Volunteers of the University of Minnesota Student Organic Farm (SOF) have learned how to grow and provide organic produce at the University’s weekly farmers market every Wednesday at the Getaway Plaza outside of the McNamara Alumni Center since July 12. 

The farmers market currently has a 25% off student discount so students can afford produce from several vendors. The SOF booth includes organically-grown produce from the student organization’s one-acre farm in St. Paul which includes anything from carrots, peppers and onions to fruit and flowers.

SOF began in 2004 as a chance for students to practice what they learned in classes. SOF’s mission is to provide observational learning and get food into the hands of people on campus who do not have access, said farm manager Tori Dahl. 

With 30 students involved with SOF this fall, students volunteer to take turns running their booth at the farmers market. 

“Everyone is happy and excited to be here,” said Maria Krausmann, an SOF student who volunteered at the farmers market for the first time on Wednesday. “It’s fun to talk to people about what they want to use the vegetables and produce for.” 

Krausmann harvested and washed fruits and vegetables for the market. She said shopping at the market is more than just shopping, it’s a whole experience. 

Molly Seligman, a fourth-year and student intern, has worked with SOF since the summer. Apart from hand plowing fields on her first day, Seligman worked on seeding, irrigation, harvesting and selling the produce. 

“I felt like I was making a difference in the community,” Seligman said. 

Seligman knows there are ways the farmers market can improve after working with SOF. One of the ideas they have been working on is a “pay what you can” stand where a customer can buy produce based on how much they can pay. Seligman said SOF needs funding and grants to begin it.

An idea SOF is “flirting with” is washing, cutting and freezing fruit to gauge interest in those products, according to Seligman. Having more accessible options for produce and spreading the word about the farmers market is something SOF is working toward. 

As the farm manager, Dahl said publicizing the market has been a challenge. During the pandemic, the farm was shut down and Dahl said it was stressful to start again. She explained half of the student body started or was on campus while the farm was shut down. 

“Of course they don’t know about us,” Dahl said. “We didn’t exist for them.” 

Dahl encourages any student to participate if they wish, even if their major is not related. She said there are students in apparel design, plant science, nutrition, biology and other environment-related majors. 

“We’re hoping to keep growing it,” Dahl said. “We can always use volunteers.”

The farmers market is set to end Sept. 27.

by Amelia Roessler
Published December 12, 2022

While some LGBTQ students say they feel relatively safe on campus, some student activists say they feel the University of Minnesota has more work to do to create a positive environment for transgender people.

University of Minnesota student activists reflected on the struggles transgender people currently face after celebrating Trans Day of Remembrance in November.

Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman, was killed Nov. 20, 1998, when she was stabbed 20 times in her apartment. Since then, the anniversary of her murder has been recognized as Trans Day of Remembrance to remember those who have been killed because of prejudice and hate.

Members of the University’s Queer Student Cultural Center (QSCC) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) hosted events last month to remember those who’ve lost their lives due to transphobic violence.

While empowering the transgender community on campus was not a distinct part of their message that day, several students said they believe it is an important part of Trans Rememberance Day.

Transphobic violence and harm
In 2021, there were 50 violent fatal incidents against transgender and gender non-conforming people tracked by the Human Rights Campaign, which is the highest number on record. At least 34 violent killings of transgender people have been reported so far this year, though many more may go unreported.

On this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, two transgender people were killed in the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs.

Out of 71 homicides of transgender people between 2019 and 2020, almost two-thirds were transgender women of color, and more than half were Black trans women, according to research from Insider.

Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies professor Aren Aizura said he currently thinks many trans students feel unsafe around campus and in the community.

“Right-wing transphobia is at an all-time high: trans people are being accused of “grooming” children, and trans women especially are in the spotlight,” Aizura said. “Students are concerned with making the campus a space where trans and nonbinary people can live, study and create community without violence or ridicule.”

Dante Rocío is a non-binary, first-year University student from Poland, where he said many people still feel uncomfortable discussing LGBTQ issues, and transgender people often do not feel safe. He said since moving to the United States to attend the University, he feels fortunate not having to constantly fear using his name and pronouns.

“When I’m on campus in the University space, I don’t have any fears or problems,” Rocío said. “I don’t have to face discrimination or feat having to hid for safety or fair treatment.”

Rocío said back home, officially established transgender medical care is not available. He said being able to go to Boynton to discuss safe gender-affirming procedures and receive resources is “already paradise” to him.

Boynton provides services for gender care including hormone replacement therapy, referrals and support for gender-affirming surgeries, fertility preservation and family building and preoperative exams.

