Regent Steve Sviggum announced Tuesday his resignation from his position of vice chair on the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents. 

Sviggum plans to stay on the board for the remainder of his term, which ends in spring 2023.  

“It’s a good start, but now we need to elect a regent of color into his position,” former regent Michael Hsu said. “There must have been an immense amount of pressure internally for him to have stepped down.” 

His resignation comes less than two weeks after he questioned the diversity at the University of Minnesota-Morris. 

The comments arose during Interim Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen’s presentation about the MPact 2025 goal for Morris at the board’s October meeting. She discussed the campus’ declining enrollment numbers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In response to the low enrollment numbers, Sviggum said, “Is it possible that at Morris we’ve become too diverse?”

Sviggum stated he asked this question based on a letter and a phone call from parents concerned their children won’t be attending Morris because they would not feel comfortable due to the increased diversity. 

Since this meeting, numerous groups including the Morris Campus Student Association, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME) and the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors group, have called on him to either resign from his vice chair position or from the board entirely. 

In a letter to the chair of the board, Ken Powell, Sviggum stated he realized he had to resign from his leadership position on the board after their meeting on Saturday. 

“I owe that position to my colleagues who have shown disapproval in my actions,” Sviggum said in the letter. “I do so humbly and thoughtfully, with knowledge that the success of the University of Minnesota is the most important focus and is much more important than any one person or position.” 

Regents James Farnsworth and Mike Kenynaya have denounced Sviggum’s comments, agreeing that his resignation is the right move. 

Regent Kenyanya released a statement last Thursday in response to Sviggum’s comments. 

“The problem with asking if Morris is “too diverse” is that it means you think the answer could be yes,” Kenyanya said in his statement. “It implies that while we might welcome Black, Asian, Latino, or Native American students, there can only be so many.” 

Kenyanya also shared in his statement that after a brief correspondence with Sviggum, it made it “abundantly clear” to him that Sviggum had not changed his initial position. 

In an email sent to the whole board last Thursday, Sviggum said, “not to double down, and certainly not to back off from my apology of yesterday, but I think you should be aware of this email.” 

He attached an email from a parent he received that morning. In the message, the parent established their support for Sviggum. 

“You’re on the right track. Please don’t back down. We’re with you,” the parent said. 

In 2012, Sviggum stepped down from the board after other members questioned a possible conflict of interest between his position as a regent and his involvement in the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus. The state Legislature re-elected Sviggum to the board in 2017. 

Following protests in Iran, University of Minnesota students and community members gathered in front of Coffman Union on Sept. 22 to mourn the death of a 22-year-old woman and denounce the Islamic regime in Iran’s brutality toward its citizens.

Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini, died on Sept. 16 after Iran’s morality police arrested her for a dress code violation in Tehran. Iranian authorities claimed Amini had a stroke while in custody and died three days later in a hospital.

A medical professional from a southern province of Iran rejected authorities’ claims and instead stated that a blow to the head was likely Amini’s cause of death, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a media company funded by the U.S. government. Protests broke out in Iran in response to Amini’s death, and as of Sept. 30, at least 52 people have been killed, according to Amnesty International.

Organized by the Persian Student Organization of Minnesota (PSOM), the vigil offered a space for people to remember Amini as well as a platform to stand with protesters in Iran to oppose the Islamic regime’s treatment of citizens. People gathered around a poster surrounded by flowers and candles that stated “Justice for Mahsa.”

“The Islamic Republic has been silencing, murdering, arresting and discriminating against human rights of the Iranian people for a very long time,” Faraz Samavat, a University graduate student, said in an interview after the vigil. “Usually what happens is that it doesn’t get very much media coverage from outside of Iran. That really helps the regime to suppress the voice, but now it’s a different case.”

Holding up a phone to a megaphone, organizers played Persian songs about unity and hope, including “Sharghi e Ghamgin,” which means “the sad easterner” in English by Fereydoun Farrokhzad. According to Samavat, the song is about maintaining hope in times of sadness by looking forward to a better future.

Organizers led attendees in chants used by protesters in Iran, including “women, life, freedom” and “death to the Islamic Republic.”

“We are here to show that we are against the brutality and the Islamic Regime,” Narges Majed, 26, said while addressing the vigil attendees. “Everytime something like this happens, we get more motivated to do something about it.”

In Iran, students are taking part in the protests in large numbers. In response, authorities are detaining many of them.

