The Wake - Issue 3 - Fall 2019

Exploring the Sustainability Fair

p. 7

Q&A: Student Legal Services

p. 16

United Against Police Brutality Fights for Justice

p. 8

Improvements in Sexual Assault Investigation

p. 18

Bridging the Divide

p. 11

Discussing Differences

p. 20

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Art by Jane Borstad

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 3 EDITORIAL: Editor-in-Chief

Tala Alfoqaha

Managing Editor

Emma Chekroun

Cities Editor

Sylvia Rani

Voices Editor

Esther Chan

Music Editor

Tosin Faseemo

Online editor

Sammi Divito

Copy editors

Autumn Sanders Hannah Haakenson

Multimedia Editor

Sebastian Alfonzo

Multimedia Producer

Courtenay Parker

Editorial Interns: Ian Knoll, Mei Gong, Isabel Teitelbaum, Erin Wilson, Megan Bormann, Marley Richmond, Kylie Heider, Prahlad Sankrti, Emma Smisek, Martha Huson

PRODUCTION: Executive Director

Macie Rasmussen

Creative Director

Kiley Nelson

Finance Manager

Nikhil Barr-Saxena

PR/Ad Manager

Claire Redell

Social Media Manager

Madison Amland

Art Director

Morgan Wittmers-Graves

Designers

Kelsey Hanscom Samantha Fischer Ellie Kestner

For this issue, we decided to team up with the minds of Real College Podcast to explore the concept of crime on the University of Minnesota campus. And after months of planning, we are happy to bring you stories you can read and hear!

To check out what Real College Podcast did in collaboration with this issue head to wakemag.org and find our “Crime” tab. You can also find Real College Podcast’s stories from this collaboration and more at radiok.org/realcollegepodcast, spotify, or apple podcasts. ©2019 The Wake Student Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Established in 2002, The Wake is a fortnightly independent magazine and registered student organization produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota.

The Wake was founded by Chrin Ruen & James DeLong.

Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole.

To join the conversation email eic@wakemag.org The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

Web Manager

Juan Rujana

Distribution Manager

Cassie Varrige

Production Interns: Olivia May, Grace Augustin, Lizzy Rode Art Interns: Joe Price, Eva Berezovsky, Selena Philaphandeth, Laura Kuchar

THIS ISSUE: Writers

Bella Bekos, Megan Bormann, Emma Chekroun, Grace Davis, Kate Doyle, Tosin Faseemo, Evan Ferstl, Halle Fodness, Kylie Heider, Maia Irvin, Jon Juliette, Jemma Keleher, Ian Knoll, Kinga Mozes, Nina Raemont, Marley Richmond, Miranda Shapiro, Madeline Ware, Helen Weil Art 1 Laura Kuchar, 2 Meredith Song, 3 Eva Berezovsky, 4 Mary Ellen Ritter, 5 Morgan Wittmers-Graves, 6 Lauren Bastian, 7 Joe Price, 8 Isabelle Snyder Q&A photos courtesy of Student Legal Services Uknowwhatimsayin?, Euphoria, Technique, and Over It art from original sources Cover photo by Morgan Wittmers-Graves, Feature photos by Emma Chekroun

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wink! one page magazine

What Safe-U alert are you?

1. Choose an activity:

2. Choose an organization:

a. Rain

a. Minneapolis Park and Rec board

b. Being spooky c. Bothering people

b. Minnesota Department of Health c. University Services

3. Choose a location:

4. Choose a victim:

a. West River Parkway

a. People on the bridge

b. The sidewalk near the Donhowe building at 11am

b. Probably no one lol

c. Your voicemail, text message, and email inboxes

c. Literally every student, faculty, and staff member on campus

Mostly A’s: Mudslide, bridge closed Mostly B’s: Bat with possible rabies Mostly C’s: THIS is a TEST of the SAFE-U notification system *receive 3 calls, texts, and voicemails from the SAFE-U system*

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NOVEMBER 4 -18

INSIDE 6 7 8

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Letter from the Director Exploring the Sustainability Fair United Against Police Brutality Fights for Justice

UPCOMING EVENTS 11/7 Pete Davidson

11/16 A

Yoga + Cider

7:00pm

10:00am, includes yoga & pour of cider

Varsity Theater

Minneapolis Cider Company

11/8

11/17

Hostile Architecture and Defensive Designs

Sandy Alex G

Northeast Winter Market

7:00pm

10:00am

11

Bridging the Divide

Amsterdamn Bar and Hall

Solar Arts by Chow Girls

16

Q&A: Student Legal Services

18

11/9

Improvements in Sexual Assault Investigation

A Conversation with Nathan Fielder B

19

Living in the Midst of Fear

Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall

20

Discussing Differences

21

Responding to Reddit Incels

22

Six Reviews

A

7:00pm

11/10

B

Minneapolis Vintage Market C 11:00am Chowgirls at Solar Arts

11/16

C

Julia Jacklin w/ Christian Lee Hutson The Cedar Cultural Center

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Letter from the Director Hey reader, Thanks for picking up this copy of the Wake. Whether you’ve never seen this mag before, or if you’ve been reading it for years, I hope you’ll appreciate this issue focused on community and crime, and a feature story that we did with our dear friend, RadioK. On another note, let’s talk about fall. For me at least, this season has always been about transformation, whether I’m ready for it or not. There’s a lot of growing out of plans, ideas, and friends, then cultivating new ones. Ok, maybe the delete the “developing new plans” part. As a student in the last year of college, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with various sources lately that start with anxiety-provoking questions. You know, those “What’s next?” and “So what do you want to do…?” questions.

When these conversations originate from my peers, it’s calming to hear people mimic my response by admitting, “I have no idea either.”

And that leads me, perhaps haphazardly, to a thought that I just had while driving back from Duluth with a few friends. In the midst of a particularly warm and intimate conversation, I thought, “I want to etch this into my brain and never let it slip out of my memory.” I suddenly remembered a few other recent moments when I felt this way: My last night at Sporty’s, taking myself on a date to look at the fall colors, awkwardly swing dancing with strangers, and staring at myself in the mirror as Kali Uchis sang from my rickety speaker, “No one’s going to save you now / So you better save yourself.” Then I realized that there are probably many other, old moments that I’ve promised to keep in my mind that just aren’t there anymore. It’s like a blunt awareness that prompts existential nausea, but also produces an eerily grounding and comforting feeling.

