vol. 13 | issue 7 February 17 - March 3
Apps for “U” p. 11-13 Q&A: Quilt p. 16-17 MNTV Showcase p. 21
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©2013 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 the students of the University of Minnesota. The Wake is published with support from Generation Progress/Center for American Progress (online at www.genprogress.org).
Production Production Manager
Editorial Editor-in-Chief
Sondra Vine
Alyssa Bluhm
Graphic Designers
Managing Editor
Sondra Vine, Eric Berry, Kelsey Schwartz, Brittany Long
Art Director
Sam Gordon
Web Assistant Brittany Long
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The Wake was founded by Chris Ruen and James DeLong.
Black History at the U of M p. 4
Cities Editor
Here to Stay - New Broadcast Club p.6
Grace Birnstengel
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 abluhm@wakemag.org.
Whats Inside? Target Express in Dinkytown p. 5
Student Service Fees p. 15 Q&A: Quilt - 16-17 A Coffman Piano Player p. 18
Polymet Will Mine and Dash p.7
A New Northrop p. 19 Story Club Minneapolis p. 19
Bruce Ferguson
Obama's State of Disunion p.8
Siberia Through Photography p. 20
Sound & Vision Editor
It's All Greek to Us, or Them? p. 9 Target Data Breach p. 9
Nostalgia in the Modern Age p. 21 MNTV 2014 Showcase p. 21
Forsaking the T in LGBT p. 10
3 Reviews p. 22
Apps for "U" p. 11-13
Events Calendar p. 23
Voices Editor
Kelcie McKenney
Web Editor
www.wakemag.org
Justin Miller
Sam Lindsay
Social Media Manager
The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Online Editor Lauren Cutshall
Faculty Advisor Shayla Thiel-Stern
Distributors Shawna Stennes Morgan Jensen Sara Glesne
This Issue Cover Artist
Emily Chang (Front), Kelsey Schwartz (Back)
Photographers Sarah Brewer, Emily Chang, Lauren Cutshall, Zach Simon
Illustrators Dan Forke, Sam Lindsay, Lauren Long, Peter Mariutto, Lianna Matt
Contributing Writers Grace Birnstengel, Alyssa Bluhm, Aaron Bolton, Lauren Cutshall, Kirsten Erickson, Herbert B. Ferguson-Augustus, Sara Glesne, Nader Helmy, Aidan Hutt, Thomas Hvizdos, Kenai Klaskin, Dahsol Lee, Lianna Matt, Justin Miller, Shelby Miner, Alex Nelson, Eric Newland, Sam Schaust, Zach Simon, Nick Theis, Connor Wright
The last time I noticed Ellen Page was when she was kissing Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Inception, and I was devastated. After her coming out speech this weekend, I’m not that concerned anymore. But Page’s speech calmed me in another way, just by her sheer honesty and positivity. It’s rare to see people express raw emotion without being as phony as Anne Hathaway at last year’s Oscars, and in the process Page made some great points about everyday struggles. Just because she was talking about gay hate doesn’t mean they don’t apply to other parts of life.
Take this quote, for example: This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another. There is no better way to phrase it. We’re all college students struggling under our respective homework-, job-, and life-shaped onuses, and being horrible to people isn’t going to make it better. Even on the worst days, don’t focus on trying to be nice when you don’t feel like it. Just focus on not being horrible. Making others feel bad doesn’t do anything good. But if you’re really at a loss, try drinking like, ten tons of Sunny D. Alyssa Bluhm Editor-in-Chief
13:7
Cities From Then to Now: Black History at the U of M An ongoing story of pride, protest, and public education. By Lauren Cutshall On Jan. 14, 1969, seven students marched into the records office of the University of Minnesota's own Morrill Hall and refused to walk out. Upon creating the Black Student Union that same day, students protested the lack of resources and respect for black students on campus. Forty-five years later, the University now strives to implement new strategies to create more opportunities for black students. One of the most recent additions to the University's resources for black students is the Huntley House – a Living Learning Community (LLC) on campus for black males that opened in August of 2012. With troubling retention and graduation rates for many black men, the Kaler Administration and Housing and Residential Life decided to tackle the issue together. The Huntley House provides a space for black males to participate in various service events, weekly study sessions, one-on-one meetings with staff members, as well as a monthly in-house barber shop. While students in the Huntley House do not officially apply to be involved, they are often recruited by the Office for Equity and Diversity, the Office of Admissions, or Housing and Residential Life. Many believe the space not only gives these students a better opportunity for academic success, but it provides a better sense of community. "[For students in marginalized groups,] there is a potential to be 'othered' or made different, in an environment not designed for [them]," said Leonard Taylor Jr., the resident director of 17th Ave. Residence Hall where the Huntley House is located. The Huntley House also provides members with a link to other student organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers or the Black Student Union in order to continue the legacy and community of the LLC far beyond the year they spend living together. Forty-five years after its establishment at the start of 1969, the U of M’s Black Student Union continues to stay strong in its mission to "encourage a positive image of black people and to support its members in achieving their education goals." Composed of an executive board of less than a dozen people, and a general board of over 150, the BSU holds meetings as well as various education events and often partners with other black student organizations and fraternities. While the majority of students involved are either African, African-American, or a part of the African Diaspora, it is open to all students at the University.
4.
february 17 - march 3
In honor of Black History Month, the BSU is putting on several events for all students to attend in order to better inform everyone about black history. “[Black history month] is to make people conscious of our plight, our realities of social injustice, and our commitment as students," said DeSean Smedley, the cultural awareness chair of the BSU and an African American and African Studies major. "What are we doing to fight social injustices for our future?" Though there has been much success in the struggle for equal rights, the issue of equal opportunity remains. As students all across the country participate in some form of cultural recognition in the month of February, the achievements of black people are seemingly condensed into just 28 days. With February – coincidentally the shortest month – designated as Black History Month, the question arises: does Black LAUREN CUTSHALL History Month point out a separation that needs to be addressed, or is it drawing attention to a problem we have overcome?
“Though there have been many successes in the struggle for equal rights, the issue of equal opportunity remains.” Although many people believe that Black History Month is a time to educate people of all races on black history, Smedley sees it primarily as a way for black people to learn about a heritage and history that has faced considerable difficulties. "Black people have never had it good in America," Smedley said. "But Black History Month is a time for us to examine, 'Where are we today?'" For Smedley, Black History Month is an attempt to "heighten black people's consciousness" in regards to the history and current state of black people's rights and opportunities. Currently, the month of February provides a platform for speaking out about black history as well as the future for black
people, especially within the realm of higher education. Such a platform is necessary and for Leonard Taylor Jr., is a "step in the right direction." Yet, the only-one-month controversy continues to irk many people in that it encourages a binge of black history education, only to be ignored the other 11 months of the year. "For me, black history month is 365 days, 24/7," Smedley said. "There is no time that I'm not black." Still, he acknowledges the importance of learning how to make the most of the month that is available. Though Black History Month may stir up emotions, it is largely seen as not a dwelling on the past, but as an opportunity to change and improve the future. Even 45 years after the Morrill Hall takeover, the formation of the Black Student Union, and the creation of department of African American and African studies, new programs are promoted to encourage thoughtful and progressive discussion. Ultimately, Smedley concluded that Black History Month is for everyone "to understand black culture and break down the stereotypes and prejudices… even if it causes cognitive dissonance. It's a learning process, and this is the space to do that."
CITIES New Target experience planned for Dinkytown TargetExpress will be a smaller version of big-box stores By Kirsten Erickson size of a normal, big-box Target. That’s even smaller than the already-established CityTargets. The monopoly that Walgreens and CVS stores have held around the U of M campus may soon be over, as the first ever TargetExpress will open July 27 in Dinkytown on the corner of 5th Street and 13th Avenue SE. Minnesota’s hallmark retailer will offer university students a condensed Target experience including grocery and pharmacy items, along with a small selection of basic clothing, home decorations, and electronics, according to the New York Times.
The July 27 opening is planned with the hope that students will be able to shop at the store for the fall semester. The company said it hopes to benefit from university students needing to buy supplies for back to school. For students, this new store will offer an alternative to the similar set-ups of Walgreens and CVS stores around campus. Prices at the store will be based competitively on similar stores in the area, according to the Minnesota Daily.
The store will be the first of its kind, a sort of test to see if the store could work in other urban environments in the future. Stores like Walmart Express, located in Chicago, have used a similar formula in the past.