University student, Yasmine Tabrizi, 19, told vigil attendees about the detainment of her friend, who is a student in Iran. At the time of the vigil, her friend’s family did not know where he was, Tabrizi said.

“It makes me sad that I can’t be with my people,” Tabrizi said. “Even when we are so far away, we need to be united.”

In an interview with the Minnesota Daily on Tuesday, University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel addressed the launch of Dinkytown Alerts and the Sept. 21 bomb threat at Coffman Union.

Gabel also broke down her biennial budget proposal, current updates on the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) and how the University is addressing COVID-19 this semester.

Amidst increasing concerns of crime in the neighborhoods surrounding campus, the University announced Dinkytown alerts to help inform students about crime in the area. How is this different from other actions the University has taken in the past? How do you think it will impact the safety of students?

“The challenge that we’ve had with the increase in crime in adjacent neighborhoods is that they feel like campus, but they are not our technical jurisdiction and that affects where we would deploy UMPD…We’re trying to meet our community where they are within our constrained resources and jurisdictional limitations. Dinkytown Alerts is a new way for us to do that.

It is a service that we are offering because we’ve been asked to by students, but also by faculty, staff and parents. It is dependent upon us receiving notification from the City of Minneapolis about what’s going on. We’re very committed to this comprehensive approach to information so that anyone in the adjacent neighborhood might find themselves having full information and can make their decisions accordingly.”

At the September Board of Regents meeting, UMPD Chief Matt Clark informed the board that 50 of the 65 potential positions on UMPD are currently filled, resulting in strained staffing numbers. He also mentioned this weakens the department’s ability to address crime off campus, where many students reside. How does the University plan to alleviate concerns of crime off-campus, aside from Dinkytown Alerts?

“UMPD staffing is historically around 51 [officers]. We recently approved an increase to 65. So while our staffing numbers are down, it’s important to know that 65 was a growth number that we’re working toward. Part of the reason why we need extra police officers is because we have committed to supporting other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Before we saw this uptick in crime, UMPD would have been ready to assist, and now they are on regular patrol in the adjacent neighborhoods. We’re also doing things that have a deterrent effect, increased lighting, which we do in partnership with the city, and also increased blue lights. The last thing we’ve done that we think is really important is we’ve hired community safety ambassadors, and we’re in the process of hiring more. We also hired a social worker, and so those are unarmed members of the police department who help with information and respond to calls that may not be an emergency, but that are still very important.”

Last May, the campus mask requirement was lifted and since then, other campus COVID-19 policies have been loosened. Do you think students should still be concerned about COVID-19 now that many of these restrictions have been lifted? Does the University have a formalized plan in place if we see a spike in COVID-19 cases in the future? If so, what would it look like?

“COVID is a part of our lives, there are still cases and it is still mutating. I do think that students should be concerned and careful. But as the virus mutates, and as we get better with vaccines, the way in which it restricts our lives diminishes. The decisions we’ve made around masking reflect where the risk lies, it’s all based on data and alignment with state and federal public health guidance.

Things look quite good from a data point of view, but if things increase again, the way all of that works is through what we call the Emergency Management Policy Committee, which is, as the name indicates, in policy to be impaneled when we reach a state of emergency. We are still tracking data, we’re still monitoring guidance, and if the circumstances change, we will pivot like we have all along.”

At the last Board meeting you presented your biennial budget request that will put funds toward things including Promise Program scholarships and public safety at the University. How did you decide to allocate funding to these programs? Do you plan on making amends to the request after hearing what the regents had to say about it? If so, in what ways?

“We have not amended the budget request. The process of preparing a budget is a highly consultative process. We talked to student government leadership, staff leadership, faculty leadership, the senior leadership team of the University, the chancellors from the campuses across the system and the Board.

It reflects inflation, which is hitting us all really hard. We generally seek support from the state in the places where we think the state’s investment most directly benefits the state as a whole. Ultimately, it’s the board’s budget, and they can amend before they vote to approve, and we would obviously work with whatever the collective wisdom of the board suggests that we bring to the state.”

Vice Chair of the Board Steve Sviggum expressed concern about the cost of your proposed biennial budget and how it may lead to increases in student tuition due to poor cost savings. Do you believe that this is a possible outcome? Have you considered the possibility of increased tuition, and if so, do you have a plan to address it?

