May/June 2011

New gallery exhibit features textile installation

The planning continues for a student center

New foods at “The Great Minnesota Get-Together”

page 11

page 4

page 12

METROPOLITAN THE

The

Metropolitan

State

University

Student

Newspaper

Volume 19 Number 9 May/June 2011

Governor Dayton visits campus to hear concerns on legislative budget

SHELAGH CONNOLY

Connsh@go.metrostate.edu

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton attended a roundtable discussion in the Ecolab room of the library at Metropolitan State University on Wednesday, April 13. For more than 90 minutes, the governor sat in rapt attention as students, administrators and professors from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system and schools gave testimony about the Republican majority’s proposed legislative budget. This budget has massive spending cuts—which Governor Dayton considers “draconian”—to Minnesota’s higher education system.

MnSCU Chancellor James McCormick, in referencing the Democrat governor’s budget— which has painful cuts of its own—quipped, “I never thought in my professional career I’d be thanking the governor for a cut.”

Metropolitan State President Sue Hammersmith talked about the difficulties students face with tuition increases, the implications of eliminating academic programs and the challenges of dealing with cuts that only a few years ago “would have been unthinkable.”

The event was standing room only with the governor taking the lead in rearranging chairs to accommodate those in attendance.

Some of the attendees held signs, including Metropolitan State professor Alison McGhee, which read “YEE-HAW! Minnesota: Falling

DEA PRICE

Pricede@go.metrostate.edu

Governor Dayton listening to a testimony about the proposed legislative budget on April 13 at Metropolitan State.

Photo courtesy of mn.gov.

behind Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas in higher education funding.”

At times the roundtable discussion verged on the hyperbolic. University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks railed at the Republican proposed budget. “This is a race to the bottom,” Bruininks said. Thomas Trehus, 20, a sophomore at the University

of Minnesota’s Twin Cities Campus, said the deep cuts would be “devastating to students.”

Governor Dayton weighed in saying that the Republican proposed cuts would have “terrible consequences.”

Metropolitan State sociology professor Monte Bute invoked Governor Wendell Anderson’s epic 159-day battle in the 1971 legislative

session, which resulted in financing reform for fair distribution in taxation and education that became known as the “Minnesota Miracle.”

This legislative accomplishment put Governor

Dayton visits campus continued on page 6

Metropolitan State students rally at U.S. Capitol

Just in time to see the beginning of cherry blossom season at our nation’s capital city, fellow student senator Jahan Powell and I went to the 42nd annual United States Student Association (USSA) Grassroots Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. this March.

The four-day event focused on discussing

issues students face on a federal level and preparing students to lobby their lawmakers on policies that affect students nationwide.

Students worked on perfecting their lobbying skills throughout the conference and focused on two main initiatives. The first was in support of the Dream Act, a proposed

Dea Price and fellow student senator Jahan Powell at the 42nd annual United States Student Association Grassroots Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Dea Price.

piece of legislation that would ensure in-state tuition rates for undocumented state-resident students. The Dream Act would also make federal loans and work-study programs available to these students and provide a pathway to citizenship. The Act would grant conditional legal status for up to six years and permanent legal status upon graduation or two years of U.S. Military service.

The second initiative was in opposition to House Continuing Resolution 1 (HR1), which reduces the maximum Pell Grant award by $845, eliminates funding for the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and cuts $25 million in funding from the Federal TRiO Program.

In conjunction with the cuts on both the federal and state levels (43 states have either cut their higher education budget, raised tuition and fees, or both, since 2008), USSA’s rallying slogan was WTF?—Where’s The Funding? The idea behind the tagline was to have something eye- and ear-catching, to get legislators’ attention, to remind them that continued funding for higher education needs to be a priority and that cuts to needed programs hurt us all.

In addition to getting ready for the rally at the Capitol on the last day, the conference consisted of many learning and networking opportunities. We had daily regional meetings where we could meet in smaller groups to discuss the issues facing students from nearby

states. The Great Lakes region consisted of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.

We learned that students in Michigan and Wisconsin are also facing large budget cuts at the state level and we discussed what strategies students from many campuses around the region use to involve students, increase awareness of issues and organize Capitol rallies in each state.

Each student also had the opportunity to attend a number of workshops and national coalition meetings throughout the weekend.

Some of the workshops included strategy development, black youth civic engagement, effective fundraising, coalition building, voter registration and amplifying student voices in the media. There were also informational sessions on topics such as the Dream Act, student voting, student autonomy and college completion. Throughout the weekend, the National Women Student Coalition, the National Queer Student Coalition and the National People of Color Student Coalition also held meetings.

After all those great meetings and workshops, you might wonder if we had the energy to march to the Capitol and hold our rally.

Indeed we did! The 400-plus participants of the conference gathered on the morning

Students rally

continued on page 2

Page 2 May/June 2011

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

Same-sex marriage: the fight for marital equality

RENEE NOREN

Norere@go.metrostate.edu The United States has broken through several walls of discrimination on the march towards equal rights in the last century. Americans have found victories with the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Thirteenth Amendment in 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. When looking ahead to the next step towards equality in the United States, many Americans would agree that the repeal of the “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) is the next stepping stone toward equal rights for all citizens. DOMA—a law that was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 which clarified that the federal government defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman—is arguably restricting the “pursuit of happiness” granted to each American in the Declaration of Independence. The Act limits equal rights for an estimated eight billion gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans living in the United States.

One of many campaigns working to gain equal rights for gays, lesbians and bisexuals is Freedom to Marry. The movement began in 2003 and was led by civil rights attorney Evan Wolfson in an effort to overturn DOMA. Wolfson, who is considered the “architect” of the national marriage equality movement, has helped spearhead the campaign— which is partially responsible for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District

of Columbia. Freedom to Marry’s mission is to “win homophobia and toward full equality for gay, marriage in states and educate the public about why lesbian, bisexual and transgender people,” is the freedom to marry matters to same-sex couples working to make the legalization of same-sex and their families.” marriage transpire in our state.

Currently, 45 states The movement seems exclude same-sex couples to be progressing month under the definition of by month. In December, marriage. This prevents President Obama signed the gay community from the repeal of the “don’t accessing over a thousand ask, don’t tell” policy, federal protections and ending the practice of responsibilities which banning gays, lesbians, are granted to traditional and bisexuals from married couples and their serving openly in the families. According to military. Shortly after the Freedom to Marry’s Web repeal, at his year-end site, Minnesota is home news conference on Dec. to over 14,000 same-sex 22, 2010, Obama said, couples and Minneapolis “[My] feelings about this has one of the largest are constantly evolving. I populations of same-sex struggle with this. I have couples in the nation. people who work for OutFront Minnesota has over 50,000 supporters.

In Minnesota, the state me, who are in powerful, Photo courtesy of www.outfront .org. legislature has blocked strong, long-lasting gay several attempts to write or lesbian unions. And discrimination of same-sex couples into the state they are extraordinary people, and this is something constitution since 2004. Along with Freedom that means a lot to them and they care deeply to Marry, OutFront Minnesota, an organization about.” He continued by stating that, “At this for “moving the state toward the elimination of point, what I’ve said is, is that my baseline is a strong

Erin Wilson—ballerina and mathematician

LINDA A. WILLIAMS

Willi@go.metrostate.edu

Metropolitan State University math professor Erin Warn Wilson approaches ballet the same way she approaches her teaching career: “[You] can’t skip steps in either or you will not have a complete product,” Wilson said.

Just like making sure a finger is in alignment with the body for a dance routine to satisfy the thirst for beauty in choreography, it is important to make sure mathematical calculations are accurate to solve math problems.

According to Wilson, handling one problem at a time and realizing there is not always a solution to every problem is a reasonable approach to handling life’s challenges, too.

According to Amber Nicosia, a biology major at Metropolitan State, “After avoiding math courses at previous institutions, I was hesitant coming into my first day of Math 98. I am happy to say that at midterm, my grade is within the A range. I enjoy attending class and that is thanks to the thorough and gentle-natured approach to teaching that Erin provides.”

Student Kim Nguyen said, “Erin is a great professor. She is able to personally help students in every way. She has also been patient with students that need extra help. She is able to provide great examples and help me refresh my memory of math

DIANA NEUERBURG

Neuedi@go.metrostate.edu

that I had in high school!”

At the beginning of each class, Wilson reviews math homework. This is followed by a lecture that breaks down mathematical concepts, from oldschool to new-school, and from textbook theory to practical application (like employing the old symbols used for designating a segment of a line graph versus the currently acceptable way of doing it—or illustrating how the distributive property of mathematics can help students appropriately group problems and solve them in an efficient manner).

The group session is followed by individual tutoring by the instructor in which Wilson designates time with students—up to one hour after class. On occasion, she is known to stay later.

Wilson’s interest in dual careers began early in life. She cites a childhood experience of answering math questions from her father when traveling from one point to another. Out of those encounters, her understanding and love of mathematics was born.

This is Wilson’s first semester of teaching mathematics. Previously, she worked as a math tutor at Metropolitan State where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2007. She still is a ballet dancer and a ballet instructor. Her next performance is at the Fitzgerald Theater on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. in

Wilson spends time helping a student.

Photo by Linda Williams

“Don Quixote” with Ballet Minnesota in St. Paul.

Those interested in attending the performance can find ticket information at www.balletminnesota.org/.

Librarians explore e-book option

With e-readers gaining popularity, Metropolitan State University librarians decided to look into the new technology as a viable option for students. In fact, in the last year or so, librarians at Metropolitan State purchased several brands of e-readers, including Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook, as well as Apple and Sony products. They wanted to become familiar with these devices and examine them for any potential uses in the library. For example, they could have several e-readers available for students to check out. Librarians at Metropolitan State recognize the convenience and sense of instant gratification that e-readers offer.

However, they ultimately decided against it—for now. Alec Sonsteby, reference librarian, said that at this point, there aren’t very many academic publications available for e-readers. In addition, Sonsteby said the market is rather new and “in flux,” so they want to wait and see where it goes.

Sonsteby said, “Even the publishers are still trying to figure this marketplace out.” Furthermore, e-readers are currently not set up for library use in academia, but rather for individual buyers looking to read popular best-sellers.