“It will be nice having another convenient, and hopefully cheaper, option than the CVS on campus,” U of M freshman Amanda Wambach said.
Squeezing into a 20,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the apartment building that replaced the old University Technology Enterprise Center, the store will be one-fifth the
Other students, however, said they would have liked to see a more grocery-oriented option close to campus, as the nearest Cub Foods or Rainbow Foods is a bus ride away.
“The last thing we need is another small convenience store. Can we please just get a store within walking distance that has a full-scale grocery?” sophomore Joanna Shoemaker said. Whether students are welcoming the latest development or not, Target will try to make this TargetExpress a success. Given the significant challenges big-box retailers face today, creating a popular new shopping experience is important. If all goes according to plan, TargetExpress may soon become a staple of college campuses and other urban areas.
PETER MARIUTTO
Spring 1970
Creation of the Afro-American and African Studies (now African American and African Studies) Department, one of the first in the nation.
Dr. Horace Huntley graduates as a part of the first AA&AS Class
August 2012
Morrill Hall Takeover
Formation of the UMN Black Student Union by John Wright
Fall 1969
Jan. 14 1969
Jan. 14 1969
Black History Month & U Of M Timeline
Huntley House Living Learning Community Opened
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5.
Cities Here To Stay
A new broadcast club is ready for the new semester. By Lianna Matt
Like most new student groups, Ski-U-Media’s first semester was spent forming the basis of the club. Despite making their presence known at the beginning of the school year by taking part in events like the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) Activities Fair and talking with the Minnesota Daily, they had a slow, deliberate start to figure out what their mission was, what kind of content they wanted to produce, and, surprisingly, something that had nothing to do with film itself: public relations. Ski-U-Media is more than just a hobbyist club, and by focusing on marketing, they aim to be a prominent, professional club on campus. Charles Weirke, one of the club’s co-presidents, has used his knowledge as a journalism and communications major as well as experience from his current video production internship for the Minnesota Swarm lacrosse team to bring Ski-U-Media to life. He realized that to make a presence on such a large campus, he would need help.
Club Officer Lee Murphy strongly believes in the importance of public relations in Ski-U-Media. “It’s up to the PR branch to generate revenues and take care of the bureaucratic groundwork,” Murphy said. During public relations meetings, the students go over topics such as marketing strategies for social media or ideas for future fundraising campaigns. “It also comes down to me [the head of the PR branch] to make sure that all of our production efforts meet the group’s brand standard,” Murphy said. With teamwork between members, Ski-U-Media is learning to navigate problems. “What we’ve done has taken a massive amount of work to make a reality,” Murphy said. “I’ve gotten a sense of appreciation for the struggle of creating a group from the ground up. It takes so much bureaucracy, paperwork, promotion, politicking, and diplomacy to make a group the right way.”
spoke highly of SJMC’s director, Albert Tims. “[Tims] put it in the hands of the studio lab manager and said, ‘Yeah, we’ll get you in there; we’ll get you some equipment. Let’s see what you can do,’” said Acampora. With full dedication from both the business and production sectors of the group (and some members participating in both), Ski-U-Media is excited for the chance that SJMC helped give them, but they are not being foolhardy. To avoid dying out like previous broadcasting groups, they are careful to prepare members for the amount of time that production and marketing strategies can take so members do not overwhelm themselves or lose enthusiasm. In a media-rich campus (and a media-rich world), Ski-UMedia is trying to make its mark. “The end goal is to produce content every other day, if not daily. We want people to go on Twitter, click [a link], get a 30 to 60 second update, and then a monthly news show,” Acampora said. “The Wake brings news and culture in a magazine form, Minnesota Daily brings news in a print form, Radio K brings news every Sunday, and we’d like to bring news in video form for everybody.”
All of that work channels into Acampora and Weirke’s visions of what the club could be.
“When we decided to reinvent ourselves this year, [Ross Acampora] was the first person I spoke to because I knew his background with startup businesses, and I knew he could help out,” Weirke said.
“I hope our group will one day provide all U of M students with an opportunity to learn video production, news reporting, marketing, and all aspects that go into creating successful broadcasts,” said Weirke. To get to that point, though, Ski-U-Media has to create a professional learning environment, and they fully realize that.
Acampora, a strategic communications major and a veteran in marketing for startup companies like the ByME app, had taken Introduction to Mass Communication with Weirke.
Ski-U-Media is now armed to the teeth with high-quality equipment and a studio courtesy of SJMC. Acampora
As Murphy put it, “We’ve laid some serious foundation and plan for Ski-U-Media to be around for a long time.” Prepare for a new way to consume news on campus.
“I was interested just from a PR standpoint. [Weirke] had the film experience; I have the management experience,” Acampora said. As the other co-president, Acampora brought the mindset of business direction that Ski-U-Media was missing. Ski-U-Media has three meetings per week: one with the videographers, one with the business people, and one big meeting to keep them cohesive, and up-todate on matters and assignments.
6. february 17 - march 3
LIANNA MATT
VOICES Polymet Will Mine and Dash And let’s face it. There will not be any jobs on a dead planet. By Nick Theis
time of lung disease, these sectors of employment will take a hit. In the Duluth Complex area, there are about four times as many tourism and recreation jobs than will be created by the mining project. Losing the tourism industry to pollution is simply not worth it. The Polymet mine will not create a substantial number of jobs in the short- or the long-term. Both would cause a small boom of construction jobs initially, but so would building wind turbines and solar farms. Will the Polymet mine help the Minnesota economy? The metals market is notoriously volatile, and if copper and nickel prices dip, there is no guarantee that Polymet won’t dip with it. Where mining companies have seen their proj-
Let’s assume for a moment that global warming is a hoax, that polluting Hoyt and Babbit lakes, nearby streams, and possibly even the Boundary Waters themselves with acid mine drainage and heavy metals were non-issues. If this were the case, Polymet would have its mineral rights and the miners of Northern Minnesota would have their jobs... right?
And anyway, about half of all copper consumed in the U.S. each year is recycled copper. Recycling copper is more efficient than mining it, and the copper recycling industry could be expanded. Why not start a copper recycling program in Minnesota, instead of a hazard and unsustainable mining project? Why not divest from tar-sands oil entirely, and move to more sustainable forms of energy? Simply put, these projects are not intended to help ordinary people, Minnesotan, American, or otherwise. Both Polymet and its primary funder, Glencore Xstrata, are not the least bit concerned about our interests. In fact, neither is our government. The environment is a non-issue to these people. Promises of “jobs” and “economic gain” are lies. Working on a mine is hazardous. All economic gains vary with world prices. Mineral extraction is a matter of profit—but perhaps not for much longer. A bill introduced to congress last year would make mineral extraction a matter of National Defense: HR761, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act.
Okay, no more pretending. You have probably heard about the copper and nickel mining proposal —the so called “Northmet mine” in Northern Minnesota—that the Canadian company Polymet has submitted to the State? If so, you’re probably familiar with the environmental hazards it will create, and you probably know that it will take hundreds of years to clean up.
If passed, this bill will militarize the mining industry. Never mind the environment, jobs, and the economy, because “defense” trumps all. But then again, there won’t be much to defend on a dead planet. Now more than ever, Americans, let alone Minnesotans, need to put their communities over temporary paychecks as well as keep their government in line.
Proponents of the Polymet mine, however, argue that it will create jobs and spur economic development. This is a common argument levied against environmentalists. Polymet’s mining project will generate about 300 jobs—but only for the 20-year duration of the project. Moreover, what happens when the project is over, and there is no more copper and nickel left in the area, just a bunch of toxic sludge? The Boundary Waters is the most popular wilderness area in the U.S., attracting about 250,000 visitors annually. In Ely, Minn. alone there are about 1,000 tourism jobs in the summer and 400 in the winter. Once the Ely area is polluted with sulfide mining waste and the miners have retired to a life-
ects through, they have often left the taxpayer with the burden of the clean-up. For instance, the Summitville Mine in Colorado, which leaked into the groundwater in the ‘80s, and has since cost taxpayers $185 million to clean up.
Minnesotans need to set their priorities before they are set for them. Unemployment will always spike in good times and bad as prices rise and fall. The temptation of sulfide mining is not worth jeopardizing the environment and the livelihood and health of the average Minnesotan. Take a stand Minnesota! DAN FORKE
www.wakemag.org
7.