It would be sickenly cliche and boring for me to say, “I should live in the moment!” or “Be present!” But I’ll just say, we’re really just all out here vibing, aren’t we?

In short, please check out the stories told in this issue and those that will keep coming from our staff, interns, and freelance writers/artists. We owe it all to them!

As I’ve typed a million times before: Thanks!

Macie

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CITIES

Exploring the Sustainability Fair Changing our habits is as easy as...?

BY BELLA BEKOS We’ve noticed the trends—rises in the amount of people following a vegan or vegetarian diet and searching for products deemed “natural” or “clean.”

But how sustainable are we really? The University of Minnesota’s Sustainability Fair provided answers (and solutions) to the trickiest challenges we face to living a sustainable lifestyle.

After loading my plate with complementary hummus, veggies, and pita bread, I surveyed the room full of poster boards with statistics and diagrams about different aspects of sustainability. I decided to start my night with the DIY plant activity, where I filled a mason jar with rocks, soil, and lastly, my choice of either thyme, oregano, or basil. Walking with my new seeds in hand, I wandered around, learning the process of organics recycling utilized by the University and the importance of properly disposing of waste. Another poster board described water footprints and how to reduce them.

I was shocked by the statistics—Meatless Mondays alone save 4,565 liters of water per week. But are Meatless Mondays enough?

My experience at the Sustainability Fair tells me no. This curiosity in what else I can do to reduce my impact led me to a stand with the name “Sustainyoself.”

Twin sisters Geevie and Sophia are low-waste and plant-based college students who shared their tips for plastic reduction in the realm of self-care products.

From toothbrushes to lip balm, self-care products use significant amounts of plastic, leading to more waste and a larger environmental impact. In response, these sisters formed their own brand of beauty products ranging from deodorant to lip balm. They also gave attendees their plastic-free and natural recipes for things we use all the time, including makeup remover and conditioner. The presenters and supporters of the Sustainability Fair revealed the possibility of an affordable and sustainable lifestyle as a college student in a city setting. With a community dedicated to sustainability within the U, starting to transform our habits can be as easy as whipping up a homemade batch of body butter.

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THE WAKE

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The Weight of Sleep at WAM Pondering sleep through poetry and naps

BY GRACE DAVIS Going to the “Weight of Sleep” event at the Weisman Art Museum, I didn’t know what to expect. I brought an open mind and my comfy pants—for the promised nap of course.

Immediately upon walking into the galleria, the hushed sound of pattering rain echoed off the walls to greet me. The focal point of the room was dedicated to the ring of mats with pillows perfectly fluffed upon them resting under a grand art piece with over 20 miles of yarn running vertically alongside one another, almost mimicking a chandelier.

Poet Yuko Taniguchi and her collaborator, psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Cullen, introduced themselves to the group and explained their creative process. Taniguchi explained her process of exploring the impact of wellbeing on children facing mental health challenges through an exploration of sleep. “Walk Back to Your Body,” a poem by Taniguchu, is the guiding poem of this program, which encourages one to bring yourself back into your body from all the different places that our minds take us to.

Everyone had different interpretations of what sleep felt like to them. Some took the writing prompts quite literally while others, like myself, attempted to incorporate poetic ideas. In our notebooks we wrote, shared, and discussed our different ideas for each prompt. After doing that a couple times, we took our 20 minute nap with the rain pattering again and came back to discuss what we noticed about our sleep.

For some their sleep came easier, faster, and felt tranquil. For others it felt difficult, and forced, and odd taking a nap with other people in an open room at 3 p.m. while it was still light out.

Sleep is an innate human behavior, so next time you’re falling asleep notice how you feel to better understand your mind and body. You might be surprised by that happens when you start paying attention to this mysterious, universally experienced transition to unconsciousness.

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CITIES

Communities United Against Police Brutality Fights for Justice A look into police brutality, and what student volunteers are doing to put a stop to it

5

BY IAN KNOLL Police brutality can be an unfortunately easy issue to turn a blind eye to. Maybe it’s the constant Safe-U reports, having our own police department, or just the general lack of major incidents, but there can be a sense of security on campus that makes it easy to forget how big the issue is within our Twin Cities community. Even if it’s an issue that doesn’t affect you directly, organizations like Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) provide a great opportunity for University of Minnesota students to learn about and help confront these issues.

Every Saturday, members of CUAPB meet to discuss agenda: be it hearing the cases of those seeking help with police brutality cases (and offering their genuinely knowledgeable legal advice), giving lessons on what citizens’ legal rights are and the requirements and laws that apply to police, or simply discussing the many projects and events they’re involved with. For instance, at the meeting I attended their recent efforts to present concrete changes to the soon expiring Minneapolis police contracts (which are often criticized for being renewed with little consideration or changes) were discussed.

Although CUAPB is by no means a UMN organization, they’ve had strong ties to its students throughout their 20+ years. Their program gets a large influx of active student volunteers through the Community Engaged Learning Program (a program at UMN that gives opportunities for off-campus learning through community work), many of whom attend these weekly meetings and become an active part of the organization. Jordan Egan, a current UMN senior and active CUAPB member, got involved through one such class and told me what interested her: “Since I’m not from the Twin Cities, I wanted to get into a community

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organization that would involve me with local people, not just mostly students. I wanted to get into issues affecting this community, see what’s happening, and see what I could do to help.”

“At any given time period, we have twenty or more students,” CUAPB founding member Michelle Gross said. “And it’s not just students that come for a semester and leave—we have a lot that end up staying with us long term. Some even become board members.” But even those whose involvement isn’t as long-lived can have an impact.

“Some students stay and get involved their whole university career, but even those students filtering in each semester really helps pick up the burden of the work,” Egan said.

