The Statesman 4-30-14

Opinion

Sports

Student Life

Think you’re overpaying for parking? Think again, A5

Maroon overcomes White in Spring Game, B2

Drag show makes a splash, B3

THE STATESMAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

WWW.UMDSTATESMAN.COM

Funding increase alive in Senate

ON DISPLAY At the Tweed Museum of Art’s Gallery Hop

Dayton’s $5 million most likely off table, Senate proposes $2.5 million ahead of committee talks

BY KYLE FARRIS News Editor

There is still a chance UMD will receive at least part of the $5 million funding increase proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton in March.

The Minnesota Senate set aside $2.5 million for UMD in its proposed finance bill, which will be negotiated by a House and Senate budget conference committee before the legislative session ends in mid-May. Chancellor Lendley Black said UMD would use the money to help pay off its $9.4 million structural deficit — the result of decreased enrollment, a 16-year fringe benefit miscalculation discovered last year and less state funding, with a smaller share of the available state funding.

“We are encouraged that both the Senate and Gov. Dayton support supplemental funding to UMD,” Black said in a statement Monday. “We hope that the Conference Committee of the House and Senate will work out Black a final version of the bill that includes money for UMD.” After including $5 million for UMD in a supplemental budget plan released in early March, Dayton said he wanted the university to use the one-time payment to prevent further layoffs to faculty.

More than 60 UMD employees have already taken voluntary layoffs, and cuts to academics and campus programs are part of the university’s short- and long-term plans. see STATE FUNDING, A4

PHOTOS BY ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN

T

he 24th annual Gallery Hop put on by the Tweed Museum of Art Saturday featured works by student and professional artists, games and activities like “pinata bashing and smashing,” and live music.

Mediums of printmaking, lithography, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and photography were represented. The afternoon concluded with a student exhibition and quartet performance courtesy of the UMD Music Department.

In her first marathon, hoping to go the distance Having trained since January, Annika Whitcomb said her biggest fear is not finishing in Grandma’s

BY PAIGE WALTER Staff Reporter

Sophomore Annika Whitcomb’s New Year’s resolution has her pushing physical and mental limits.

Whitcomb is entered to race in her first Grandma’s Marathon this June.

Her training schedule, part-time job and 18-credit school load are wearing on her.

She compares training for a marathon to taking an additional five-credit class.

“I am a morning person, but I’m not a 5:30 a.m. morning person,” Whitcomb see MARATHON, A3

INDEX:

News: A1 - A4 |

“Apollo and Daphne” in Carrara marble by Ferdinando Vichi (18751945). The sculpture was donated to the Tweed

by William R. Stephenson and John A. Stephenson.

Union: For now, evals won’t go public at UMD Course evaluations, which may soon be published at Twin Cities campus, are kept private by a union-system contract

BY KYLE FARRIS News Editor

Whitcomb and her stepfather, Frank Motz, at a race in Madison, Wis., last year.

ANNIKA WHITCOMB/SUBMITTED

Opinion: A5 - A6 | Sports: B1 - B2

Members of the Faculty and Student senates at the U of M will vote on a measure in May that would make course evaluations accessible for students at the Twin

| Student Life: B3 - B5

Cities campus.

The measure, or one similar to it, is not possible at UMD under the current Bargaining Unit Contract between the University Education Association-Duluth see EVALS, A4

STATESMAN CENTRAL PHOTO OF THE WEEK

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

A2

THIS WEATHER...

BY JOE FRASER

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THOUGHTS EVERYONE HAD DURING THE POWER OUTAGE

10. “One zombie apocalypse, coming right up.”

9. “UMD Alert? No school?! ...

Oh, wait. No power.”

8. “Maybe I’ll just skip today.”

7. “Cool.”

6. “I wish my professor was more reliant on technology.”

5. “Dark public restrooms ... so murdery.”

4. “Zzzzzzzzzz.”

3. “Is this professor really going to do a plain lecture?”

2. “Let’s go on an adventure!”

1. “Eh, this isn’t so bad. WAIT. There’s no Wifi?!”

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Additional Info The Statesman is the official student newspaper of the University of Minnesota Duluth and is published by the UMD Board of Publications weekly during the academic year except for holidays and exam weeks.

The editorials, articles, opinions and other content within the Statesman are not intended to reflect University of Minnesota policy and are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty, or the University or its Duluth Campus.

The Student Service Fee dollars the Statesman receives covers printing costs for the academic year.

The Statesman and the University of Minnesota are equal opportunity employers and educators.

The Statesman promotes responsible activities and behaviors. Advertisments published in The Statesman do not represent the individual views of the newspaper staff or those of the University of Minnesota Duluth community.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

A3

Backpacks tell stories of student suicide

More than 1,000 backpacks covered the floor of the Kirby Ballroom on Monday. The exhibit, put on by Active Minds at UMD, called attention to suicide among college students and provided information about prevention. PHOTOS BY SARAH STAUNER/STATESMAN

BY SAM STROM Staff Reporter

Backpacks — 1,100 of them — littered the floor of the Kirby Ballroom on Monday, each one representing a college student who will commit suicide this year.

The Send Silence Packing program was put on by the Active Minds chapter at UMD to bring attention to suicide among college students.

“It’s to bring more of a visual to it,” said Mary Grew, an Active Minds member.

“When people see this giant amount of backpacks, people really see that all of these students would be here. Except, they’re not.

“It’s really powerful and can cause a really emotional reaction.”

Active Minds is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness for college students.

According to the Send Silence Packing flyer, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students.

One in 10 college students seriously consider attempting

Marathon Continued from A1

said. “And that’s kind of what this marathon has made me.”

Each week, Whitcomb plans her training times around class and work.

Weekdays are reserved for “short” runs which are around five miles, while Saturdays are for “long” runs usually around 10 miles.

But running isn’t Whitcomb’s only form of preparation.

Whitcomb, who is currently nursing a leg injury, uses water training, or water running, as her secondary workout method.

Water running gives her the cardio workout she needs without the risk of further injuring her leg. She trains in UMD’s lap pool on offrunning days.

A former swimmer with “swimmer’s lungs,” Whitcomb took up running her senior year of high school in 2012 and fell in love with the sport.

“After swimming was over I thought, ‘What am I going to do? I need to stay in shape,’” Whitcomb said. “And with all of the hills and trails up here in Duluth, (running) was even better.”

After she made racing in Grandma’s Marathon her New Year’s resolution, Whitcomb began training in January. She plans to run the marathon with a close family friend, but she has done the majority of her training alone.

“Running a marathon was completely foreign material to me,” Whitcomb said. “I just Googled ‘marathon training program’ ... so I chose a training program and am trying to follow it.”