However, Sierra, a transgender student at the University who participated in one of the Trans Day of Remembrance student events, said she thinks many doctors in the United States still don’t know how to handle transgender patients, which can result in mistreatment or other problems. The Minnesota Daily allowed Sierra to be identified just using her middle name due to safety concerns.

According to an article from Yale Medicine, one obstacle transgender patients face is that many health care providers still do not understand what being transgender means. About one-third of transgender people reported negative interactions with medical providers, according to the article.

“There’s a huge lacking in our medical system to support trans people because it’s a system designed for cisgender people,” Sierra said.

Misgendering and unenforced equity policies on Twin Cities campus
Some students said they feel the University still has work to do to create a safe and accepting environment for all transgender students.

University policy on gender identity and use of pronouns states that “University members and units are expected to use the names, gender identities, and pronouns specified to them by other University members, except as legally required.”

Sierra said in their experience, this policy feels solely symbolic, as in the past, University faculty insufficiently addressed student complaints about misgendering.

“My own personal experience is that misgendering still occurs; students and faculty still don’t respect gender identity as a whole,” Sierra said. “I would like to think that they’re just doing it by accident.”

She said she believes it is not that the faculty are not doing their job implementing University policy, but she thinks they can do better responding to students.

Cal Mergendahl, a transgender, nonbinary University graduate student, said they have felt alienated and uncomfortable as a trans student at the University.

“It’s really kind of a very isolated experience here,” Mergendahl said. “University policies not being effective or that well enforced really don’t help them.”

For their undergraduate degree, Mergendahl attended the University of Minnesota’s Morris campus and said they felt a stronger sense of community there than on the Twin Cities campus.

“There was a lot of very open, outward acceptance and that was really vocalized in a way that I don’t always see or experience here,” Mergendahl said. “Tolerance is not acceptance, and acceptance is not the same as community.”

Transgender Day of Remembrance events
While QSSC and SDS’ Nov. 16 demonstration was meant to be a die-in, where people lay on the ground in a public space to call attention to an issue, snow on the ground led to a change in plans. Students instead gathered in front of Northrop Auditorium to make speeches, chant and read off names of people who have been murdered or killed this year due to transgender violence.

“I believe, or at least hope … some people were at least in some way affected or mobilized [by our actions] to think about the subject,” Rocío said.

At an evening march at the Donhowe building in Dinkytown, demonstrators protested all legislative attacks on gender affirming education and health care, including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which bans instruction or classroom discussion about LGBTQ issues for kindergarten through third grade.

Sierra attended the campus march and said she also celebrates Trans Day of Remembrance by initiating conversations with friends about the importance of transgender visibility and commemorating those killed because of their gender identity.

“We need to take time out of our own days and reflect on what the bigger picture means,” Sierra said. “A lot of the time in the trans community, we’re dehumanized and … it’s important to remember that we are human and we are people too.”

Rocío said the message of Trans Day of Remembrance shouldn’t be considered only one day a year. They said people should be working every day toward building stronger protections in place for transgender people.

“Things that I’m considering a luxury for myself, are actually not a privilege; it’s something that’s a basic right,”Rocío said. “I shouldn’t be afraid to ask for that.”

Visit Boynton’s website for information on LGBTQ-identifying student groups, how to change one’s name or pronouns and other LGBTQ-specific resources.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Aren Aizura’s pronouns. Aizura uses he/him pronouns.

This article has been updated.

While the University of Minnesota requires its students and employees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, this mandate does not apply to workers contracted through other organizations.

With COVID-19 infection rates down compared to the past two years, some vaccinated students said they are not personally concerned about being served by unvaccinated workers.

According to the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker, about 72% of Minnesotans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 18% are up-to-date with booster doses.

University policy and why some are exempt

According to University policy, all University faculty, staff, graduate assistants, graduate student workers, undergraduate student workers, adjuncts, professionals-in-training and residents must have submitted documentation that they are fully vaccinated or in the process of becoming fully vaccinated by Dec. 3, 2021. Workers hired after that date along with any incoming students must also provide proof of vaccination.

Those exempt from the vaccine mandate include those who provide individual reasons, such as medical or religious belief exemptions, and workers hired through external service providers, such as temporary workers hired from an outside agency.

According to University Director of Public Relations Jake Ricker, temporary workers are being hired through these agencies to help fill short-term staffing shortages. Because they are hired through an outside agency, they do not have to follow the University’s vaccination mandate.

The University hires its own temporary or “casual” employees, who work either short-term or on an on-call basis, while other temporary workers might be employed by agencies such as Chartwells for dining hall work. While the University’s temporary employees follow the vaccination mandate, workers contracted through Chartwells do not have to be vaccinated.

