A bill that would have updated physical education requirements in Minnesota schools has been stalled in the state Senate. Sen. Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury, introduced the measure in late January. It calls for annual assessments of students’ health, which would begin in late elementary school; a ban on the suspension of recess as a punishment; and an increase in the number of physical education credits required to graduate high school.

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In a strange move last week, the Council of Graduate Students voted to keep its internal election process instead of holding a public vote for its leaders. Some COGS members said it wouldn’t be beneficial to have students vote because many aren’t interested in what the council is doing. That’s exactly the problem.

COGS must engage further with graduate students if it is to become a relevant voice for them. Keeping leadership elections private is an unfortunate step back in that regard.

By: Martin Jaakola

The Grammy Awards are supposed to be “music’s biggest night.” 

This year’s 57th edition certainly lived up to the moniker, though not for the reasons it’s supposed to.

The night started out innocently enough. Record of the Year, Song of the Year and even Best Metal Performance went off without a hitch.

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By: Anant Naik

For many years, medical advancements have faced a myriad of moral dilemmas. Perhaps one of the most important ones is the ethicality of human trials — not that they happen at all, but rather how they happen, who the subjects are and whether they’re in accordance with an appropriate timeline. Recently, a large clinical study testing new HIV-prevention methods throughout Africa failed.

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By: Danny Chen

With the help of freshman Felix Corwin, No. 33 Minnesota kept its focus during each set of Saturday’s match, propelling it to a 4-1 victory over Wisconsin in its first Big Ten contest.

Men’s tennis head coach Geoff Young said Corwin played very well and remained calm throughout the whole match.

Corwin, No. 117 in the nation, fought through two tough sets against Josef Dodridge for the victory.

In the first set, he took an early 3-2 lead before Dodridge fought back. The set eventually headed to a tiebreaker, where Corwin dominated 7-1.

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By: Grant Donald

Despite its members being spread nearly 600 miles apart, the women’s track and field team won two titles and recorded many career bests over the weekend.

With the pole-vaulters and distance-runners competing in South Bend, Ind., at the Meyo Invitational and the rest of the team in Lincoln, Neb., for the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, the weekend highlighted a unique aspect of track and field.

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By: Brad Bobel

Minnesota bounced back from last week’s road loss to Illinois with a first-place finish against Nebraska and the University of Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.

The Gophers finished the meet with 429.900 points followed by Nebraska and UIC.

“We made some team adjustments, and it really showed this meet,” junior Paul Montague Jr. said. “We’re much better at picking it up after a fall or slip-up.”

After a subpar pommel horse performance, the Gophers picked it up on the still rings with every gymnast scoring 14.3 or higher.

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By: Brad Bobel

Minnesota bounced back from last week’s road loss to Illinois with a first-place finish against Nebraska and the University of Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.

The Gophers finished the meet with 429.900 points followed by Nebraska and UIC.

“We made some team adjustments, and it really showed this meet,” junior Paul Montague Jr. said. “We’re much better at picking it up after a fall or slip-up.”

After a subpar pommel horse performance, the Gophers picked it up on the still rings with every gymnast scoring 14.3 or higher.

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By: David Nelson

Many of Minnesota’s top athletes rested over the weekend in preparation for the upcoming Big Ten championships, but senior Jimmy Rafter had a meet to remember.

The entire Minnesota bench stood on its feet for Rafter’s last race as a member of the Gophers.

The mass of yellow and white chanted his name as he prepped himself for the starting bell of the 200-yard backstroke.

Rafter swam his way to a sizable lead, but he halted himself at the wall after the first 100 yards of the race.

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By: Matt Greenstein

Last year’s Big Ten Freshman and Pitcher of the Year didn’t miss a beat in the season-opening series of her sophomore season.

Gophers ace Sara Groenewegen surrendered just two runs in 16 innings pitched, recording three victories in Minnesota’s five-victory weekend.

The Gophers outscored opponents 50-12.

 Junior Nikki Anderson and freshman Kylie Stober each picked up a victory, too. 

“It’s an awesome feeling. Especially [being] the first weekend. I have a lot of trust in our other pitchers,” Groenewegen said.

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