Whitcomb trains four to five days each week and has run up to 11.5 miles in one session. She called herself “a little crazy” because she has never run even a half marathon, but she still has two months to train before Grandma’s on June 21.

She said her biggest fear is not finishing, but her immediate family and best friend will be watching from the crowd on marathon day.

“I will probably cry if I complete the marathon because I don’t think I’ve ever pushed myself so hard to do something,” Whitcomb said.

“You train so long, you better be able to cross that finish line.”

Grandma’s Marathon

suicide.

Chelsea Blaylock, an Active Minds member, said she hopes students who attended the program and have had suicidal thoughts in the past realize help is available. “(Suicide) is preventable,” Blaylock said. “People just need to know that they can reach out, and that’s what we’re here for. I hope that they realize that there are people that feel the same way and that they’re not alone.”

A number of backpacks had stories about the original owner. Stories were written

from a wide range of perspectives including parents, friends, siblings and children.

Cecilia Huffman, a senior at UMD, attended the event and said she didn’t know what to expect when she walked into the Kirby Ballroom.

“I thought I was going to walk in and see backpacks,” Huffman said. “And I came in and saw backpacks. But there’s so many.”

Huffman said the use of photos and personal stories made the event more powerful.

“It’s hard,” she said. “I know that when I walk by, and in the story it says ‘Mother’ or something, I don’t read it. I can’t do that. It’s too tough.

“It makes it a lot more personal. I’m like, ‘I don’t want to read this one, I don’t want to think about it in that way.’”

Sophomore George Loftis attended the program, and although she doesn’t know anyone who has committed suicide, she said the event still had an effect on her.

“It’s honestly just super powerful to read all these stories,” Loftis said.

Loftis said the way the exhibit showed the number

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of students who will commit suicide this year instead of telling it made the event more powerful.

“I think it’s a really powerful way to demonstrate,” Loftis said. “You come in here and there’s 1,100 backpacks. It’s more than just a poster saying ‘Oh, here are the facts,’ or ‘Oh, here are a few stories.’”

“You go in knowing that 1,100 people (commit suicide) every year,” Huffman said.

“You see specific stories and people talking about it, and it puts life to those numbers.

That’s what makes it really real and personal.”

CUE preps students in business

BY GRAHAM HAKALA Staff Reporter

As the Internet and technology continue to connect communities on a global scale, new opportunities arise for those who wish to seize them.

Cultural entrepreneurship is a fairly new discipline taking shape in universities around the world. It looks to get students engaged in creative, community-based business.

The Cultural Entrepreneurship major (CUE) at UMD is the first program like it in the United States. Students take courses from a variety of disciplines that they choose and plug that knowledge into courses related to cultural literacy and business entrepreneurship.

The program is putting on its second “Cue and A” event on Monday, May 5, at the Zeitgeist Arts building on Superior Street. The event will showcase several student projects that have been put together by groups of CUE majors over the course of the semester. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public. “(Presenters) get to speak with community members, potential stake-holders in their projects, hear their feedback

and answer questions, be able to defend their ideas and convince stake-holders why they should support them,” said Aparna Katre, a professor in the CUE program.

The projects focus on a variety of cultural and community-based issues and opportunities, with an entrepreneurial eye toward creating a sustainable business model.

“They work through and analyze issues from various perspectives and look at creative solutions to that problem, or opportunity primarily from the perspective of sustainable business solutions,” Katre said. “They’re really applying creativity here.”

Projects address regional issues on a local level, as well as a global one. One group presentation focuses on addressing the issues with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which affects people who become depressed during the winter. Another presentation looks for ways in which a small textile weaving community in Guatemala can reach a global market. “(CUE) is a new way of looking at not just a program design, but a departmental and collegiate design,” said Mike Mullins, one of the program founders at UMD. “The

DATE: Saturday, June 21, 2014 START TIME: 7:45 a.m.; Wheelchair Start: 7:40 a.m.

The backpack of Erin Shigenaga, who committed suicide in 2009.

BY PAIGE WALTER Staff Reporter

Around midnight on Thursday, April 24, a UMDPD officer noticed a smoke-filled car sitting in an on-campus parking lot. When the officer approached the car, he found two male students smoking marijuana inside. The males were cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Five students were issued citations for underage consumption of alcohol Friday night after an officer approached a vehicle in Lot V2. The vehicle contained several students, some of whom were inside the trunk. Most of the occupants were intoxicated or had been drinking.

The occupants were issued citations.

About 20 minutes later, an officer came across a damaged door in the Griggs A second-floor study lounge. The door lock and handle had been smashed, and furniture inside had been

interdisciplinary nature of the program speaks to local, as well as global, cultural identity.”

Each presentation will last about 15 minutes, which includes time for questions and answers. Potential investors will be present, giving presenters an opportunity to build networks and partnerships.

“Our hope is that some of these students will go on to flesh out a business model,” Katre said. “So at the end of the cultural entrepreneur major, if they have developed the passion and the skills, they will want to launch their business. That’s the roadmap we’re creating for them.”

Mullins points to the event location, the Zeitgeist Arts building, as a perfect example for creative and cultural entrepreneurship.

“It’s representative of these creative economies and cultures,” Mullins said. “It’s a hybrid social entrepreneurship model, with the cinema (the Zinema-2) that shows great films that you might not see elsewhere. You’ve got theater (the Teatro Zuccone) with great improv comedy. And then you have a really nice restaurant (the Zeitgeist Arts Café). It’s a really nice space.”

thrown about the room. The officer checked the area and found two males, one of whom was crying. The officer recognized the males as two of the students ticketed for underage consumption in Lot V2 less than half an hour before.

The officer spoke to the males and learned that the male who was crying was the one responsible for the damage to the lounge. The male was placed under arrest and booked into the St. Louis County Jail on charges of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

The officer learned that, before being ticketed in Lot V2, the male student had recently been contacted by resident assistants for alcohol violations.

Early Saturday morning, a 22-year-old male student was taken to detox after officers responded to a 911 call from the male’s roommates.

When officers reached the male’s residence at Oakland Apartments, they found the male outside with one of his roommates, who is confirmed to have become “violent” for unknown reasons. The male at first refused to give his identity to officers, but later provided his driver’s license. He also agreed to take a portable breath test, but when one of the officers was preparing the test the male became angry and noncompliant.

Unable to gauge the male’s breath, and after seeing he was not making sound choices, officers brought the male to detox for his own safety and the safety of his roommates.

News Editor / Kyle Farris / farri060@d.umn.edu

Evals Continued from A1

(UEA-D) and the Board of Regents.

Proponents say publication would make faculty more transparent and accountable. Opponents say it would threaten select faculty members.

The U of M senates are considering only course evaluations for publication. Faculty evaluations would remain private. “It’s not as simple as the Twin Cities passes a policy, we must comply,� said Michael Pfau, UEAD president.