Students unconcerned about unvaccinated dining workers

According to the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker, about 6,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for the week of Nov. 23, which is down about 80% from this time last year.

Some students said they did not know some dining hall workers are not required to be vaccinated and others who live in dorms with dining halls or work in food service said they are not concerned these temporary workers are unvaccinated.

Jaron Dufault, a freshman living at Middlebrook Hall, said he has noticed some temporary workers at the dining hall there, but he does not know much about them. Dufault said he is not concerned about getting sick but thinks workers should get vaccinated for their own well-being.

“I’m not that concerned for myself personally because I’m vaccinated,” Dufault said. “I’m more so worried for their sake, about them potentially getting sick. Getting vaccinated doesn’t automatically mean you’re not going to get the virus; it just means that your chances of getting sick are a lot lower.”

Nicole Schultz is a sophomore who works at Minnesota Mug, a University coffee shop on campus. She said she had not heard about temporary workers being unvaccinated but does not think vaccination status should prevent people from gaining employment.

“I suppose as long as food safety precautions as well as Covid safety precautions are taking place, I see nothing wrong with unvaccinated temporary workers at the U,” Schultz said. “I believe some of the vaccination requirements are there for a reason, but I do not want to exclude people that are unable to get vaccinated or rely on the U to provide for themselves.”

Staffing shortages create need for temporary workers

As of late September, the University was short 142 dining hall workers, according to reporting from Fox 9. In an email statement, Ricker said the University hopes to eventually have dining facilities fully staffed with full-time employees.

“University-employed dining staff play a critical role in the experience of our students who live in residence halls, so it’s our preference to have dining facilities staffed entirely by full-time employees,” Ricker said.

Temporary dining hall workers hired through outside companies can make up to 35% more than full-time staff, with the higher paid positions making about $22 per hour, according to The Minnesota Reformer.

On Oct. 22, Teamsters Local 320, the union that represents University dining hall workers, reached a tentative agreement with the University in terms of receiving higher wages. This includes raising their minimum wage to $20 per hour while continuing to offer full-time staff access to University benefits such as health and dental insurance, paid time off, tuition benefits and other resources that are not available to temporary staff.

According to Ricker, the Teamsters agreement is a significant step toward getting dining halls fully staffed with University employees.

The process to rename the University of Minnesota’s four oldest building names is underway after applications to nominate new namesakes closed Nov. 11.

While the Kiehle Building on Crookston’s campus, Spooner Hall on the Morris campus and Sanford Hall on the Twin Cities campus each received a nomination for renaming, Folwell Hall did not.

The building renaming application, or dossier, opened to faculty, staff and alumni in August.

“Although we have had inquiries about [Folwell Hall], no one came forward and put a dossier into our hands,” said Tim Johnson, chair of the All-University Honors Committee (AUHC), which manages the renaming process.

On the Morris campus, the faculty assembly will vote on Nov. 29 whether to rename Spooner Hall. On the Twin Cities campus, the policy for the non-dossiered Folwell Hall is to remove the name without a replacement.

“The Board of Regents could say the recommendation now for…Folwell hall is to remove the names, and we just call them building X,Y or Z, or whatever departments are in those buildings,” Johnson said.

The Board of Regents could also refuse name removal and decide to keep the names as they stand, according to Johnson.

The renaming process

The Board of Regents approved new updates to a University policy, which allows for renaming campus buildings that are at least 75 years old on Feb. 11.

The University decided to consider renaming the four oldest building names first, according to Jonhnson, and then will work their way to the buildings at the 75-year cut off.

Now that applications are closed, the Namings and Renamings Work Group (NRWG) will review them and decide how to move forward. NRWG is a subgroup of AUHC and could recommend to either rename the buildings or keep the current names.

NRWG members consist of faculty, students, alumni, the University’s archivist and a University historian.

“We have people involved who can really delve into why a name might need to be changed and why a name might need to stay,” Johnson said.

After reviewing renaming applications, the NRWG will refer their recommendations to the AUHC, which discusses them and makes their own recommendations to University President Joan Gabel. Gabel will then make recommendations to the Board of Regents, who will ultimately vote on whether to rename the buildings.

Although neither the AUHC or NRWG know how long the process is going to take, Johnson said he expects at least four buildings to be renamed each year.

William Watts Folwell (1833-1929), the first University President

Folwell Hall, deemed “the largest, best and most imposing building on the University campus,” according to University archives, was constructed in 1907 after a fire destroyed the Old Main Building in 1904. According to the Minnesota architecture history inventory form in 1908, it was pronounced the best building for educational purposes in the country.

