After a year and a half of masks and social distancing, in person events are back on. Here is a run down of local summer happenings and how they will be different for the summer of 2021.

Juneteenth Celebrations: (June 13 – 19)

Juneteenth celebrations are on for the summer of 2021. From the 13 through the 19 of June, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will be hosting several events leading up to and on Juneteenth, all of which will enforce minimal restrictions related to COVID-19. The schedule of events is set to include literature readings, drive-in movie screenings and virtual community panel discussions, as well as live music and kite-flying in Bethune Park.

Pride: (Lead up events: June 9 – 27 — Pride Festival: July 17 – 18)

It is truly not a summer in the Twin Cities without Pride, and after an unspeakably difficult year the celebration is back on. The Grand Marshal MASKqueerade Party event will be held at two locations for smaller gatherings, and the Rainbow Run 5k will go off in groups of 250 at 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., etc. for spacing of runners. For the Pride Festival itself, booths have been removed along the lake side of Loring Park to ease congestion.

Stone Arch Bridge Festival: (June 19 – 20)

The yearly art and music gathering on and beside the historic Stone Arch Bridge will be going forward for 2021 with minor changes to the usual arrangements. With live music, a culinary arts market and a local car show, there is something for everyone. Artists’ tents will be spread out — offering a good amount of space between each tent — and all of the large music events have been scaled back. While the event typically features several stages with a full lineup of performances stretching into the evening, this year there will be two stages featuring primarily acoustic sets of one or two performers.

Loring Park Art Festival: (July 31 – Aug. 1)

Mark your calendars for the weekend of July 31: The annual community arts festival and market is back in full swing. A bustling art celebration across from the Walker, this event will once again be bringing local art, delicious food and a fun loving atmosphere to the Loring Park neighborhood. There will be hand sanitizers throughout the park and there will be limited entertainment and activities to eliminate gathering points.

“The safety of our guests, artists and partners is paramount,” said Pat Parnow, director of the event. “We are working closely within the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the State of Minnesota, and we have been strategizing and sharing best practices with art festival directors locally and nationally for many months.”

Uptown Art Fair: (Aug. 6 – 8)

Come August, the streets of Uptown will be bustling with artists and art lovers once again. As the second most attended event in Minnesota, this event will be packed with folks selling and purchasing visual art of all kinds. The executive director of the Uptown Art Fair, Jill Osiecki, commented on the uphill climb to put on this event after having only recently been given the green light by the state.

“The real challenging thing is that we’re planning an event, essentially in two months, that normally takes us a full year,” Osiecki said. “The fair impacts so many different people, not only 300 plus artists, but also our community. We feel it’s super important to make it happen.”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival: (Weekends Aug. 21 – Oct. 3)

Granted the current condition of the pandemic continues to improve as expected, organizers at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival will once again open doors to their fantasy kingdom in Shakopee, Minnesota. The director of marketing and events at Mid-America Festivals, Stephanie Whipps, shared how the organizers are still unsure what restrictions will look like for what will be the festival’s 50th anniversary summer.

“We are hopeful to have a normal renaissance festival experience, but will do whatever we have to do. If we have to operate with some restrictions, then we will,” Whipps said.

Rock the Garden: (Canceled)

Unfortunately, this cherished Twin Cities music festival will not be taking place this summer. Due to the difficulties of scheduling during the pandemic, it will likely be another year before music lovers can once again gather on the Walker Art Center grounds for a day of loud music and high spirits.

Minnesota State Fair: (Aug. 26 – Sept. 6)

Whether your fix is a bucket of Sweet Martha’s cookies, a ride on the giant slide or wandering into random RVs you could never afford, the great Minnesota get-together is coming back with all of the foods and events you’ve been missing. At this time, the State Fair does not anticipate daily attendance limits and masks will not be required for fair guests; however, organizers are strongly encouraging the use of masks for those not fully vaccinated, the Minnesota State Fair announced. Additional announcements regarding the 2021 Minnesota State Fair, including the free entertainment lineup, new foods, full Grandstand lineup and more will be released in the coming weeks.

UH track and field freshman Shaun Maswanganyi celebrates after winning his semifinal heat in the men’s 100 meters on Wednesday. | Photo by Andy Nelson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Houston’s men’s track and field team wrapped up its season Friday night in Eugene, Oregon, finishing with a total of 15 points at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The Cougars 4×100-meter relay team, who entered the finals with the country’s No. 1 ranked time this season, suffered a tough blow as the Cougars dropped the baton on the first exchange between Jordan Booker and Travis Collins. UH ended up finishing eighth in the event with a time of 42.87.