For now, Sonsteby says the library will continue to offer e-books accessible via a Web browser. The library currently offers several databases, like Gale

Virtual Reference, Oxford Reference Online and Credo Reference, which offer full-text reference materials. While these are not accessible via e-readers, they are digitized materials that Sonsteby says can be more easily updated, as opposed to print reference materials. In addition, these online reference materials have a similar convenience factor as the e-readers. If, in the future, publishers offered more academic e-books, Metropolitan State may look into this option again.

Sonsteby said that while he thinks this new technology is convenient and growing in popularity with social networking sites for readers (like LibraryThing and Good Reads), he personally prefers an old-fashioned tangible book. He noted that with e-books, unlike old-fashioned books, the buyer is not paying for the book, but the license to read the book. Because one is buying a license, this is something that is subject to change. Sonsteby said he fears that this may demonstrate “planned obsolescence,” a term that means companies build products to have shorter life spans so that people need to re-purchase the product. Sonsteby also noted the lack of privacy in reading e-books. He said that a company like Amazon can know when one reads, how fast one reads, what pages one has bookmarked, etc.

Sonsteby said his concerns about e-books are

more about accessibility than romanticizing oldfashioned books. However, he also said, “Books have been a way to show what you’re interested in or to make a statement about yourself.” He offered the example of an advertisement for a law firm.

Often times, there will be a wall of legal textbooks behind the lawyer as he/she speaks. He says that this is done for a reason – to send a particular message to the viewers. In addition, he said that the books on display in one’s home make a statement to guests who see them. These statements will effectively be silenced by the advent of e-books, when one can possess many in one device.

This ambivalence about the nature of e-reading is shared by many. However, despite peoples’ conflicted personal feelings about e-books, Sonsteby and the rest of the library staff will continue to provide and expand e-book offerings accessible via the Web, as well as investigate the evolving e-book marketplace and e-reader technology for potential adoption in the future.

For information on e-readers in libraries, contact Alec Sonsteby at alexander.sonsteby@metrostate. edu. Downloadable e-books are available from local libraries, including the St. Paul Public Library at www.sppl.org/ebooks/ and the Hennepin County Public Library at www.hclib.org/pub/search/ Downloads.cfm.

civil union that provides them the protections and the legal rights that married couples have. And I think—and I think that’s the right thing to do.

But I recognize that from their perspective it is not enough, and I think is something that we’re going to continue to debate and I personally am going to continue to wrestle with going forward.”

Just several months after Obama’s comments on his “evolving” opinions, Attorney General Eric Holder said that after the President’s review of his recommendation, he concluded that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional and instructed that the Department not defend the statute any further.

According to LifeSiteNews.com, in late 2011, Census officials will, for the first time, release the raw state-by-state data on the number of samesex couples that claimed their relationship status as “husband or wife.” Considering the changing political climate and the growing importance of repealing the DOMA, the months between now and the 2012 election is likely to make same-sex marriage a hot issue in the coming presidential debates.

For more information on Freedom to Marry or to sign the Majority for Marriage pledge, visit www.freedomtomarry.org. To find out more about getting involved with OutFront Minnesota, visit www.outfrontminnesota.org.

Student rally

continued from page 1 of Tuesday, March 22 armed with t-shirts, signs, slogans and caffeine, and marched from the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel near the Washington Monument to a park about a block away from the Capitol. With the press in tow, we heard from a number of students speaking about their personal experience on why the Dream Act is so important to them and why Pell Grant funding is essential to students achieving their educational goals. We also heard from community leaders who understand the fundamental need for quality, affordable higher education and recognize that education should be a right, not a privilege. The speeches and the rally were very moving and inspiring. They helped solidify in our hearts and minds why we came this far—to have our voices be heard and our message sent to the legislators who write public policy and decide on our nation’s budget.

Unfortunately, Congress was on recess during the conference, so we had to send our messages to our legislators through their staff people.

Jahan and I met with Senator Amy Klobuchar’s higher education advisor and Representative Keith Ellison’s legislative assistant to thank them for being past champions for student issues and higher education funding.

We also asked for their support in passing the Dream Act and stopping any further cuts to higher education through HR1. Though we were not able to get appointments with their staff members, we also stopped by the offices of Senator Al Franken and Representatives Betty McCollum and Erik Paulsen and dropped off information about USSA and our positions on the two initiatives.

The USSA Grassroots Legislative Conference was a great opportunity for networking with students from around the country and gaining a fresh perspective on many issues facing students today, as well as a chance to refine the lobbying skills we have learned in the past and to meet with advisors to our legislators. The march and rally were inspiring reminders that students have a powerful voice that can be used to effect important change if we join forces and work together.

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

The education and labor debate continues

May/June 2011 Page 3

SHELAGH CONNOLLY

Connsh@go.metrostate.edu

On April 4, Metropolitan State University’s Inter-faculty organization (IFO) braved a cold and windy afternoon to mark the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The IFO—along with other labor unions including the SEIU, Teamsters, AFSCME, Education Minnesota and MAPE—gathered to support each other in efforts to preserve the hard-won union rights of Minnesota’s educators and public workers.

The union members and their supporters marched from the lawn of the St. Paul Cathedral to the front steps of the Capitol in a show of force against the current legislative onslaught of budget cuts targeting Minnesota’s social safety net, public education system and public labor unions.

The new Republican majority in the Minnesota House and Senate has crafted an omnibus-spending bill with cuts to education, social services and public unions that Governor Dayton described as “draconian.” For example, MnSCU’s IFO is facing budget cuts that will dramatically decrease their wages and basic benefits.

The IFO made significant compromises in an earlier labor contract with the State of Minnesota resulting in a decrease in benefits as well as a pay cut. For more information on the IFO, visit www.ifo.org.

Metropolitan State faculty member Monte Bute was among the protesters. “I’m here to raise hell,” he said, with his signature goodnatured laugh.

Many labor unions and their supporters maintain that the Minnesota Republican branch of the legislature’s proposed cuts are not about balancing the state’s budget. Rather, the proposed spending bill shows an ulterior motive, the decimation of the public unions by a series of systematic blows to collective bargaining. That is, the right to sit down and talk or negotiate with the legislature about their labor contracts.

Before the march, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman addressed the gathering crowd on the Cathedral lawn. “We’ve got to always remember, it was labor that made this country strong,” he said. “It was labor that made Minnesota great.”

A bagpipe player clad in traditional kilt, alongside the St. Paul firefighters color guard led the way for the nearly 3,000 protesters as they marched down John Ireland Boulevard to the steps of the Capitol chanting “We are one!”

The speakers at the rally included SEIU member

Kate Lynch, an LPN from HealthPartners. Ms. Lynch addressed the crowd from the front steps of the Capitol. “Today, we honor the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Memphis sanitation workers,” she said. “Like they did a generation before, we are standing together to speak a bold truth to those who would use their power to attack workers. That bold truth is that we are one. We are one when we stand up to those in power who want to scapegoat us for the economic disaster we all know was created by Wall Street recklessness and CEO greed. We are one when we stand up to the attacks by Republican governors around the country on our friends and neighbor. The direct assaults on our communities has shaken us out of our slumber and reminded us that when we come together as one, we are a powerful force for justice. Looking across this crowd tonight, I can see that the attacks have ignited what Dr. King called ‘a dangerous unselfishness’…a willingness to say we are each other’s keeper and that we know that we either go up together, or we go down together.”

Urging the crowd to continue Dr. King’s fight for justice and equality, veteran civil rights leader Matt Little, who led the Minnesota delegation to King’s 1963 March on Washington, gave a poignant speech to a hushed crowd. “Our fight is not over,” said Little. “We still have things to do, and believe me; we are going to do it.”

Along with the many labor unions represented at the rally, local high school teachers from Education Minnesota marched in support of their own labor rights as well as the educational rights of their students. Asked what collective bargaining means to her, art teacher Deb Fisher of Harmony Learning Center in Oakdale, said, “This isn’t about vacation days or a pay increase; it’s about preserving the middle class.

Collective bargaining rights are one of the few strongholds left to keep the middle class in existence. Collective bargaining is the only way an individual of modest means can have rights equal to that of a corporation.”

Third-grader Trey Toner from Andover, Minnesota carried a handmade sign that read “Bullying…Stop it!” “I’m here with my mom,” Toner said, “because she is a good teacher and we have to stand up to the people bullying good teachers.”

Dr. King stood with his brothers and sisters to the end of his life. His final act of solidarity was with the Memphis sanitation workers as they fought for their dignity. That is, the right to collectively bargain for a decent wage, and

Winter worries become spring cyclones

RANDI JOHNSON

Johnra01@go.metrostate.edu Being a native Minnesotan, I’m used to long and arduous winters. Snow continues to fall in April and sometimes May, followed by a brief spring respite before launching headfirst into the sweatinfused months of summer. One week of winter boots and ice scrapers can be quickly followed by flip-flops and umbrellas. Minnesotans often boast of their versatility in adjusting to each week’s forecast and it is rightfully earned.

Last year, Minnesotans experienced some of the widest variety of weather that the state has ever seen. Thousands were impacted by record tornadoes and significant flooding, not to mention the fifth largest snowstorm and the fifth warmest summer in Twin Cities history, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (www.severeweather. state.mn.us/index.asp). Metropolitan State University closed all campuses twice this winter due to severe winter weather and dangerous road conditions.

As the snow finally begins to melt, the weather worries turn from blizzards and slippery roads to severe winds and thunderstorms. Metropolitan

State has emergency evacuation procedures in case of such severe weather. These can be viewed at https://db.metrostate.edu/webapps/drep/ Emergency_Evacuation_Procedure.pdf. The site includes information on where to go on campus during a tornado warning or other severe weather conditions.

Thomas Maida, director of public safety at Metropolitan State, encourages students to review other emergency preparedness information on the University Emergency R U READY? safety Web site at www.metrostate.edu/READY. Public safety also reminds students that a thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail three-fourths of an inch or larger, wind 58 mph or stronger, or tornadoes. Watches are issued when conditions are favorable for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms or flash floods.

If you are in a watch area, make plans to seek shelter if necessary. Warnings are issued when severe weather has been reported or is imminent.

Seek shelter immediately if you are in or near the path of the storm. Warnings are issued by county names. Know the name of the county you live in and the counties that surround you.

Union members and their supporters marching from the lawn of the St. Paul Cathedral to the front steps of the Capitol on April 4.

Photos by Shelagh Connolly.

safe working conditions. The rights as workers and all workers for their seat at the table, to have their voices heard.