VOICES Obama’s State of Disunion How does one issue and $10 represent the American Government? By Nader Helmy Logging the complete record of U.S. President Barack Obama’s relationship and rapport with the public is no easy task. Initially, he was the young, refreshingly animated and charismatic forward-thinker that the nation needed in a post-Bush era. Since then, he has fluctuated from seeming overly optimistic to too hesitant, to downright weary. President Obama had much to consider when gearing up for his fifth State of the Union address on Jan. 28. We see him increasingly threaten to exercise the power of executive orders in order to accomplish things that he believes have been delayed for too long.
“My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do.” His idle congress and stagnantly low approval ratings seem to mimic his position on one issue in particular: the federal minimum wage. The issue has widespread economic and social support, and yet it manages to be bogged down by bureaucracy and dysfunction.
reason both point to the obvious solution (and this seems to be an increasing trend with all of America’s hot-button controversial issues), but it is a matter of working through and around some of our government’s bureaucratic structures in order to fully realize it. It’s hard to shake that the entire speech had an air of re-establishment about it. He attempts to remind us of the qualities which traditionally have made our country successful. As he puts it, it is, “The spirit of citizenship,” the story of an underdog who does his part to do good by others and is raised on a platform of riches and respect because of it. Obama’s rhetoric makes America sound more like The Little Engine That Could than the powerful big brother that we are. There’s a spirit about Americans that sets us apart. We’re different, sure, and his SOTU is recognition of that difference.
“My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do,” he said. But with relatively straight-forward problems like the minimum wage remaining unsolved, unfortunately, it’s getting harder to ignore whether or not that remains to be a good thing. Nevertheless, the State of the Union has often been chastised for being a catalog of vague promises. The major policy promises that need to be made are clearer now, but Obama’s lethargy with these issues is also just as evident. That is why he manages to come off as simultaneously self-congratulatory and self-aware. Conspicuously absent, as in his 2012 run for re-election, were those all-encompassing buzzwords like “change.” Instead, he calls for a “year of action,” propelling forward ideas and bills that are already widely supported and yet rarely implemented. President Obama’s most recent job approval rating as reported by the Gallup Poll is quite telling. Currently at a 42 percent approval rating, he is a full percentage lower than even George W. Bush’s approval rating during his own second January after re-election—43 percent, and higher only than the old Richard Nixon’s at that same point in his presidency. In other words, he is in hot water with his constituents. With a stagnant Congress and a restless nation, Obama is to breathe life into a nation in gridlock, but so long as these issues hold us back, Washington is in comatose.
He said, “In the coming weeks I will issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally funded employees a fair wage of at least 10 dollars and 10 cents an hour because if you cook our troop’s meals or wash their dishes you should not have to live in poverty.” While companies are, in general, turning up higher profits, he said, “Average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled.” He urges businesses to be more like Minneapolis’s own Punch Pizza, who has made its minimum wage $10 and has seen lower employee turnover and higher productivity as a result. Recognizing the barriers in place, he encourages local legislators that, he said, “You don’t have to wait for Congress to act. Americans will support you if you take this on.” He’s finding other ways to get the job done—recognizing that the problem needs a fix on the federal level, but using businesses and legislators in the interim. Present at the speech were the authors of a bill to be put before Congress that suggests raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. All this is to say that logic and
8.
february 27 - march 3
LAUREN CUTSHALL
VOICES SAM LINDSAY
It’s All Greek to Us, or Them? By Kenai Klaskin
The University of Minnesota campus is home to many different sororities and fraternities, traditional and multicultural alike. These two types of Greeks have stayed separate, never really associating with or bothering to learn much about each other, identifying both a distinction and a divide. Sophomore Rawnaq Al-Gheithy, a member of the multicultural Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, said that the traditional sororities and fraternities on campus concentrate mostly on the social aspect of Greek life, such as networking, while the multicultural ones focus on helping out in the community and on campus instead.
Training the Dog
The Target debacle shows our power over corporations By Herbert B. Ferguson-Augustus There are wolves in the world. Driven by the smell of profits, the loyalty of corporations lies solely with the pack that is the shareholders. This is the image prescribed to us of the modern corporation, when in reality they are less wolves and more like their domesticated cousins. They wag their tails when you shop in their stores and bark during talks of greater government regulation. Yet, when you consider companies like our very own Target Corporation, they can only do as much as you allow them. Target peed on the carpet. In mid-December, news broke of hackers compromising the credit and debit card information of more than 110 million customers. The hackers responsible, according to National Public Radio, accessed the information through one of Target’s vendors, HVAC heating systems. It’s a stain on the company’s history no one will soon forget. But what is more telling of the corporation’s behavior is what happened after the story of the data breach went viral. The
Al-Gheithy said, “I have a lot more respect for people who pledge multicultural Greek organizations. I know they know their history, and that they joined for the right reasons: to be an impact on their communities through service.” Freshman Matt Miner is a member of the traditional fraternity Sigma Nu. In response to Al-Gheithy’s opinion, he said, “We actually had to take tests. If she had to go through both processes, I think she would find that they’re quite similar.” And while he doesn’t disagree that traditional fraternities and sororities have a bigger focus on the social scene, he considers this to be the most important part of Greek life. He also quickly dismissed the idea that one type of Greek organization deserves more or less respect than the other.
When asked how he thought the multicultural Greeks run their organizations, he didn’t have a good idea.
So, even though a clear difference has been established between the two, both of them still wear the Greek badge. It still seems strange that groups that fancy themselves “Greeks” seem to have such little understanding of other types of sororities and fraternities. Traditional and multicultural Greeks are even organized under different hierarchies, with the former organized under the Interfraternity and PanHellenic Council and the latter organized under the National PanHellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council. Could their traditions be so old and cherished that they’ve stopped caring about outside intervention, even if it means expanding their horizons? This is hard to determine without opening a broader discussion. The question thus arises as to how the divide came to be and more importantly, what that says about the University.
company’s stock prices hit a two-year low, revenue flattened despite strong sales in early 2013, and the federal government called a cyber security hearing with Target CFO John J. Mulligan being the guest of honor. In response, the company offered a 10 percent discount to customers for the week of Dec. 17, and moved to implement smart chip technology for enhanced cyber security. Even now the extent of the damage of the data breach remains to be seen.
We as citizens and consumers need to realize this power we have over corporations. We can no longer see ourselves as the victims, and them as victimizers, when we fundamentally determine our relationship by deciding what firms we frequent. Target Corporation still isn’t exactly a good dog. The average hourly wage for employees working the floor is $8.50, according to Glassdoor, lower than other major discount retailers like Costco, which pays $11.51 an hour.
Still, Target’s response attests to its vulnerability as a retailer and the power of its customer base. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, discount retailers like Wal-Mart and Macy’s continue to undercut Target prices, forcing them to invest billions in public relations to maintain a positive corporate image. Like a puppy to an old dog, everything changes when people have another animal upon which to project their affections—and their dollars—on.
We need to demand more accountability, greater transparency, and decency to employees from our corporations because ultimately we’re the ones who adopt these lovable dogs.
Therefore, Target’s response has been practical with the apologies, discounts, and security upgrades. This may seem miniscule in comparison to the danger of the data breach, considering companies like AIG and how they behaved during the 2008 financial crisis. Indeed, some dogs are more rabid than others, but all of them roll over when their revenue is on the line.
PETER MARIUTTO
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9.
VOICES Forsaking the T in LGBT
Accepting Gay Marriage is not the same as accepting the LGBT community By Connor Wright Let’s have a talk about what being an ally to the LGBT community means. In the year where Macklemore’s “Same Love” dominates the airwaves as states across the country enact same-sex marriage initiatives, discussions around LGBT rights and same-sex marriage echo the refrain, “Love is love.”