Freshman phenom Shaun Maswanganyi wrapped up his outdoor season as national runner-up in the 100-meter, running a 10.09, and placing third in the 200-meter with a time of 20.10.

Senior Quivell Jordan capped off his senior season running a 50.54 in the 400-meter hurdles finals to earn a ninth-place finish.

Earlier in the week, sophomore Christyan Sampy finished 11th in the pole vault finals, clearing 5.30 meters, and junior Benjamin Okafor took 23rd place in the long jump finals with a leap of 7.18 meters.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“UH men’s track and field team concludes 2021 outdoor season” was originally posted on The Cougar

Starting June 14, physical distancing requirements will no longer be in place on BU campuses.

The Colorado State University System Board of Governors has approved a tuition increase as part of the 2022 fiscal year budget.  According to a press release from the University, CSU Fort Collins and CSU Pueblo students will see a tuition increase of 3% in the coming year, amounting to roughly $282.20 for a full-time student […]

If you are on your way to college and are troubled about finance management, you are not alone. College is expensive and many students postpone it because of lack of funds, or simply not knowing how to minimize and allocate their college expenses. Student finance is hard, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Determine whether you are doing your best at it by avoiding these five major mistakes that can quickly deplete your college fund.

1. You Don’t Have to Pay for Everything

You might have heard that college comes with a lot of unexpected expenses, and therefore ends up costing more than you imagined. However, this doesn’t always have to be true. It is important to have a professional advisor by your side to ensure you are not spending on things you might already be covered for, or can avoid spending on. For instance, if you fall ill during your course of study, you may already be covered by your insurance. Similarly, if you get injured or get into any sort of an accident, professional personal injury lawyers like Lawlor, White & Murphey can help educate you on your rights, and make sure your expenses and other losses are covered.

2. Check All Financial Sources

When financing college, scholarships can be a huge help. While many scholarships are awarded automatically on merit, many students make the mistake of not considering those that are only awarded if applied for. It is also important to not miss the deadlines for these, since most major scholarships have deadlines earlier than those of regular program admissions.

3. Don’t Forget to Shop for Loan Interest Rates

Colleges provide financial aid and loans, but they are not the only source. Many students make the mistake of not approaching private loan organizations, which sometimes might even be providing better interest rates than university finance options. Make sure to shop around before you finalize where you get your loan from and the payment plan that works the best for you.

4. Don’t Borrow More Than You Need

When determining the amount of money you need for college, it is essential to borrow a smart and minimal amount that covers your tuition, living, transport, and other everyday expenses. Remember that wants or luxuries, like having a television set in your dorm room, should not be part of this. Paying off a loan can become a serious burden after you graduate, and it is best to keep the amount at a minimum.

5. Don’t Overlook Refinancing

Getting a loan for your student finance purposes doesn’t mean this is forever and you can’t change it. Make sure you keep looking into refinancing options. If interest rates drop, you can refinance your loan, get a better deal, and make your repayments lower. You can also exit a federal student program and enter into a private program if you think it will work better for you. However, make sure you consult an advisor before making such decisions, and take the best steps considering your financial status.

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

After the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found at what used to be a Catholic residential school for Indigenous children, the Catholic Church needs to take responsibility.

The Catholic Church needs to not only acknowledge the role it played in the torture and genocide of Indigenous people in North America, it also needs to take action and pay reparations to not only the victims of residential schools but the governments themselves. 

In 1819, the U.S. Congress passed the Civilization Fund Act, which allowed the president to enact policy that would “civilize” Native Americans. This was a part of America’s plan to expand westward and shrink the Native population. 

After having pushed Native Americans as westward as they could after the 1830 Indian Removal Act, residential schools became one of the main ways America tried to get rid of Indigenous people. There were fund financed churches to create schools to teach Native American children Christian American culture, replacing their Native cultures. 

Canada had similar policies in order to get rid of Indigenous people, also setting up residential schools. 

These schools banned children from engaging in their own culture. The children could not speak their own languages, have long hair, wear Native clothes or see their family very often. The schools punished children if they did anything associated with their Native culture, often physically. Survivors recall rampant sexual and brutal physical abuse. 

As shown by the 215 remains that were found, many children died as a result of these schools. Some Canadian schools did nutritional experiments on the children, keeping them at the brink of starvation. 

These schools aren’t a thing of the far historic past. The last residential school closed in 1996. There are many survivors who remember the horrors they experienced. No one can use the excuse that it was so long ago that people need to get over it.

The American and Canadian governments are certainly to blame for the deaths and trauma of these children. The governments certainly need to go beyond an apology and invest money into Indigenous tribes for reparations. However, the Catholic Church is definitely one to blame as well.