When Folwell was built, it housed the Greek, Latin, mathematics, astronomy, English, philosophy and sociology departments. It also housed the offices of the Minnesota Daily, the Gopher, the Minnesota Magazine and the Post Office.

Now, Folwell Hall houses the College of Liberal Arts language departments along with offices and study spaces.

Folwell Hall was named after the first University president, William Folwell. Before becoming president, Folwell served in the 50th New York regiment of Volunteers in the Civil War where he rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers from 1862 to 1865, according to University records.

In 1869, Folwell became University president after teaching economics and politics at Kenyon College in Ohio.

In addition to president, Folwell served as University Librarian from 1869 to 1903. After Folwell resigned as the University president in 1883, he became chair of the political science department, where he remained until his retirement in 1907.

Maria Sanford (1836-1920), the first female professor

When the first women’s dormitory opened on campus in 1910, it was named after Maria Sanford. While now co-ed, Sanford Hall has kept her name.

When Sanford Hall was first built in 1910, it could house up to 80 female students. Now, more than 100 years and a renovation later, it houses up to 530 students.

Sanford taught local children in various Connecticut communities until 1871. She wanted to attend Yale University, but at the time, women were not allowed, so a professor of history at Yale gave her outlines of college courses she could study independently, according to University archives.

Because of her highly regarded teaching skills, Sanford was offered a position as a history professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in 1871. According to University archives, she was the first female professor in the United States.

Folwell offered Sanford a position as head of the rhetoric department at the University in 1880, where she stayed until her retirement in 1909. That year, Sanford gave the University’s commencement address and was the first woman to give the address at a major university in the U.S.

Calista Smith, a student at the University who lived in Sanford Hall as a freshman in 2021, said she assumed Sanford was a man because there are few photos of Sanford in the residence hall. After learning Sanford was named after Maria Sanford, Smith said she is glad the University is taking a step toward educating people about the buildings’ namesakes.

“It’s not something monumental that the University is doing, it’s a very tiny step, but it’s still something,” Smith said.

Hope for specific changes in the next renaming round

Right now, the process for renaming is “in backwards order,” according to Johnson, with the oldest buildings being renamed first, which are about 75 years old. However, that may change as the “bad actors clause” comes into play.

Requests from those who want to rename a building because the person it’s named after was a “bad actor” – shown to be antisemitic, racist, misogynistic, to have committed murder, etc. – jump to the front of the line, Johnson said.

Some buildings, including Coffman Union, Middlebrook Hall, Coffey Hall and Nicholson Hall, did not make it into the first round of renaming but were mentioned in a task force report on building names in 2019 because their namesakes may qualify as bad actors.

Jewish University students are petitioning to rename Nicholson Hall, which was built in 1890. The building was later remodeled and named after Edward E. Nicholson, the dean of student affairs from 1917 to 1941, in 1945.

Nicholson conducted political surveillance on Jewish students, excluded them from student housing, effectively banned them from events at Coffman and hosted a campus visit from Nazi leader Hans Luther, according to research by the student organization Jewish on Campus.

“We wanted to change a very antisemitic part of the U’s history and recognize Jewish students here and create a more supportive campus environment,” said University student and member of the University’s chapter of Jewish on Campus John Grossman.

Jewish on Campus started to petition for signatures to support changing the hall’s name in October. The petition recently reached 500 signatures, and Grossman said he hopes to get 1,000.

“We’re going to be writing a letter to President Gabel and the Board of Regents and, ideally, we want to be joined by members of other Jewish student groups here at the U calling for a renaming,” Grossman said. “We thought that would be a really effective way to kind of demonstrate that respect on an institutional level for Jewish students here.”

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated several facts due to misinformation from a University source. Folwell Hall is the only non-dossiered hall. NRWG members consist of faculty, students, alumni, the University’s archivist and a University historian. The University will rename four buildings each year.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the assembly on the Morris campus. The assembly is the faculty assembly.

Clarification: A previous version of this article misstated the requirements for submitting a renaming request. There are different requirements to submit a name vs. to rename a building. A previous version of this article misstated the role of the Namings and Renamings Work Group. The group submits recommendations to the All-University Honors Committee.

The Pakistani Students Association (PSA) brought chai, cookies, henna and warm smiles to the Washington Avenue Bridge on Oct. 21.

The Chai Shai Fundraiser was one of many events University of Minnesota student groups hosted to gain recognition and raise funds since COVID-19 restrictions on their activities were lifted.

Valeed Abid, PSA co-president and a senior at the University, said while last year was a transitional year from COVID-19, this year the group is moving back to fully in-person events and working to boost attendance.