UMD and the University of Minnesota Crookston are the only unionized campuses in the U of M system, and

their policy-changing procedures differ from those of the Twin Cities and the other two campuses in the system.

For UMD to make course evaluations public, the UEA-D and a representative appointed by the Board of Regents — usually a UMD chancellor or vice chancellor — would have to agree to amend the current contract. The amendment would then go to the Board of Regents for approval.

Pfau said course evaluations, in their current form, are not intended for student use. “Teaching evaluations are instruments that, so far, have been designed to evaluate a faculty member’s performance,�

Pfau said. “They’re not designed specifically to

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gauge a course’s appropriateness for a particular student.�

While Pfau said the UEA-D is open to discussing the publication of course evaluations with administrators, he also said he would want a policy change to include administrator evaluations.

Students and faculty evaluate administrators every three years, but John Hamlin, UEA-D president-elect who will succeed Pfau in July, said the administrator evaluations have not been made accessible in a way that is useful for students and faculty. “Part of our concern is, why would you want to put course evaluations and faculty evaluations public and not demand administrative evaluations go public?� Hamlin said.

For students, course information including number of exams and term papers is already

available online. Students can also find information about a specific faculty member or course on independent websites like RateMyProfessors.

Hamlin questioned the academic value of information students are likely to take from course evaluations, should they be made public. “It’s probably things like: ‘Is this teacher easy?

Is this teacher hard? Is this teacher boring?’�

Hamlin said. “I’m not sure faculty think that’s necessarily an important thing to put out about the nature of a course.�

Hamlin and Pfau each expressed concern that the publication of course evaluations could have unintended negative consequences on how the university manages its faculty.

Publication, Hamlin said, could result in public pressure on the university to make certain decisions regarding the promotion, tenure status

and retention of faculty. “We want to make sure we safeguard privacy because that stuff is pretty important in terms of promotion and tenure issues,� Hamlin said. “We don’t want that stuff to suddenly become public fodder for people to make decisions outside the process.�

Course evaluations only apply to faculty performance in the classroom, which Hamlin said ignores a key aspect of teaching at a university. “We’ve lost a number of excellent teachers here because they haven’t produced the research that’s necessary,� Hamlin said. “They’re terrific in the classroom and students love them, and they get great course evaluations.

Putting (their course evaluations) public wouldn’t make any difference because they’re out the door.�

Hamlin said he has seen faculty members

State funding Continued from A1

The House did not include additional money for UMD in its bill, so the funding increase would likely have been off the table without the Senate’s endorsement.

Because the House and Senate have passed finance bills that are not identical, the bills move to a conference committee of representatives and senators who will draft a mutual version.

Even if a bill that includes additional funding for UMD is passed by the Legislature and signed by Dayton, the money still isn’t ensured to reach UMD. Dayton and state lawmakers can indicate where within the U of M system they would like the money to go, but the Board of Regents has ultimate authority to distribute state funding.

The Board’s fairness in

distributing funds among the system’s five campuses was called into question this winter.

Since 2009, UMD’s state funding has dropped a systemworst 44 percent.

During that same time, when the system’s total budget has shrunk by more than $100 million, state funding for the Twin Cities campus has dropped 20 percent.

In January Dayton called the imbalance “a serious reason for people (at UMD) to feel like they’re being shortchanged and given a second-rate status.�

Dayton said he planned to meet with U of M system President Eric Kaler to discuss the imbalance and possible solutions.

State lawmakers may be more receptive to additional

who scored poorly on course evaluations promoted, and faculty members who scored well on course evaluations let go. “There’s always examples of things that didn’t go right,� Hamlin said.

Should the UEAD and administrators decide to make course evaluations public, Hamlin said an amendment could be added to the union-system contract in a way that is “pretty harmless� and could be done “pretty quickly.�

Hamlin said one possibility is instituting a trial run, after which the sides could discuss whether to make the change permanent. “It’s one of those things we’d always be open to discussing,�

Hamlin said. “Contracts are living documents.

You have to keep with the times and change it.

If they want to come to us and negotiate about that, we can talk about it and see.�

expenditures — like extra money for UMD — considering Minnesota’s current financial outlook.

In March the state announced a $1.2 billion surplus, which exceeds predictions made in December by more than $400 million.

Last week, Dayton said he was upping the amount of the surplus he is willing to spend by $100 million.

Budget announcement The U of M system will release its budget for Fiscal Year 2015 on May 2 at noon on the Board of Regents website.

Black and other UMD administrators have expressed optimism about receiving more money from the system, regardless of whether the funding increase in the Legislature is approved.

UMD’s share of the system budget has dropped in each of the last five years, from about $50 million in 2009 to about $28 million in 2013.

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A4

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OPINION

Opinion Editor / Satya Putumbaka / putum003@d.umn.edu

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

COLUMN

INCREASE THE COST OF PARKING

HOW I’M

Over the past month or two it has become evident that despite the most draconian measures such as buying the cheapest toilet paper possible for the bathrooms, the university is broke. Fair enough. Now the university wishes to show the lords in Minneapolis that Duluth is cutting costs and raising revenue here. This should strengthen its bargaining position for more from the State’s pot of gold in the future. Something has been overlooked however. There’s a financial black hole at this university which no one has discussed: asphalt.

The university parking services currently generate revenue of $1.5 million on fines and fees for the 4,600 spaces at the university. Per space this comes to about $325 per year. That’s some expensive square feet and a big chunk of change. There’s a problem, however: The true, total cost per space is somewhere between $700 and $1,200 per year in the U.S. Estimates put it at around

$850 here in Duluth. If any urban planners can challenge this, have at it!

So how does that work?

Well, the university picks up the rest of the cost such as rainwater runoff fees, land value, administration, ect.

The university has become a parking lot operator with an annual loss of $2.4 million.

Simply, if people using parking service here were carrying their weight, the university would be flush with cash.

Why not change? There is a perception that parking is the third rail within studentadministration relations.

Maybe it is. Maybe we students would revolt with flaming hockey sticks if we had to pay our share. Judging by how much we are paying for tuition without even a peep, however, I doubt it.

BEN GIESE is part of the liberal arts program at UMD. He can be contacted via email at bgiese@d.umn.edu

COLUMN

TALKING NERDY

A NERD WITHOUT POWER

ILLUSTRATION BY JADE GOLEN

BY ZACK WEBSTER Columnist

It’s almost inconceivable in this day and age to consider a nerd — or anyone for that matter — who exists without some form of reliance on not only the Internet but electronics in general. All it took was a power outage on a Monday morning to shake me off my routine. My one class for the day, which was entirely dependent on computers, was

with joe haeg

cancelled. Instead, I was forced back to the apartment, which also lacked power and Wi-Fi. I could get some schoolwork done but only as much as my few hours of battery life would provide, and even then I was unable to share it with the world.