Christianity supposedly is supposed to be full of love and morality, and yet the Catholic Church played a gigantic role in the colonization of the Americas. Since the beginnings of European exploration in America, the Catholic Church sent missionaries to spread religion to the Indigenous population. The pope did say he felt sad about the news of the 215 children’s remains. He hasn’t even acknowledged the role the Catholic Church played in their deaths. 

An apology won’t be enough of course. The Catholic Church is known for its charity, so it should donate heaping amounts to Indigenous tribes across North America. If the Church doesn’t want this tied to their reputation, it’s time to change.

The Catholic Church played a big role in the genocide and assimilation of Native Americans. It’s time to apologize and pay up.

Anna Baker is an English senior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“The Catholic Church must take responsibility for its anti-Indigenous history” was originally posted on The Cougar

Liz Phair merges past with present in new album ‘Soberish’

Chrysalis Records Limited/Courtesy

Grade: 4.0/5.0

It’s been 28 years since the release of Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair’s debut studio album that crowned her a ’90s feminist icon. Filled with sarcasm, jagged melodies and sexually explicit lyrics that challenged female stereotypes, the outspoken tracks of Exile in Guyville began a do-it-yourself rawness that extended throughout Phair’s earlier albums. Even when she dove into the world of glossy radio hits with “Why Can’t I?,” released in 2003, Phair made room for her forthright attitude — but her later albums drifted a little too far. After years of toying with her sound, Soberish, released June 4, comes as a refreshing return to the more seminal sounds of Liz Phair. 

Having reunited with Brad Wood, the producer of Phair’s first three studio albums, it’s no wonder that Soberish is more reminiscent of her original roots. However, it doesn’t ride on the same acclaimed glittery grit of years past; she’s simply drawing on its elements in order to forge a sound that fits her present. With a mature perspective from experiencing hookups, divorce, motherhood and almost 30 years of trying to give women more voice in a male-dominated industry, Phair continues to do what she does best: unleashing her deep-rooted truth.

Soberish immediately opens up with Phair’s offbeat vocal melody in “Spanish Doors.” Inspired by her friend’s divorce, she sings about the loss of identity that must be faced when big life changes are made. Backed by a bright electric guitar, somber lyrics are forced into a cheery setting, mirroring how inner emotions are often masked by a happy outer shell. Even the poppy chorus deludes the listener into singing along to “The ghost I see in the mirror doesn’t smile anymore” with a relaxed expression. 

Phair may be older and wiser, but her younger flair for direct sexual allusions is very much a part of her present self. The stripped-down and upbeat “Bad Kitty” is one of the more blatantly sexual songs on the album. The Phair frankness is apparent as the song opens with “My pussy is a big dumb cat.” She even extends the overt animals-as-genitals metaphor through the second verse as she sings, “I go out and play with my big black dog.” 

At first, the not-so-subtle sexual theme comes off as Phair being unable to let go of her past edgy self, but the repeated bridge saves her from this unsavory depiction. Despite turning to the harsh realities of no longer being young and seemingly indestructible, Phair ultimately seems to be happy with her life: “No back up, no cigarettes, baby, and no regrets.” It’s no “Fuck and Run,” but “Bad Kitty” serves as a perky reminder that age shouldn’t be a barrier to setting up a pet play date. 

Honesty resonates throughout the entirety of the album, but at 54 years old, Phair no longer has to dig so deep. With a more relaxed outlook, honesty looks like taking “Soberish” shots in a bar before meeting up with a lover or keeping it positive with her “Good Side.” It’s good to see that Phair is able to revisit the past with wisdom and clarity.

Although Soberish demonstrates growth in Phair’s career and identity, Phair is still finding the balance of synth and effects. One of her more solemn tracks, “In There,” features an oscillating synth and artificial drum track, but by the second chorus, the rawness in Phair’s voice is hollowed out and muddled over by echoey harmonies. Phair eventually finds a home for atmospheric synth and layered background vocals in “Soul Sucker,” a song perfect for haunting modern-day controlling killjoys. 

It’s too much to ask artists such as Phair to remake albums of their glory days, limiting them from growing into themselves. Instead, Soberish offers the coolheaded outlook of a woman who has experienced it all. It isn’t the classic Liz Phair of the ’90s, but it showcases Phair’s bravery for being able to leave behind her celebrated past in favor of an unapologetically updated sense of self. 