“A lot of our culture is driven by food, so it’s really hard to share virtually,” Abid said. “Even things like music and stuff like that – it’s just not the same through a laptop.”

The other PSA Co-President Ali Mashadi, now a University senior, said he already knew some of the PSA board members when he came to the University during his senior year of high school through Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) five years ago. Back then, about 100 people would attend PSA events, while only about 20 to 50 people show up now, he said.

Mashadi said he misses when more people knew about the group and its members.

“Anywhere on campus people would immediately recognize and know who you are, they would know who the group is, they would know the culture,” Mashadi said.

PSA Co-Vice President Saleha Anwar, a junior at the University, was not a member of PSA before the pandemic, but because of the group’s size, she knew who they were.

“In 2018, this group was huge and everyone knew about it and everyone knew everyone,” Anwar said. “Because of COVID-19, the group got super small.”

A small group means smaller events, which often means less funding for PSA, Mashadi said. With the pandemic limiting opportunities for in-person events and fundraisers, the group is struggling to recover during the first “back to normal” school year, Mashadi said.

“COVID-19 has significantly affected our group in financial ways and social ways and all the ways that you can think of,” Mashadi said.

Mashadi said PSA’s objective is to grow into the bigger group that people once recognized to achieve their goals of creating a safe space for Pakistani students and educating others about what makes their culture unique.

“Most definitely it is something that we still have to work on,” Mashadi said. “I will say that among the 13 board members, we tried our best before the last two events to market and to get out there.”

Other groups face similar challenges

Another cultural organization, the Taiwanese Student Society (TSS), has also faced membership and fundraising problems due to shifts in students’ interactions with campus groups following the pandemic.

TSS, which wants to increase membership to reach Taiwanese students and strengthen the relationship between Taiwan and the U.S., began meeting again in 2021 after halting the organization’s operations during the pandemic.

“Our organization lost its registered student group status, public recognition and funding opportunities,” TSS member Anson Wu said. “The new board in 2021 had to start TSS from the ground up with no experience.”

In 2017, TSS put on a night market at Coffman Union with more than 100 attendees. For similarly large events, TSS now has to collaborate with other organizations because of their small size and lack of funding.

“The main direction our organization has taken is to increase public recognition through a newly started Instagram account, collaboration with other organizations, and newsletters,” Wu said in a statement to the Minnesota Daily.

Along with TSS, PSA has worked on becoming more accessible online with a new website, Instagram page and Linktree.

Students for Reproductive Freedom (SFRF), the University’s chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action, has a different problem when it comes to accessibility. With no official member registration and only five officers, SFRF has only been able to hold officer meetings instead of their past biweekly general meetings.

Claire Jordahl, a senior who serves as an officer and SFRF’s secretary, said when she joined the group as a freshman, the group would see 50 people at their biggest annual event. That number dropped to six people this year.

During the pandemic, Jordahl said she was the only non-officer member who would attend the SFRF Zoom meetings. However, she said she cannot tell which lasting changes were caused by the pandemic.

“There’s so many options out there and since the pandemic, so many changes,” Jordahl said. She said she understands that many students are overwhelmed by other commitments and too busy for “fun things.”

At monthly events like Sex in the Dark and Cupcakes and Consent, SFRF combines fun with education about reproductive health and rights. Students ask anonymous questions to the group, either in the dark or with treats.

The best way to make a difference is to show up, Jordahl said.

“If you’re interested in this cause and you want to make a change, taking action is how you can do that,” Jordahl said.

Facing the future

Mashadi said he was proud of the attention PSA received at this year’s Chai Shai event. The group made a profit of $129.38 after spending a couple of fun hours on the bridge, he said in a statement.

“This year we’re really hoping that people get to know us more,” Anwar said.

SFRF is also looking toward the future, with plans on returning to their biweekly general meetings in the spring semester and adding more events.

“It’s fun being on student orgs,” Abid said. “I wish more people on campus joined because I feel like they don’t know what they’re missing out on.”

The AFSCME bargaining team reached an agreement with the University of Minnesota on Monday that includes a three-year contract for clerical, technical and health care workers. 

The agreement includes a $20 an hour minimum wage with the lowest paid workers to receive raises of more than $3 an hour along with market adjustments for technical and health care job classifications. For the second and third years on the contract, there will be a 4% cost of living increase. 

“We are thrilled to report we have reached a tentative agreement on a contract that is the best we have achieved regarding wages in 20 years,” AFSCME administrative worker Rachel Katkar said in an email to the Minnesota Daily. 