UMN volunteers aren’t just cogs in a machine either; they become a vital part of how CUAPB operates. “Students bring everything from photography skills to technical skills, writing, and investigation. They bring great skills to the table, and that’s why we love working with them. Students can do very real work with us, not reception desk work or folding and stuffing envelopes. We’re doing real things here, and those students do those real things with us.” Gross said.

Take Jordan, for instance, who is spearheading a project with CUAPB called the “Judicial Election Empowerment Project” (JEEP), which is an effort to compare state judicial candidates’ behavior to the Minnesota Judicial Conduct Standards, rate their bias and fairness in past decisions, and give voters a better understanding of who they’re voting for come election season.

Of course, CUAPB also recommends ways that everyone, not just active members, can help deal with police brutality. “For starters, they can teach themselves and each other their rights when speaking to police. That’s just the most fundamental thing people can do: know how to interact safely with police,” Gross said. Gross also recommends bystanders record police encounters, citing a specific incident of Minneapolis police beating on a man in Dinkytown. CUAPB was only able to help after finding someone in a neighboring apartment that happened to film the altercation. “People can videotape and might not think it matters or that it might never be used, but lo and behold—sometimes it does,” Gross said.

Police brutality is at times a complex and difficult topic, but for those wanting a better understanding of community perspectives and experiences on the issue, there are few better options than attending one of CUAPB’s weekly meetings. Egan put it best: “Just showing up, even if you don’t necessarily know how you want to get involved or what sort of impact you want to have, just showing up and listening to the stories of those affected by police brutality can make you more aware of what’s going on around you.”

To learn more, you can visit cuapb.org.

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CITIES

This Is What Democracy Looks Like!

Hostile Architecture and Defensive Designs 3

MN nice put to the test at recent Donald Trump protest

BY MADELEINE WARE “Ah, political unrest,” my friend Anna said as we took in the crowded city street. And it was—cardboard signs were raised to the air, already speckled with rain, and drums and whistles filled the streets with an electric kind of excitement. I, like so many others on October 10, decided to join thousands of Minneapolitans in the Trump rally protest, a response from Trump opposers in Minnesota that “we pay our bills, we govern with integrity, and we love all our neighbors,” as Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey recently stated in a tweet.

I was astounded by the diversity of the crowd, not only in demographics, but also in the wide array of causes that protesters were supporting. I saw everything from black lives matter signs to legalize marijuanna signs, and I was charmed to see old women in iconic hot pink “Pussyhats” and little kids with their own protest signs—tastefully scribbled in crayon, of course. While protestors peacefully chanted, Republicans waiting for the rally to begin looked on from the windows of Target Center; a mass of redhatted figures leaning on rails. Every once in a while they would wave at the throngs of protestors. One person even had a cardboard sign reading “Peace.” Although the crowd was chanting and yelling, it was far from agitated.

As the night wore on, however, the protest would get increasingly less peaceful as the rally let out and Trump supporters joined protestors in the streets. I left before things got too rowdy, but I later read about police having to put out flaming heaps of Trump merchandise and throwing tear gas into the crowds.

Whether or not you consider yourself a political person, or even if you’re someone who doesn’t like protests, I think there is always value to taking to the streets and voicing your opinions. The right to assemble is a constitutional right. Why not use it?

How can a bench be designed to deter people facing homelessness?

BY MIRANDA SHAPIRO Walking around the University of Minnesota, one could think many things: what a lovely campus, what nice buildings, what a good environment. One thing that might not cross anyone’s mind is that many University spaces are designed to deter homeless people from occupying them.

If you ride the lightrail you might have been exposed to hostile architecture unknowingly. It comes in many forms and can go undetected by those unaffected. However, to those who are affected, this type of architectural design can mean going without a place to be comfortable.

Hostile architecture is intentionally designed to prevent certain behaviors. The definition is vague because hostile architecture is mostly used to prevent people experiencing homelessness from sleeping or lying down on benches, sidewalks, and other public areas. Have you ever seen those slanted seats that you can only lean on at the East Bank metro transit station? Or benches that have seat dividers? You might think “nice, now I don’t have to sit directly next to a stranger on this bench!” But, in reality, those dividers are there to prevent people from lying down on them.

These defensive designs target the most vulnerable people in our society, deterring them from public spaces that should be welcoming but are instead exclusive. This year, the homelessness rate in Minneapolis hit a record high of almost 11,000 people, and shelters can’t hold everyone, which means people are forced to sleep in public spaces.

People facing homelessness experience backlash from police, getting fined for loitering and being ridiculed for sleeping in the public view on a daily basis. Cities can get away with these designs because they hide under the guise of convenience. Most people will sit on a bench that has dividers and think they’re placed to separate seats, when really they are there to deter a person from lying down. We need to change the way we shape public spaces to include displaced people. And remember that people sleeping in public aren’t causing any disruptions to society, so why should the design of city architecture disrupt them?

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THE WAKE

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ART

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Art by Selena Philaphandeth

NOVEMBER 4 -18

FEATURE

BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

THE WAKE

Misconceptions about crime on West Bank, and the disconnect between Cedar Riverside and the University of Minnesota

BY EMMA CHEKROUN

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FEATURE

Cedar Riverside is a five minute walk from the University of Minnesota’s West Bank. Despite the short distance, many University students have never been there. In fact, in a survey conducted in February 2019 by the Minnesota Student Association, 62 percent of the University’s student body reported that they had never been to Cedar Riverside. Additionally, many appear to carry misconceptions about the area. “Everyone calls the apartments ‘crack stacks,’” Emily Jablonski, a senior at the University, said. “My family and my extended family who have lived here think it’s super dangerous.” But Jablonski, who lives in a townhouse near 6th St., says she feels safe in the neighborhood.

Ali believes there is a problem in Cedar Riverside, but it’s not safety. It’s a growing drug abuse problem. “Overdoses are increasing in the neighborhood. There are about 17 deaths related to that, and none of the reporters talk about it at all,” Ali said. Considering the statewide rise in opioid-related deaths, his claim is far from shocking . Abdi Warsame, the City Council Representative for Ward 6 (DFL), also cited the opioid crisis as a prevailing issue for the community. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, in 2017 there were over 400 opioid-overdose deaths. The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that number will only get worse.