Then after that, what was I to do? I could read, my Vita and 3DS had a few hours of playtime a piece and I could probably get a few games of Magic going, but beyond that, conversation was the only thing I had going for me. Not that I have a problem with conversation — with the right people — but I do enough of it already.

Although the power troubles were short-lived, it got me thinking about just how much my favorite hobbies all require a vast, complex system of networks and wires and things I am not smart enough to understand. Video games, internet commentators, online communities, discussions of my more niche interests, all of those things are contingent on so many other things that I should be surprised more often than I am that they work at all. Even the most basic single-players games still require a screen and power

sources, some things plenty of people don’t have around the world.

I’m really preaching to the choir on this one, aren’t I? I am incredibly lucky to be born into the position I was, where a legitimate unusual concern of mine is something as simple as “will I have enough battery life to finish an assignment?”

It didn’t even occur to me that I could write something out by hand and finish it later; I had already resigned myself to just not being able to work.

I don’t often act like this.

I feel the best way to show appreciation for good fortune is just to live out your life the way you want with the knowledge that you are fortunate. More often than not I find little asides like this irritating. Writing this isn’t going to make me change my ways and I doubt it will make you change yours, but it is always nice to give myself a sense of perspective.

My perspective: I was shaken and inspired to write this little thing entirely based off of about 2 hours of no internet access. I think we can all agree that is a little depressing.

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LEAVING COLLEGE

BY BEN LABERGE Columnist

BEN GIESE

TALKING NERDY

A5

EDITORIAL BOARD: Opinion Page Editor___________ SATYA PUTUMBAKA Editor-in-Chief___________________ MAEGGIE LICHT

For those like me, this is the final stretch to end all final stretches. To me, it’s not just another semester come and gone. It’s a transition from submitting to the rules of engagement inherent to the educational system: eat, sleep, study, test, pray (not necessarily in that order nor including all those elements at once) into a world where I will spend the rest of my adult and proceeding senile life in.

In retrospect, I could have had a smoother college experience, but I could also have done worse. Both in and outside of class have had their rough moments, trials and tribulations that sometimes make me wonder if my whole life was built up like some sadistic sitcom. While I’ve done some things that I regret, I would never regret getting to where I am now — and all that I’ve learned.

For instance, I’ve learned to always use the crosswalks. Getting hit by a car hurts, brings about a sense of vertigo, and bits of your life flash before your life so fast you don’t have time to remember what they were like. The only thing worse than getting hit by a car is getting hit by a car outside the crosswalk. Then, some well-meaning person calls the cops who, in turn, issue you a ticket for causing an accident in which someone got hurt. It doesn’t matter that you were the one who got hurt, what matters is that it happened because you were outside the crosswalk. Now, I always use the crosswalks.

I found it’s never too late to do what you love. I changed my major three years into my college career from biochemistry to journalism, two majors as far away from each other as majors can get. It was a hard decision, but it was one that needed to be made. Maybe it was the constant confusion in labs, the rigid, cut-and-paste testing regimen, or the fatigue from learning about DNA synthesis for the fourth semester in a row — but somewhere between not being as apt a student as I needed to be and not caring about that fact was the actuality that I was more interested in writing stories in the margins of my notes than I was in paying attention to lectures. I loved to write, far more than I wanted to be a doctor or a lab technician. Had I stayed with it, I probably would have hated my job for the rest of my life. Not only that, but like my notes in class I would probably have done my job half-heartedly, something I can’t afford to have happen if I’m to retain any decent job out of college.

I’ve learned that college is a poor place to find love (stay with me here) and a great place to make new friends. It’s a fine place to have fun and mess around, an awesome place to be silly and stupid; but I’ve found college love to be nearly as crazy and depressing as high school love. Immaturity runs rampant on campus: It comes with the territory. People looking for more substantial relationships will be hard pressed to find them. Honestly I figure that, at 22, I have twice the time I spent in college to be single and enjoy it. And even without great romance there is still the chance to talk to people. While video games are fun and cat videos are funny, they can never beat sharing in an experience with another human being. I’m not saying go out and be someone you’re not. But more often than not, if you’re not a jerk about it, most people would appreciate the chance to talk about something.

So the end of the spring semester is coming at us sooner than we really want it to.

Finals and final projects loom over us, the studying and preparation of which is shoved to the very last second until a late-night session culminates in the B- we feel so relieved and satisfied to achieve. Graduation means not simply grabbing a diploma, jumping into a job and getting on with life. Having the piece of paper doesn’t even ensure the second step in that equation any more. But as I prepare to receive it along with all the consequences of graduating, I am forced to pause upon all the experiences that have allowed me to receive it. So, if years of experiences can be condensed, I’ve learned something.

All letters must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification, not to publish. The Statesman reserves the right to edit all letters for style, space, libel and grammar. Letters should be no more than 300 words in length. Readers may also submit longer guest columns. The Statesman reserves the right to print any submission as a letter or guest column. Submission does not guarantee publication.

Opinion Editor / Satya Putumbaka / Putum003@d.umn.edu

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

A6

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Sports Editor / Nicole Brodzik / brodz006@d.umn.edu

B1

Getting to know Josh Berlo

Softball clinches sixth seed in NSIC playoffs

BY JIMMY GILLIGAN Statesman Correspondent

Despite being dominated in game one, the Bulldogs took game two with clutch hitting, handing the Mavericks their third conference loss of the season.

In game one the Bulldogs ran into stellar pitching; Sami Schnyder was the only batter to record a hit while UMD struck out a total of 16 times in the contest. Mariah Schultz pitched a strong game despite the loss, giving up two earned runs while striking out five. Schultz pitched well over the final week of the season, earning a 4-0 record and a 0.93 ERA. She will be relied upon in the pitching circle along with Cayli Sadler as the Bulldogs move forward into the NSIC tournament.

Another late-game rally gave UMD the split in a game two with little offense. Ashley Schilling hit her third home run of the week to put the Bulldogs in front, and Schnyder extended her hitting streak to eleven games with an RBI single in the seventh frame, adding to the 6-2 Bulldog win. Sadler picked up her 18th win of the season in the finale, giving up two runs over seven innings.

Over the final week of conference play, UMD was happy with their ability to overcome mistakes and find ways to win, proving their resilience and desire to succeed.

“We seem to slip up and make some mental mistakes, but this team, they’re relentless and have shown that,” head coach Jen Banford said. “They just come back and find a way to win.”

The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (25-19) begin the NSIC tournament against Augustana in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Bulldog softball team finished their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with some of their best performances all season.

