Umd 2015 09 30

Page 1

Statesman

The

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

UMDSTATESMAN.WP.D.UMN.EDU/

LSBE staff member dies in tragic bike accident

A1

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Word on campus:

Homecoming to a university near you

Ninety nine of these will be passed out at the Homecoming Parade. KATE

ANDREWS/SUBMITTED

Richard Brill BY HANNAH BROADBENT News Editor

BY AISLING DOHENY News Editor

The University of Minnesota Duluth’s business school, Labovtiz School of Business and Economics (LSBE), lost a beloved colleague on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. Richard Brill, the director of the LSBE Technology Program, 44, was fatally struck by a vehicle in Hermantown, Minnesota while riding his bike. Brill was known for making people laugh as well as his his notable ability to relate to anyone and build relationships with his colleagues, according to the director of Disability Resources, Emily Norenberg. Norenberg and Brill were on a task force together that was picked by Chancellor Black to review the accessibility of UMD’s web environment. “He was always good for sharing a laugh, or injecting some humor see BRILL, A3

Tips for a North Shore trip

The Statesman asked students to finish the sentence, “Sexual Assault is,” and this is what they said. See photos on A4. HANNAH BROADBENT/STATESMAN

GLBT Director resigns BY HANNAH BROADBET News Editor

Angie Nickols

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 Angie Nichols, the director of the Gay Lesbian Bisxual Transgender (GLBT) Services

BRODZIK/ STATESMAN

AMERICA’S SO DAMN WEIRD: A viewpoint from across the pond

ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH STAUNER

See story on A5.

Index:

for 15 years. She was an academic advisor, as well as a student and faculty GLBT advocate. “She told us she loved us and cares about our group...but it just wasn’t a safe environment for her anymore,” the QASU chairperson Jaym Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald worked with Nichols last year as the financial coordinator for the QASU and said they noticed some stress in Nichols. Fitzgerald said the stress kept building. They can pin-point when the stress began to the start of the UMD women’s hockey issues; namely, the Shannon

Miller case. The four members of the QASU E- Board all unanimously agree that Shannon Miller, former UMD women’s basketball coach Annette Wiles and former UMD softball coach Jennifer Banford’s case have a part in Nichols’ resignation. “Having her gone for one day, you realize how much you relied on her,” the program coordinator for the QASU Jasper Criss said. “Even just yesterday I found myself autopiloting to her office twice just trying to get her advice or help with see NICOLS, A3

Miller, Banford and Wiles hold press conference BY HANNAH BROADBENT AND JAMES GILLIGAN

See story on B4. NICOLE

Office resigned from her position. The next day she was officially gone from her post. Upon resigning Nichols went into the Queer and Allied Student Union (QASU) cube in the Multicultural Center to say goodbye to the QASU Executive Board (E-Board). “She told us to stand up and say what we believe in -- even if people try to silence us,” the office coordinator for the QASU Mia Arbudzinski said. Nichols started the GLBT Services Office and served as director

The controversy surrounding UMD’s claims of gender and Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) discrimination were revitalized Monday morning when three former head coaches filed a lawsuit against the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, citing gender and sexual-orientation based discriminations. Former UMD women’s hockey coach Shannon Miller, former UMD women’s softball coach Jen Banford and former UMD women’s basketball coach Annette Wiles are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in the Minnesota U.S. District Court. The three coaches held a press conference in Eden Prairie, Min-

This Week: A2

nesota at the law firm of Fafinski Mark & Johnson after receiving their Right-to-Sue letters from the U.S. Department of Justice. The trio of coaches cited eight violations of law in total, including violations of the Civil Rights Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. These violations include discrimination of sexual orientation and national origin, creation of a hostile work environment and violation Title IX laws. UMD Chancellor Lendley Black released a statement via email after the lawsuit was filed Monday. “Throughout the process, the issues brought to our attention were handled professionally and appropriately. We continue to refute the allegations and claims of discrimination and will aggressively defend ourselves in the lawsuit. I continue to stand

Opinion:A5

behind the athletics department under the leadership of Josh Berlo, and the direction of UMD athletics,” Black said. Among a number of complaints, which included discrimination based on her Canadian nationality and sexual orientation in a number of forms, Miller found fault with the differences between the Athletic Department’s treatment of the men’s and women’s hockey teams as well. Miller was told last December her contract would not be renewed due to the university’s financial issues. Banford, who was informed that her position as director of women’s hockey operations would be vacated at the same time that Miller was informed of their decision not to renew her contract, later rejected a one-year contract offer to remain

News: A3-A4

with UMD as the Bulldog softball coach. Annette Wiles resigned as head coach of the women’s basketball team, effective June 10 of this summer, after seven years in the position. Wiles resigned in July, citing sexual orientation based harassment from University employees. Although the three coaches all left the university in different ways, they all had extensive tenures coaching at UMD: a combined 33 years. They will be represented by the Siegel & Yee law firm, based in Oakland, California. According to the Duluth News Tribune, Siegel won four cases equaling $28 million last year. The cases involved three Fresno State University coaches and an athletic director. Two of the four cases were the largest Title IX judgements, $19.1 million

Sports: B1-B2

After months of planning, Homecoming is all set to go. A parade, daily programs, and three to four new events are expected at this year’s week-long celebration. Kate Andrews, Coordinator of Special Events and Chair of the Homecoming Parade, has been hard at work since spring planning the third annual Homecoming Parade, an event she built from scratch. “It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth it,” she said. The parade scheduled for 4 p.m. on October 8th in downtown Duluth on Superior Street and is anticipated to last around an hour. DTA will provide transportation, which is free for students with valid IDs. DTA will also shuttle members of the University for Seniors. Andrews expects about 60 units of both see HOMECOMING, A4

MINNESOTA WILD COME PRACTICE AT AMSOIL ARENA

see photos on B1. MADDIE GINSBERG/ STATESMAN

See video recap on the UMD Statesman YouTube channel.

Arts&Entertainment: B3-B5


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