Linda Bryant, the senior vice president of programs at Emerge—a resource for job opportunities based in and focusing on Cedar

Having a police force who understands these struggles would be vital. Warsame believes there needs to be more Somali officers for the Cedar Riverside area who can relate to the youth. Nearly half of the population in Cedar Riverside is Black or African American, according to Minnesota Compass. Warsame believes having that shared cultural background could make a difference.

“Overdoses are increasing in the neighborhood. There are about 17 deaths related to that, and none of the reporters talk about it at all” Riverside—believes the negative representation in the media of people of color may be to blame for these gaps in perspective. “I don’t recall even this past week of any positive news feeds on people of color,” Bryant said. “It’s a little bit sad,” Mohamed Ali, Director of Workforce at Emerge, said. “[There are] celebrations, people don’t talk. When there’s a tragedy, they don’t talk. But when there’s a little shoplifting boom, it’s the first page in the newspaper.”

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The Cedar Cultural Center has also taken a stance on connecting with youth in the neighborhood.

“We’re concerned about the crime, we’re concerned about the youth,” David Hamilton, Executive Director of the Cedar Cultural Center, said. “And we are trying to help be a part of the solution.”

Hamilton explained how the Cedar has decided to leave its plaza open to youth in the neighborhood rather than making the area a no trespassing zone. “Now, I don’t want to paint this picture that all the youth that hang out there are problems,” Hamilton said. “The interesting thing about it is that most of the Somalis in the neighborhood think the youth who hang out there aren’t from the neighborhood.” They’re seen as outsiders, said Hamilton.

Youth seems to be one of the prevailing focuses for the Cedar Riverside community. While Ward believes the neighborhood is getting safer, he still

cited “Somali turf type issues” as a problem for the neighborhood. Programs like Ka Joog are trying to provide education and resources to Somali youth, but some are skeptical that there isn’t enough funding to alleviate the issue.

“While there may be a lot of youth programming, there is not a lot of youth program dollars,” Bryant said. With a population with high numbers of families and children, there is a high need to be met. Only $10,000 was approved for youth support programs in the NRP’s most recent Community Participation Program Phase. “It’s important for the city not to forget that this community exists” Bryant said.

The Cedar Riverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program (CR-NRP) has struggled for funding for some time. Most recently, it came to a head with the merger of the CR-NRP and the West

NOVEMBER 4 -18

FEATURE better access to educational institutions, like the University of Minnesota, and students at the University of Minnesota could use more education on Somali culture. And who better to design such programs than the neighboring University?

Warsame hopes building that relationship can eventually become a natural dialogue facilitated by students. He believes it’s not something to just be brought up at one meeting and then forgotten, but rather an ongoing dialogue.

Ultimately, Warsame acknowledges that “everybody has restraints,” but “sometimes it doesn’t cost anything to have Somali education.”

Indeed, for an educational institution, the University of Minnesota still has a long way to go in fostering a cross-community and cross-cultural education between its students and their nextdoor Cedar Riverside neighbors.

Bank Community Coalition, whom the CR-NRP had been competing with for funding. Warsame recalled issues in the program when he was Board Chair of the CR-NRP. High expectations from the community coupled with an unclear role, said Warsame, posed significant challenges for the CR-NRP. There’s also no access, at the moment, into universities, said Bryant, when considering the educational institutions surrounding Cedar Riverside. “Just because they are surrounded by educational institutions,” Bryant said when discussing the youth in Cedar Riverside, “doesn’t mean they have access to them.”

Despite their close physical proximity, the University of Minnesota is relatively uninvolved in the community. Bryant mentioned that the University of Minnesota’s former general education department that gave many low income people access into the University of Minnesota now no longer exists. In addition, Bryant commented on the lack of physical access to Universities surrounding Cedar Riverside. “The campuses are on lock down,” Bryant said. “You don’t get in any place unless you’re a student and you have an ID.” Jablonski, a University of Minnesota student, said she wished there were more opportunities to meet people in the surrounding neighborhood. “When I walk around, I don’t feel like it’s my community. I don’t know anyone—it’s not like there are a lot of college students . . . its families and more adults,” Jablonski said. “It’s hard because I feel like it’s an area for Somalian people and maybe they don’t want me there. It would be nice if there was more

THE WAKE

cultural blending,” she said. She clarified that she wished there wasn’t such a divide between college students and the Cedar-Riverside community.

According to Hamilton, who worked at Augsburg for 11 years, Augsburg College engages with the Cedar Riverside community more directly than the University of Minnesota. He says that, as the community demographic became predominantly Somali, University of Minnesota began to engage less with the area. Augsburg, on the other hand, regularly engages with the community. “I saw a group of white students walking around the Sagal Somali restaurant,” Hamilton said. “And I thought, what the hell?” That was before Hamilton realized they were with Mary Laurel True, director of service learning at Augsburg, a program focused on community participation and service.

When thinking about why such a prevailing fear of Cedar Riverside seems to persist, Hamilton cited “Fear of the unknown.”

And yet, community members are advocating for solutions: “The U should step up,” Warsame said.

“Why not invest in wrap around programs?” Wrap around programs are generally geared toward at risk youth and focus on personalized care, whether that be job prep or after school programs.

Warsame believes that a need for more education exists in the community between the communities.

Children in the Cedar Riverside community need

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ART

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Art by Lauren Bastian

OCT 21 - NOV 4

ART

THE WAKE

Art by Tori Harder

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Q&A

1

Student Leader Services

BY TOSIN FASEEMO Student Legal Services is an organization dedicated to helping students with a variety of legal issues. Caitlin Speier and Noah Harstad, members of the Student Legal Service Board, sat down to discuss the many resources provided for students by Student Legal Services.

: What does the board do?

Caitlyn: Usually twenty-five U of M students who represent the undergraduate voice let the office know what students want, so they can better serve them. We also are in charge of all of the office’s outreach and education programming.

: What services does Student Legal Services provide?

Noah: Tenant rights, criminal, immigration, consumer, employment, wills, healthcare, basically anything.

