the top athletes, now that would be such an honor to also be one of those,” Ogunrinde

said. “Medal or no medal, I could place last and I’d be so happy. That would be a once in a lifetime experience.”

No matter where life takes her, Ogunrinde is destined for success, whether it be on the track or off of it, Miller said.

I think she would prob-

ably be done after the Tokyo Olympics next year and [will] move on to try to change the world however she wants,” Miller said.

“She’s got a degree in nonprofit and entrepreneurial management and she’ll have her master’s at that point, too.”

MEN’S GOLF

Former Gopher Tom Lehman to play in 3M Open Lehman supervised changes to the TPC Twin Cities course for the new event.

BY CHAD FAUST cfaust@mndaily.com

This weekend, the PGA Tour will return to Minnesota for the first time since the PGA Championship in 2009.

Previously part of the PGA Tour Champions, the 3M Open was recently added as an event in the regular tour for the next seven years and will be first annual stop in

Minnesota since 1969. The event will feature the No. 1 golf player in the world, Brooks Koepka, and stars like Phil Mickelson and Jason Day. But for many Minnesota fans, the most notable mention among the players will be former Gopher Tom Lehman.

Born in Austin, Minnesota, Lehman attended the University of Minnesota from 1978-1981, becoming a three-time All-American and All-Big Ten golfer. He won the 1981 Minnesota Amateur title and turned pro in 1982.

As a pro golfer, Lehman spent time as the No. 1

player in the world with tournament wins at the Tour Championship and the Phoenix Open and one major title win at the 1996 Open Championship. He was a member of three Presidents Cup teams and three Ryder Cup teams and was the captain of the 2006 Ryder Cup team.

Lehman is the only golfer in history to have been awarded the Player of the Year honor on the PGA Tour, the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour Champions.

Lehman will host events throughout the week as a special ambassador for

the tournament, and, as a course designer as well, has played a role in supervising changes made to the TPC Twin Cities course. The course has been lengthened and modified to be more competitive in order to challenge some of the world’s best players. The 3M Open begins on July 4 and will run through July 7 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

Another Minnesota native, Tim Herron, will be participating in the Open as well. Herron, born in Minneapolis, turned professional in 1993 and has four professional wins.

PAUL HODOWANIC, DAILY

Former Gopher Tom Lehman prepares for his tee shot on the 10th hole during his Monday practice round at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, on Monday, July 1.

5

MNDAILY.COM

MN DAILY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

POETRY

Encapsulating the literary talent of the incarcerated community

CULTURE TO CONSUME

BY A&E STAFF

Watch this: Bon Appétit’s “Making Perfect” series Maybe you’ve already fallen down the YouTube rabbit hole of watching Claire Saffitz try to reverse-engineer beloved junk foods, or Brad Leone explore the world of fermentation and live foods. But even if you’re new to the delightful world of the wildly popular Bon Appétit’s YouTube channel, one of their latest series, “Making Perfect,” is a great place to start. Follow the beloved Test Kitchen team on their multi-episode quest to create the perfect pizza — or at least their perfect pizza. They might even inspire you craft your own homemade pie; A&E also endorses Punch Pizza as an easy back-up option.

Read this: “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy” Artist and critic Jenny Odell’s book isn’t necessarily about doing nothing. Drawing on history, theory, art and more, she instead encourages readers to question common definitions of productivity and reconnect with their surroundings. It’s far more fulfilling than most writing on digital detoxes and deleting social media, and certainly more hopeful.

CULTURE COMPASS

BY A&E STAFF

Friday: Cat Bingo at The Cafe Meow On every first Thursday of the month, The Cafe Meow hosts a free bingo night (affectionately called ‘Catgo’). With the Fourth of July this Thursday, the event has been moved to Friday, so you can start your weekend off with a night of cats and friendly competition.

The Cafe Meow is one of the first cat cafes in Minneapolis, with half of their store dedicated to a lounge where patrons can pay an hourly rate to cuddle rescue cats available for adoption. Arrive at around 6 p.m. to get your bingo card because spots fill up quickly!