In the final week of conference play, they swept Minnesota State Moorhead and split games with Concordia and Minnesota State University, Mankato to secure the sixth seed in the NSIC tournament. UMD battled in each game, coming from behind with clutch hitting and pitching to finish with a final conference record of 11-8.

Going into the final games, Banford said the plan was simple.

“We just want to take it one game at a time and win the games we should win,” Banford said. “Hopefully, we can steal a couple from Mankato.”

By those standards alone the week was considered a success.

It began with a senior day sweep of Minnesota State Moorhead, where seniors Megan Mullen and Brooke Neuroth showed why they will be missed next season.

Neuroth opened the scoring in game one with a solo home run — the first of her collegiate career. Mullen won the game in heroic fashion for UMD with a walk off two-run home run.

Mullen also paid her dues in the pitching circle, holding the Dragons to one hit over four innings in game two.

Like in the opener, home runs made the difference in game two; Jordan Rice and Ashley Schilling added a home run each to elevate UMD to the 5-3 victory. Sophomore pitcher Cayli Sadler picked up the win in both games, striking out 13 batters over 10 innings.

After her memorable performance against Moorhead on senior day, Mullen said she was proud to have played in a Bulldog uniform.

“It’s been four years that I will never forget,” said Mullen.

Taking their senior day momentum to St. Paul, UMD exploded offensively with a combined 16 runs scored. Sami Schnyder’s three-run double in the seventh inning capped a four-run late game rally to pick up the win. Giving Sadler a rest in the pitching circle, freshmen Mariah Schultz and Sam Hartmann pitched game two, surrendering a combined five runs in the 5-4 loss.

The Bulldogs go into the regular season finale against Minnesota State University, Mankato, looking to attain a higher seed in the NSIC tournament with a win.

Josh Berlo has embraced his job as head of the Bulldog Athletic Department, where he has seen UMD host three NSIC tournaments and multiple athletes become All-Americans.

SARAH STAUNER/ STATESMAN

BY NICOLE BRODZIK Sports Editor

Just over a year ago, Athletic Director Josh Berlo took over at UMD. Read on to learn a little about his transition to Duluth and what his first year as a Bulldog has been like.

How

did you make your way to Duluth and become the Athletic Director at

UMD?

“I was working the Big East men’s championship in New York City. I got a phone call from a friend of mine, and this would have been last

March, who runs a job search firm. I was actually trying to grab a workout before I went to meet some donors after a game, and he calls me and I say, ‘Seriously, what do you want?’ He had this job he wanted me to look at, so I told him ‘Okay, send me an email and I’ll get back to you.’ I thought, ‘Gee, I have a good gig here at Notre Dame, so what is it?’ And he said, ‘Well, it’s with the Bulldogs,’ and I knew about the Bulldogs: They’ve been kicking our butts down here in South Bend in hockey for a while. I knew enough about UMD to know this was a special place.

We graduate 96 percent of

our student athletes, we give back a ton of hours in community service and we like to win too, so it was the right fit for me. I wasn’t looking for a job, but I came out here and within about a month span of that phone call I was doing a press conference at Malosky.”

Can

you explain to students what exactly your job entails?

“Being the athletic director has a couple of key components. First and foremost, it’s representing our institution and our campus. It’s engaging our student population and see JOSH BERLO, B2

Bark of the Bulldog “We wanted to prove to everyone that it wasn’t a fluke and that we deserved it. Winning it all was our goal all year.”

UMD dance team captain Nikki Johnson on her team’s second straight national title.

Look for the full story in next week’s Statesman!

Heck, Bulldog baseball extend winning streak

BY SAM STROM Staff Reporter

Chanel Miller took the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference heptathlon title for the second stright spring this weekend in Aberdeen, SD in the league meet. Miller’s win helped her team enter the Track and Field Outdoor Championships with 15 points. UMD ATHLETICS/SUBMITTED

Third baseman Jimmy Heck and the Bulldog baseball team put their five-game winning streak on the line as they entered Tuesday’s doubleheader against Upper Iowa University.

Catcher Beau Goff’s two-run single, followed by Heck’s tworun double in the fourth inning, provided all the offense the Bulldogs needed in the 4-0 win.

Sophomore pitcher Bo Hellquist (3-4) allowed just two hits over five innings to help UMD secure its sixth straight win.

Heck collected four hits of his own in the nightcap, including the game-tying triple in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings.

The winning streak extended to seven games when center fielder Ryan Lakin drove in first baseman Alex Wojciechowski for the 5-4 walk-off victory.

Heck totaled five hits, three RBIs and two runs scored on the day.

However, the Bulldogs lost a slugfest on Friday in the first of a four-game series against Northern State 8-4.

The first eleven runs of the

game were scored on seven home runs, three of them hit by the Bulldogs. The team was done-in on a grand slam hit by the Wolves’ Robbie Rocamora in the fifth inning, pushing Northern State’s lead to 7-2.

Wojciechowski answered in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run, his second of the year. However, his blast ended the scoring for the Bulldogs in the game, stopping their winning streak at seven games.

The Bulldogs fell behind early in the second game of the series, eventually falling 14-4.

The Wolves hit a three-run home run off sophomore Kyle Fritz (1-2) in the third to push their lead to seven. The team scored six runs in the inning and never looked back.

Designated hitter Josh Denisen hit his first home run of the year in the bottom of the third, a two-run blast to cut into the Wolves’ lead. But it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs lost their second game in a row.

The Bulldogs allowed 20 hits in the third game of the series as they lost once again by a score of 14-4.

Lakin (0-5) got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs.

The sophomore allowed seven

runs — six earned — on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work.

Shortstop Kyle Comer collected two hits and scored twice in the game for the Bulldogs.

Center fielder John Meyer added three hits of his own to go along with one RBI. The Bulldogs couldn’t muster up enough offense in the final game of the series, finishing with a 3-1 loss.

Chris Couillard (2-1) allowed three runs — two of which were earned — on just two hits in five innings. The senior committed an error that led to two runs, which was ultimately the difference in the otherwise tight game.

The Bulldogs outhit the Wolves 9-4 in the game, sparked

by Comer’s two hit, one RBI performance. However, the Bulldogs couldn’t string enough hits together to get the win.

After the four-game sweep, the Bulldogs sit at 14-23 on the year and eleventh in the NSIC standings.

Up next for the Bulldogs is a Wednesday doubleheader against Winona, followed by a four-game series against the University of Minnesota Crookston.

B2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Sports Editor / Nicole Brodzik / brodz006@d.umn.edu

40th annual Maroon and White Game Team Maroon took the yearly spring intrasquad game with a score of 17-14 in a come-from-behind victory over Team White at James S. Malosky Stadium.

The Maroon team reigned victorious in front of a crowd of 1,071 at the annual spring football game.