Caitlyn: Except, a few years back, they had to cut family law because it was taking up too much of attorneys’ time, but that’s really the only thing we don’t do. A majority of our work is landlord/tenant.

We had a campaign to increase lease reviews amongst students, so we have very much focus on landlord/tenant. Behind that is mostly criminal law,

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power of attorney, or immigration. And I think this year we’re trying to push immigration a lot.

Noah: Especially with the potential ending of

DACA.

: What does Student Legal Services do in relation to immigration law and helping students?

Caitlyn: They do all sorts of work, whether it be getting your visa granted through the lottery process or DACA, or generally advocating for students in getting their visa or citizenship. A lot of it is DACA-focused especially since we’re on a college campus.

Noah: So basically they do anything a private attorney would do within the realm of immigration.

OCT 21 - NOV 4

Q&A

: So when a student gets help from Student Legal Services they are working directly with a real lawyer?

Noah: With a real attorney, yep.

: What should a student do to set up an appointment?

Caitlyn: Generally, you can do it via phone or internet, or walk-in to set up an appointment. The actual office is in the West Bank Skyway. When you go there, there will probably be a paralegal or an office manager or our secretary will set up an appointment for you generally within the next week. But if it’s an emergency situation they try to take care of it really quickly.

that. I am working on “Know Your Rights” events for protester rights, immigration rights, or general interactions with police rights. I think those are three areas that we could do. But more generally, we already have programming for renters’ rights and rights relating to gender identity. So we have all those in the works and all of our attorneys love working with students.

: I think there’s sometimes a stigma around the idea of seeking legal help. Is there anything you want students to know about that?

Caitlyn: It’s really easy to think that going to

Student Legal Services means that you’re a criminal or that you did something wrong, but it’s very responsible to get legal help and it doesn’t indicate that you’re in the wrong, by any means.

Noah: The law is such a

big part of our lives, and knowing that you have this service can be a real comfort.

Caitlyn: We also do a lot of

: What would qualify as an emergency situation?

Caitlyn: Like, if you were going to get deported in the next week.

Noah: We do a lot of criminal defense too, so something within that realm could be an emergency situation.

: I know you were telling me before there’s an emphasis on students knowing their rights?

Noah: We have a “Know Your Rights” event that we do annually.

Caitlyn: Yeah, and we’re trying to expand on

THE WAKE

Caitlyn: Especially with landlord-tenant issues, getting help from a lawyer might not be an official document thing that happens, it might just be as simple as saying, “my attorney says that what you’re doing is not okay.” That’ll get landlords into shape really fast. If your landlord is not resolving issues with you, it will count as a strike toward them, and Student Legal Services has a list of apartment buildings that are not considered good for students to live in.

Noah: We have a list online, that anyone is open to look at, of places where you should not rent, and it’s updated daily.

: What steps should a student take if they want to get involved with the Student Legal Services board?

Caitlyn: It’s a rolling application process, which means you can get on the board at any time in the year. We just decided that everyone this year gets a guaranteed interview, so it will be an application including a resume and two or three short answer questions. We will review that before your interview and our head of the interview committee will get back to you in a timely manner.

neutral things, like power of attorney. Power of attorney is 15% of what we do. That means, for example, if you’re studying abroad, it’s super responsible to get someone to be your power of attorney if you’re out of the country in case something comes up. Usually people choose their parents or their guardians or something.

Noah: Power of attorney basically gives someone that you identify legal representation over you so they can take care of financial documents, taxes, etc.

Caitlyn: Also, I know this doesn’t relate exactly

to your question, but Student Legal Services has client financial benefits averaging $250,000 per year returned to students, and that’s not including savings on legal services.

Noah: So basically, that’s like damage deposits or savings on rent that are just going back in students’ pockets.

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VOICES

Improvements in Sexual Assault Investigation Minneapolis police and the U tackle unacceptable policies and practices 5

BY MARLEY RICHMOND TW: This article discusses sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs support, the Aurora Center has advocates available to help; visit aurora.umn.edu or call the 24-hour helpline at (612) 626-9111.

Many college students are aware of both the terrifying degree to which sexual assault permeates our community and the disappointing process and results of seeking justice for these crimes. While there is a larger effort now than ever to prevent sexual assault, reports on campus continue to rise. Here at the University of Minnesota, reporting can involve the Title IX office, the Aurora Center, and/or the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). Unfortunately, sexual assault cases are notoriously difficult to investigate and have historically been mishandled and unfairly managed.

In July of 2018, the Star Tribune began publishing a landmark series examining over 1,000 sexual assault cases across Minnesota, bringing to light hundreds of mishandled reports. 74% were never even forwarded to prosecutors, 12% resulted in a sexual assault charge, and only 7% led to a conviction. Hundreds of victim-survivors were mistreated, pushed to the side, and left in the dark by those who were supposed to help them. These abysmal statistics have been blamed on a lack of resources available to police departments and the complexity of these cases, but in many cases, officers are simply not doing their job thoroughly enough. Not interviewing victims, let alone eyewitnesses, is unacceptable malpractice but was a regular occurrence. Chloe Vraney, a Legal Advocacy Coordinator at the Aurora Center, also pointed out the imprecise and narrow definitions of sexual misconduct in Minnesota legislation as a barrier to conviction. These laws do not, for

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example, include a legal definition of consent. On campus, however, law enforcement rarely gets involved with reports of sexual misconduct.

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 requires that universities ensure equal access to education despite “gender discrimination,” including sexual misconduct. The Aurora Center provides support and accommodations for victim-survivors to ensure this equal. This can include safety planning, residence and academic modifications, counseling, and assistance in reporting to law enforcement. Investigation is long and may be healing or hurtful, and the Aurora Center completely understands and supports students who chose not to report for any reason.

According to the 2019 Association of American Universities (AAU) sexual misconduct survey at the U, 22.5% of survivors did not contact a program or resource after being assaulted because they did not want their perpetrator to get in trouble.

