By: Ethan Nelson

Two University of Minnesota-area business districts are now planning for how they’ll use thousands of new city dollars.

Minneapolis’ Great Streets Neighborhood Business District program recently awarded more than $50,000 to business associations for the West Bank and Stadium Village, which their leaders plan to use to extend their reach into surrounding neighborhoods and capitalize on the upcoming Green Line light rail opening, respectively.

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By: Vanessa Nyarko

Members of a growing student movement at the University of Minnesota are raising issues with a lack of diversity on campus and how the institution’s leaders are dealing with it.

Whose Diversity? — an independent student collective — wants to challenge the University’s core values of diversity to promote greater social justice and equity on campus.

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By: Nicolas Hallett

Gunshots ring out as thick smoke fills the room. There’s a pile of what appears to be bodies, and their clothing is soaked with blood. A first responder has seconds to attend to the would-be victims, and the surrounding conditions will only get worse.

The simulation has begun.

The sound is recorded, a machine is bellowing smoke, and the bodies, or patient simulators, are $50,000 mannequins made of proprietary materials developed at the University of Minnesota.

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By: Anne Millerbernd

A war, a house purchase and a reputation for hazing all contributed to Tau Kappa Epsilon’s four failed tries at establishing itself at the University of Minnesota. 

The fraternity had its charter ceremony on Saturday, its fifth appearance at the University since 1917. This time, chapter leaders hope to make it last.

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By: Cody Nelson

The last time the Gophers men’s hockey team won a national championship, there were riots in Dinkytown. That was in 2003.

As the No. 1-ranked team heads to Philadelphia for the Frozen Four this weekend, the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis police are taking precautions to halt any potential violence by reminding students of consequences, boosting police presence on and around campus and coordinating with neighborhoods.

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By: Tyler Gieseke

A new city law might force music venues to give concertgoers’ ears a break.

The change would come in the form of free earplugs, which Minneapolis venues would have to provide under the new ordinance.

Some businesses disagree with the change, saying it’s unnecessary and could negatively affect revenue, while other stakeholders say that providing free hearing protection is important.

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By: Anne Millerbernd

Beginning February 2015, a technology upgrade will change University of Minnesota procedure so that class rosters include the preferred name of each student enrolled.

Students and employees who prefer to be addressed by a name other than their legal one have struggled with inconsistencies in the University’s naming procedure.

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By: Betsy Helfand

Minnesota’s baseball team struggled Sunday afternoon. It lost two games and was outscored 20-0 in those two contests.

But with the addition of a game Wednesday, the Gophers will have a chance to put those losses behind them before their next Big Ten series.

Minnesota was scheduled to play a midweek game against North Dakota State on Tuesday, but it was postponed because of weather.

The Gophers picked up a Wednesday game against Augsburg after the game was cancelled.

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By: Jack Satzinger

Minnesota’s secondary will be stacked next season, but that doesn’t mean junior safety Damarius Travis won’t be able to break into the starting lineup.

Travis started only two games last year, and the Gophers’ returning safeties, Cedric Thompson and Antonio Johnson, started most of the games at the position in 2013.

Travis is coming for his two teammates, though, because his goal is to start.

“It matters a lot to me,” he said. “I always wanted a starting role.”

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Condoleezza Rice is set to speak at Northrop Memorial Auditorium on April 17 as part of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series. The Carlson Family Foundation is funding the event.

Rice’s visit is sure to provoke dialogue, as most guests of her stature would. Unfortunately, a group of University of Minnesota students would rather stifle dialogue than promote it.

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