Nick Larson is taken down at the 20-yard line as he pushed to build Maroon’s lead. MADISON ROLES/

MADISON ROLES/SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED.

Aaron Roth catches the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter for the White’s only lead of the game. MADISON ROLES/SUBMITTED

Gavin Brown (52) and Nathan Zibolski (33) walk off the field after the Maroon victory. MADISON ROLES/ SUBMITTED

“I think both sides played pretty well. I think we exectued a lot of things well. There’s a lot of positives, but we have some things to clean up too,” said Justin Laureys (14). MADISON ROLES/ SUBMITTED

Josh Berlo Q&A continued

Continued from B1

our Duluth community because athletics is in many ways how people learn, know and interact with an institution.

“Just as important is the support and guidance and learning opportunities to our students and student athletes.

Those are opportunities to develop. We have our three C’s: classroom, competition and community. We push those things and, quite frankly, the way that we do that is a big part of the reason I wanted to be here. We really value winning and that’s great, but we also value winning the right way.”

You’ve

been pretty involved with the student population since taking over. How important is the student body’s involvement to you?

“I mean, everybody on this campus is a Bulldog. How we choose to engage

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with the campus is to provide a menu of opportunities to be engaged with athletics. We’re out there and we’re representing UMD on national television and those kinds of things, which is great when you can play in front of tens of thousands of people for some of our programs. But it’s really about getting as many students involved with athletics.

That can just be wearing a sweatshirt, that can be going to games, (or) that can be working in our department. We have plenty of students who have gotten plenty of good experience doing that. We just launched this year a new initiative that our students are heavily involved in.

“We also recently launched a postgraduate intern program for students, athletes and nonathletes. If they have an interest in sports after they gradu-

ate, they can make a livable stipend on a monthly basis and get some great resume-building experience. I had a similar program at Notre Dame that was very successful. It helps us to develop interns, and then they can go on and get some pretty good jobs. So it’s getting students who have an interest in working in sports as many opportunities as we can to further their careers.”

What,

besides entertainment, do you think people get out of athletics?

“We want to foster a learning environment where our student athletes can become better people. The lessons that you learn through athletics of success, failure, teamwork and adversity are critical life lessons, and our student athletes learn those. And the fact that

we compete in public venues, both regionally and nationally, gives our fans the opportunity to learn those lessons too.”

What’s your favorite your job so far?

part

“It’s been the same way throughout my whole career: What I enjoy most about athletics is helping our student athletes succeed, and that means succeed in life, not necessarily just winning here — and helping the students that I get to know who are not athletes but who have passions for sports, and helping them succeed. Whether it’s being a reference for someone, whether it’s writing a letter of recommendation or it’s calling a Big 12 school where someone is trying to get a job. That’s what I really enjoy.”

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STUDENT LIFE

Student Life Editor / Aprill Emig / emigx005@d.umn.edu

QUEEN for a NIGHT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

B3

Two members of the group One Erection serenade the crowd. ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN

“I want to pursue (drag) after college,” said Logan Halliday, performing here as Fantina DeLux. ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN

BY SAM STROM

Staff Reporter

The second drag show of the year was held on Saturday night in the Kirby Ballroom, a show that provided a safe environment for drag kings and queens to entertain an enthusiastic crowd.

The Queer and Allied Student Union (QASU), along with the UMD Student Association, put on the biannual event that holds an important place in LGBT culture according to QASU chairperson and host of the show Katie Muller.

“It’s really important,” Muller said, “and it’s kind of a chance to be different and celebrate how different we are.”

The performances ranged from solo lip syncs by fan favorites like Ginny Tonic and Danny McCoy, to groups of performers with choreographed dances like the drag king group One Erection.

Kat Fitzgerald, a member of One Erection, said that the opportunity to express herself and perform with the group is one of many reasons that the drag show is important to have at UMD. “I like dressing up, and I like performing a lot,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s so much fun being up there.

Everyone’s just cheering you on because you are brave enough to get up there.”

That type of environment is exactly what the QASU wanted to create for performers as well as audience members.

“It’s a safe place to express yourself in different ways,” Fitzgerald said.

Saturday’s drag show marked the third time Fitzgerald had participated in drag.

“It was a really fun way for me to explore different gender expressions,” Fitzgerald added. “It’s a safe way for everyone to come together and just have a good time.”

For most performers, the show is a place to express themselves in whatever fashion they see fit. But for junior Logan Halliday, this is more than just a hobby.

Halliday, otherwise known as drag queen and fan favorite Fantina DeLux, wants to one day make a career out of drag.

“I want to pursue (drag) after college,” Halliday said. “So this gives me time to practice and hone that before I go out into the big, scary real world.”

This was Halliday’s fourth time participating in the drag show on campus. He also does drag shows outside of school, including at The Flame Nightclub.

Towards the end of the show, members of the QASU board gave a demonstration on safe sex that included how to properly use a condom. They also stressed the importance of consent between partners.

The show featured a diverse range of music selections: everything from Casey Cockblock performing Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” to Billy Joe’s performance of Green Day’s “Let Yourself Go.” But for Fitzgerald, it was a Disney tune that stuck out to her the most.

“The Lion King one, that was my favorite one hands down,” Fitzgerald said, referring to Kamen Cider-Love and Jackie Amore’s duet of “I Just Can’t Wait to be King.”

Atticus, a first-time drag performer, blew Muller away with a performance of “Hurricane.”

“That was their first performance ever, and they were so excited to do that for about a year,” Muller said. Muller also said that Danny McCoy was great, and anyone who performed a Lady Gaga song was at the top of her list.

For Halliday, his performance of “Fergilicious” was a blast from the past.

“I’ve listened to that song since middle school, and learning that song was no big deal,” Halliday said.

“It was super fun.”

The crowd ate up the lively atmosphere created at the drag show and tipped the performers generously once the show got rolling, just as the QASU had hoped.

And for Halliday, although he wanted the audience members to be entertained, he also hoped that they left with a better understanding of the LGBT culture.

“I hope that they had a great time,” Halliday said.

“I hope that they maybe understood drag a little bit more, and I hope it broadens people’s minds a little bit.”

Football, sci-fi and gay rights, oh my!

Chris Kluwe

Garret Passer performing “Let’s Have a Kiki.”

ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN

Fantina DeLux works the room to earn tips that she’ll use to buy new wigs. ALEX GANEEV/

You’re STATESMAN

invited

BY ALOYSIA POWER Multimedia Editor

comes to campus

Former Vikings punter and gay rights advocate Chris Kluwe KIRBY PROGRAM BOARD/SUBMITTED

BY ALEXA FLETCHER Volunteer Reporter

The United States needs to be more empathetic according to Chris Kluwe, outspoken LGBT advocate and former Minnesota Vikings punter.