With poetry-filled gumball machines, Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop gives a voice to Minnesota inmates COURTNEY DEUTZ, DAILY

Inside a traditional glass gumball machine at Moon Palace Books is something much more valuable than a piece of gum.

For fifty cents this machine sells poetry, each plastic capsule filled with a hand-rolled scroll tied with a colorful ribbon. It is one of four machines housed in local bookstores around the Twin Cities.

Through the medium of a poem-dispensing gumball machine, which reached its one year anniversary at Moon Palace Books last Wednesday, the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop works to bridge the physical and literary gap between the incarcerated community and the general public.

The non-profit has offered creative writing classes in all of the state’s prisons, and the purchasable poems feature work written or selected by the students from the Stillwater Correctional Facility.

There are also pieces included from teachers and mentors involved with the program.

“We found that it’s really very meaningful to be able to curate this connection to the community,” said Mike Alberti, Managing Director of MPWW and University of Minnesota alumnus.

“When people in the community get a poem, it’s impossible to not at least for one moment remember that there are people in our community

COURTNEY DEUTZ, DAILY

RIGHT: A gumball machine that contains poems written by people in the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop’s program sits on display at Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 27. ABOVE: A poem from the gumball machine sits on a table at Moon Palace Books during the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop’s Gumball Extravaganza in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 27.

who are incarcerated. They come from our community [and] they’re still part of our community even though they’re largely isolated and invisible.”

Alberti said writing is one of the few ways inmates can express themselves behind bars.

For Paul Van Dyke — a student who took the first class offered by MPWW founder Jennifer Bowen Hicks in 2011, and is now on the Board of Directors — learning to express himself through writing was life-changing.

Van Dyke entered prison a heavy drinker, suffering from PTSD after serving in Iraq.

Where: The Cafe Meow, 2323 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55405 When: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Saturday: Little Mekong Night Market Inspired by the night markets of Southeast Asia, the annual Little Mekong Night market is taking place this year in the heart of the Asian business and cultural district in St. Paul.

The market seeks to celebrate the diversity and cultural mix of the Twin Cities through food, tradition and art.

Where: between Mackubin and Galtier streets along University Avenue When: 5 p.m. – midnight Cost: Free

Sunday: Women’s World Cup Final Match Viewing Party Want to enjoy women’s soccer on the “largest screen that Matthews Park has to offer”?

Head to the park for the big moment soccer fans have been waiting for. After beating England in the semifinal yesterday, the United States will play either Sweden or the Netherlands, based on the result’s of today’s match.

Bring a blanket, your pals and your loudest cheering voice.

Where: Matthews Park, 2318 29th Ave. S., Minneapolis When: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cost: Free

BY BECCA MOST | bmost@mndaily.com

President of the board of Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, Michael Kleber-Diggs, welcomes people to the second annual Gumball Extravaganza at Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 27.

Through writing and reading, he said he was able to connect with authors who shared similar feelings and experiences, which helped him open up.

“People who go into prisons go in with so much pain,” Van Dyke said. “It’s like this is a safe avenue for that to be expressed. There’s a lot of unused potential [and] this program wouldn’t be successful if it wasn’t changing people’s lives.”

MPWW has expanded from a single creative writing class to an organization with over 25 instructors who teach courses like creative nonfiction, playwriting and memoir.

The organization also

pairs incarcerated writers with prominent members of the literary community, which mentor them via mail, sending in-process writing back and forth with edits, advice and reading assignments.

“For me as a teacher, to have students who just do it because they want to … I’m always blown away by how our students engage with the assignments,” said president of the Board of Directors Michael Kleber-Diggs. “To see people who love writing take it seriously and be passionate about it is kind of amazing.”

Students in the classes have gone on to become prominent writers in Min-

nesota, like Zeke Caligiuri, whose memoir, “This Is Where I Am,” was published by the University of Minnesota Press and was a finalist for the 2017 Minnesota Book Award.

“Some of the best literature in Minnesota is being written in prisons, and I think art has this kind of unique power to express that humanity, to get across that these are people with lives and voices,” Alberti said. “All the stereotypes that we may have about incarcerated men and women — they don’t match up to this deeply nuanced, practiced, crafted poem that is being presented to me.”