On April 4, 1968, Dr. King was assassinated on a Memphis, Tennessee hotel balcony as he made his way to dinner. His last recorded speech was given on April 3, 1968, hours before his assassination. Dr. King’s speech at Mason

Temple in Memphis was prescient in tone, “…I’ve been to the mountaintop… And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land.

I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight.

I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory…”

Sirens are intended to warn those who are outdoors and not to warn those inside of buildings to evacuate. If you hear a siren, turn on a radio or TV, listen to safety information and seek shelter if advised.

Thunderstorms, Winds and Hail: • The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes.

• Thunderstorms can produce a strong outrush of wind known as a down burst or straight-line winds which may exceed 120 mph. They can overturn mobile homes, tear roofs off houses and topple trees.

• Hail annually causes nearly $1 billion in damage nationally. Many of the losses are incurred by farmers. Large hailstones fall at speeds faster than 100 mph and have been known to kill people.

If a tornado warning is issued: In a home • Go to the basement. Get under a table, workbench or other sturdy furniture.

If there is no basement, go into a small interior room on the lowest floor (closets, bathrooms and interior halls afford the best protection). Stay away from windows.

In an apartment, school or office building: • Move to the innermost room on the lowest level or to a pre-designated shelter area.

Crouch down and protect your head from flying debris. Avoid areas with glass and large roof spans.

In a mobile home:

•

Abandon it immediately. Seek a sturdy shelter or permanent structure. If there is not time, get out and lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression with your hands shielding your head.

In a vehicle: • Get out of the vehicle and lie flat in a ditch or ravine. Never try to out-drive a tornado.

Flash Floods: • Nationally, floods claim nearly 200 lives annually, force 300,000 people from their homes, and cause property damage in excess of $2 billion.

• When driving, do not cross through high water. Two feet of running water is enough to carry away most vehicles.

Fifty percent of flash flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Lightning: • Lightning kills around 100 Americans annually with about 300 others injured.

• Myth: If it is not raining, there is no danger from lightning.

• Fact: Lightning may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

• Myth: Rubber tires on a vehicle will protect you from being injured by lightning.

• Fact: Rubber provides no protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a vehicle acts as a cage and routes the lightning strike to the ground.

Reminder: We’re online!

Visit http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu to view archived articles, see staff information and check out our calendar!

Page 4 May/June 2011

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

Focus group discusses student center… or whatever you want to call it

DIANA NEUERBURG

Neuedi@go.metrostate.edu

On April 13, members of a campus student center focus group—including about a dozen students and four Metropolitan State University staff members—held a meeting with Workshop Architects’ Jan van den Kieboom to discuss the results of surveys conducted by the architects and to prioritize functions of the student center. While still in the “pre-design” phase of planning, the architects are thoroughly planning the big picture ideas for a center at Metropolitan State—a school that the focus group admits is non-traditional.

The first hour of the meeting consisted of a PowerPoint presentation conducted by van den Kieboom. He started by sharing the results of the “initial feasibility study,” which asks what the needs are, does it make sense to build a student center, and what functions would the center serve?

Information was collected from students, as well as the University’s safety and security department, food services, the bookstore and Student Life, among others. After conducting the surveys, he found that many students saw Metropolitan State as either a “stepping stone” or “next step,” meaning that many students at Metropolitan State have either been to another college, or will go to another college. In addition, student surveys asking how social Metropolitan State is revealed that, on a scale of 1-10, the average answer was five. Van den Kieboom says of all the surveys they conducted (about 40-50), not one student expressed complete opposition to the idea of building a student center. Ultimately, van den Kieboom revealed that the important question is “how would a student union-type facility be different for this kind of campus?”

During the presentation, topics of discussion included affordability, flexibility and functionality.

The general consensus amongst the focus group members is that many students like Metropolitan State for its affordability. For this reason, the group and architect agree that the facility should not be larger or more extravagant than necessary

COLLETE DENET

Deneco@go.metrostate.edu Following my recent digestion of the book entitled Haiti Rising: Haitian History, Culture and the Earthquake of 2010, edited by Martin Munro, I found myself sitting down with a close friend whose direct link to the island nation caulked the gaps of my still unanswered questions. Dr. Stephan Moje, DC., watched the news of the earthquake in his Ohio office on Jan. 12, 2010; he had just arrived home from northern Haiti that morning.

Moje, associate chiropractor at the Center for Natural Medicine in Akron, Ohio, flew to Haiti on a mission trip to distribute free chiropractic services in early January of 2010. Returning home just hours before the devastating quake, the severity of what he had narrowly escaped began to surface.

After adjusting over 1,700 students at a local school (and numerous patients in a small, residential hospital that previous week), Moje felt he had invested too much time and energy in the area to justify neglecting it now. Despite the dangers of returning—and the reservations he held—he instinctively made the decision to depart as soon as possible.

Moje traveled with two groups from New York City, Stepping Stones Ministries and ChiroMissions. Stepping Stones Ministries has worked for almost a decade to bring food, clean water, clothes and supplies to underprivileged communities throughout Port-Au-Prince, while ChiroMissions is a newer organization that strives to offer global chiropractic services—particularly to Third World countries not afforded the opportunity for health care. These two groups worked collaboratively to provide assistance to patients in and around Port-Au-Prince.

The team arrived at the border via SUV two days after the quake (since it wasn’t possible to fly directly into the country at that time). Moje recalls the border littered with a “line of cars, trucks, trailers, bikes, and people spanning a mile in every direction.” The chaos was beyond compare and the immigration building was in disarray as “nobody was listening to the military officials responsible for maintaining order.”

Assuming the role of group organizer, Moje was in charge of moving doctors and supplies around to the communities in need—a position that would’ve been easy in any other country with supplies and transportation conveniently located

Jan van den Kieboom discussing the student center with several students and staff members.

Photo by Diana Neuerburg.

and that the facility should be flexible in its functionality. The option of renting out space to retail businesses to help pay off the debt was discussed as a possibility.

Flexibility is another important factor to the focus group. The idea of multi-use space was offered and the group debated the pros and cons.

The term “thickness” was used to describe a space that can serve many different purposes.

Functionality was the third major topic covered.

The group seems to agree that technology should be integrated into the student center to make it easy for students to “plug in.” In addition, van den Kieboom suggested setting up the technology to be adaptable to new technologies (at least to

the extent that we can predict them). Discussion also focused on whether or not the student center would serve as a work and business place or a place for fun and relaxation. While many students would like more places to study and student organizations are in need of spaces to meet and store materials, some of the students of the group expressed their desire to have a place to “decompress.”

The second hour of the meeting was devoted to figuring out the priorities of the student center using a “priorities poster.” There was a large sheet of paper with about two dozen thought bubbles, each containing an idea of something to implement into the student center. The non-

students of the group were each given a sheet of 60 green dot stickers and the students were each given a sheet of 60 yellow dot stickers. Each person was told to place the stickers according to highest priority. Members could spread them out or put all their stickers in one location if they thought one idea was especially important. In the end, van den Kieboom tallied up the numbers and gave a list of the top 10 choices. They were: 1) workout center 2) children’s play space 3) Student Life and organization space 4) active study lounge 5) a tie between prayer/meditation area and group study rooms 6) multi-use space (for events, performances, and meetings) 7) a tie between a coffee house and fresh food/ grab and go 8) student lockers Following this activity, the group discussed how some of these items could be combined into one space.

The last half hour of the meeting was devoted to taking a step back from the nitty-gritty details and reevaluating the big picture. Finally, before wrapping things up, van den Kieboom suggested that—because Metropolitan State is so different from many other universities—perhaps “student union” or “student center” are not appropriate names. He suggested the group brainstorm names that would speak to Metropolitan State’s unique environment.

Before moving on to the design phase, student senator Awo Ahmed is expected to send out a survey to get student input on the idea. Then, the student senate will use these surveys to take a vote on whether or not to continue.

For more information about the planning process of the student center, contact Trenda Boyum-Breen, vice president of student affairs, at Trenda.BoyumBreen@metrostate.edu.

Haiti, revisited and dispersed. Yet after the quake, the city was at a virtual standstill.

Though the team’s initial intent was to provide medical aid and chiropractic assessments, their more urgent task became food and water distribution.

When dispersing rice to a large gathering of newly homeless people, the crowd nearly rioted at the sight of so much food. Many of them had not eaten for days. “When they were presented with such a desperate situation,” said Moje, “you could see in their faces that they were willing to do anything to survive.” Difficult to fathom, Moje reveals that at just about every turn he witnessed situations that pushed all five senses to the brink.

Given their timely arrival in Port-Au-Prince, very few relief groups were established. They saw no supply tents, water, or food, and the hospitals were lacking essential tools and organization. When asked if he recalled what other aid groups were working in close proximity, Moje replied, “the only significant, noticeable force moving throughout Port-Au-Prince was the UN.” However, severely crippled by the quake, the UN, as a unit, was virtually immobile.

Within his collection of essays detailing the earthquake and its aftermath, Munro addresses how the abundance of cultural misunderstandings played a role in the segregation between earthquake victims and aid workers: “I understand what an Afghan or an Iraqi feels when faced with this excess of testosterone, technological superiority, and media violence. A humvee full of American Marines cuts its way through the crowd, without a word, barely looking at anyone. I am sure that everyone wants to do some good, but there are oceans of history, mountains of misunderstandings, storms of prejudices that separate us. They pass by; we do not understand each other” (47).

This was a legitimate issue regarding military presence and yet I was surprised to learn that throughout the 20 days that Moje and his team worked with the injured and shaken Haitians, he was largely received with support and gratitude.

He worked alongside Saurel Charles, a nationallyknown comedian, who acted as guide and confidant. The presence of this national movie star, Moje admits, helped breach the communication and cultural gap between his team of colleagues and those who desperately required their assistance.

Dr. Moje, center, visits with local Port-Au-Prince residents and dislocated civilians.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Moje.

Moje recounts a memory of when their SUV “got a flat tire in the middle of a market with 500 pounds of rice in the back of the vehicle. A small group of Haitians stopped what they were doing to help us change the tire and get out of the chaotic market safely.” These small acts of bravery and kindness did not go unnoticed by the team, who realized that without such help the impact of their work would’ve been much less significant.

Other stresses hindered the team’s efforts as everyone in the group became ill at some point during the trip. Physical and emotional strain took its toll and yet the team did all they could to remain as focused as possible. Even with such setbacks, as well as the first-hand account of devastation and loss of life, hope still resonates.