Vraney commented that “this directly contradicts [many] of the questions regarding false reporting (which happens at extremely low rates),” and is an important insight into the culture surrounding sexual assault which inhibits survivors from finding support.

the last six months, however, have police training standards grown to include specific education for sexual assault cases. The MPD has also expanded their team of investigators and hired an advocate to support and communicate with victim-survivors.

In addition, a task force is working to revise the Minnesota sexual assault legislation to be more comprehensive (the U, for example, broadly defines it as “sexual contact without affirmative consent”). One can hope, though not without skepticism, that these efforts will succeed in altering the nature of mishandled sexual assault cases.

It is easy to feel dissatisfied and discouraged with the legal system and low conviction rates from sexual assault reports. A shift towards victim-centered investigation and an expansion of available resources will aid in holding more people accountable. Similarly, education and prevention programs will help lower the rates of assaults occurring at all. This work is being tackled across the nation, and Minneapolis’ efforts towards a better future give hope for authentic, tangible change. The Aurora Center encourages victim-survivors to continue seeking services and support; they will always believe, validate, and support survivors in their individual needs.

The Aurora Center, Title IX office, and MPD work together when students do wish to move forward with legal action, and Vraney has seen the MPD’s commitment to improving their procedures following the Star Tribune’s report.

The MPD recently introduced a new sexual assault investigation policy built on “compassion, accountability, and responsiveness,” and a survivor-centered approach. This will supposedly move away from practices leaving victimsurvivors feeling blamed, interrogated, and defeated during the reporting process. Only within

OCT 21 - NOV 4

VOICES

Living in the Midst of Fear

Finding the balance between being cautious and being paranoid

BY MAIA IRVIN Don’t talk to strangers.

Keep your door locked at all times.

Use your keys as a weapon when someone attacks you.

These are just some of the countless warnings that I received from just about everyone I knew before leaving for college. I’m almost positive that the majority of you have received similar advice at some point in your life, whether it was before heading to college or not.

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THE WAKE

Line of Site: The Quiet Bloom of Online Community

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In the surge of individual identity, communal solidarity flourishes on the Internet

BY KYLIE HEIDER

To be fair, Minneapolis and St. Paul are large cities with hundreds of thousands of people, and crime is no stranger here and in other places similar to the Twin Cities. In some respects, I do understand the concerns for safety that so many experience, and I think that it’s necessary to take precautions such as locking your door when you’re not home and being aware of your surroundings. However, it’s important to ask—has that concern morphed into paranoia? Are we starting to become so cautious that we miss out on truly living and experiencing life unhindered by fear?

There is a time in our lives before the internet and a time after it. There is a memory somewhere within our adolescence that we can pinpoint as the moment when our burgeoning selves merged with our digital selves, like some strange cyborg Siamese twin, and we held their hand and never looked back. The frontier of the Internet became our neighborhood where we grew on the same jokes and the same music, reading and seeing the same things. As a collective, our identities have been shaped by these infinite worlds of information and ideologies; our humanity diversified in the weird and wonderful panopticon of the online.

I’m not saying that you should go to an abandoned warehouse at 3 a.m. by yourself, but we should still be able to go about our lives freely without being constantly worried that we’ll get hurt simply by leaving the house. We should be open to new experiences that test our limits of fear such as being out of the house after sunset and feeling comfortable with meeting new people. Some people, however, are controlled by the fear that something bad will happen, so they don’t even entertain the possibility that something great could also occur.

With the expansion of the Internet, a new wave of community has been fostered in a manner that was previously unprecedented. Pre-social media, community was limited by the physical location of where one lived and visited. Consequently, members of ostracized communities that had lived in such isolation, typically queer communities or communities of color, flocked to cities to find solidarity. As human connection expands online, this migration became less necessary. Our networks of common identities grew, and we were able to find kinship when geography failed to provide it for us.

We need to be aware of the possible dangers that are present all around us, but we also need to be able to balance our fears of the world with living our lives without regret.

Personally, growing up in a place where very few people share my racial identity, I never felt represented in my geographical home.

Consequently, it still feels strange to call Minnesota my home. It wasn’t until I found online enclaves that celebrated people that came from similar backgrounds did I feel seen and realized. The Internet has democratized access to the individual point of view, inherently diversifying representative experiences in media. When we see ourselves and others like us reflected online, we’re reminded of something too often forgotten: that there are others like us, that we are not alone.

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VOICES

Discussing Differences How do we establish meaningful connections in our community with those who hold systematically different beliefs than we do?

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BY NINA RAEMONT Surprisingly enough, most people don’t enjoy seeing a lesbian declare that her newfound friend is someone who spent his entire political career trying to deligitimize her sexual identity. After Ellen DeGeneres spoke on her daytime television show about her friendship with George Bush, whom she connected with at the Dallas Cowboys’ football game earlier in the month, it seemed as though everyone had an opinion about her little rendezvous with #43.

Was Ellen’s attempt at displaying a message of kindness sincere? Yes. But was it well received? No. Even though the backlash DeGeneres received for her slightly ignorant spiel on how we should all be kind to our fellow war criminals was arguably warranted, people nowadays are less accepting than ever of those who seek common ground with differing individuals. This is partially attributed to the ever present polarization of political parties as well as the underlying social issues how intertwined our politics and our identities have become; and not to mention the media feedback loops within the online forums we place ourselves into. But we can change the ways we engage with people who hold opposing beliefs if the correct conversations are ready to be held.

Because of online filter bubbles, users are directed to information that satisfies their own biases.

Not only does this create incohesive information regarding a singular topic, but it also encourages different narratives to be confirmed by those who want to believe in them, causing the idea of an “objective truth” to stray further and further from the conversation. People follow the beliefs of those who agree with their own, which causes

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a lack of conversation between opposing sides.

There is no way that we, as a society, can progress forward and peacefully coexist if we never try to understand someone else’s point of view. With this intention for understanding, it allows a deep desire to see the person for more than the political party they represent. If our conversations progress toward an ultimate disregard for the other’s side, that is when we will lose all sense of objectivity.

Facts will become opinions entertained by the deliberator. To be able to know the truth, we must step outside our own understanding and search for something more.