Contact Amanda Ayano Hayami at ahayami@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Gallery|10 Photos

Jack Gambassi

A dog marches down State St. in Salt Lake City for the Pride march on June 6, 2021. (Photo by Jack Gambassi | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

The post Salt Lake Pride March: A Photo Series appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

31 Pittsburg State University students receive national scholarships from four leading industry organizations.  

The Builders’ Association Foundation awarded 27 national scholarships, nine of which went to Pitt State students. The AGC of America Foundation gave out nine scholarships, seven of which were awarded to Pitt State students. Eleven Pitt State students received scholarships from the National Association of Women in Construction Wichita Chapter. Four Pitt State students were awarded scholarships by the Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors of Kansas.  

“I am extremely grateful to be receiving the Byron & Janice Farrell Scholarship,” Gibson said. “I have worked very hard during my college career and for a foundation like the AGC Education and Research Foundation to recognize and reward me for that, feels amazing. The construction department has been incredible when it comes to helping students find scholarship money to pay for their education and I have been lucky enough to be the recipient of not only the Byron and Janice Farrell Scholarship but also the PSU Construction Alumni Scholarship. I have been truly blessed.”  

PSU scholarship recipients of the Builders’ Association Foundation include Bill Corlett, Tyson Stites, Easton Roth, Caleb Pahl, Trent Fair, Marcelo Neufeld, Zach Bures, Blaine Boudreaux, and Michael Marinakis.  

PSU recipients of the AGC Education & Research Foundation scholarships include: Riley Bingham (Robert Conley Scholarship), Trenton Fair (AGC of America-Construction Leadership Council Scholarship), Grace Gibson (Byron & Janice Farrell Scholarship), Austen Hunt (David & Ruth Dando Scholarship), Marcelo Neufeld (AGC Education & Research Foundation Scholarship), Patrick Pennock (AGC of America-Consulting Constructors Council Scholarship), and Easton Roth (AGC of America – Consulting Constructors Council Scholarship).  

The National Association of Women in Construction Wichita Chapter PSU scholarship recipients include Austen Hunt, Easton Roth, Emerson Cochran, Ismael Rosas, Jack McGavran, Jeremy Berg, Marcelo Neufeld, Michael Hoffmann, Taylor Griffith, Trenton Fair, and Tyson Stites.  

PSU recipients of the Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors of Kansas Scholarships include Trenton Fair, Michael Hoffman, Carlos Mendoza Montes, and Marcelo Neufeld.  

“I came to Pitt right out of high school in 2018 from a small town in Illinois and immediately I fell in love with the campus and the small town feel,” Gibson said. “I felt so at home and like I could walk anywhere and see a familiar face. Now I know that my gut feeling was right and I couldn’t be more happy with my decision.”  

To be eligible for the industry organization scholarships, students must attend a school with a construction or engineering program accredited by ACCE or ABET.  

“The Kansas Technology Center has been my home for the last… (three) years and every department in that building has changed my life in one way or another but I would like to thank Angela Ashmore and the Engineering Technology Department for being there for me through everything,” Gibson said.  

You want to make up for lost credits or speed up your college progress. Maybe you learned the course you’ve been eyeing is only offered during the summer. So, you decide to enroll in summer classes.

You feel like you’re signing away summer for textbooks. How can you make sure you get to enjoy the summer you’ve waited all year for?

Here are some ways you can still enjoy your summer if your classes are taking over your calendar.

Make a schedule for yourself
Look over your course load and decide what days and times you will dedicate to schoolwork. By getting on a schedule, it will be easier to prioritize the rest of your day. If you know you’re going to be doing homework every Monday and Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m., you know you will be able to have fun in the sun at 3 p.m. Guilt free.

Reward yourself
Create a reward system for your summer semester. Just finished taking a quiz? Treat yourself to the pair of shoes you’ve been wanting. Finally submitted that research paper? Have a beach day with your friends. Giving yourself something to look forward to as you conquer your small milestones will never allow your summer courses to feel like a chore.

Be social
Summer courses are usually more intimate than fall and spring courses. Use this time to get to know your peers and build relationships with your professors. You never know who you can connect with by simply putting yourself out there. You could end your summer with new campus friends or an even mentor.

Take up new activities
What’s a hobby you’ve been wanting to start but haven’t gotten around to? Use your free time to start something new. School can be a little draining, and we all need ways to take our minds off grade percentages. Filling your mind with a new, exciting hobby is a good way to give you a boost in creativity and motivation.

Switch up your location
Who says you have to study inside? You don’t have to miss out on the beautiful weather just because you’re getting ahead in your academics. Bring your computer outside and enjoy the breeze. Look into audio versions of your readings and take a stroll with your headphones. Do your discussion posts by the pool. Anything you can do to get out of the house is almost guaranteed to help you succeed. Don’t limit your summer semester to your desk.