Moje emphasizes that the “benefit of serving a Third World country through a mission or relief organization is an invaluable experience and should be a requirement for the next generation of Americans. We need to witness true poverty

to realize that we are lucky to grow and learn in a society filled with choice and freedom. Serving people who truly need help has changed my outlook on life and my direction in this world.”

Personally, such advice dispels the notion that I am powerless against adversity and reiterates every individual’s capacity to make a difference. As a witness to this arduous tragedy, the tone with which Moje narrates his exploits doesn’t ring of anger or bitterness, but of change and possibility.

Given the uniqueness of this situation and the fact that such an experience may not be possible for the vast majority of Americans, I am still left feeling encouraged. A sense of respect lingers for those who employ altruism to the best of their abilities and we all can—and should—assume that role whenever possible. Haiti may be out of reach for some, but we should never underestimate the power of volunteerism. Passion dictates action, and without these two assets our world simply cannot thrive.

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

Beast on the Moon LINDA A. WILLIAMS

Student Review

Willi@go.metrostate.edu

Much like how the genre of Greek tragedy entertained audiences with depictions of the vulnerability of human beings, the play Beast on the Moon captivates audiences and draws spectators into the heart of circumstantial consequences and choices that evolve from human suffering. Unlike most Greek tragedy plays, this story has a happy ending because the characters make choices that involve faith, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, respect, and temperance between husband and wife—and among neighbors.

Written by Richard Kalinoski, directed by Reggie Phoenix, and produced by Theater Underground and Metropolitan State University under the direction of faculty advisor Gail Smogard, the cast of Beast on the Moon permeated the threads of humanity through a setting in Milwaukee, Wis. from 1921-1933.

It was at a time when the diminishing Ottoman Empire of Turkey was killing Armenians through mass genocide. Imagine being a teenager at that time. Out of two million, at least one million of the Armenian community were killed—including mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors.

The characters in Beast on the Moon are Armenian survivors. Aram Tomasian (played

by Jeremy Walton) is a 19-year-old man with focused, good intentions to marry and raise a family. Seta Tomasian (played by KariAnne Craighead) his 15-year-old mail-order wife is a young lady with committed, sturdy aspirations

May/June 2011 Page 5

The Metropolitan

to live an assertive life with her husband. After years of patiently trying to conceive a child, they are alone in their quest for happiness.

But there is a rambunctious 10-year-old orphaned boy, Vincent, (played by Charles Baker) who gnaws at their heart. He, too, longs for the joy of family. The story is told through interludes of the child’s memory (dramatized by Scott M. Rubsam, an elderly gentleman who plays the character of Gentleman).

In elegant monologues, Gentleman tells the audience of his childhood experience with the Tomasians. Gentleman does this in a way that informs and involves the audience in the unfolding drama of love and disappointment while expressing the impact of the Armenian genocide.

Seta is barren, and the disappointment of beginning a new life without children sets in after years of trying to conceive a baby. During which time, Aram and Seta have developed a passionate love for each other expressed through scenes of dialogue at the dinner table (and a heated love scene).

Aram (Jeremy Walton) delivers a spectacular performance with his repertoire of emotions, illuminated through facial expressions and a distinctive stance. He is haunted by his own idiosyncrasies involving a family portrait—which mimics the emotionally wrenching void of his desire to have several children of his own.

The play comes to a climax in a scene when Aram, out of frustration, lashes out at Seta with his words. Observing Seta’s crushed reaction, he

reviews Staff The closing scene of Beast on the Moon. Left to right: Gentleman played by Scott Rubsam (behind the camera), Vincent played by Charles Baker (little boy), Aram Tomasian played by Jeremy Walton and Seta Tomasian played by Kari Ann Craighead.

Photo by Beth Pacunas.

recants out of love and respect for her. During the scene, Seta gives an intense performance of tears flowing down her cheeks as she withdraws from him.

Eventually, through Seta’s coaching and assertive character, Aram accepts the fate of a childless family and brings peace to his home with acts of goodness and temperance toward his wife.

Through dialogue that exemplifies Armenian accents and acts of humanity that exemplify kindness, the characters Aram, Seta and Vincent find among themselves a companionship that

is permeated with love and respect—values that unite a family. In the end, the goodness expressed through Aram’s character, the committed Seta and the boisterous Vincent kindle a fire of dialogue that warms their hearts and satisfies their desires for an extended family.

Theater Underground is a student organization that invites students of all majors to participate. If you would like to get involved or learn more about the performing arts, please contact Gail Smogard by e-mail at gail. smogard@metrostate.edu.

health

of it

For the SCOTT WOLFE

Wolfsc@go.metrostate.edu “Every day matters, every day is a gift. Don’t just live for the weekend. Live for the day… every day.”

This wise quote comes from a close friend whose wife was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in March. Just a few days after learning of this news, another close friend shared a Facebook message regarding her own diagnosis of breast cancer.

So here I am, suddenly realizing that not only do I now have dear friends coping with something big, I also know next to nothing about it. This is the first time breast cancer had hit so close to home and needless to say, the news had caught me completely off guard.

Wanting to support my friends, I decided that my first step would be education. The only thing I knew for sure was that breast cancer should be taken seriously—it is very debilitating

Breast cancer: how little I knew

and potentially deadly. I had some work to do.

Luckily for me there are a number of rich Webbased resources available to help someone in my position learn more about it. Those that I utilized (and highly recommend) are: • www.mayoclinic.com • www.breastcancer.org • www.cancer.umn.edu • www.racecure.org • www.health.state.mn.us I know that breast cancer makes people physically ill. I know that if caught early enough, it can be treated and it is often defeated for good.

Having someone close to me experiencing all that breast cancer brings, I know for certain that it can and will put the human spirit to the test.

If you know people with breast cancer, take a moment to reach out—let them know you are thinking of them. A simple phone call, e-mail or

letter can go a long way to help boost their spirits.

You may also consider starting a simple Web page or blog in support. Caringbridge.org offers both absolutely free to anyone with a serious illness.

While October is officially recognized by the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness month, there are a bevy of related events that take place locally throughout the year.

One of which, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event, is taking place at the Mall of America on Mother’s Day, May 8. This annual event draws thousands of Minnesotans and visitors together to show their support for friends and loved ones coping with this disease. To find out more on this event visit www.komenminnesota.org.

Having to face breast cancer is life-changing.

Taking it on alone is a task far too arduous to imagine. Make time to support someone you know.

Straight Facts About Breast Cancer: There are four stages of breast cancer: • Stage 0: pre-cancerous • Stages 1, 2 & 3: early, pre-cancerous with good prognosis • Stage 4: Advanced or metastatic with poor prognosis • Breast Cancer can develop in both men and women • Women have a lifetime risk of contracting it (up to age 85).

• Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women globally • Breast cancer is second only to heart disease as a cause of death in women in the U.S. • Every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed in the U.S.; one dies every 13 minutes • In 2011, breast cancer will affect 3,200 Minnesota women. 700 of them will die.

Student accounts to be updated May 9 Beginning May 9, students will need a new account and password to access computers on campus. Every account will be pre-set with a unique password of the form “Fl-{TechID}”, where ‘F’ is the upper-case first letter of the first name, ‘l’ is the lower-case first letter of the last name, ‘-’ is the special character dash, and “{TechID}” is the 8-digit ID number found on the student ID card or at the NetDirect Portal under “University Resources.”

For example, user Joe Smith with TechID of 01234567 would have a password of Js01234567.

Visit any classroom or lab computer on or after May 9 and log on using your username and new password.

The ITS (Information Technology Services) Web site will host all official information about any changes that affect students, faculty, and staff of Metropolitan State University. For more information, visit www.metrostate.edu/its. You can also follow the ITS department on Twitter by following the username MetrostateITS.

Frequently asked questions of the updated student accounts: Q: What are the consequences if I do nothing?

A: You will not be able to log on to any Metropolitan State University computer – classrooms or labs.

Q: Why is this changing?

A: Metropolitan State University is switching from Novell to Microsoft.

This change requires each user account to have a new password.

Q: What is my new account?

A: Every account name will be the same as the current NetDirect account name. Only the password will be different.

Q: How do I change my password?

A: To change a password, log on to a computer and wait for the startup processes to complete.

Simultaneously, press and hold the following three keys on the keyboard <Ctrl><Alt><Delete>. When the menu appears, select the option to “Change a password…” Enter the existing password and then enter the new password twice (once in each box).

Q: What are the rules for passwords?

A: Passwords must be at least 8 characters in length and must contain 3 types of characters from the set of {lowercase, uppercase, number, special character}.

ITS recommends the use of “passphrases,” such as a favorite sentence from a book. By substituting

a number or special character for a letter (‘3’ for ‘e’, or ‘@’ for ‘a’) a good passphrase can be generated easily.

For example, “Th3 quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” is a good and easy passphrase to use and includes uppercase, lowercase, and number.

Q: What else is changing?

A: Later this summer, more changes will take place: • In June, the Portal will be replaced with a new system that will use the new Microsoft account and password.

• In July, student e-mail (NetMail) will be replaced with Microsoft Live@ EDU and will use the new Microsoft account and password.

• In late July, Novell will be turned off. The NetDirect account and password will be discontinued.

Page 6 May/June 2011

Cyclists of all ages and abilities will gather on June 4 to participate in the Twin Cities Tour de Cure, presented by Best Buy Health and Fitness. The Tour de Cure is the signature cycling fundraiser of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and this year’s local event aims to raise $500,000 for the cause.

“The beauty of the Tour de Cure is that it’s ‘geared’ for everyone,” said local event coordinator Janeece Oatman. “It’s for families; it’s for serious cyclists; and everyone in between.” With seven-mile, 27-mile, 45-mile, and 62-mile (100 km metric century) route options, the Tour de Cure truly is an event for amateurs as well as athletes. Best of all, each route is fully supported with themed rest stops, food, beverages, bike mechanics, medics, support and gear (SAG) vehicles and radio operators.

And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the event boasts one of the best after parties in the business. Riders enjoy massages, lunch from Woody’s Grille, live music and more at the finish line. There’s even a Schell’s Beer Garden for the adults and a kids’ zone for

Dayton visits campus continued from page 1

Anderson on the cover of TIME magazine in 1973.