DIGGING IN “Afro Deli’s culture is rooted in the belief that good food has the power to bring people together. When we sit down to eat, we share a common connection to the world.”

Afro Deli u from Page 1

people on the go.

The first Afro Deli opened in 2010 on West Bank in Cedar Riverside, near the University of Minnesota. At the beginning, exposing the community to new flavors came with some difficulty.

“My biggest challenge was how to convince people that African food is really good food,” said Kahin.

Since those first years, the business has taken off. On a recent Friday afternoon, the Afro Deli in Stadium Village was teeming with customers — a line stretching from the counter to the door and bright orange chairs filled with diners.

Orders for the “Somali Steak Sandwich,” the “Chicken Gyro,” and the vegetarian “Falafel Sandwich” were ready to go at the counter.

Kahin calls the cuisine “PanAfrican,” with influences from African, Mediterranean, and American cuisines.

Safia Suleiman was busy calling order numbers from the counter. Before she ever worked for Afro Deli, Suleiman was a regular at the former West Bank location and kindly pestered Kahin until he gave her a job. Now, she manages the catering department.

Suleiman calls her group of coworkers “La Familia.”

“There’s a quinceañera

ABDIRAHMAN KAHIN Owner of Afro Deli

TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY

Cook Danny Herrera carves lamb shawarma on Friday, June 28 at Afro Deli in Stadium Village, Minneapolis.

this weekend and I get invited, you know what I mean? It’s literally like family. That’s how close we are,” she said.

Working at Afro Deli has even helped Suleiman pick up on some Spanish and she has taught her coworkers some Somali, too.

“When you work for a small business, everyone knows you. For me, right out of college, if I had worked at

a big corporation, I probably would have felt really lost,” she said.

In the back part of the kitchen long-time employee Martina Barrera was chopping vegetables for sambusas — flaky, triangular pastries with a savory filling. She said she makes about 200 beef and 100 veggie sambusas each day.

For one diner, University first year Kaitlin Pierce, on

campus for University orientation, Afro Deli’s food holds specific importance.

“I grew up overseas in Uganda, East Africa,” she said. “The chapatis here are the closest I have found that actually taste like a street vendor in Uganda.”

There was something indescribable about the spices that felt like home, she said.

“This is just all the memories. All of my childhood

memories. Orientation was very stressful. I came here,” Pierce said. “I needed this right now.”

Afro Deli’s authentic flavors have been embraced

by Minnesotans and nonMinnesotans alike. A fourth destination is set to open soon in Downtown Minneapolis, Kahin said.

“Afro Deli’s culture is rooted in the belief that good food has the power to bring people together,” Kahin said during his testimony. “When we sit down to eat, we share a common connection to the world.”

This is the third article in “Digging In,” a series about the stories behind beloved Twin Cities restaurants.

6 WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

MN DAILY

MNDAILY.COM

Editorials & Opinions

COLUMN

Blank: U of M students need Medicare For All Students may have lost faith in politics — but free healthcare and college tuition would be a huge game-changer for UMN students.

P

olitics are becoming increasingly detached from ordinary peoples’ lives.

As a college student, watching the Democratic debates for the 2020 presidential LEW BLANK election last week columnist felt a little hopeless. At times, these dialogues didn’t seem to address the real issues University of Minnesota students are facing on a day-to-day basis.

College students are largely justified in feeling hopeless and detached from politics.

For decades politicians have made promises, but those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder have rarely reaped the benefits. Despite all the promising rhetoric, hourly wages for average workers have hardly changed since 1973, according to the Pew Research

Center, and over the past 10 years college tuition has skyrocketed.

Is there any point anymore in fighting for political causes if nothing ever seems to get fixed?

But during this election cycle, there is something worth fighting for. In my view, it seems that now more than ever, there are policies on the table that would genuinely improve the lives of all Americans — especially college students. And their effect is even more significant than you might think.

When I talk to fellow college students about the issues they’re facing, they don’t usually bring up issues like Russia’s interference in our election. Instead, they talk about the burden of their impending student debt. They talk about the mental health issues they’re facing. They talk about how their healthcare is unaffordable, forcing them to pass up doctor’s visits and therapy sessions to cut costs.