To start off with, we have to be open to these disconcerting conversations that force us to not only consider someone else’s point of view but evaluate our own. We then must see them as more than just the party they represent by considering their fears, faith, and worldview. By characterizing people only as democrats and republicans, we further ourselves from our aligning human values.

It doesn’t matter which party you belong to—we all want to feel safe, loved, and accepted. We must be prepared to ask the right questions in search for true understanding and not to establish superiority or condescension. Lastly, we must open ourselves to answers that don’t align with our beliefs in an attempt to make an effort to understand the other side of the story. If we direct our attention towards the ways we are similar and have the discourse to do so, then we can form a strong community of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. We have no obligation to instantly agree with these differing perspectives, but we must intend to understand so amicable relations can be maintained.

The way that one overcomes this nuanced scale of political polarization to achieve a meaningful relationship with someone who holds systematically different beliefs isn’t by rooting for the same football team on a Saturday afternoon.

It is done by holding difficult conversations as a conscious effort to understand where the other person is coming from. Too often we surpass this essential step because it is too hard; we aren’t willing to open up and explain ourselves, and the challenge of actually confronting opposing beliefs intimidates us so much so that we do nothing. But nothing in society will ever improve or move forward if all we do is further perpetuate the widening gap between opposing sides. Take the chance, defeat the fear, and have those conversations. Society literally depends upon it.

NOVEMBER 4 -18

VOICES

Responding to Reddit Incels What is the right response to a sexist comment from an anonymous internet user?

BY KATE DOYLE The University of Minnesota has a big presence on social media, but Reddit is unlike the others.

Although not officially affiliated with the U, it allows students to come together online to ask questions, discuss campus issues, and freely state their opinions. The communities are reviewed by moderators, rather than by Reddit staff, meaning anything goes as long as the moderators approve.

At the bottom of several posts on the University of Minnesota Reddit, you will often see misogynistic comments from incels with a large number of downvotes. Incel, short for involuntary celibate, usually implies it is a male who blames women for their celibacy and has generally a demeaning attitude towards women. Usually, a few people will have replied to the sexist comment, but this seems to only fuel the incel. With the level of anonymity offered by the internet, it is difficult to hold people accountable for their comments, leading to the dilemma of determining the most effective way to respond.

On one hand, it is important to hold these unacceptable behaviors accountable in order to foster change. But on the other, attention fuels the incels on Reddit and the trolls on other websites.

The best thing one can do in response to these comments is downvote, report, and keep scrolling even if the natural instinct is to argue back.

Although it is difficult, it will send the comment to the bottom of the comment section and result in fewer views. It is our job to respond to these comments negatively and appropriately, not in a way that fuels more hate and increases the attention given to these incels.

THE WAKE

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5

A Walking Nightmare The terror of walking alone as a woman

BY JEMMA KELEHER You’re walking alone. The sky is pitch black, and the city has gone to sleep hours ago. You check over your shoulder what seems like five times every minute, suspicious of anyone and everyone near you. As someone draws closer, your heart pounds against your chest. Your muscles tense, and your footsteps hasten at the sight of the possible threat. Suddenly, every piece of advice that’s ever reached your ears comes rushing into your mind: have your finger ready on your pepper spray, put your keys between your knuckles, and if someone grabs you, scream. Loudly.

For most women, the terror of walking alone isn’t a foreign one. From the time we’re young, methods of self defense are drilled into our heads: walk in well-lit parts of the street, don’t wear your hair in a style that’s easy to grab, and do not, under any circumstances, put headphones in your ears. Make sure he picks the other girl. As well intended and helpful as this advice may be, it’s not women we should be educating about this issue—it’s men.

While women fear for their lives constantly in the streets, men have nothing to worry about.

Unlike women, they don’t have to think about where to walk in order to remain safe, or what to do if someone attacks them. Rather than teaching women to fear for their lives when doing something as mundane as walking alone in the dark, we should focus on teaching men to refrain from harassing women in the street.

By teaching girls that they are responsible for whether or not they are assaulted, we perpetuate a victim-blaming culture that benefits nobody but the attacker. Instead of teaching women to defend themselves, we should address the root of the problem and teach men to stop attacking women.

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R

SIX REVIEWS

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Hunny ?

Uknowhatimsayin Danny Brown

BY JON JULIETTE

Danny Brown’s 2016 album “Atrocity Exhibition” quickly evolved into an underground cult classic.

This compounded the pressure on Brown to deliver another game-changing album.

Brown’s 2019 album “uknowhatimsayin¿” plays more as an ode to underground rap than an album attempting to break ground. This does not mean Brown lacks the flare that has put him at the forefront of the rap scene. In fact, he shows growth into fresher sounds on tracks such as “Best Life,” produced by Q-Tip. As opposed to his previous albums, with their consistently grimy beats, Brown applies his tight and elusive flows to production that jumps across generations of the underground. This leads him on a journey through beats that showcase the styles of the underground scene from the 1990s, the 2010s, and the future. The beats representing these generations are delivered by Q-Tip, Paul White, and JPEGMAFIA, respectively.

The album is filled to the brim with punchline after punchline that will make your gut hurt from laughing. It also deals with deeper issues, such as mental health. Brown does this most effectively on “Change Up,” where he spits bars with vivid duality that reflect his inner conflicts in life and the rap game.

Brown effortlessly delivers flawless bars across all of these beats, showing off his technical skills that are at the top of the game more than ten years into his career.

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BY HELEN WEIL Students crowded the stage at the Whole Music Club, dressed in their grunge-y best. The stage was bathed in purple, red, and blue, and a long Furby was wound around a microphone stand.

California-based band Hunny was playing.

Their debut album, “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” was released in July, and the accompanying tour began days after they took the stage at the University of Minnesota.

Vial, a self-proclaimed “honk rock” band from Minneapolis, played first. They opened with “Rough,” which had everyone nodding along.

They played a few songs from their album “Grow Up,” out on November 29, and covered Lizzo’s song “Truth Hurts.” Goodnight Gorillas, a local indie rock band, played next. Their music is floor-shaking bass and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and the crowd was whooping and dancing.