“...an individual on top of the ride shouted, “We won! Minnesota has gay marriage! The war is over!” The war is not over.” For many, it seems obvious to think that the lives and relationships of LGBT individuals are the same as their straight compatriots. Pro-gay marriage ad campaigns dedicate themselves to normalizing LGBT relationships by focusing on middle-class, middle-aged white couples posed against a backdrop of systematic discrimination. Absent from these campaigns, however, are the other forms of systematic discrimination LGBT persons face in their day to day lives. Statistically, we know no more than 10 percent of youth are LGBT-identified; however 40 percent of all homeless youth are LGBT. In Minnesota alone, over 4,000 youth experience homelessness every night. Transgender individuals are four times as likely to live off a household income of under $10,000 compared with the total population. In 2011, a survey of 16 states found that while hate-violence incidents have decreased the number of hate-murders of LGBTQ individuals increased by 11 percent. Eighty-seven percent of those murdered were people of color, an increase from 70 percent in 2010, and 45 percent of these individuals were transgender women. Transgender individuals were 28 percent more likely to experience physical violence compared to their cisgender/gender-normative counterparts. I remember attending the 2013 Twin Cities Pride Parade and as the last float made its way down the street, an individual on top of the ride shouted, “We won! Minnesota has gay marriage! The war is over!” The war is not over. If anything, the rise in deadly violence against our community, against queer trans people of color (especially trans women) tells us that war is increasingly claiming casualties.
10.
february 17 - march 3
When we claim we fight for LGBT equality, what are we fighting for and are we fighting forour most vulnerable? Are we fighting for CeCe McDonald, a trans woman wrongly jailed for defending herself following a hate attack against her and her friends one night in Minneapolis? Are we fighting for justice for Islan Nettles, a trans woman brutally murdered in NYC this year? Or Monica Jones, a trans woman who spoke at a community event protesting anti-trans and anti-sex worker police programs and was subsequently arrested and charged under vague anti-prostitution statutes? In our fight for equality, we need to center our advocacy on queer, trans people of color.
that his show was laced with transphobia. Instead of engaging in calm discussion with Mock, Morgan disregarded her comments, defended himself as being a staunch ally to the trans community, and attacked Twitter users as engaging in “cisphobia,” or the irrational hatred of cisgender individuals. Morgan can call himself an ally all he wants, but being an ally does not always mean raising your voice. It does not always mean occupying designated community spaces. It does not always mean prioritizing advancing “the cause” over the needs of individuals within the community. It means recognizing trans individuals, their lives, their skills, and their hardships. The war is not over. For many, little relief has been provided to those most affected by the hate and bigotry of LGBT people in our communities, our police force, and our government. When we claim to be fighting, we need to ask: Who are we fighting for?
At the recent Creating Change: National Conference on LGBT Equality, keynote speaker Laverne Cox delivered a heartfelt speech that soon went viral as activists latched onto her quote.
“When you call a transwoman a man, that is an act of violence,” she said. Soon, her video and subsequent gif sets of her words spread across Facebook and Tumblr, and in articles on the Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, spurring a large discussion around the U.S.’s culture of violence and discrimination against transgender persons. Trans women are women, Trans men are men. By characterizing the act of misgendering as an act of violence, Cox clearly states that any attempt to delegitimize transgender lives and identities is an act of violence. If you want to show up in support, you need to come correct. Recently, Piers Morgan, a journalist for CNN who hosts his own show, interviewed transgender advocate and author Janet Mock for the release of her memoir ‘Redefining Realness.’ During the course of the interview, Morgan repeatedly made a point to describe Mock as previously being a man, as being a “boy until age 18,” and implying that her surgery marked her official transformation into a woman, despite Mock maintaining before and during the interview that she has always identified as a woman. Turning to Twitter, Mock and her followers let Morgan know LAUREN LONG
FEATURE
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“U”
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11.
12.
february 17 - march 3 “We wanted to bring college kids together,” Traut said, describing the purpose of the app. However, Colton, President of Turf LLC, conceptualized the idea at a
However, for freshmen Colton Sinning of the University of Minnesota–Duluth and the U’s own Alex Traut, that was more of a challenge then a deterrent. Ac-
The deals, called “dibs,” are a social effort. For example, if you claim a free bowl of noodles at Noodles
The app ByME accomplishes the same task as Groupon, but does it better. Whereas Groupon’s discounts are sometimes still too expensive on a budget, or are only available outside the range of Metro Transit, ByME works directly with businesses surrounding campus to bring relevant deals to starving students.
Hungry college students, listen up: there’s a new way to feed yourself. All you need is a smartphone and an .edu email address.
By Alyssa Bluhm
Another advantage to using the social component of ByME is to get better deals. ByME works through Facebook (don’t worry, you have the option not to post anything to your wall), so users can invite people on their friends list to dib certain offers or to join the app. When friends respond to a user’s invites, the inviter receives points. The more points a user has, the higher level of user they become, and the more likely they are to receive certain deals that may only be made available to higher-level users first.
& Company, the deal isn’t immediately available. Even after calling dibs on an offer, it isn’t unlocked until a quota of dibs has been called. Once the quota has been reached and the dib is unlocked, no more dibs are available.
ByME: Better than Groupon
The app is a geography-based social networking platform. What does that mean? It means every location on campus can have turf, or simply a page where people can post status updates, events or shout outs, but only if they’ve physically been in that location at least once, Traut said.
cording to Traut, Turf LLC vice president, they worked with a freelance programmer to develop Turf a Social Networking app.
It can be daunting. Social networking apps oversaturate the market. Not just Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram but Tinder, Find My Friends, Vine, Yondor, and Hangout all compete for ever diminishing attention spans, creating new and ever more redundant means to communicate. So indeed, in the app market gold rush, this mine seems stripped.
By Herbert B. Ferguson-Augustus
Claiming your Turf in the App Market
Feature
Visit getbyme.com to start calling dibs.
Although the app is still in the beta development phase, ByME is looking to expand to other colleges and universities in the area, Acampora said. The app is also expanding into offering free movie passes and deals at local businesses like the Refinery.
University of Minnesota graduate Chad Olsen the app while he was still a student in 2011. Then, the intent of the app was for social networking. Soon after its release, however, he added deals to increase revenue.
“You’re doing your friends a favor by inviting them,” Ross Acampora, marketing manager of ByME, said. “Realistically, you could get a meal a day for free.”
As apps rush to find the next big thing in social networking, fortunes are made and lost in equal measure. However, for Colton and Traut, Turf is just that: the next big thing.
With the latest patch released Feb. 11, the two developers are focusing on marketing, working with VERGE, the University’s own advertising agency, to grow the app user base, Traut said. Additionally, Turf’s team is working to add even more “turf” to their database, focusing now on the Dinkytown area.
DECA marketing competition. Initially, Traut said, the idea confused judges at the competition but Colton used that confusion as motivation. Since then they have not only developed the app but built a user base of over 2,000 people.
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13.
Even though the group of guys combined had considerable experience with programming, in the app world “we had to start from the ground up,” said Ryan
“We were aiming for a middle ground between institutional and things that are for fun. We really wanted to make it compatible for both,” said Alex Weston, a biomedical engineering major.
in their area simply by browsing the virtual reality of a Google Maps interface. Think of it as Facebook’s events feature, except everyone’s invited and you can easily visualize the locations and types of events going on. Broken down into six event categories—academic, athletics, entertainment, promotion, social, other—Event Spark is novel in its ability to offer a bit of everything. With a combination of a solid idea, smart programming, and sleek design, the Event Spark team won 1st place in the Mobile App challenge.“It’s really a cool way to get help on something that we’ve never done before. It’s a way to take an idea you have and turn it into something that actually works,” Weston said of the competition. Although the team decided it would be too hard as students to do the necessary marketing for the app, it is fully operational and available now in the Google Play store.
Kotval, a computer science major. There were plenty of challenges with transferring their idea into a sleek, intuitive app; ironically, one of the main obstacles was that they were a bunch of computer science and engineering students. As Weston puts it, “We’re known for making things complicated.” Recognizing the ever-increasing importance of design in technology led them to bring on a graphic design friend, Jacob Walder.
Wellscapes is an app for iPad and iPhone created through a partnership between the U of M’s Center for Spirituality & Healing and nature photographer Craig Blacklock. It consists of five-minute videos of nature accompanied by calming sounds like a bubbling
There’s a way to take a break in the middle of your jam-packed Tuesday class schedule, step into the woods for five minutes of calm, and make it back in time for your next lecture. Well, there’s a way if you use your smart phone and a bit of imagination.
By Sara Glesne
The creators of Wellscapes recommend taking a break
Mary Jo Kreitzer, director and founder of the Center for Spirituality & Healing, attributed the project’s inspiration to a hardship of Blacklock’s: his mother’s struggle with cancer. She said that through the app Blacklock hoped to “bring the outdoors to his mother,” from her bed.
creek or chirping birds. On top of those sounds, users can play a guided meditation track that helps less spiritually-inclined minds get into practice by offering advice to focus on breathing, physically relaxing, and just enjoying the scenery presented by the app.