Bute asked the crowd to use their imaginations to “accept the plausibility of this tale” before he went on to explain the circumstances that preceded Governor Anderson’s Minnesota Miracle—the 159-day standoff in the special session and the resulting agreement that Minnesota was a progressive state, and that higher education was part of the public good.

He said that both Republican Governors Al Quie and Arne Carlson, along with Democrat Governor Rudy Perpich, kept the fair taxation in place. This held higher education in the esteem as an essential part of the public good. Bute said the Ventura and Pawlenty administrations “decimated” the system of fair taxation in Minnesota. The result of the last 12 years of legislation has caused the serious budget shortfalls that the state is now facing.

Monte Bute closed his remarks by saying that if Governor Dayton stays strong, “millions in Minnesota will stand for you, and with you.”

Several students addressed the governor.

One Metropolitan State student talked about being the first of seven children in her family to go to college. She shared that her mother earns $25,000 a year and that without the help of financial aid she would not be able to attend school.

A student from Concordia, also the first in her family to attend college, explained the difficulty of holding three jobs while attending school fulltime. She said that the proposed cuts to Minnesota’s work-study program would make it nearly impossible for her to stay in school.

Governor Dayton listened earnestly and gave encouraging words and smiles of appreciation to all of those who spoke, especially to the students, who at times, expressed nervousness.

“You’re doing great,” he told a Metropolitan State student.

Governor Dayton promised to “work diligently to avoid” the proposed cuts.

For updates on pending legislation, visit the IFO website at www.ifo.org. You can also access the online version of Session Weekly, a non-partisan news source of the Minnesota legislature at www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/ swmain.asp.

Learn about staff meetings, writing resources or events happening on campus.

The Metropolitan

Cycling for the cure

The Rochester event will occur on May 21, which is Payton’s sixth birthday. He is very excited to complete the Rochester 12-mile ride this year without training wheels!

Photo courtesy of the American Diabetes Assocation

the little ones.

Among the 1,600 riders expected this year are riders of all ages, shapes, sizes and ethnic backgrounds. Rider Payton Kilbourn has participated in the Twin Cities Tour de Cure for two consecutive years, both with training wheels, at ages four and five. This year, he will ride the Tour de Cure event in Rochester due to a family wedding on June 4.

Rider Mike Dalbec rode in his first Tour de Cure last year in the Twin Cities after

Mike proudly sports his Red Rider jersey today an amazing 70 pounds lighter.

Photo courtesy of the American Diabetes Assocation

hearing about the event at his local bike shop. At the time, he was buying a road bike to help lose weight; Dalbec had just received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and his doctor had told him to get active, and get active he did. Mike fell in love with cycling when he participated in the 2010

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

Tour de Cure and was recognized as a Red Rider—that is, a rider with diabetes. All Red Riders, regardless of whether they have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, receive a special jersey from the ADA just for participating and they also enjoy VIP treatment on event day. Red Riders are the reason everyone rides. Dalbec is now able to control his type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise. “The Tour de Cure literally changed my life,” said Dalbec.

To register for the Tour de Cure or obtain more information about diabetes, call the ADA at 1 888-DIABETES or visit us online at www.diabetes.org/twincitiestourdecure.

The ADA is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to: • prevent, cure and manage diabetes • deliver services to hundreds of communities • provide objective and credible information • and give a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.

Founded in 1940, the mission of the ADA is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-3422383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

I’d like to thank the Academy…

DAVID JARNSTROM

Jarnda@go.metrostate.edu

It was a mere nine months ago that I submitted my first article for The Metropolitan—an essay chronicling my struggle with returning to college after a prolonged absence. And here I sit, two weeks away from graduation, punching the keys on my last-ever piece for the publication that gave me my first-ever byline.

I was only at Metropolitan State University for a short time—almost one year to the day.

The time passed quicker than I imagined and, wouldn’t you know, I’m actually a little bit sad to be leaving so soon (cue the tears). I was in rather rough shape when I first showed up to finish my degree, but I’m exiting with renewed confidence in my abilities and great excitement regarding my future.

While I’ve met countless amazing students, teachers and faculty during my time at Metropolitan State, I’d like to highlight a select few for really making my time here something special.

Big props go out to: Donna Blacker—for being my first contact at the University, and for patiently answering all my stupid questions and quelling my fears as a returning student who hadn’t been in a classroom in almost a decade. Donna helped me hatch a game plan and guided me through all those frustrating bureaucratic hoops one must jump through in order to simply get enrolled in class.

Mary Ringstad—for giving me feedback on the first essay I’d written in nearly a decade.

It was nerve-wracking turning in that first big assignment, and Mary’s comments did wonders for my mojo. When I started at Metropolitan State, I had it in my head that I wanted to be a copywriter and work in advertising. Being a savvy vet of the industry, Mary has been an incredible resource. And she really loves Mark Knopfler! How cool is that?

Brian Nerney—for helping me fine-tune my path toward graduation and making it happen quicker than I could’ve ever hoped (cough, cough—overrode my math requirement—cough, cough). I enjoyed chatting with Brian at length about writing, editing, music, travel, bars in Milwaukee, fly fishing, the stadium history of the New

England Patriots, and about two-dozen other random subjects that came up whenever I visited his office. I was always there longer than I had planned to be, but I was never bummed out about it.

Anne Aronson—for teaching me to examine the many genres of writing that I never would have considered dabbling in had it not been for her Advanced Writing class. Anne provided incredibly thoughtful feedback and offered amazing solutions to problems I was having with a major project— one in which I had to confront some pretty major personal demons. Anne is also a joy to chat with, especially on the topic of sports.

How about those Twins, Anne? Yeeesh…

Jocelyn Stone—for publishing my silly little essay, and for giving me reporting assignments for The Metropolitan, even when I clearly had no idea what I was doing.

Jocelyn was an invaluable resource when I had questions (and boy did I ever have questions) about things like interviewing people, applying for internships, registering for classes and writing a résumé. She even came out to see my band play for heaven’s sake. What more could a guy ask for?

Randi Johnson—for being the coolest, most loving, and most patient boss I’ve ever had. I bugged her for any kind of job at The Metropolitan once she took over as editor and the gal went and made me her righthand man (a mistake she regrets to this day).

It’s been a blast learning and tweaking the process of making this newspaper with her every month. Let me tell you—Randi cares about this publication like she cares about coffee and pizza and badass knee-high boots (which is a lot, trust me). We are all lucky to have her at Metropolitan State.

Susan Perry—for having the most immediate impact on my life of any teacher I think I’ve ever had. Through Susan’s excellent Writing for Publication and Profit class, I got my first magazine article published—in a drumming magazine I grew up reading when I was a kid, no less. When I first saw my writing in those pages, I nearly cried (cue tears again). It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Susan’s editing class was also incredibly beneficial for me (even in the online format). She has a no-

Get published!

The Metropolitan welcomes article submissions from all current students.

Writing for The Metropolitan is an excellent way to enhance your professional writing credentials.

As proof that his tuition was money well spent, Jarnstrom holds up an article he wrote that was published in the March issue of DRUM! magazine. The Metropolitan will miss him!

Photo courtesy of David Jarnstrom.

nonsense teaching style—she’s not afraid to tell you if your work sucks—and she helped me become an infinitely better writer than when I started at Metropolitan State. I am forever in her debt.

I really am going to miss it here. Metropolitan State was an all-around great fit for me, as I hope it is/was for all of you as well. From the affordability of tuition, to the flexibility in scheduling, and real-world applicability of the skills I learned, I wholeheartedly believe I made the right choice in venue for (finally) finishing my degree.

For now, it’s out into the real world, where I hope to apply my shiny, newfound abilities in some sort of professional manner. And hey, if it turns out that I’m still unemployable, that Technical Communication master’s program doesn’t look like such a bad fallback plan.

You may not have seen the last of me yet…

Hey! I heard you groaning back there!

Have a fantastic summer.

AUGUST HOFFMAN

August.Hoffman@metrostate.edu positive psychological effects of outdoor gardening and community service activities in general. If you happen to be a gardener yourself, then you probably know that often these activities just seem to have a very soothing, basic and natural effect in terms of relieving stress, tension and anxiety.

Additionally, some of our more recent research suggests that when ethnically diverse groups of individuals work cooperatively in establishing a community project (i.e. a community vegetable garden), assimilation increases and negative ethnic stereotypes are more likely to be reduced and debunked.

In sum, working together helps group members to better understand one another and it increases our perceptions in our ability to achieve our goals, a term that is referred to as “collective self-efficacy.”

This year our plan is to establish an “interdisciplinary approach” to community gardening, where students from different academic disciplines will work together in the development of the fruit orchard.

Using grant money that will be provided by the Minnesota State Colleges and University Center for Teaching and Learning beginning in late April 2011, we would like to establish a community apple tree orchard near the St. Paul Campus in Mounds Park.

I would like to work with the Friends of Mounds Park (FOMP) in identifying an ideal location for our fruit trees. We would like to recruit community members of Swede Hollow, FOMP members and students from

THE METROPOLITAN newspaper themetropolitan@go.metrostate.edu

The psychological benefits of gardening: Mounds Park planting project

January is typically a time of year when many people begin dreaming and thinking about warmer activities for the upcoming spring and summer. This winter has been particularly brutal with over 50 inches of snow recorded for December and January in the St. Paul area.

For the last several years my psychology students have participated in a variety of community service gardening activities that are designed to help improve community agencies, educational institutions and public organizations. Last spring and summer 2010 terms, students who were enrolled in my introductory psychology course volunteered in planting 15 Dwarf Alberta spruce conifer trees near the front of the New Main building at the Metropolitan State University, St. Paul Campus. These trees were selected because of their resiliency and zone hardiness (zones 3-9), small growth patterns and, perhaps most importantly, they provide beautiful color during this particularly bleak time of year when other plants remain dormant.

In addition to the beauty that the trees provide, gardening activities in general offer numerous individual benefits to those who like outdoor activities.

Outdoor gardening is not only a healthy physical activity, but recently, psychologists (including August John Hoffman, Julie Wallach, Eduardo Sanchez, Kimberly J. Shinew, Troy D. Glover, and Diana C. Parry) have begun to report numerous

May/June 2011 Page 7

all disciplines to help plant a variety of apple trees that have been designed for the harsh Minnesota climate. Some of these trees include the now famous Honey Crisp apple trees, Haralson apple trees, Fireside apple trees, Cortland apple trees, and the Paula Red apple trees (developed at the University of Minnesota).