What they might not realize is just how different their lives would be — and how many of these problems would be solved — if Medicare For All and free college were implemented.

Under a Medicare For All system, students would never have to weigh their own physical health against saving money.

Instead of skipping doctor’s visits due to the costs — something that 44 percent of

COLUMN

Americans do each year, according to a 2018 Forbes article — students would visit hospitals or clinics free of charge, without worrying about deductibles, co-pays or medical debt. This would greatly improve physical health for students.

Students would also have more money in their pockets. Under Bernie Sanders’ Medicare For All plan, you would indeed pay more in taxes through an additional 2.2 percent income tax. However, this would be outweighed by the savings you’d receive from not having to pay for healthcare.

A student, for instance, who makes $10,000 in income and pays $2,000 per year for medical expenses would save approximately $2,000 every year under Sanders’ Medicare For All plan. That’s an extra $2,000 in your pocketbook that can be spent on food, housing, social outings with friends, or anything else.

Perhaps one of the most important impacts of Medicare For All, however, is its effect on student mental health.

According to the College Student Health Survey, about 32 percent of University of Minnesota students are diagnosed with anxiety and 27 percent are diagnosed with depression. Under a Medicare For All system, students would be able to receive mental health treatment without paying a dime.

There are few better ways to reduce stress

and improve academic success on campus than to provide free mental health treatment to all students.

Free college would inevitably improve student life as well. In the College Student Health Survey, nearly 11 percent of students cited “excessive debt other than credit card [debt]” as a mental health stressor. By eliminating college tuition, we can alleviate this anxiety and improve the standard of living for University students.

As we watch the ongoing Democratic debates and think about the upcoming election, we need to remember that Medicare For All and free college aren’t just esoteric policies.

They have real-world effects that can genuinely improve mental health, happiness, and well-being for students and citizens of the U.S. alike.

Medicare For All and free college aren’t just policies — they’re antidepressants, stress relievers, life-saving treatments, and earning a huge bonus from work wrapped up in one. And that is something that’s worth fighting for.

Lew Blank welcomes comments at lblank@mndaily.com.

EDITORIAL

Skoog: Inheriting a Us, them and the common dying world; fixing it ground in between with a broken system A nod to the newest distinguished professors who have helped to create a prestigious name for the University.

“What would the world look like if every person behaved like you?”

“W

hat would the world look like if every person behaved like you?”

A rhetorical question often posed to young CAROLINE SKOOG individuals, the columnist golden rule remains customary for many Americans. The beauty of the golden rule is its application of empathy to various scenarios, interpersonal and environmental.

Individual accountability emerges in creative ways when dealing with environmental concerns. For instance, the choice of paper or plastic bags, which often feels like a trick question, or the choice to carry a reusable straw. Although minor deeds, these all reflect conscious efforts to reduce one’s negative impact on the environment. A lot of these climate-conscious tips for the individual begin and end at the store. When you leave the store with groceries packed in paper, the plastic bag you passed up still exists.

Born into a world of melting chaos, Millennials, and now Generation Z, have no conception of life without climate change. Neither do most of our grandparents, since the global temperature has been rising since the start of the Industrial Era. In the first grade, I cried on Earth Day. The teacher gave a relatively light-hearted presentation on global warming, and it scared me to tears. It felt cumbersome: “How could they have let it get this bad?”

I thought, not quite sure who “they” were.

My teacher calmed me down by letting me know I could help the situation: buying ecofriendly light-bulbs, choosing paper over plastic and drinking from a reusable water bottle.

We learn at an early age that the most powerful thing about us is our status as consumers.

Employing the golden rule, it’s difficult to understand one’s agency in climate change. We were born into a decaying environment, given plastic happy meal toys and plastic foam take-out boxes, only to learn that this inherited lifestyle perpetuates the problem.

We are responsible for undoing the insurmountable damage of administrations and corporations. These institutions are treating climate change like it’s a “check engine” light when the car is already on fire.

The current administration has completed nine rollbacks on policies meant to regulate the drilling and oil extraction industry, such as loosening offshore drilling regulations, according to a June New York Times piece. It’s also altered dozens of other

federal policies protecting the environment, in effect, easing up on fossil fuel corporations. However, offshore drilling feels especially relevant as new, considerably larger estimates of an oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico were announced last week. What was initially thought to be releasing three to four gallons of oil a day has actually been leaking up to 4,500 gallons into the ocean each day.