Smart Phone Technology For Nature and Relaxation
Give it a try. After all, Wellscapes is free! A heads up: the app comes with just one five minute video loaded. The four additional videos sell for $1.99 apiece. This time of year, I’d recommend anything aside from “Winter Marsh” which, while beautiful, might just make users feel glum about the winter weather in our actual natural surroundings.
Five minutes isn’t such a long time, especially when relaxing could be the reset button your mind needs in the middle of a day on campus.
between office meetings with the app. It could also serve as a study break that might just help a student focus more than convulsively checking Facebook does.
Center for Spirituality & Healing: Wellscapes App
It’s an app that allows users to create or find events
Like any good tech idea worth its weight in future IPO potential, the Event Spark mobile app started in a dorm room. In the spring of 2013, a few U of M students living in Comstock Hall tossed around the idea of competing in the U’s Mobile App Challenge. Tired of the struggle to find things to do after a long day of school, the team decided to tap into the social app trend and create a “spatial event finder.” Now juniors at the U, the students that brought the app to life include Will Nayes, Alex Weston, Ryan Kotval, Jonathan Steffl, and Jacob Walder.
By Justin Miller
Student-developed app visualizes local events
With the Spark of a Good Idea
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STUDENT GROUPS LOCAL BUSINESSES MISSED CONNECTIONS WHATEVER ELSE!
VOICES Student Service Fees
Mismanaged Despite rising student service fees, minimum oversight on their disbursement persists By Shelby Miner
Each year, over 80 student groups apply to get funding for the next year from the SSF coffer. This funding is one of the few ways that many student groups stay afloat and are able to function. The SSF board is made up of students who review the budgets submitted by student groups and administrative units on campus. The board looks over how the groups contribute to campus and benefit all the students who pay into Student Service Fees (all of us). One of the largest issues with this system is there is no limit to the amount of funding the SSF board can award. Theoretically, they can give out as much funding as they want, and it would get charged through tuition to students the next semester. This is one of the reasons the fee charged to each student per semester has been raised consistently over the past few years; more and more groups request funding, so more money is doled out.
“One of the largest issues with this system is there is no limit to the amount of funding the SSF board can award.” This seems like a minor problem—until it is exploited. During the 2011-2012 academic term, the Campus People Watchers requested $1,000,000,000,000 for their group in order to purchase the state of Minnesota. Although this is clearly an unreasonable request, according to Katie Saphner, previous chair the SSF board, the board had trouble finding a criterion with which to turn the group down. She said they ended up claiming the group had turned in an “intentionally falsified budget” on the grounds that it “includes programs the student group admittedly does not plan to hold.” But, what if their request had met the criteria for funding? What if the group was planning on actually buying Minnesota? The fact there is no limit to funds that can be allocated creates an opening for the system to be exploited, which ultimately is paid for by the students. Another big issue effecting fair funding is the fact that the Minnesota Student Association (MSA) and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) have the right to veto two members each of the applicants to be on the SSF board while still appealing to SSF for their yearly funding.
This clearly creates a conflict of interests in which SSF board members can be kicked off the committee for not approving the budgets of GAPSA and MSA. According to Katie Saphner and Kyle Kroll, many members of the SSF board either don’t MICAHSTUBZ.COM
proper records on the part of BSU.”
re-apply to be a board member due to this fear. This conflict of interests has been made clear several times, once in an instance where MSA was the only student group to receive funding at meetings in 2011, and once when GAPSA turned their budget in late, only to still receive full funding. Moreover, the SSF board is the confirmation that student groups are spending student money the way they said they would. This is determined by an audit, which each student group goes through every three years. This audit determines future funding of the group by SSF if they determine the money was spent responsibly and legally. In 2010, the Black Student Union was audited, and was recommended to receive $0 of the requested $65,000. This was due to a failure to comply with the minimum criteria for funding. Saphner said specifically that their audit was off by “several thousand dollars” and “BSU failed to produce records for multiple transactions,” causing the committee to believe “the many discrepancies revealed in audit of the Black Student Union are signs of financial misconduct of inability to maintain
Basically, how student money was spent was not accounted for or it was spent fraudulently. According to Katie Saphner, the BSU was not happy with this decision, and many of the group members attended one of the public hearings offered by SSF, during which time they called the committee members racist and insisted the discontinuation of their funding was based on prejudice and not on fraudulent spending. The BSU received $54,992 of the requested $65,000.
“The SSF process is a good one – in theory. In reality, the system has a lot of flaws and questionable processes.” The SSF process is a good one—in theory. In reality, the system has a lot of flaws and questionable processes. All of the records of SSF activity are public, but many students don’t even know what the SSF charge on their tuition bill is. The lack of student awareness and oversight of this committee is one reason these events have taken place. If more students get involved with the process, it’s possible it could be changed for the better.
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15.
Q&A Quilt
Retro without ever trying By Grace Birnstengel
John: We’re all songwriters. We write and sing songs outside of
Shane: Parquet Courts, Atlas Sound, Deerhunter. Also, it’s funny
Quilt, too. So when we’re all together, it’s ideas going all over
that you talk about our vibe, because we never had any intention
the place.
of being a retro band or anything, but we do have some kind of vibe like that in-the-car, like-the-hippie vibe. We’re all light-hearted
Shane: I think it’s kind of like that thing with highway inter-
people in general.
states, you know? Like there’s all the highways and they’re connected at different crossroads. Quilt is like the intersection
The Wake: Yeah, I suppose you guys get called hippies a lot.
and it’s a very good place to hang out. Boston’s Quilt released their sophomore effort Held In Splendor less than a month ago on Mexican Summer. The Wake had the chance to sit down with members Anna Fox Rochinski, Shane Butler, and John Andrews before their show on Feb. 7 at 7th Street Entry to talk about their tour, being called a “throwback band,” and Valentine’s Day. The Wake: It’s your fifth night on tour. How’s it going so far? Anna: It’s going well. We did a co-headlining tour once, but this is our first “just us” headlining tour. The Wake: How does it feel? Anna: Pretty cool. The Wake: Have any cool fan stories? Anna: We got drawings from this guy in Baltimore. He gave us art that he made. It was amazing, just so nice. Shane: He made us drawings and framed them. We each have one. He drove from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Wake: Is this your first time in Minneapolis? Shane: We played at the 400 Bar once. After our show we had this really amazing experience in St. Cloud. John: Our van broke down. Anna: We had to go to a transmission specialist there. So while the
Anna: Since I was 9-years-old. But it’s not the ‘60s anymore; The Wake: I like that analogy. I was reading a bunch of reviews
therefore I don’t think those labels mean anything. I love throwback-
online of Held In Splendor and people slap the craziest labels on your
sounding bands, but that’s not the goal.
music. Like, “psychedelic folk,” “paisley-colored retro pop-rock.” What do you make of this?
The Wake: If you had to turn people onto your music in one sentence, what would you say?
Anna: I take them with a grain of salt. I mean, it’s always really nice if journalists take time out of their day to write about you, even
Anna: Qdoba Understands I Love Tacos. It’s an acronym for Quilt.
if it’s like “paisley Austin Powers beaded necklace bedroom lo-fi psych-pop-oriented.” But I also prefer the reviews where they use
Shane: Quirky Underwear In Little Tote Bags.
more inventive language and the review becomes a little piece on its own. You know, they get more into the language play of it and
Anna: Quit Using Italian Leather, Tina!
it’s less about comparing us to a bunch of stuff. At the same time, we’re in the 21st Century and we’re in a very unique culture where
Shane: Quiet, Understand I Love Tuna.
art is produced in a different context than it ever has been. So if everything is referential, I can deal with it. What’s really nice about
Anna: I had a good one that was like real deep, too. Quivering
the reviews is that they’re mostly saying, “It’s this retro-sounding
Underneath Infinity Lovers Turn. Before we actually had a band bio
record without being like a throwback or stuck in the past.” That’s
back in the day, we just wanted our bio to be all the acronyms.
all I can ask for at the very minimum. To me, we weren’t trying to make a ‘60s-sounding record, but if that’s how people are respond-
Shane: It was on Last.fm. Probably 50 of those acronyms.
ing to it, that’s at least a positive outlook. I’m just open to whatever people put out.
The Wake: As long as we’re talking about Quilt acronyms, why are you called Quilt?