“If you and I are free to live our own lives, other people have to have those same freedoms,” Kluwe said. “Otherwise, it doesn’t work.”

Kluwe shared his views on equality, empathy, science fiction and football as a part of a question-andanswer event with students in the Kirby Rafters on Wednesday. see KLUWE, B4

Forget the snow, the rain and the wind. It’s about time UMD students had some fun out on the town together. We’ve got the Homegrown Music Festival going on and summer on the way, so let’s celebrate.

The Statesman is teaming up with Lake Voice News and KUMD radio to bring Duluth together on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On Saturday, May 3, share a shameless selfie of you and your friends doing something fun in our Great Lake city at #Five3Duluth. Be sure to include your name and what you are doing with your picture.

The sportiest, most cultural and dirtiest outdoors photos will get featured in our next print issue, as well as on the UMD Statesman Facebook page.

So grab your camera and go out dancing at Homegrown Music Festival’s last big hurrah, take a hike on the Tischer Creek trail near campus, sip on local brews at Burrito Union or Bulldog Pizza and Grill, hit up UMD’s Frisbee golf course or saunter down Superior Street.

May 3 is all about us Duluthians and the unique activities we love. Help connect UMD with the greater Duluth community together this Saturday with #Five3Duluth.

We’ll see you out there. Let the fun begin.

Student Life Editor / Aprill Emig / emigx005@d.umn.edu

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 2014

Going local

B4

Video makes farming hip

BY ALOYSIA POWER Multimedia Editor

When UMD Anthropology professor David Syring was awarded the Chancellor’s Strategic Initiative Fund for his Ethnobotany class last fall, his goal was to connect his students with the local community through a storytelling project. He put video cameras in his students hands, connected them with local farmers and directed them towards helping these people tell their stories.

“The idea is that farmers have amazing stories to tell and the community has amazing stories to tell,” Syring said. “And it’s a video world that we live in.

People are visual.”

What blossomed in his classroom grew and matured in Duluth’s green farming fields and was cultivated and turned into a film called “Northern Roots: Growing Food in the Western Lake Superior Duluth’s Seeds of Success workers show off their fresh produce last fall. The urban farming program Region.” provides transitional employment growing vegetables to unemployed Duluthians. CAITLIN NIELSON/ The documentary looks into Duluth’s local food SUBMITTED system through the stories of four different regional farms. These farms include the Food Farm and Northern Harvest Farm in Wrenshall, the UMD Sustainable Agriculture Project on the outskirts of Duluth, and Seeds of Success in Duluth.

It premiered at the Zeitgeist Arts Zinema 2 theater last Thursday, filling over 100 seats.

Syring said the storytelling project taught his students how to interview, work with film subjects to create participatory media and produce creative stories using multimedia equipment.

“It’s important to use the academic skills that you learn in the classroom,” Syring said. “And, it’s important to learn the community-making skills that we all need to know as citizens of a democratic society.”

According to Syring, the story idea came from the ongoing regional conversation about the importance of eating nutritious, locally-grown food while creatStudent employees harvest beans from the ing economic opportunities for farmers.

UMD Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) “I’d like this film to contribute to continuing the A Northern Harvest Farm volunteer cleans freshin Duluth last fall. SAP was one of four farms conversation and broadening it,” he said. featured in the Northern Roots local food system The film delves into the stories behind each farm ly picked vegetables in rinsing buckets last fall in documentary. CAITLIN NIELSON/SUBMITTED and the challenges they face distributing and selling Wrenshall, Minn.CAITLIN NIELSON/SUBMITTED produce. and the struggles to get there are demonstrated in the other places, but having one from Minnesota is kind “As it is now, it’s hard for people to want to buy film through the featured farmers’ lives. of unique,” Detjen said. “It teaches you a lot more local when the prices are so skewed,” said senior “The people are what is fueling the movement,” about where we’re living and where we’re getting our Matt Graven, one of the film’s editors. “The amount senior Caitlin Nielson said. “The people are what I food from — and where we’re not getting our food that these farmers are making isn’t even close to find to be amazing, fascinating and inspiring.” from.” what it should be.”

Her goal as the film’s main producer was to make “It wasn’t glorified at all,” UMD student Olivia According to the film, local farmers earn an averthe farmers appear “as cool as snowboarders or Dehler said. “I mean that was real farming, real peoage annual income of $4,000 from their crops. ple struggling and honest farming, which is some“I think we should be putting all kinds of energy skateboarders.”

“Farming is so cool and it doesn’t always get porthing you don’t see very often, especially locally.” and resources into creating a more local food systrayed in that light,” Nielson said.

“It’s often the Syring and his class hope to further promote the tem,” Syring said. “It just makes so much sense in so many ways. It’s economically sensible. If you do it in same local foods documentary that you see over and film’s message by hosting more showings at different Duluth venues later this spring. According to Niela way that people can make a living, you create jobs. over again.”

UMD student Matt Detjen, who watched the son, they might even take the message to the next You create better nutrition for people. You create a more healthy environment for all of us to live in, so film’s premiere, agreed that “Northern Roots” stood level and make a “more ambitious film” covering more aspects of the local food system.

I think that that’s something we need to talk about.” out from other food documentaries.

The benefits of a sustainable local food system “You can see videos like this on other states or “We’ve barely scraped the surface,” she said.

Kluwe

Continued from B3 Kluwe also read a chapter from his 2013 book “Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, and Assorted Absurdities.”

Kluwe, a strong supporter of the 2012 “Vote No” campaign that opposed restrictions on same-sex marriage in Minnesota state, wrote an open letter published on Deadspin calling his former special teams coach a “bigot” and the Vikings general management “cowards.” He opened the event by welcoming any questions about “anything.”

The Los Angeles native showed up for the standing-room only event in a baggy windbreaker, gym shorts and a pair of sandals. Following the question-and-answer session, he signed autographs and took pictures with fans.

Kluwe talked about his opinions on issues such as weapons of mass destruction, bioengineering and global climate change. He said these types of innovations are useful, but humans need to look at the “longterm consequences, not the short-term gains.”

“Bioengineering can do great things.

It has created the polio vaccine, and it has given medicines to many diseases,” Kluwe said. “But, it can also be used for, let’s say, inhibiting the fertility in women, which is a bad thing.”

He also discussed his NFL career and how he hopes to end up playing again. However, he sees it as highly unlikely.

“It’s hard to write a letter titled, ‘I Was Fired By Two Cowards and a Bigot,’ and expect to get hired by another team, unfortunately,” Kluwe said, laughing.

When asked who was the best player he played with, Kluwe was quick to answer.

“Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre,” he said. “No team builds their offense around their running back, but the Vikings do because Adrian is so explosive. Favre is one of the best quarter-

backs in the NFL ever. Whenever he’s on the field he’s playing his hardest, so you want to go out there and do the same. You don’t want to let him down.”

Junior Ava Heinrich was impressed with how personable he was.

“I really liked how knowledgeable he was about a wide range of topics and was willing to be so candid. He definitely doesn’t fit your typical jock stereotype.”

Katie Muller, chairperson of Queer and Allied Student Union, was instrumental in Kluwe coming to UMD. She shared why he was such a great speaker.

“It’s not every day that a big name professional athlete and outspoken LGBT activist comes to campus, especially at our smaller university,” Muller said. “The great thing about Kluwe is that he’s not just a dumb jock. His talk was great because he talked about everything from football, marriage equality, science fiction and conserving the earth.”

Austin Monsrud, the variety chairman of Kirby Program Board, was the event planner. Monsrud couldn’t believe the event went so well.

“Although I had high hopes, I could never have expected the event would go that well,” Monsrud said. “To get that many people into a room I consider an achievement in itself, but what makes me really count this event as a success is how there were that many people in a room together invested in what Kluwe had to say.”

As to Kluwe’s future plans, he plans to finish a science fiction trilogy he has been working on with another author about biohacking, faster-than-light travel and humanity being “spread throughout the stars.” He also plans to watch his daughters grow up he added.

Since being cut from the Vikings, Kluwe tried out for, but was not signed by, the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals. That was before he publicly criticized the Vikings management.

What’s up,

Duluth?

BY APRILL EMIG Student Life Editor

Spring Jazz Band Concert

Wednesday, April 30

7:30 p.m. in Weber Music Hall Presenting music from UMD Jazz Ensemble I and UMD Jazz Ensemble II. Cost: $3 for UMD students

That Awkward Moment

Thursday, May 1

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. in Bohannon 90 Film presented by the Kirby Program Board.

Cost: Free

Damn Yankees

Friday, May 2

7:30 p.m. in MPAC A musical comedy presented by UMD Theatre and UMD Music. A passionate Washington senator sells his soul to the devil in order to become a star outfielder who can lead his team to beat the Yankees.

Cost: $6 for UMD Students

Choir Concert

Sunday, May 4

3:00 p.m. in Weber Music Hall Presenting music from University Singers and Chamber Singers, along with the Concert Chorale.

Cost: $3 for UMD students

Percussion Ensemble: Mixing it Up

Monday, May 5

7:30 p.m. Weber Music Hall Featuring mixed chamber work for percussion and other instruments. Performed by the UMD Percussion Ensemble along with various faculty and guest soloists.

Cost: $3 for UMD students

Student Life Editor / Aprill Emig / emigx005@d.umn.edu

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Commuting commitment

B5

Students and faculty talk about their daily bike commutes and offer advice to new commuters

BY APRILL EMIG Student Life Editor

Whether the sun is shining or the snow is blowing, Brian French, the sustainability programs coordinator, will be biking across the Lake Walk and up to UMD for his daily commute.

“It’s all uphill when I come in the morning,” French said, “but I do it everyday.”

And he’s not the only one. Many other students and faculty members have committed to riding their bikes to campus regardless of the weather.

Sophomore Nicolas Furfaro, senior John Earl and associate professor Ryan Goei all bike to school everyday.

“I really like getting out on the road with a couple folks, spending a little time just spinning and taking in the world around us,” Furfaro said.

The same feeling is shared by Earl.

“It’s kind of a way to get the blood flowing in the morning,” Earl said.

“It’s a nice way to unwind on the way home, especially in Duluth, because it’s all downhill.”

In addition to experiencing the outdoors, the commuters have many other reasons for cycling to school.

“My wife and I don’t have to buy a separate car, so it saves us money,” Goei said.

Another reason bike commuters choose two wheels over four is the environmental aspect. Rather than pumping pollution into the air, commuters rely only on their stamina and strength to travel.

There is also the incentive from the UMD’s Zap Program, which serves as a contest for groups of bike commuters. Points are awarded for each day biked to school and the distance of the commute. Awards are given out once a month.

“The individual gets a $50 gift card to Mount Royal Foods and the team gets a $50 gift card to Bulldog Pizza,” Earl said. “We won once, and we’re hoping to do so again in April.”

In order to keep the contest fair, groups compete based on the amount of members they have. They are split between one to three, four to eight, and nine or more members. Individuals can also win.

However, bike commuting isn’t all fun and games. There is always the risk of an accident, and inclement weather can make things difficult.

“In the winter, it becomes something I can focus on,” Earl said. “I’d still show up when school is cancelled to meet up with my friend. It’s a challenge to complete, and I go as often as I can.”

Goei and Earl both caution that finding appropriate winter gear is necessary to continue biking throughout Brian French shows off the special gear he uses to bike to campus every day.

ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN the year. But some of the challenges others to get to places you need to be.” can not be easily prepared for or avoid- your noggin thinkin’,” Furfaro said.

However, Goei cautions that havFurfaro says it often helps to take a ed.

“Once every two or three weeks, ing all the right gear won’t make a walk around the neighborhood to find some driver rolls by and shouts at me,” difference if the infrastructure doesn’t gradual inclines and use them during Goei said. “Almost invariably, it’s a accommodate bike commuters. UMD the commute. currently has only six bike lockers on Earl and French both say that it’s young male in a pick-up truck.” important to learn the laws surround“In the winter some guy came by in campus, and each cost $100 per year.

“The university has to support com- ing bike commuting. a pick-up truck, as usual, and said ‘Buy “I think confidence comes from a car!’ I’m like ‘I could, but you should muters,” Goei said. “They have to make sure that their bike racks are knowledge, so knowing how to insert buy a bike.’”

In addition to the harassment, Goei clear, and they should offer up the yourself into traffic is important,” Earl lockers for free so students can just said. has also been in an accident.

French adds that the gear needed to “I was in the bike lane and cars were throw their bikes in a locker. You’d stopped in traffic, and some car decid- need infrastructure to really change bike doesn’t have to break the bank.

“You can get some screamin’ deals ed to jaunt up into the bike lane and the culture around biking.”

Despite the challenges of commut- on some really sweet bikes at the (Conturn into the street,” Goei said. “I flew over his hood. It hurt, but I was okay.” ing — be it infrastructure or weather tinental Ski and Bike) Shop,” French This is why Furfaro stresses the — all the commuters agree that it’s said.

When asked what advice Goei would importance of getting a helmet before more than worth it.

“Don’t be discouraged by the hills in give students who are interested in the beginning any kind of bike commutthis city,” Furfaro said. “It’s a vast hill- commute, he didn’t hesitate to reply. ing.

“Buy a helmet online. Wear it. Keep side, and there are better routes than “Just do it,” Goei said.

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