How did Dawn brand themselves before hosing oil off of ducks?

I cannot fathom living in a world that isn’t dying — because I never have. Similarly, I can’t propose any economic plans or fleshed-out strategies to solve this because there is no point in history that has the answer; we are the products of a system that enabled assured destruction, that gave us problems and no answers. It’s difficult to make sense of the world when all you understand is your culpability in its destruction and your obligation to fix it.

“We are responsible for undoing the insurmountable damage of administrations and corporations. These institutions are treating climate change like it’s a ‘check engine’ light when the car is already on fire.”

I still feel as snot-nosed and helpless as Earth Day in first grade. I think most of the population does too, considering broadcast networks’ coverage of climate change dropped 45 percent last year, according to a study by Media Matters for America.

On the other hand, the first two democratic debates including climate change as a subject is a glimmer of hope compared to the blatant lack of coverage during the 2016 presidential election.

However, it isn’t enough.

I understand, as the generation who will face the brunt of climate change and all of its uncertainties, that it’s up to us. Reusable straws and tote bags are a nice Band-Aid, but the barriers in place to keep individuals out of the overall decision-making regarding industry-scale contributions are undeniable.

It’s time for drastic measures. In order for younger generations to implement policies, take action, and combat climate change as well as its impacts, we need to have a framework or direction to point to. We need people in power practicing what they’re preaching, and we need them to preach about alternative energy sources – fast.

THE EDIT ORIALS AND OPINIONS DEPAR TMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE NEW SROOM

Caroline Skoog welcomes comments at cskoog@mndaily.com.

Broadening our focus Being a professor is not simply showing up to class before everyone else to turn on the projector and spout words for over an hour. Imagine giving that dreaded endof-the-semester, fifteen-minute-long PowerPoint presentation with three of your groupmates. Now, imagine multiplying your presentation time by four, giving it thirty-two times, and doing it by yourself.

That’s what our professors do.

Far too often our perspectives as students compel us to focus on student achievements, while the achievements of our professors -- the ones who impart onto us the knowledge that enables us to attain said achievements -- can become evermore disconnected from our day-to-day thought processes.

Accomplishments, in general, are to be celebrated. And yes, many students are quick to praise, or disparage, that one professor who they liked most, for reasons that range from optional attendance and lenient grading to being funny and easy to understand.

But, as many of us can and should also admit, this type of praise for our professors is superficial, because it is everything short of parsimonious and nothing more than a dereliction of an awareness of the plight of our professors. They also have to meet deadlines, experience writer’s block and appease superiors, all while trying to maintain their own mental health and a healthy work-life balance.

We also have to factor in more responsibilities for our professors, such as conducting research, often times multiple projects at once, building a scholarly reputation with other professors, preparing lecture material and grading.

We should be broadening our focus to think more about and recognize the outstanding professors at our University.

Becoming a Distinguished McKnight University Professor In March, the newest Distinguished McKnight University professors were announced. The professors are Deborah A. Ferrington, Christy L. Haynes, Susan D. Jones, Richard M. Lee, Vuk Mandic, SangHyun Oh, and Kevin D. Wickman.

Earning the distinction of a Distinguished McKnight University professor is somewhat akin to the dean’s list — except that it’s for professors, and it’s far more selective, rigorous and prestigious.

It involves a lengthy application process in which, according to the application materials, a mid-career faculty member is to be nominated by their department head or chair, department nomination committee chair, or collegiate associate dean or dean. Also required are up to six letters of recommendation.

While similar to many awards meant to celebrate individual accomplishments, this award is steadfast in recognizing professors who have helped to make a name for the University.

The award emphasizes metrics such as distinction and prestige that the professor’s work brings to the University, their national and/or international reputation, and how their work and reputation are identified with the University.

Us, them and the common ground between Even though we focused on the Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, the main takeaway is not to harp on this particular award, per se, but rather to broaden our focus just enough to think about and recognize the outstanding professors at our University.