The Wake: Do people always just assume that you’re influenced by ‘60s and ‘70s music?
Anna: Just because. It’s not a very interesting story. What is interesting is that over time, it creates its own meaning for us and we start
The individuality of each person is a very real thing, but the reality of the band is that we are really just stitched together and it’s a beautiful thing.
van was getting worked on, we got my amp fixed and went to a guitar store to get strings. It was a day of winning.
Anna: Yeah, which we are. It’s a fair assumption to make.
Shane: We found all these great stores in town and everyone was
John: There was no point in the album where we were in the studio
so nice.
and we were like, “We want this to sound so ‘60s, or else!” When I listen to the album, I hear like The White Stripes and stuff. We’re
The Wake: It’s a classic Minnesota town.
influenced by stuff like that just as much.
Anna: Awesome accents and stuff like that.
Shane: We like contemporary stuff just as much.
The Wake: For sure. So, congrats on the new album. It’s extremely
The Wake: Could you name a few?
cohesive, but not in a way where all the songs sound the same. From that, I’ve come to the conclusion that you guys must have a really
Anna: My whole year has been like, St. Vincent, Tame Impala, and
great vibe and dynamic within the band. Could you describe it?
Cate Le Bon.
to pick up different threads. Oh, wait, that’s such a bad pun. I didn’t just say that. The Wake: What’s the current interpretation that you’re sticking with? Anna: I was thinking about the idea of evolution as a group. The individuality of each person is a very real thing, but the reality of the band is that we are really just stitched together and it’s a beautiful thing. Shane: I think about DJ culture a lot, too. DJs mix and match songs together and I think about us in terms of this weird DJ. We essentially take all of our influences and play them for people. It’s like all of this music that we love, filtered in so many ways that you can’t recognize it. The Wake: I want to talk about Mexican Summer a little bit. A lot of bands in similar genres get lost in big label pools. Do you think it benefits you to be on a smaller label? Shane: It’s awesome. A lot of the bands on the label are buddies of ours. It’s turning into a family of bands, which is great. We know everybody
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february 17- march 3
Q&A that works for the record label and we talk to them daily. When we’re in
Anna: “Let Me Try” by MC5. We were listening to it in the van today.
of felt it out. Next thing we knew, we were walking up to the venue at
New York we hang out with them and we go to the office.
It’s this beautiful, slightly sad, yet sexy love song.
6 a.m. so drunk, yelling at people in the windows of stores.
Anna: It’s kind of like a clubhouse or something. There’s the office
John: I’d say “Museum of Love” by Daniel Johnston. It’s not like a
The Wake: Did you try Russian vodka?
and then there’s the studio downstairs.
straightforward love song. It’s more abstract ways of saying that. When you’re in a relationship, saying I love you doesn’t really cut it.
John: Yeah, they told us not to, but I did.
The Wake: Are you going to keep up with the Olympics? I know you
Shane: One of the first things that our guide said to us was, “What-
Anna: We’re so lucky.
guys just went to Russia, so you have that connection.
ever you do, do not drink Russian vodka!”
The Wake: How did they find you?
Anna: I don’t know if we can!
The Wake: The Wake is made up of a lot of aspiring student artists,
John: There’s a record shop next door, too, that they basically run.
both in our membership and readership. As former art students, do Anna: It was basically through a friend who works for Captured
John: We’re going to be in bars every night, and they’ll be playing it. I
Tracks. We put out a single and she sent it to Mexican Summer. We
love watching the Olympics. Shane: If you look at biographies of artists, you’ll see that a lot of
had recorded most of our first album and hadn’t planned to put it out on a label, but then one thing led to another. They were even
you have any advice for those trying to make their art into a lifestyle?
The Wake: Which sports?
them went through periods of long sacrifice. To be an artist, it
into the idea of putting more songs on the album that John had writ-
might help to allow yourself the freedom to live an irregular lifestyle,
ten since joining the band.
John: Hockey. I’m a huge hockey fan.
The Wake: They sound really chill.
Shane: Snowboarding. I just love watching humans fly through the air.
your art. Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing.
Shane: Mexican Summer really allowed us to take the time to make
The Wake: Did you pick up any Russian while you were in Russia?
Anna: Be around artists, too. If you associate yourself with fellow cre-
and that does mean sacrificing certain types of comforts. Create a lifestyle where you can sustain yourself while being able to focus on
sure we had everything we wanted. They also provide us with the
atives fairly consistently, it’ll help. It’ll keep you in your flow. Just do it.
support to get things done on time.
Anna: No. People that we were with spoke English.
John: We got a good vibe off the start and they’re nothing but the
John: It was so much fun going there.
John: That’s what I was going to say! Nike: Just Do It. A lot of people can talk about doing it forever, and then when it comes down to it,
best to us.
they don’t. Actually make stuff. Sometimes you won’t be satisfied The Wake: Were you in Moscow?
with everything you make. I went to community college for film and
The Wake: Valentine’s Day is coming up. I want each of you to tell me your favorite love song. Shane: “You’re So Great” by Blur. I love melancholy love songs. It’s
remember working on projects where I just didn’t like what I was John: Yeah, for four and a half days or something. We were really ner-
making. You have to get through weird times in school so you can
vous before we went. We all thought we were going to get arrested or
actually work on things you want to work on.
something. So we were really conservative at first and then just kind Shane: Don’t be afraid to share as much as possible. Critique helps
beautifully sad.
you move past it. Anna: Everyone has his or her own comfort level. Don’t get overly frustrated if you hit a wall. Take it one step at a time. Don’t think you’re going to be like this Renaissance man constantly. Be patient. Shane: Look up “John Cage: Some Rules for Students and Teachers.” Those steps are a great thing to read. The Wake: After this tour gets done in about a month, what’s on the Quilt agenda? John: A lot of touring. Anna: Europe, then more U.S. Shane: And then possibly more Europe. The Wake: Are you exhausted just thinking about it? Anna: I mean I could make myself exhausted, but like, I think it’s just PITCHPERFECTPR.COM
going to be really fun.
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17.
Sound & Vision
SARAH BREWER
A Coffman Piano Player Not your typical background music By Aaron Bolton
The piano in the Coffman Student Union can be a great addition to your time there or a terrible one, depending on who sits on its bench. With a good player at the keys, it may be one of the best features of the union. The piano players provide entertainment, background noise while visiting with friends, or just a good reason to procrastinate. Popular songs students already know are covered, along with an array of beautiful classical pieces. Songs may get covered on the daily, but how often do you hear original material echoing from the corner?
He enjoys writing songs on the spot at Coffman as well as experimenting with material written at home beforehand.
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february 17- march 3
Chicago transplant Quinn Devero isn’t just one of the few people you may hear simultaneously playing and singing covers in Coffman; he also performs his own original material. A sophomore at the U of M, Devero has been playing piano since age three. He learned on his grandmother’s piano. Taking lessons were a part of his very young start, though he outgrew them fast. He quit formal piano classes at age five. Since then, he’s primarily been self-taught. His material ranges over a variety of songs, from his comical “Friend Zone” song to many more serious tunes that spin a variety of stories. He enjoys writing songs on the spot at Coffman as well as experimenting with material written at home beforehand. There are many facets to his music, such as his guitar playing, and beat boxing. One notable display of Devero’s talent is his cover of “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby, which he accompanies with some spot-on beat boxing.
Though he likes playing piano, Devero said he has been gravitating more toward guitar recently. He enjoys playing at Coffman because he enjoys having an audience. The presence of others motivates him, and that in turn, he said, helps his songwriting process. Performing in the corner might not provide a stage for all to see, but Devero’s music often commands the attention of the room.
He enjoys playing at Coffman because he enjoys having an audience. Devero said he hopes to eventually get a band together. Right now he’s actively looking for more people to play music with. Coming from a city as large as Chicago, he said he enjoys the tight-knit music scene in Minneapolis. In recent weeks he has found several places to display his talents, like open mic nights and public spaces. He recently played guitar in a downtown skyway, and said his music received a nice response. If you’re in Coffman frequently enough, you will likely hear Devero. His music may distract your mind from studies by captivating your ears.
Sound & Vision A NEW NORTHROP Art and cultural events start up again after construction by Dahsol Lee
Whether it was receiving a diploma, watching a ballet performance by the Royal Ballet of England, or listening to a thought-provoking lecture presented by Robert Frost, history has been made on the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium stage for nearly 85 years. Since remodel construction started in February 2011, however, exhibitions at Northrop have been put on pause. These renovations include acoustic modifications and a redesign to increase student recreation areas. And, after three years, those renovations will finish on April 4.