Community gardening provides advantages not only to the individuals who are participating, but also to the community itself by providing foods for families in need.

I have been in contact with Mark Granlund, who is currently director of the parks and recreation gardening programs at Mounds Park, and I have his support in this project.

In addition to the numerous psychological benefits of community gardening, an important focus and purpose of this fruit tree project is to produce healthy and organic foods for the community members, homeless and needy populations.

The trees will be maintained by our students and community members of St. Paul. We feel that this is clearly a “win-win” situation for community members and the students of Metropolitan State University.

I would like to thank the Friends of Mounds Park (FOMP) and the Metropolitan Council for providing us with a wonderful opportunity such as this.

If you would like to participate in this year’s apple orchard program, please contact the psychology department (651) 999-5832, or contact me directly at (651) 999-5814.

E-mail johnra01@ go.metrostate.edu to share your article ideas or to submit your article for publication consideration.

The best buy in town, classified advertising is also available. Contact the business manager at themetropolitan@ go.metrostate.edu for rates.

Editor Randi Johnson Associate Editor David Jarnstrom Layout & Photo Designer Renee Noren Copy Editor Diana Neuerburg Assistant Copy Editor Shelagh Connolly Online Editor Tuyen Le Staff Writers Alexandra Hedin Cat Usher Rich Downs Faculty Advisor Laura McCartan Contributing Writers Collette Denet August Hoffman Jake Callahan Feel free to stop by our office on the lower level of Founder’s Hall near the elevators.

Founder’s Hall L113 700 East 7th Street Saint Paul, MN 55106

Page 8 May/June 2011

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

Expressions

Rabble-rousing at the Kentucky Derby

Sports, sports, sports DAVID JARNSTROM Jarnda@go.metrostate.edu

They call it the most exciting two minutes in sports, but I likely won’t see a second of it.

I’ve never been much for horse racing—or dog racing, car racing or even human racing for that matter. The concept always seemed too simple, too black-and-white for me to fully appreciate. Deep down, I acknowledge there must be tremendous strategy involved in the nuance of pacing, cornering and closing— especially on a freaking horse. But to my lazy layperson’s eye, a race of any nature vaguely

ALEXANDRA HEDIN

Hedial@go.metrostate.edu

I’m very proud to say that I’m one of the Metropolitan State University students who is graduating this month with my B.A. in Professional Writing. I’m ecstatic; not because I can’t wait to be done with Metropolitan State, but because I’m ready to move on and try new things in the professional world. I want to put all of the important skills that I learned from my professors to use, and hopefully get paid a decent amount in the process. I have learned so much as a student at Metropolitan State, and I can’t wait to begin a job that allows me to put to use the skills I learned on a full-time basis.

Something that really drew me to Metropolitan State to begin with were the unique degrees that are offered in the writing program. Other colleges in Minnesota have only Journalism or English degrees. I was thrown off by them because I wanted something that covered more than just those two specialized areas.

Then I found the Professional Writing and Technical Communication degrees offered at Metropolitan State. Right then and there, I had made up my mind.

During the two years I spent at Metropolitan State, I went to school full time and worked 31 hours per week as a receptionist at a machine shop. I worked as a staff writer for The Metropolitan, and I was able to complete a Professional Writing and Editing internship working with Anne Aronson on The College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter. Each experience taught me so much, and I’m very thankful that I was given these opportunites while completing my education.

Writing for The Metropolitan has allowed me to do what I love most—write. Also, most college newspapers don’t pay you to write for them, but The Metropolitan offers a monthly stipend, which is a major plus. The staff is given ideas for topics to write about during bi-monthly writers meetings (from our awesome and very hard-working editor, Randi Johnson). And

resembles a brainless, mad-dash free-for-all.

One thing I am big on, however, is a good party—and the 137th annual Kentucky Derby (to be held on Saturday, May 7) promises to be the biggest and craziest I’ve ever attended.

Elsewhere in this fine publication, you’ll find my teary-eyed farewell to Metropolitan State University. It’s mind-boggling, but I’ve somehow been deemed fit to graduate come May. As a little reward for my achievement, I’ve arranged a celebratory motorcycle trip down to New Orleans with two of my best buddies—the first destination on our twowheeled odyssey being Louisville and the hallowed racetrack at Churchill Downs.

As I write this (a few weeks before the race), something called “Dialed In” sits atop the Associated Press’ Top 10 Derby rankings.

“Mucho Macho Man” is a close second. Other curious horse-handles include “Pants On Fire” and “Stay Thirsty.” While I intend to do a bit of research on these Thoroughbreds before the big race, I’ll likely resort to randomly selecting an absurd name when placing my modest bet come Derby day.

The two-minute “Run for the Roses” will most-assuredly be a thrill. However, I am much more interested in sipping mint juleps at the infamous infield party, and—as Hunter S. Thompson wrote in his famous essay “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved”— watching “the real beasts perform.”

According to the city of Louisville’s About. com Web site: “On average, 80,000 people

spend their Derby Saturday partying in the infield. It’s crowded, the ground is the only sitting area, and nearly everyone is drinking.

“Just take comfort in the knowledge that—if I am indeed destined to die with a bottle of Maker’s Mark lodged in my cranium— at least I’ll go out with a bachelor’s degree.”

Unless you’re one of the first few hundred people to arrive in the infield, you’re not going to be able to get near the few infield spots where you can watch the races...While there will be a few families, most of the attendees are going to be rowdy locals and college students.”

According to Thompson, “It’s a fantastic scene—thousands of people fainting, crying, copulating, trampling each other and fighting with broken whiskey bottles.”

Yikes. While the late Thompson’s take may be a tad hyperbolic, I’ve seen recent Derby video that supports these horrific claims of hedonism—shirtless men racing across the tops of port-o-johns, mud-wrestlers tackling

hapless seersucker suit-clad passersby, and drunks everywhere, cursing, vomiting, and passing out in the sweet Kentucky bluegrass.

Wait—what am I signing up for here?

Pray for me, fellow students. As The Metropolitan’s resident sportswriter, I am braving this volatile battleground for you (and my own morbid sense of curiosity, I suppose).

Just take comfort in the knowledge that—if I am indeed destined to die with a broken bottle of Maker’s Mark lodged in my cranium—at least I’ll go out with a bachelor’s degree.

Thanks to any and all who have read my ridiculous rants over the past several months.

Hopefully my successor will actually bring a modicum of actual sports acumen to the table.

The infamous infield party at the Kentucky Derby—where “the real beasts perform.”

Photo courtesy of flikr.com.

Farewell, Metro State we are also given the opportunity to write about things that we are passionate about; subjects that interest us. Animals and the Animal Humane Society have always been close to my heart, and I have been able to write two articles about these topics. I am so thankful for that.

Writing for The Metropolitan is one of the things I am most proud of doing during my time as a student. I am thankful that I had a couple of writing classes with Renee Noren (The Metropolitan’s layout designer), who first persuaded me to write an article for the newspaper. In addition to getting published, I gained another great friend.

My advice to writers would be to write for The Metropolitan—it will be well worth the time spent.

The internship I completed while working with Anne Aronson was another great experience. Anne was wonderful to work with, and she taught me so much about different writing styles and editing. I have also had her as an instructor for two classes, Advanced Writing and Introduction to Careers in Professional and Technical Writing. In the latter, we had panels of guest speakers each week where I learned so much about what I wanted to do after graduation. First, I wanted to major in Technical Communication (because I thought there would be more jobs than in Professional Writing). After taking this class, however, I decided that Professional Writing was for me, and that I would be much happier in this job field. I’m so glad I did, because writing has always been my passion. I didn’t know there were so many careers to choose from in writing, and this class steered me in the right direction.

Another class that I found very helpful was Writing the News in a Digital Age, taught by Kathy Graves. In this class, we learned different news writing styles and interviewing skills. Before taking this class, I didn’t think news writing would be my thing, because I wrote for my high school newspaper and couldn’t get into it. I was

Alex will be graduating from Metropolitan State University on May 3. She is currently preparing for her wedding in July. She will be greatly missed by The Metropolitan staff!

Photos courtesy of Alex Hedin.

surprised when I took Writing the News in a Digital Age and realized I loved to write about the news, and that’s where I stand now. I hope to write for a newspaper or magazine, and I would be thrilled if I could land a job in one of these areas.

I have been very pleased with my education at Metropolitan State and I am encouraging my brother to enroll in the Computer Forensics program here for the fall. I assume that the Computer Forensics program will be just as outstanding as the writing program. Like me, he is impressed with the tuition costs and the flexibility of class schedules. As another student working

around 30 hours per week and going to school full time, the afternoon and evening classes are a great fit for him.

Although I am thrilled to be graduating and moving on to something new, I do not regret my decision to attend Metropolitan State University. I have met so many great people that I hope to remain friends with, I have had some amazing professors and I have learned a great amount of skills that will be useful in the professional world.

Thank you everyone for making this possible, and hopefully your experiences at Metropolitan State will be just as great as mine were.

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

Let me paint you a picture of what my life is like nowadays.

The scene: We’re hunkering down for the night when I realize I need to pee, which is funny because I always need to pee, yet it catches me by surprise every time. Jeremy stays behind, while I climb back downstairs to our home’s only bathroom. I pee. I consider not washing my hands, wash them anyway and then go back upstairs to cuddle with my husband.

I spread out on top of his prone form.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of a degree CAT USHER

Campca02@go.metrostate.edu

Jeremy: You don’t lay on top of me enough anymore. We used to do this all the time, remember?

Me: That’s true, we did do this a lot, didn’t we? I think we just got used to each other.

Jeremy: We have to start doing this again.

Me: Yes, definitely.

[Warm fuzzy feelings] [Images of clandestine hand-holding flash

Romance: FAIL through my head.]

Me: What are you thinking about?

Jeremy: Wrestling.

Me [annoyed by his lack of mushiness]: Nerd.

Jeremy: Yes, but I’m YOUR nerd.

[Damn, that’s true. Suddenly, I feel Jeremy’s stomach muscles clench, which can only mean one thing—flatulence.]