In many ways, professors and students

are similar — they read things they don’t want to but have to; they have to write even at times when they are uninspired to do so and they also have intertwining responsibilities and commitments that compete with their productivity.

As much as professors might seem to work and operate in a far distant universe, their plight parallels ours in many ways.

And although we might not realize it, there is plenty of common ground between us and them.

“As much as professors might seem to work and operate in a far distant universe, their plight parallels ours in many ways.

And although we might not realize it, there is plenty of common ground between us and them.”

There are many different professors who are important to many of us in different ways. The McKnight Distinguished University Professor award is not the sole indicator of who may or may not be outstanding, as there are countless professors who have affected us in different ways.

At this time, let’s assiduously recognize the newly-announced Distinguished McKnight University professors, as wells as the outstanding professors and mentors who have inspired us.

We should take notice of their arduous commitment to their profession, the reputation of the University and the success of their students. Let’s refresh our minds and humble ourselves in light of those who came before us and continue to forge the path for us.

The list of past and present recipients and information about them can be found at the University’s Scholars Walk website, which celebrates award-winning faculty and students at the University.

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.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

MN DAILY

HOROSCOPES

Today’s Birthday (7/3): Go for the gold this year. You and a partner make a powerful team. A summer spotlight shines your way before you overcome a challenge together. Your connection deepens to new levels next winter, prompting a shift in your self-image. Practice for love, happiness and strength.

MNDAILY.COM

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Written by Nancy Black

Aries (3/21 - 4/19): Today is an 8 — Fill your home with love. Enjoy household projects with Venus in Cancer over about 35 days. Focus on family and make household improvements.

Libra (9/23 - 10/22): Today is an 8 — Watch for career advances. Take on new responsibility, with Venus in Cancer over four and a half weeks. Assume authority.

Taurus (4/20 - 5/20): Today is an 8 — Research and studies lead to fascinating discoveries.

You love learning with Venus in Cancer. You’re especially creative and brilliant.

Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21): Today is a 7 — It’s easier to venture forth with Venus in Cancer. Set goals, and plan a trip. Travel comes easier. Get involved in a fascinating study.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/21): Today is a 9 — The next four and a half weeks can get profitable with Venus in Cancer. It’s easier to make money. Get into your productive zone.

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21): Today is a 9 — Find a sweet deal. Review the numbers with Venus in Cancer. This phase favors saving and growing money into shared accounts.

Cancer (6/22 - 7/22): Today is an 9 — Discover fresh passion. Enjoy fun with family.

Your luck in love improves with Venus in your sign for just over a month.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19): Today is an 8 — Partnerships come easier this month with Venus in Cancer. Compromise comes easier.

Rely on mutual support.

Leo (7/23 - 8/22): Today is a 7 — Make plans, finish old jobs and rest with Venus in Cancer.

Consider dreams and fantasies. Savor quiet time. Keep secrets and prepare your agenda.

Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18): Today is an 8 — Practice to grow your heart, with Venus in Cancer. Find passion in your work. Health, beauty, creativity and profit come together.

Virgo (8/23 - 9/22): Today is a 9 — You’re especially popular over about 35 days with Venus in Cancer. Group efforts go well. Get out in public. Social activities benefit your career.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/20): Today is an 8 — You’re attractive with Venus in Cancer. The game is getting fun. Artistic efforts work in your favor.

Create beauty. Your muse sings to you.

DR. DATE Dr. Date,

I’ve dated guys in all lines of work, but I think my boyfriend’s job is becoming the focus of our relationship. We met on Tinder, where his picture was him with a Corvette and his bio was “ask me how I got this car.» I thought it was some clever line he would then use in our DM’s, so I messaged him. All he said was that he earned it through his company and asked if I wanted to go get coffee to talk about it.

Our date went really well, and he talked a lot about how he started his own business with some help through another company. I was super impressed!

I started complaining about how little I get paid at my on-campus job and his eyes lit up. He immediately asked if I wanted to be my own boss and started going on about how “you get paid to be on your phone!” I was hesitant, so every time he’s asked, I said ‘maybe’ on the next date.

Anyways, we’ve been going out for a while, and I’m getting really concerned.