Hunny played a mix of older songs and songs from their new album. Everyone jumped around and sang the lyrics, and the band was as into it as the crowd was. It was only their third time playing the songs from “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” and they thanked the crowd for bearing with them. They complimented the University, too, saying they had walked around earlier and thought it was beautiful. “Lots of... big columns,” joked lead singer and guitarist Jason Yager.

At the end of the set, during the song “Televised,” Yager walked off-stage and began to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” before finishing “Televised” with the crowd. Both setlists left with the audience.

Euphoria Labrinth

BY MEGAN BORMANN When “Euphoria” was released this summer on HBO, it stunned audiences with its graphic content, eye-catching visual effects, and star-studded cast. However, the true work of art was its score, developed by Labrinth. The soundtrack was released on Spotify on October 3.

“Euphoria” was such a phenomenon because of its storytelling ability. By creating a varied and emotionally jarring soundtrack, the story could touch more people.

One of the biggest songs to emerge was “All for Us,” featuring the show’s star, Zendaya. It combines hip hop with the singing of a choir. It’s featured in the final minutes of the season finale when the protagonist, Rue, makes a decision about her sobriety. “All for Us” is important because its main chorus is featured throughout the episodes. Whenever Rue faces a choice or starts taking drugs again, the audience hears the choir singing, “Oh... taking it all for us.”

Another standout song is “When I R.I.P.” featuring melancholy tones, Labrinth’s vocals, and beats with a variety of energy.

Listeners get an inside look into other character’s minds. In the middle of the song he sings, “Feel so feel so stupid,” which listeners can interpret as a thematic feeling since the characters make pretty objectable decisions.

One of the biggest takeaways from Labrinth’s work is the drama displayed throughout. The 26 songs go from quiet chimes and thoughtful piano solos to shocking bass drops. Listeners are carried from a calm, serene state to an eerie, fiery sense of being.

NOVEMBER 4 -18

SIX REVIEWS

RE T RO R E VI E W

5

Technique New Order

BY EVAN FERSTL New Order entered the 80s as a distraught post-punk band, but they were spat out the other end as progenitors of the club techno music scene. With this context in mind, 1989’s “Technique” is the logical conclusion to the band’s gradual transition to dance tracks that are beat-driven, imminently remixable, and divorced from rock music. As a result, the album sounds like a struggle between classic 80s synth-pop and a band trying desperately to keep their alternative roots intact.

The album’s first several tracks are decent enough, but the third track, “Love Less,” features a delicate guitar riff that is the album’s first great hook. With new momentum, the rest of the album flows together excellently and finishes with a thrilling set of songs. These include the album’s sonic climax, “Run,” with its own world-conquering guitar chorus, as well as its best song, “Dream Attack,” with an entrancing catchiness worthy of any closing track. The album is mysterious and hypnotic, obscuring its own inner turmoil in a cloud of hazy detachment.

New Order’s transition sparked some criticism, but undeservedly so, since “Technique” is as complete an album as can be found in the band’s extensive catalog, and better than the painfully overrated “Power, Corruption, and Lies,” which is often mistaken as the band’s finest work. Despite the lyrical content suggesting otherwise, the album gives off an air of relaxation and contentment, making it the ideal dance soundtrack for the neurotic and alienated—a perfect album for New Order’s fanbase.

THE WAKE

Over It Summer Walker

BY KINGA MOZES Summer Walker’s new album “Over It” is packed with so much emotion it has Drake in his feelings and back in the studio. The album oozes confidence in a way that is new for Walker. She has always captured raw heartache, as in the yearning lyricism of “Last Day of Summer,” but in “Over It,” she bites love back.

The album blossoms from Walker’s understanding of her worth as a woman, despite the double standards that plague modern love. This comes through on the stripped-down track “Fun Girl,” where the jarring, slightly off-key guitar strums force listeners to pay attention to her evident frustration. Walker is tired of society labeling her ambition as undesirable, while men never have to worry about their success being seen as a threat to their partner’s pride. Likewise, the well-received track “Girls Need Love” touches on how women’s sexual needs are often invalidated.

Drake’s feature, along with the other features, adds a conversational aspect, offering refreshing male perspectives. Tracks like “Playing Games” and “Just Might Be” sample her inspirations Amy Winehouse and Destiny’s Child, but are polished to fit her unique sound.

Walker’s greatest asset is her angelic vocals that shine through a masterful blend of rapping and singing. The beats are not overproduced, allowing her to create 18 distinct moods.

Walker understands the complex power dynamics of love that leave one feeling desperately vulnerable in one moment and like an independent boss in the next: the perfect sweet balance of ruined lipgloss and face tattoos.

Judy Rupert Goold

BY HALLE FODNESS From film director Rupert Goold, “Judy” examines the life of Judy Garland, and more specifically the series of London concerts she performed towards the end of her life. Although Renée Zellweger’s performance as Judy Garland was praiseworthy, the movie fell short in almost every other aspect.

The film focuses on Judy’s struggle to cope with financial issues, drug addiction, and the residual trauma left over from her adolescence.

Flashbacks are used intermittently to give the audience a look into the abuse she experienced as a child star.

Zellweger’s portrayal of Garland is raw and unapologetic, breathing life into an otherwise lackluster movie. Her character work as Garland is studied and she gracefully balances both the charm and sadness Garland possessed. Her facial expressions in particular are phenomenal.

Subtle changes in her eyes, mouth, and brows perfectly convey each emotion she experiences.

The goal of Zellweger’s performance is honesty, and it succeeds magnificently in this respect.

“Judy” is bogged down by its pervasive mediocrity.

The dialogue is uninspired, and most characters feel flat and underdeveloped. This lack of development in the movie’s structure left it feeling somewhat half-baked, a disappointing contrast from the quality of Zellwegger’s performance.

The movie’s energy piques during Judy’s solo acts singing on the London stage. Zellwegger’s extensive vocal training pays off, as she is able to capture the raw passion Garland performed with. While it lacks anything groundbreaking, “Judy” feels worthwhile simply because of the powerhouse Zellwegger brings to the screen.

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