RICHARD DOWNS

Downri@go.metrostate.edu

If you haven’t already been notified by mail or learned by word–of-mouth, President Obama signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-377) on Jan. 4, 2011. Veteran students here at Metropolitan State University would do well to check with their veteran’s counselor or the school’s Veterans and Military Student Services Coordinator, Bruce Holzschuh in room 201 on the second floor at Founders Hall. Bruce can be reached by phone at (651) 793-1305 or by email Bruce.Holzchuh@metrostate.edu. Another person who has a plethora of information is Julie Olson, the VA Certifying Official; she can be reached at (651) 793-1226.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, REAP, and the Vocational Rehabilitation program will be effected by these changes in one way or another. One such change beginning Aug. 1, 2011 for Chapter 33 Veterans is the prorating of monthly housing allowance benefits, depending on how many credits taken. According to Keith Wilson, Director Education Services, in a letter sent

Me: You didn’t even TRY to hold it in. I felt you PUSH IT OUT. Jeremy [laughing]: What? What do you mean??

Me: LET ME GO! OH MY GOD, I’M SUFFOCATING! [Jeremy, still laughing like he’s some kind of FUNNY MAN]

Me: No! Don’t!

Jeremy: Come here, I don’t smell anything!

What’s the matter? You can’t smell anyway.

[I try to flee, but he pins me down so the stench can permeate my clothing.]

Me [finally disentangled and fleeing the room]: You are disgusting.

Me: NOOOOOOOO! Let me go!

Jeremy: What?

Jeremy: What?

[Loud fart]

[Innocent face]

[Poignant, romantic pause]

[His maniacal laughter/my horrified convulsions]

Jeremy: Come back! I wanna hold hands!

Some VA educational benefits to change

Veterans Corner

May/June 2011 Page 9

The Metropolitan

out dated March 3, 2011, “break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike(effective August 1,2011).” Effective Oct. 1, 2011 allows students to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill for Non-College Degree(NCD) programs, on-the-job and apprenticeship training, flight programs and correspondence training assuming they meet the guidelines and requirements. These are but a few examples of the changes starting soon.

Do yourself a favor and plan ahead now.

Information is available online at www.gibill. va.gov listing the latest information to VA educational programs. A blog article worth reading on the site is http://www.blogs.va.gov/ VAntage/?p=1027. Do not forget help is also available in the Veteran and Military Student Service office, room 201 Founders Hall, so stop by or give us a call (651)793-1561 and we will be happy to answer your questions to the best of our ability.

Last-Ditch Effort

By John Kroes

Latino Student Organization summer events

The Latino Student Organization proudly presents its third Dip the Salsa Dance Classes.

The event is free for students, staff, faculty and community. Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday of May from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Founders Hall auditorium on the St. Paul Campus. The last class on May 26 will meet at the Famous Dave’s in Uptown to listen to Salsa music and show off their acquired dancing skills. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Serena at martinse@ go.metrostate.edu or Linda at Linda.Martinez@ metrostate.edu.

Also this month, the Latino Student Organization is celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

On May 7, the parade lineup will begin at 9 a.m. The parade is from 10 a.m. to noon and will begin at Plato & Wasbasha and end at Ada & Cesar Chaves in downtown St. Paul.

Everyone is welcome. Participants will receive a free shirt. Please RSVP for the event by e-mailing martinse@go.metrostate.edu.

Arts &

Page 10 May/June 2011

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

Global Poetry Festival: rising voices, reflections

REBEKAH PAHR

Pahrre@go.metrostate.edu

In celebration of National Poetry month, Metropolitan State University hosted the third annual Global Poetry Festival: Rising Voices on April 15. The free event was held in the Founders Hall auditorium and kicked off with student readings by Stevi Saindon, Kevin Tillman, Sally Strong Walker and Rebecca Lux. These students were specially selected to set the tone for the evening. Each shared personal, distinctive pieces they created this semester in writing classes at Metropolitan State. Event organizer and Metropolitan State Assistant Professor Ed Bok Lee hosted the night, while D.J. Knock maintained the momentum of the energy on stage with music between sets.

Lee told the audience that poetry is becoming more accessible because the world is rapidly changing. Poetry includes more voices to be read and heard than just “the dead poets from a mostly male European tradition.” Lee explained that the word global was chosen to describe this event to highlight that poetry today increasingly encompasses “many different worldviews, experiences and diversity of consciousness.”

Following the student readings, the feature performance showcased members from the National Poetry Slam championship team.

This talented team is from the Twin Cities and won the national competition in the summer of 2009 and again in 2010. Guante, Khary Jackson and special guest Kait Rokowski were able to weave narrative and humor, social and political issues, despair and hope while creating vivid images in their spoken word pieces.

Guante revealed before beginning that the group put together an entirely new set for this particular show—because they hold the title, the team performed last year at the Global Poetry Festival. He added, “Spoken word performance is not about us [the performers] but is a community experience. There is a transfer of energy that happens as we speak, an energy transfer between our words and you [the audience.]” He went on to say that spoken word “promotes a call and response” and encouraged the crowd to react to their words if they resonated by “booing, hissing, clapping or snapping.”

The energy in the room during the team’s vibrant performances was tangible, often when a specific sentence or sentiment struck an audience member; they would raise their hand and snap their fingers once to show their appreciation. The sound of snapping dotted the crowd like popcorn throughout the set of the championship team’s performance.

Breanna Baden, a student at Metropolitan State who attended the event, socialized with other students and friends during the intermission while enjoying Thai dishes from Sawatdee.

Baden said that the performances by both the students and the feature performers were powerful and amazing. “It’s great to see so many people from campus and the writing programs, there are not many opportunities like this to socialize outside of class,” she said.

“My favorite performer was Kait,” Mac Murphy, another student attending the event said. “The subject matter in all her pieces was very real, and her language was raw and often symbolic.” He continued, “I also liked her delivery, because her passion seemed really genuine.”

Kevin Tillman performing “Fire and Seven Years in Tibet Movie.”

Photo by Peter Haakon Thompson.

Sally Strong Walker performing her piece “Arguing POV and MYOB.” Photo by Peter Haakon Thompson.

About 150 people, including volunteers and participants, attended the festival. The audience was as varied as the performances and included local artists and musicians, community members, faculty and alumni, students, their families and friends from Metropolitan State as well as students from other schools like Macalester College and the University of Minnesota.

The Global Poetry Festival is also an example of the community of Metropolitan State coming together on campus to create a dynamic and diverse event. In addition to the many students who helped organize the evening, some of the co-sponsors for the festival included Metropolitan State University’s Communication, Writing and Arts Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Asian Student Organization, Student Affairs, the Asian Student Organization, the Latino Student Organization, the Alumni Association, the Muslim Student Organization and SAFAC. For more information on this event, contact Ed Bok Lee at Edward.lee@metrostate.edu .

“Ever since happiness heard your name it has been running through the streets trying to find you” -Hafiz (Persia)

The feature performers at the Global Poetry Festival. Left to right: Guante, Khary Jackson and Kair Rokowski.

Photo by Ted Hall.

Open Poetry Slam After the intermission and refreshments, the second section of the festival gave the audience the rare treat of witnessing an open Poetry Slam in action. The open slam is an opportunity for anyone to get involved, and was run by the members of the championship team. During the open slam, participants performed pieces that were about three minutes long. Those that competed had the opportunity to win cash prizes awarded to first, second and third place.

Guante emphasized that this art form is based on the idea that anyone can do it, saying that the national team consists of people who “decided to pursue this form of communication because they sincerely enjoy it.”

Rokowski explained that the slam tradition began in the 1980s as a way to bring poetry back to the people. The judges for a slam are chosen from the audience and judges then rate each piece based on delivery and content using a point system from 1-10 with a decimal point required to prevent ties.

The scores from each judge are added together for an overall score for each piece.

In the first round, everyone who signed up to participate in the open slam before the festival was able to share their pieces and seven high scoring people moved on, performing a new piece in the second round. The top three scores in the second round determined the winners for first, second and third place. Dylan Gavity won first place and second went to Aiden Morzenti. Both Gavity and Morzenti are students from Macalester College and are members of the college poetry slam team who recently won the national college slam competition.

Third place was awarded to Ben Findlay who is a recent graduate of Metropolitan State University.

This was the first time that Findlay, a creative writing major, had performed his work in a spoken word competition. He decided to try the open slam because he had taken a poetry writing class at Metropolitan State and was inspired by last year’s poetry festival. Findlay says that he was a little intimidated but with some encouragement decided, “I think I can do this.” He revealed that he prepared for the open slam “by watching as many Ed Bok Lee performances on YouTube that I could find.” Findlay shared his strategy for the slam, saying, “I try to get a feel for the energy on the stage and chose my first piece because it had a stronger element of humor and was a little more lighthearted.” Most of the initial pieces performed in the first round of the open slam tackled a wide variety of topics but were universally appealing to the audience. Findlay said, “The first pieces are usually chosen because they have the ability to disarm the audience.” Findlay’s second piece, like many pieces in the second round of competition, dealt with heavier ideas and more painful imagery.

Student poetry shines spotlight on the soul Sally Strong Walker One of the students who opened for the Global Poetry Festival, Sally Strong Walker, is pursuing an individualized degree and represents the diverse age demographic at Metropolitan State University. Walker is older than the average traditional student but her instructors say she offers invaluable insight to class discussion.

Walker participated in the Poetry Interest Group on campus at Metropolitan State and initially shared her piece, “Arguing POV and MYOB,” with that group. She explained, “By that time, most of the writing and revision was done. The hard part was accepting what I had written and the ideas in that poem.” Walker explained that she practiced the poem with her neighbor and talked through the emotions of anger and helplessness she had exorcised while writing the piece.

She said that reading her piece at the festival was so challenging, not because she was afraid of speaking to an audience, but because she was sharing her own opinions rather than “ideas I got from interviewing people or gathering research.”

Instead, she was drawing conclusions in her piece that she developed from her own life journey.

Walker continued, “I think that many young writers that I have encountered on campus are terrified of offending others in their writing and may write good pieces but those pieces are still an evasion of what they may really need to write about in order to get out of the ideas or places they are mired in.”

Walker concluded by saying that her piece was symbolic of “my own self-acceptance.” She said she feels capable of living a life full of creative expression and can “form and verbalize opinions that are contrary to embedded beliefs and doubts that I carried for years.”