He keeps talking about his “upline,» aka boss, pushing him to find more workers. He’s always on his phone texting his “team,” and told me I just wouldn’t understand because I’m not my own boss. And last night during sex, he moaned “Vector!» I don’t know what’s going on. What can I do to make him focus on me instead of work?

—Not an Entrepreneur

Dear Not an Entrepreneur,

Ummm, I think you’re just worried because you haven’t tried the right blend of essential oils I sell. Wanna become a fellow boss babe and work from home with no experience necessary?

Okay, okay, I’ll just tell it to you straight: I think your “boyfriend” is actually just trying to recruit you for a multi-level marketing scheme. While people can make money from them, it’s incredibly rare, and a lot of these companies prey upon innocent college students trying to find a job that fits with their class schedule. Save yourself a lot of time and money and tell him you’re not interested at all — if he still persists, maybe he does like you. But if he stops scheduling coffee shop dates and only messages once a week about a different unique business opportunity, I’m sorry to say you weren’t meant to be on each others’ super successful team. Trust me, you dodged an emoji-filled bullet — have

you ever seen MLM sellers’ Facebook posts?

— Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

I knew since the day I met my girlfriend that she was attempting to be a screenwriter — what else would you expect from the person sitting next to you at a 35mm screening of some foreign film in a local theater? When we got food after the show, we fell head over heels for each other while discussing common tropes in rom-coms and how 500 Days of Summer is totally overrated. After six months, I’m pretty sure she’s my soulmate.

However, I’m not super sure she feels the same way about me. See, ever since we started dating, she’s been writing a new script that she refuses to show me. I snuck a peek last week when she was asleep, only to see it’s a dramatized depiction of our relationship — except throughout the entire thing, the main character has been debating whether or not to break up with her boyfriend. The only reason why the character hasn’t done it is because her boyfriend is great inspiration for her screenplay!

Now I’m afraid that if we break up, I’ll end up being depicted as an asshole by some better-looking Hollywood star in five years. How do I tell her this isn’t okay without fueling her creative genius?

—Romantic Inspiration

Dear Romantic Inspiration,

Not going to lie, your girlfriend’s plan is a little genius — work on a screenplay throughout the relationship, then ease the pain with millions when she sells it after the breakup. If only I could turn Dr. Date messages into Oscar-worthy romcoms…

Honestly, I don’t think you can win here. While you can certainly ask her to stop detailing your love life on paper, you can’t control what she writes. However, you can tell her it’s a deal breaker and see what happens then. Be reassured that your breakup will most likely be perfectly average (i.e.: boring) — as long as you keep things dull and tell her it’s not her, it’s the movie, your character will be stuck in her Google Drive for years to come.

— Dr. Date

Want advice from the love doctor? Email Dr. Date at drdate@mndaily.com

SUDOKU CROSSWORD

Last Issue’s Puzzle Solved Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

7/3/19

For strategies on how to solve sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.

Last issue’s solution

© 2019 Michael Mepham. Distributed

by Tribune Media Services.

All rights reserved.

8

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Meet Sporty’s longtime ‘karaoke mom’ Deanna Baxter will continue her karaoke legacy at the location with Como Tap.

BY IMANI CRUZEN icruzen@mndaily.com

Last month’s news that Sporty’s Pub and Grill would close at the end of June sparked reactions from many loyal customers, in part due to connections they’ve developed with staff.

Deanna Baxter, who ran karaoke at Sporty’s for almost seven years before its closing on June 30, said her phone has filled up with new contacts and friends since she started at the bar. Baxter, by her own account, isn’t someone who likes to stand

Higher ed u from Page 1

opposite is true during upswings — and as enrollment falters, funding needs grow.

“Tuition revenue goes up when the economy’s doing not-so-great because more students are enrolling,” Sanford said. “It’s at the same time when those enrollments are increasing that the state budgets are likely to be at their weakest point in a period of recession, and the state’s able to do the least in terms of supporting public higher education.”

At peak enrollment in 2010, tuition overtook state appropriations as a larger part of Minnesota higher education budgets for the first time, according to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact’s 2017 Higher Education in Focus Report.