AFSCME went into bargaining with the University Nov. 1. 

Along with wage increases, the University will add Juneteenth as an additional paid holiday for 2023 and 2024. It is expected to be added to the University’s academic calendar in 2025, leaving Juneteenth as an additional paid holiday for all University employees instead of just AFSCME workers. 

In the racial equity portion of the contract, AFSCME workers can now take paid time off to participate in tribal elections, and there will be an augmentation for bilingual workers from 35 cents to 50 cents in the health care contract. 

Additional agreements include terms related to remote work, employee benefits and vacation requests. 

A union representing University of Minnesota healthcare, clerical and technical workers went into bargaining with the University on Nov. 1, hoping to raise wages and create a more equitable working environment.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3800 has been picketing at the University, demanding a three dollar an hour wage increase among other contract changes. Members held a Halloween picket on Oct. 31 in front of Morrill Hall to call out the “web of lies” they say the University has spun over the months-long bargaining process.

“I think that unfortunately what we’ve seen over time is that the University doesn’t give people what they deserve; we have to demand it from them,” AFSCME administrative worker Rachel Katkar said.

At the Oct. 13 Board of Regents meeting, Katkar explained the union’s demands for their next contract:

• a wage increase that keeps up with inflation
• additional pay for workers who offer bilingual translation services
• commitment from the University that Juneteenth is made a holiday for staff
• a commitment to the right for Native American workers to take paid time off to vote in tribal elections

Teamsters Local 320, the University’s union for facility workers and custodial staff, voted to go on strike Oct. 24, but called it off after the University agreed to many of their demands, including raising their minimum wage to $20 per hour.

AFSCME and Teamsters have collaborated and supported each other throughout their bargaining processes, Katkar said. Seeing Teamsters succeed in their negotiations has given some AFSCME workers hope.

“We’re taking note,” Katkar said. “We support each other. We’ve attended some of their rallies and they’ve attended some of ours.”

Contract negotiations and bargaining

The University’s AFSCME contracts, which include the AFSCME Clerical and Office Contract union, AFSCME Health Care Contract and AFSCME Technical Contract, expired June 30.

Katkar said AFSCME and the University filed for mediation in September, which means there are concerns from either side that require bringing in a mediator.

“They couldn’t move forward on a lot of our requests even though it’s their job and that’s what they’re supposed to do,” Katkar said.

According to Katkar, the union saw significant advancement in the University’s proposals when bargaining sessions started again on Nov.1 and are hopeful negotiations will continue to progress.

Katkar said the University will send Vice President for Human Resources Ken Horstman and Labor Relations Director Mani Vang to the bargaining table on Nov. 4. These are people with actual decision-making power, according to Katkar.

“We will continue to bargain in good faith with our labor represented employees,” a University spokesperson said in an email statement to The Minnesota Daily. “The work of AFSCME members is valued by the University and we hope to quickly reach an agreement.”

Katkar declined to comment on if the union will strike if their demands are not met after mediation, but she and other AFSCME workers said they are willing to go on strike if necessary.

“Our biggest bargaining chip is our labor,” Katkar said. “I don’t want to strike, but I would do it if that’s what it takes in order for the University to pay attention.”

Deb Pavlica, a Boynton Health nurse and active AFSCME member, described the workers as the foundation of the University, and if their needs are not met, the issues they face will try to be covered up like “frosting on naked cake.”

“That’s kind of how I look at us,” Pavlica said. “All of us being necessary and absolutely the most important part of any business is the foundation, and if that’s not solid, the rest of it is either a bunch of deception and cover up trying to pretend everything is fine, or it’s a management that is not effectively leading.”

A wage increase to keep up with inflation

When asked about wages, AFSCME bargaining committee member Jack Smith’s simple answer was “just pay us more.”

An AFSCME survey was sent out to all employees in mid-March before bargaining. Katkar said the most common feedback was that wages were a big concern for employees.

In the survey, many workers discussed the inability to afford a big enough living space or live without a roommate, to start a family and or to attain higher education, even with the Regent’s Scholarship that currently covers 75% of employees’ tuition.

“It would be cool if I never had to sell all my blood plasma to feel like I was keeping up,” Smith said.

With the current U.S. inflation rate around 8%, AFSCME workers said wage increases have failed to keep up, and they increasingly struggle to afford living costs. AFSCME has pitched a three dollars an hour increase in wages for all members, according to Katkar.

Max Vast, AFSCME’s vice president for organizing, explained their rate of pay has stayed the same since the last time the union went on strike in 2007. Vast said if the University had been adjusting Vast’s pay for inflation, they would now be making an estimated $13,100 more than they currently do as a College of Education and Human Development executive officer and administrator specialist.