“I still miss the old Northrop, especially considering commencement took place at Mariucci while renovations were underway,” said 2012 graduate Tim Mackie. “But I’m excited to see what the new auditorium looks like.” Northrop Director Christine Tschida described Northrop as “more than a stage to march across only at graduation. Northrop is a place you can visit every day and experience something new.” After the renovations, student accessibility will be greatly increased, with the addition of six new study lounges, a café, and some smaller rooms fit for seminars and discussions. “If you’re interested in ideas and culture it will be constantly brewing at Northrop,” said Provost Kathy Hanson, who has played a role in the completion of this project since her appointment in February 2012. A Minnesotan and University of Minnesota graduate, Hanson remembers attending performances and lectures at Northrop back when she was in junior high. “Everyone in my community would want to come hear from people who were
making news, shaping the world, and who were reputable,” she said. With a new film and lecture hall and a visual art gallery, on top of the renovated stages for some of the most respected performances in theater and dance, Northrop will maintain its reputation for bringing the best in the arts to the university. And Northrop will spare no time in reviving that reputation. Opening week events are planned to integrate students, faculty, staff, and community members into the celebration. Opening weekend kicks off April 4 with an opening gala, performances by the American Ballet Theatre, and various activities on the plaza to give students a chance to get involved. However, the celebration doesn’t stop after reopening week. Several events have been booked for the season that are also free (that’s right, FREE) to students, like CollegeHumor Live on April 10, and Trey McIntyre’s Contemporary Dance Company on April 22. A full list of events can be seen at northrop.umn.edu/events. LAUREN CUTSHALL
Story Club Minneapolis A laid-back evening of storytellers and listeners By Erik Newland
Tucked away in a nearly hidden corner of Bryant-Lake Bowl is a small, sparsely lit theater which seats about 90 people. On the last Thursday of every month, this unassuming venue is host to Story Club Minneapolis. Originally a hit in Chicago, where it was founded, Story Club has held monthly shows in Minneapolis since September 2013. Through a combination of open microphone and curated storytelling, Story Club offers something unique from
similar spoken word events, such as the older Story SlamMN! and New York’s The Moth. There are no judges, no scores, and no constraining themes. There’s just an evening of eight-minute-long stories, and as host Mimi Nguyen assures, there are “no dudes with guitars, and no poetry.” A clipboard and a pencil hang by the door. Audience members can sign up for open mic slots before the show starts at 7 p.m. Before the show starts, the stage is empty, save for a microphone, a music stand, and a worn-out rug. The stories told from this stage are as varied and colorful as the storytellers themselves. One storyteller, Minneapolis artist Amina Harper, shared a story about an embarrassing medical condition. “I can hear that some of you know what a staph infection is, but I don’t care, I’m telling you anyway,” she said. The rest of the stories were no less forthright.
and supportive” atmosphere. It’s one in which the lack of judges and scores puts the focus on “sharing the human experience through stories.” It’s this atmosphere that makes Story Club so unique. Don’t want to tell a story? Just relax and listen. You can have dinner served right to your seat, as well as an extensive selection of beer and wine. Tickets are on a “sliding scale,” allowing you to choose what price you’d like to pay between $6 and $12. Show up to listen to the stories of others, and leave inspired to come back the next month—to tell a story of your own.
For those who haven’t done much storytelling before and may be nervous about putting their name on the open mic sign-up, don’t worry. Story Club attracts first-time storytellers as well as more established local artists and writers. Nguyen herself, a storyteller and friend of the Chicago event’s founder, attributes this variety to the “very relaxed MINNEAPOLIS.CITIES2NIGHT.COM
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19.
Sound & Vision
SERGEY MAXIMISHIN, VLADIVOSTOK, 2008.
RASUL MESYAGUTOV, NAGAYEV BAY IN WINTER, MAGADAN REGION, 2006.
Through Photography
Siberia Brought to Our Own Frozen Tundra By Thomas Hvizdos
Photography is a peculiar thing. It’s an art form, to be sure, but it’s more commonly used to convey information—to capture an image for later use. In Siberia: Imagined and Reimagined, Leah Bendavid-Val lets her photographers’ images play both roles. The photos themselves are beautiful, representing the best work of a century of Russian photographers. They’re also mini history lessons. Bendavid-Val has written several books on Russian photography, and her knowledge shows. Each photo (or in a few cases, set of photos), has a detailed placard explaining the cultural and historical context of the images. It’s a unique combination, and it works really well. The images are striking in their own right, but they become even more interesting when you learn the socio-political background. Both the images and the text are extremely well-executed, and they enrich each other a great deal. The exhibition covers quite a bit. Pictures range from the late 19th century to the present, and are diverse in their subject matter. Themes include religion, collectivization, industry, leisure, and more—all from a Siberian perspective.
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february 17- march 3
It’s a testament to Bendavid-Val’s skill that the exhibit never feels scattered. Each image fits seamlessly with the photographs around it, while at the same time offering something unique from both a visual and thematic perspective.
photos were taken after the fall of the Soviet Union, and there’s a big increase in the number of styles on display. Again, the images are artfully chosen, and provide a series of charming windows into everyday modern living.
The exhibit is split into roughly two galleries. The first section features photographs in the “Socialist Realism” style, which, as the name implies, is a mode of photography that strives to produce images as true to life as possible. This goal (and the accompanying restriction on artistic interpretation) was attractive to communist leaders, and, as a result, it was more or less the only form of photography permitted by the state. Most of the photos in this section deal with life behind the Iron Curtain, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the overall tone is rather bleak. The majority of the photos are in black and white, and even the happier pictures are accompanied by descriptions of the many humanitarian and environmental injustices perpetrated by the Soviet regime. The few photos from the present continue that theme, noting the many ways in which Russia’s current government remains less than concerned with the well-being of its citizens or wildlife.
If the exhibition falters, it is in the final collection, which is devoted to comparing Siberia with the American West. Here, various photos of Siberian life are placed next to pictures depicting almost identical scenes taking place in America. It’s a neat concept, and the photos are competently composed.
The second part of the exhibit conveys a more upbeat, if less focused, message. Here, black-and-white devastation gives way to the vibrant color of Siberian life. The majority of the
But there’s a lack of vigor to it. The pictures are just sort of… there. After such a fierce and precisely composed lesson on the unique beauties and history of Siberia, they feel out of place. That said, Siberia: Imagined and Re-imagined is a fascinating experience. Whether you’re interested in Russian culture, or just want to look at cool photographs, it delivers. And, with the Weisman being free and on campus, there’s no reason not to check it out.
Sound & Vision Nostalgia in the Modern Age: Budget Movie Theaters By Zach Simon
Walking through south Minneapolis the other day, I happened to pass by the iconic Riverview Theater in all its Mad Men-esque glory. It reminded me of the good old days: Legos, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Disney movies, and the time uncle John had just a little bit too much to drink at my sixth birthday party. Events like these define a childhood. For me, childhood memories are intimately linked with movies of the past. But seeing the Riverview’s lobby filled with happy moviegoers, a question nagged at my mind: how do these temples of sentiment stay afloat in a modern, pragmatic world? In the words of Don Draper: “Nostalgia—it’s delicate, but potent… It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone.”
Walking into the Riverview, you’re surrounded by a scene of vintage decor and De Stijl-style end tables. Buying tickets at the box office feels like a step into the past. The attendant sports a retro red jacket, a bowtie, and greased-back hair. The nostalgia hits harder when you walk through the next round of doors: that timeless smell of popcorn. While theaters like the Riverview charge next to nothing for admission ($3 evenings, $2 matinee), the same money-making tactics used by big chains like AMC are still at play: concession sales. Ticket prices merely cover the cost of providing the movies, but the amazing aroma of the popcorn and those fizzing sodas are what really keep the lights running. I asked a moviegoer on his way out of Captain Phillips why he went to the theater when alternatives, such as Netflix and Project Free TV, are so plentiful and accessible. His response was simple: “When I was a young man, I used to go to the
of t s e B s e s a c w ho MNTV 2014 S ependent Film nd Minnesota’s I
By Aidan Hutt
With the Golden Globes in the past and the Academy Awards on their way, film is a hot subject within the national art spotlight. The Walker Arts Center fits within this trend with multiple film-related exhibits. Complementing their regular screenings of documentaries and critically acclaimed films, the Walker now hosts MNTV 2014.