“The ongoing discussion should have been that if we are making cuts, and we are doing these types of tuition increases, what’s the impact?” Pelowski said. “And I think now we have a rather

behind her equipment and not interact with patrons.

“That’s just my personality; I want to interact with everybody,” Baxter said.

With a thick songbook covering multiple genres, karaoke nights have built up their own regular attendees.

They’ve also created lasting relationships. Baxter introduced two couples at Sporty’s, she said, and some of the staff and patrons even call her mom.

“I view her like a second mom,” said karaoke regular Shane Sheridan. “She’s my karaoke mom, that’s what I call her.”

Every Wednesday and Friday, Baxter hosted karaoke at Sporty’s, adding in games like roulette karaoke and jackpot karaoke. She also took her own turns at

the microphone to keep the audience interested.

“She’s always trying to encourage people to sing — even those that are shy, or those who maybe haven’t sung before,” said former Sporty’s bartender and server Seth Hynes-Marquette.

“And she understands that when the staff gets involved, the audience gets involved, too.”

Singing in front of strangers can be intimidating, but Baxter said she tried to help people see how much fun it can be. Former University of Minnesota student Grace Baldwin said Sporty’s was a good place to meet up with friends and sing karaoke.

“It’s just fun to put yourself out there. There’s not even people necessarily listening and judging every-

vivid picture of the impact: record student debt.”

With fewer students, state dollars go further per student.

Minnesota’s appropriations per student have increased nearly 36 percent from fiscal years 2013-2018, the highest in the Midwest, according to the 2018 State Higher Education Finance report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

State appropriations have risen for programs like K-12 education and Health and Human Services since the recession, which, unlike the University, the Legislature is constitutionally obligated to fund.

These programs also have limited funding sources, leaving the responsibility to the Legislature to keep them afloat. But lawmakers are “fully aware” higher education funding can always fall back on tuition, said Regent Steve Sviggum, former Minnesota Speaker of the House.

Draheim said he has been pushing Minnesota higher education to be innovative and make internal cuts be-

cause K-12 and healthcare needs are growing.

“We have an aging population. We have the silver tsunami, whatever you want to call it,” he said. We’ll have a statistical deficit of people entering the workforce.”

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association found while state appropriations are stabilizing, state funding for higher education has only halfway recovered from the Great Recession.

As the University consistently works within strained resources, officials will continue adjusting to the state’s competing priorities without compromising the school’s mission.

“Costs go up every year just to maintain our current scope, let alone to enhance programming and services - and with limited increases in state support and justifiable goals to hold tuition down, we must look to efficiency gains and spending cuts to balance the budget,” said Julie Tonneson, University budget director, in an email. “I don’t see that scenario changing in the near future.”

CHRIS MCNAMARA, DAILY

Deanna Baxter laughs at a song request at Sporty’s Pub and Grill on Wednesday, June 26 for karaoke night.

thing you do,” Baldwin said.

“It’s just a good time to have a good night, express yourself. Put on a song you love and be with your pals.”

Staff and customers sometimes call Baxter “Dee” or “Mama Dee.” Others confide in her about their lives.

Baxter said that’s the type

of close connection she has built with those in the neighborhood.

“That means you left your mark, you made an impression with them,” Baxter said. “So it’s nice to know that you are welcome.”

Baxter, who also DJs and hosts karaoke at other events, said the weeks leading up to Sporty’s closure were somber.

But this isn’t the end of Baxter’s time in Como. Como Tap is expected to open in Sporty’s former location in August, where she will continue to do karaoke on the same nights.

“A lot of people call this place home — or called this place home — because of her, and I think it would be a mistake not to invite her back,” Sheridan said.

THE PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUNDS SPENT ON HIGHER EDUCATION BY STATE

17.04 ND

7.37 MN

10.72

15.18 SD

WI

17.46

15.52

11.61

NE

MI

IA

7.37

6.92

12.09 KS

MORE THAN 10%

IL

IN

OH

9.84 MO

12.12

LESS THAN 10%

NOTE: THE FUNDS SPENT ON HIGHER EDUCATION ARE CAPITAL-INCLUSIVE SOURCE: STATE EXPENDITURE REPORTS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BUDGET OFFICERS