“So many of us believe in working here,” Vast said. “It’s so frustrating to feel so undervalued.”

Pavlica and Vast discussed the University’s unwillingness to raise union wages, while others, like President Joan Gabel and head football coach P.J. Fleck, received significant increases last year.

“They’re taking away union jobs and then paying more money to people who are doing the same or less work, and they’re giving us more work and less money,” Vast said.

Making racial justice issues heard

In addition to wage increases, AFSCME is asking for union members to be able to take Juneteenth off as a paid holiday and the ability for Native American workers to receive paid time off to vote in tribal elections.

Juneteenth is the celebrated remembrance of the ending of slavery in the United States and was made a federal holiday in 2021. According to a recent AFSCME petition, the representatives of the University “have repeatedly and publicly committed to making Juneteenth a University holiday,” but their bargaining team said it will “depend on the outcome of negotiations.”

Teamsters were successful in their bargaining to get Juneteenth off as a paid holiday for the first two years of their contract. The third year of the contract will include a re-evaluation to see if the regents recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday.

According to Katkar, between AFSCME and Teamsters, many union workers of color feel the University is not accommodating their needs.

Katkar said her Native American coworkers have not been granted paid time off to vote in their tribal elections either.

According to University policy, “employees are eligible for a paid leave of absence to vote in any state-held general election, primary special election, and special primary.” There is no mention in the policy about paid leave for workers who belong to a tribal nation being able to take time off to vote in their tribal elections.

“Why are we even making land acknowledgements if we’re not even going to let them vote?” Katkar said.

According to Pavlica, when union members asked the University to guarantee the right for the tribe members to vote, the University repeatedly gave excuses, asking for data on how many people would be affected by the change and would be voting.

“In my world, I thought it was all a ‘Sviggumism’ when the lead negotiator said, ‘How many of them are there?’” Pavlica said, referring to Regent Steve Sviggum’s questioning if lower enrollment on the University of Minnesota-Morris’s campus is caused by an increasingly diverse student body.

Women from every era of the University Marching Band returned to the University of Minnesota to celebrate those who first fought to join 50 years ago.

On Friday the University hosted a tour of Huntington Bank Stadium and the marching band facility, invited alumni to watch a marching band rehearsal and presented historical videos and photos dating back to before women were first included in the marching band.

After, a panel of seven band alumni discussed the legacy and trials of those who fought to participate before Title IX prohibited any sex-based discrimination at federally funded schools and universities in 1972.
“I’m really grateful to have these people who have worked so hard and gotten to a place where I can feel welcome,” said Eleanor Muzzy, a senior baritone player in the marching band.

When women first joined the band in 1972, the band did not provide enough uniforms for them, so many were limited to being dancers and flag holders, according to Emily Threinen, the University’s director of bands.

The following year, with redesigned uniforms for both the men and women, Vicky Teich, a freshman at the time, marched along with about 30 other women who joined the 200-strong band. Teich admitted she had a lot to learn when she first started.

“I didn’t know beans about marching,” Teich said. “I was the cat’s pajamas in my little town, but once I got to the University, I didn’t even know the difference between a B flat and an F scale.”

Along with about 200 other female marching band alumni and their families, Teich went onto the football field during Saturday’s game to be honored during the halftime show.

“I almost cried,” said Maggie Hermanson, a junior clarinet player who played in the halftime show. “It was really great music, it was a great message, there were tons of people on the field. Definitely the best halftime I feel like we’ve had this year.”

Ariel Huntsinger, another clarinet player, hadn’t realized before hearing about the anniversary celebration that only a few decades ago, women were not allowed to be band members.

“Something that’s really great is that now it doesn’t feel like anything special,” Huntsinger said. “There’s no special connotation behind it. We are all just another member of the band.”

Threinen, as the director of bands and a music professor, sees things a little differently as someone who has worked in the music industry since she graduated from the University in 1999. She said in the past, she has faced concerns that she was hired for certain roles just because she is a woman.

“Right now, the question that I ask myself in my own professional career — because a lot of programs and institutions are sensitive to identity and gender politics — is did I actually earn this?” Threinen said.

However, Threinen said she has never seen or heard about gender-based bias over her last seven years leading the University’s bands.

Claire Pitrof, a sophomore leader of the trumpet section, said she is proud to have the power to help create an inclusive environment for all people in the marching band.

“It’s been a really cool experience to go through and make the band a more comfortable space for women,” Pitrof said. “It makes me very grateful for the women who kind of pioneered it and went through that initial period of time where they had to advocate for their equal participation.”