Rebecca Lux Another student who was invited to open at the Global Poetry Festival, Rebecca Lux, shared a piece she wrote called “Land of Ten Thousand Lakes.” Lux, who lives in St. Paul, is pursuing a Liberal Arts degree at Metropolitan State and writes poetry that often deals with themes of Korean heritage and transplanted roots. Lux explained that her challenge was being able to separate herself from her writing in order to communicate the ideas in her work clearly to the audience. Lux explained, “I had to remind myself that it’s not about me feeling self-conscious in front of an audience, but is about being able to share the themes in the piece.” To prepare, Lux practiced constantly but always silently “in my head like a prayer.” She explained, “I wanted it to become common language to my brain but only read it out loud a few times to keep the delivery natural.”

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

May/June 2011 Page 11

The Metropolitan

Entertainment

Metropolitan State University announces new art exhibit

Metropolitan State University Gordon Parks Gallery is pleased to present “Esperanza.”

The exhibit opens on April 22 and runs through July 28, 2011. A reception will take place on Thursday, June 9, from 12:30–4:30 p.m. Gallery hours from April 22 through May 12 are Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Gallery hours from May 13 through July 28 are Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The gallery is located in the Library and Learning Center, 645 East Seventh Street, St. Paul.

“Esperanza” is a textile installation exhibition

by Carolyn Kallenborn of Madison, Wis. Regarding the work, Kallenborn has said, “[It] was inspired by the improvisational and interactive altars that I have seen during my time in Oaxaca, Mexico. Ofrendas (altars) are found in homes, in cemeteries, in little nooks in the wall or on sidewalks on the street. Milagros are small charms that are left on statues in the churches as prayers for healing the heart, the mind or the body. These physical objects become conscious visual reminders of a person, a wish or a hope. Esperanza means hope. This

“Esperanza,” a textile installation exhibition, by Carolyn Kallenborn.

Photos courtesy of Erica Rasmussen

exhibition is my public ofrenda, or my altar.

It is a physical manifestation of my wish or desire for healing for myself and our world community. With objects and interaction, I hope to create a place of reflection and memories of those things that are important in life. When I think of the people I love and of how they have inspired me, it challenges me to keep those positive influences alive in my life. With this exhibition, I invite others to do the same. In a time of adversity and in

desperate situations, sometimes the smallest act, intentionally taken, can help dispel the sense of helplessness.”

This exhibition is cosponsored by the Surface Design Association’s international textile conference, meeting in Minneapolis from June 9–12, 2011.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Erica Rasmussen, gallery director, at 651-793-1631 or erica.rasmussen@ metrostate.edu.

Movie review “Don’t worry, Gotham is safe.”

JAKE CALLAHAN

Callja@go.metrostate.edu Close your eyes and imagine the Batmobile speeding down the mean streets of New York City. The police are in hot pursuit of this anti-hero who puts felons behind bars.

The Batmobile suddenly veers off course and into a monstrous bronze statue of a bull, its testicles lodging squarely above the driver. The hatch opens to reveal a skinny, squirrelly, drunk Englishman slurring his words. “You’re driving drunk again Arthur.

This makes it two nights in a row,” says the police officer. “Actually, I’m still drunk from last night,” slurs Arthur.

Such is the title character of Arthur, played

by Russell Brand. Arthur is a world class drunk misfit who is heir to a billion-dollar

fortune. When his public antics get to the point of being embarrassing for his mother’s company, she gives him an ultimatum: marry a woman he doesn’t love or be cut off from his trust fund. As fate would have it, Arthur meets Naomi (Greta Gerwig), who is posing as a tour instructor at Grand Central Station, and falls for her. So the question is: will Arthur choose love over money?

This is not a usual role for Russell Brand, who has made a living in recent years with comedies such as Bedtime Stories and Despicable Me. Brand is perhaps best known in film for his portrayal of fictional rock star Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.

But Brand isn’t up to his old ways in

Arthur; he is actually fairly charming and the script makes you feel for his character and the struggles he is going through. Brand still wields his unique comic timing (and the jokes you would expect from him), but he is very believable as a leading man in a comedy such as this.

Helen Mirren, who plays Authur’s nanny/ mother figure is hilarious in this movie and she has superb comic timing. Greta Gerwig is also charming, and her portrayal comes off as very convincing and real. Jennifer Garner, who plays Arthur’s wife-to-be is mediocre— but in her defense, her character wasn’t very three-dimensional and she didn’t have a lot to work with. Luis Guzman (Waiting..., Anger Management, Boogie Nights) is a riot

as usual but his part is very small and I would have liked to see more of him.

Overall the movie is very predictable but the cast and overall charm saves it from being completely pigeonholed and makes it a fun ride.

Arthur is actually a remake of 1981’s Authur starring Dudley Moore. I have not seen the original so I cannot compare the two but I have the feeling much of the remake’s tone and charm comes from the original.

Down to brass tacks: Is this movie worth spending my hard-earned cash on? I would say “yes.” If you go in expecting to laugh (but are not blown away) then this movie is worth every penny.

“This we know: All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves .”

-Chief Seattle

Page 12 May/June 2011

http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu

The Metropolitan

In preparation for the next fall semester, The Metropolitan is giving readers a glimpse of end-of-the-summer activities.

Look for another glimpse in the next issue!

ALEX HEDIN

Hedial@go.metrostate.edu

Treat your taste buds to something new

Every August, the Minnesota State Fair arrives with dozens of new edible delights for Fair-goers to try. There are the tried and true classics— Pronto Pups, pork chop on a stick, cheese curds, mini-donuts, and, of course, Sweet Martha’s cookies. These are so popular, Fair-goers rarely risk sacrificing their traditional favorites by trying something new.

“I like to try something new each year,” Metropolitan State University student Katy Knable said. “They don’t often make the musthave list, though.”

Metropolitan State student Daniel Hoff is a bit more wary. “I usually stick with the same food each year unless a new food has been highly advertised and has received positive feedback,” he said.

At the 2010 Minnesota State Fair, there were over 20 new foods to try. Hopefully fair-goers will be encouraged to try these yummy delights at the 2011 State Fair, and maybe even some of the new 2011 foods as well.

Among the new food offerings last year were the new sausage and cheese-stuffed jalapeno poppers on a stick at My Sausage Sister and Me (located on the east wall inside the Food Building).

Surprisingly, the poppers aren’t as hot as one would expect, and $5 buys three poppers (optional Ranch sauce also helps tame the jalapeno spice).

Potato Man and Sweety (located on the west side of Liggett Street, and south of Carnes Avenue) has deep-fried bacon cheddar mashed potatoes on a stick for $5.50. These are essentially deep-fried potato balls filled with bacon and cheddar. They are crunchy on the outside, but soft in the middle.

There are five different sauces to choose from— ranch, sour cream and chives, honey mustard, gravy, and ketchup.

Metropolitan State student Byron Olson— whose all-time favorite Fair food is cheese on a stick—said, “Anything on a stick is pretty much a necessity to try. Plus, it sounds terrible for me, and that’s what fair food is for.” Of the 450 different foods available at the Fair, there are over 60 foods on a stick. Some popular and unique foods on a stick are deep-fried candy bars, hot dish, spaghetti and meatballs, key lime pie, and walleye.

Giggles’ Campfire Grill (located on the northeast

Photos courtesy of Alex Hedin

corner of Cooper Street and Lee Avenue in the North Woods) sells five slices of thick-cut chicken fried bacon for $5.50. The bacon is crispy, light, and fluffy, and nowhere near as chewy or greasy as typical bacon. The bacon’s taste recalls french toast,

and it was served with a creamy maple-cinnamon dipping sauce. Breakfast lovers will likely drool over this new taste sensation.

O’Gara’s (located on the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street) offers

Sweet Potato Tots for $5. Like the chicken fried bacon, the tots have the sweet taste and smell of french toast. The tots are soft and moist, and make a great snack, or a great part of a meal—no matter what time of the day it is. Breakfast lovers will love that O’Gara’s also sells other breakfast items such as pancakes, eggs, hash browns, sausage, and toast.

It’s a great place to stop in the morning when first arriving at the Fair, or late at night when breakfast cravings may arise.

O’Gara’s had a few other new items to try, including the Irish soda bread, which is a very nice way to end the night on a lighter note (and possibly bring home to finish the next morning).

The $5 bread comes in a big loaf, which can be eaten there or taken to go. The inside of the loaf tastes like french bread, but the outside is topped in sugar and sweetness. It is also served with cinnamon butter, which is a great addition. The only downside was that the bread was a little tough to break pieces off, and it crumbled quite a bit.

Of the new foods mentioned, Olson said that the Irish Soda Bread sounds the most appealing to him. “I’m not entirely sure what it is and that builds up some intrigue for me,” he said. Perhaps the food items that are too self-explanatory, such as the sweet potato tots, may push some people away. “I very much dislike sweet potatoes and yams,” said Olson. “So I would not try the sweet potato tots.”

While the new foods for the 2011 State Fair have not yet been determined and will not be announced until late June, Fair-goers who have ideas for future Fair foods are encouraged to speak their minds online at http://mnstatefair.blogspot. com/2010/11/2011-minnesota-state-fair-food.html.

“If a food vendor comes up with a new food idea—they present the idea to our staff, even doing a food tasting and then we all move forward to present it to the Fair-goer,” said Lara Hughes, Marketing and Communications Specialist of the Minnesota State Fair. “Our staff works very hard at making sure there is a balance of food options at the fair.”

See you at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair, and be sure to try a new food item or two—you may find something great to add to your own musthave list.

student survey We want to hear what you think. Please tear off this portion of the newspaper and drop it off in the supplied envelope on the newspaper office door (FH L113) marked “Surveys.” You can also scan in this page or e-mail your responses to themetropolitan@go.metrostate.edu.

1. Which of the following 4. How many miles are age categories do you fit you willing to travel from into? where you live to attend a Metropolitan State m 18-30 m 31-40 University campus? m 41-60 m 60+ m 0-10 m 10-20 2. What college or school m 20-30 m 30+ do you study under? m m m m

5. Would you remain a CAS m COM student at Metropolitan CNHS m LECJ State University if classes First college m C P S were only held in St. Paul?

Undecided/not sure m Yes m No

3. How do you get to m Not sure school?

6. Would you register for m Drive myself mBike more online courses if there m Public transportation was a new campus in the m Carpool m Walk west metro area?

9. Do you have any comments on opinions on the current campus planning 7 . D o y o u f e e l t h a t for the west metro area?

Metropolitan State University is leaning away from or towards “a university without walls”? m Yes m No m Not sure

m Yes m Not sure

m No

8. I feel that my and other students’ responses to west metro planning will be heard. m Yes m No m Not sure