Partnered with the Independent Filmmaker Project of Minnesota (IFP MN), Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), and the Walker Art Center Film and Video Department, MNTV is an exhibit that showcases 15 independent Minnesota filmmakers. Hosted in the Walker Art Center’s lecture room, MNTV 2014 will be featured until Feb. 27.
Compiling 15 works into three separate hour-long programs, MNTV brings together shorts of all genres. EMILY CHANG While there are seven documentaries, ranging from three to 25 minutes in length, the programs also contain traditional narrative films, experimental films, animations, and music videos. An introductory video starts every program off, explaining the program’s intention of giving Minnesota filmmakers an opportunity to show their films. The presentation of the exhibit is optimal for attracting viewers. As the films do not run very long, a visitor does not need to commit a great deal of time to enjoy some independent films. Each film runs its duration and, before
ZACH SIMON
theater all the time with my friends. It was just the thing to do. Now I can’t imagine a world without it.” I can’t guarantee that every one of us was an avid moviegoer as a kid. However, there is always some childhood activity that sticks with a person—from reading aloud, watching Saturday morning cartoons, or going to the theaters. That’s one thing that Netflix and Hulu will never be able to provide. At the Riverview it’s not about the taste, it’s about the contentment. So go ahead. Buy that $8 bag of salty heaven. You deserve it.
most screenings, the director of the following short gives an insight or detail regarding their films. Apart from an opportunity to present their achievements, the independent directors are given a podium to speak on behalf of their work. The films are selected based off of merit, with no particular theme, and the variety that each program offers makes each a very dynamic experience. After being hooked by a charming hybrid stop-motion/live love tale, Eric Groves’ Keepsake, Forever More and then sucked in and spat out by Ann Prim’s nightmare-influenced, intensely textured experimental Time has Peeled Back the Skin of Things, the potential of Minnesota’s independent filmmakers is obvious. A non-traditional documentary about a Christmas tree-packaging factory, Beaver Creek Yard, by Laska Jimsen, is both beautifully and simply shot. Emily Fritze presented a finely crafted animated music video, “Ship of Fools” for the Minneapolis-based bluegrass band, Pert Near Sandstone, while fellow animator John Akre screened Sheepdog Wanted, a black comedy animation about a disguised wolf managing a sheep flock. The standard styles of narrative cinema were Katina Petsoulis’ Sister and Darin Heinis’ DET. The latter film closed out the program with a 15-minute thriller about a war veteran struggling to reconcile his past. The variety of topics and style that the three separate programs of MNTV 2014 provide are enough to guarantee film lovers will be checking back to the Walker to catch them all. EMILY CHANG
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21.
3REVIEWS Quadron at First Ave
Lola Arias: The Year I Was Born / El Año en que nací By Sara Glesne
By Alex Nelson
Theater has long been used as a tool of political resistance in Chile. In her play “The Year I Was Born,” Argentinean writer Lola Arias transformed this history into a new sort of play that interacts with the politics of generations past to show how they inform modern Chile.
Danish electro-soul group Quadron made some rumblings with their formidable 2013 sophomore effort Avalanche, but the roar didn’t carry quite as far as it deserved. The duo, composed of Robin Hannibal (also of Rhye) and songstress Coco. O, are bringing their tunes on tour with Mayer Hawthorne, where their groovy pop-infused soul sound will surely catapult them into the relevance they deserve.
The country has a turbulent and somewhat recent past of violent conflict. An early scene retells the stories nine cast members, all Chileans born in the 1970s-90s, remember hearing from childhood of where their parents were on September 11, 1973: the day that dictator Augusto Pinochet took leadership in a coup d’état. Through a variety of media—1970s TV clips, sentimental sailor postcards, and articles of clothing that are the only remnants of family members now dead—the cast captured the audience’s attention. In one scene, the actors organize themselves in a line representing their parents’ political affiliation and socioeconomic status. The tiffs that break out over this order feel pressing and natural, despite being scripted and pre-translated. Cast members reflected on their parents’ lives today. Some former members of MAPU (a radical leftist group) no longer talk politics. One mother was killed during the dictatorship: her story told, chalk body outline and all, during the play. One cast member lost contact with her mother because she doesn’t approve of the play, and has simultaneously discovered where her “disappeared” father has been for years: in prison for a murder committed during the dictatorship. While the actors portrayed themselves, it doesn’t mean they don’t push the limits of their comfort onstage. In “The Year I Was Born,” Arias and her team successfully roll history and personal narrative into one.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch By Sam Schaust
Your secret is safe with me, Octodad. As the low-fi hum of his theme song goes, “Nobody suspects a thing,” and as his operator, it’s your job to keep his identity safe. Besides masquerading as a father of two, Octodad only cares to be ordinary in the sense of grilling burgers, weeding the garden, and grocery shopping with his family. Finding your footing is the greatest challenge in a game confidently categorizing itself as “fumblecore” (a genre founded on purposefully flustering control schemes designed for comical failure). There is no mastering Octodad as each limb confusingly utilizes its own button of control—meaning that when your daughter Stacy wants a glass of milk, you’ll spend half a minute banging the jug against her face before throwing it halfway across the room into a china cabinet. It all adds up to some of the finesttuned slapstick humor you’ll find nowadays. This three-hour-long misadventure is short and sweet, and prime to share with friends. As a miraculous godsend, there is cooperative action for up to four well-coordinated comrades where each player can operate a separate tentacle. Under this mode, communication is critical, yet can result in some of the best laughs as your roommate accidentally slips on a banana peel, sending everyone flipping into a crate of watermelons. It must be said, the second half of “Octodad” is littered with maddening stealth segments, although the game is forgiving. After all, when your protagonist is a blubbering cephalopod who plays like a wound-up pile of wet spaghetti noodles, who gives a shit?
ONTHEBOARDS.ORG
22.
CDN.DUALSHOCKERS.COM
february 17- march 3
At First Ave on Feb. 13, Coco strutted onto the stage in a shimmering jumper and launched the band’s sassiest song into the crowd: “LFT,” a smashing ode to a night of pre-gaming, partying, and “looking for trouble” with her girlfriends. Audience members are already shouting their appreciation of Coco’s masterful vocals (in the form of steamy “ow!’’s and screams) when the band relentlessly storms into their second stomper, “Favorite Star.” At this point, everyone in the crowd was convinced that this chick is a flawless and fabulous diva. These conclusions are confirmed when Coco tackles Lauren Hill’s iconic “Ex-Factor.” Since the band has won over the attention of everyone in the joint by now, they dial back the diva notch just a bit to unleash “Sea Salt,” which, instead of charging forward with soul-powered force like preceding numbers, sizzles and simmers as it’s brought to a softer boil. To conclude the 30-minute showcase of their unique passionate and danceable fusion of jazz, pop, R&B, and soul, Quadron settles into “Pressure.” This is an expert presentation of showstopping powerhouse vocals that erupts into a bouncy display of upbeat pop music, springing Quadron into the realm of fullblown stardom.
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UPCOMINGEVENTS TUESDAY, February 18
SATURDAY, February 22
The Wild Feathers
The Music Man
Turf Club / 7:00 p.m. / 21+ / $15 door
Open Book / 8:00 p.m. / $15-25
WEDNESDAY, February 19
THURSDAY, February 27
U Choose: Students’ Night
University Dance Theatre: New Dance/ New Space
Weisman Art Museum / 6:00 p.m. / Free
Rarig Center / 7:30 p.m. / $6 students
THURSDAY, February 20
FRIDAY, February 28
Film: Inequality for All
Film: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Willey Hall / 3:30 p.m. / Free
Coffman Union / 7 & 10 p.m. / Free
Handsome Midnight, Delta Routine, SDRA Kitty Kat Club / $5 / 21+
FRIDAY, February 21
SUNDAY, March 2
U of M Job and Internship Fair
Last day to skate
Minneapolis Convention Center / 10-4 p.m. / $25
The Depot / 10-6 p.m. / $9
door Film: Gravity
Oscars Your TV / 7:30 p.m.
Coffman Union / 7 & 10 p.m. / Free
www.wakemag.org
23.
The Wake
Come to our next meeting Monday February 24@ 8pm
Fowell Hall Room 12 // We need Illistrators, Photographers, Writers, and You // wakemag.org for more info