Although Pitrof said she has had a positive experience in the band since she joined last year, she still feels more equal representation is needed in higher leadership positions like drum major or block captains.

“It is still pretty male-dominated, so there definitely are times and events in the band and in our section where I feel a little bit out of place or like my leadership isn’t taken as well as some of the male leadership,” Pitrof said.

One of the more recent milestones for women in the marching band was the 2016 appointment of Betsy McCann as the first female marching band director in the Big Ten Conference.

“How lucky we are to have McCann as the leader of our band and Threinen as our director of bands,” Pitrof said. “To see not only that we are making progress, but that we have women in charge in physical positions to show that change has been made in the last 50 years.”

Since fungal growth was confirmed at the 17th Avenue Residence Hall Oct. 4, the University of Minnesota’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS) has been working to remove mold and inspect other campus residence halls.

Some students living in 17th Avenue have reported getting sick from mold exposure in the dorm. While the University said it is working to prevent fungal growths from returning, students have not received a refund. But accommodations have been made to help students during mold removal.

Madeline Behfar, a first-year student living at 17th Avenue, said she and her roommate have felt sick since moving into the dorm, which she suspects was due to mold exposure. Although Behfar didn’t find any mold in her room, she suspects it may be in her shared bathroom and the study rooms.

Mold removal is ongoing, University says

“They’ve acknowledged it,” Behfar said. “I think they’re trying to stay on top of it, but it seems like it’s a pretty big problem.”

Every room in 17th Avenue will be inspected and vents with mold cleaned out, Jake Ricker, the University’s director of public relations, said in an email to the Minnesota Daily. Mold has been found and removed in approximately 116 rooms as of Thursday.

Rooms are being prioritized for remediation based on earlier inspection results and any known risk factors of individual residents.

First-year University student and 17th Avenue resident Josie Wise said several of her friends discovered thick black mold covering their vents.

However, Wise doesn’t blame the University for the problem.

“I think they’re doing what they can,” Wise said. “They’re sending in people to clean them out. If you submit something saying your room has mold, people have been on my floor like every day the past couple of weeks.”

DEHS also conducted spot checks for fungal growth in other University buildings and residence halls since discovering mold at 17th Avenue.

Built in 2013, 17th Avenue is one of the newest dorms on campus and can house as many as 600 students. Students pay $3,652 per semester for a double room.

In an email statement, Ricker said no students have been refunded, but accommodations have been made to help student residents during the mold removal.

Students still concerned about effects of mold on their health

The mold found in the residence hall is Cladosporium sphaerospermum, one of the three most common types of mold found indoors, according to a health guidance from the University. Common symptoms of exposure include coughing or wheezing, congestion or runny nose, sore throat and itchy or watery eyes.

Mold needs three things to grow: moderate temperature, nutrients such as food, wood or dust particles and most critically, moisture.

Mold grows in vents as the cold air is pushed out and condensation forms, creating the moisture that mold needs to grow. Many vents can also contain those nutrients such as dust or food particles that could easily attract mold.

According to an article from Medical News Today, most types of Cladosporium mold do not cause serious health concerns but can lead to allergies, breathing problems and, in rare cases, infections.

People with untreated mold allergies and prolonged exposure can develop allergic fungal sinusitis, a disease characterized by long-term nasal congestion and recurring sinus headaches.

Many athletes live at 17th Avenue because of its close proximity to several athletic facilities such as the University Recreation and Wellness Center, the Field House, tennis, volleyball and hockey facilities. Some student athletes have felt especially concerned about the effects of mold exposure, as their health impacts their ability to perform in their sport.

“The athletes kind of need to be around here,” Carly Gladieux, a first-year student and resident of 17th Avenue and freshman on the University’s women’s rowing team, said. “It’s kind of impossible for us to get to 6 a.m. practices if we’re going to be moved from here. Where else do we go?”

The baseball team paid for their players to spend two weeks at the Graduate Hotel while their rooms were cleaned. However, other athletes had to make their own accommodations to avoid mold exposure. Some dance members and cheerleaders moved temporarily into friends’ apartments, Gladieux said.

Gladieux said the women’s basketball team temporarily moved into Radius, an off-campus University-operated apartment and found mold present in the vents there as well.

According to Ricker, the University removed the mold growth at Radius and believes it is an isolated incident.

Students with concerns or those who have identified fungal growth in any location inside a residence hall should submit a Fix It ticket to have the problem addressed as soon as possible.
If you experience symptoms of mold exposure, the University health guidance recommends contacting Boynton Health’s Nurse Line at 612-625-7900.