“What I heard from Regent Sviggum during the meeting was that if the state doesn’t provide the support to meet all of these costs, his back of the napkin calculation was a big increase in tuition. We’re very committed to keeping tuition low. Over the course of the last 10 years, the average tuition increase has been a percent and a half, and three of those 10 years had no tuition increase at all.

So that’s not to say that tuition is not a huge financial burden. But I do see costs going up. And we only have so many ways of addressing those cost increases. So we’re very hopeful that the state will support our request, that will help a lot in keeping tuition as low as possible.”

On Sept. 21, Coffman Union was evacuated for about two hours after receiving a bomb threat. What do you think of the situation? How do you think the University handled it?

“I’m very grateful to UMPD; I think they handled it very well. All appropriate emergency response steps were taken, a lot of very clear communication occurred. It doesn’t mean that people were not distressed as a result of it. The fact that had happened in the first place is very upsetting and very unsettling. I hope that the person involved is getting assistance, and I’m very sorry that it scared our community the way that it did.”

“Here they are,” local artist Sara Hanson said as she held up a metal cast of a pair of dress shoes, weighing over 5 pounds. “These were made by a formerly incarcerated man to symbolize his future business aspirations.”

Standing in the middle of the Mobile Metal Lab, an old Metro Transit bus remodeled into a metal workshop, Hanson showed off various sculptures made by past guests of the bus amongst the large sand molds, toy capsule vending machines and workbenches stacked with metal working tools.

As a working artist since the early 2000s, Hanson, who specializes in metal working, has left a mark on the Twin Cities. Collaborations with organizations like the Interact Center and the Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning have made art more accessible to many different communities in the area.

After receiving a bachelors of fine arts with a focus in metal casting from the University of Minnesota in 2001, Hanson began teaching art around the Twin Cities. In 2005, Hanson said she realized a need for increased accessibility in the Twin Cities art world, so she purchased a truck and trailer to start the W.O.W. Mobile Metal Lab.

“My idea at that time was to be able to bring the cast metal process into communities and do similar projects that were about their visions and ability to be a participant in the whole process to share them with a broader audience,” Hanson said.

In 2018, Hanson used loans and grants to purchase an old Metro Transit bus, the current vehicle in use. Hanson renovated the bus to include 14 work stations, running water and foundries for visitors to make metal creations.

While the bus’ homebase is outside of Hanson’s workspace, the Bio Scenic Earth Laboratory at the Casket Arts Factory in Northeast Minneapolis, it frequently makes trips to schools, community centers, parks and even Austin, Minnesota, where Hanson helped city officials construct a metal tree with individual leaves.

“Traditionally, art is for a certain group of people and that often makes it inaccessible, off putting or makes people think ‘that’s for someone else,’” Alyssa Baguss, artist and arts programming coordinator of Three Rivers Park District, said. “But everyone is familiar with buses, which drops that barrier down. If I’m going into a museum or going into a gallery, it’s a different experience, but stepping onto the bus is welcoming and a little weird.”

Foundry and metal pouring may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of teaching art to novices, including seven-year-olds and senior citizens, but Hanson is molding that narrative. Using forms of metal working from carving cuttle fish bone molds to pouring hot metal into rubber casts provides a better understanding of how things are formed and what the different states of elements can look like.

“Metal pouring is not a super common medium that not many people have access to, and Sara brings that opportunity to different communities,” Marta Sorenson, one of the Mobile Metal Lab’s workers, said. “There is something different about creating something unmovable, heavy and strong — something that can’t easily be taken away after it’s been created. That opportunity to create a metal object or piece is valuable to everyone, especially those with less access to art.”

Constructing the bus was just one obstacle, driving the thing through the busy metro area was another.

“When I got the bus, I thought ‘this is never gonna happen.’ I’ll have to hire somebody to drive it,” Hanson said. “But now I do it alone. It’s my most proud thing, and I feel so empowered. I feel like this is a reflection of how casting metal can be empowering. Like transforming metal and realizing that you did that with your hands.”

Looking at Hanson, it’s hard not to relive memories of the beloved, genius and eccentric teacher from “The Magic School Bus.”

“She’s kind of like Miss Frizzle,” Baguss said. “Sara’s empowered and independent, which flips the narrative on how foundry is usually associated with men. She’s doing it, and I find it inspiring.”

On the third floor of The Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Studio 900 in downtown Minneapolis, an intimate and eager crowd awaited the start of Patrick Scully’s show on July 16.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Twin Cities Pride,” Scully said. “I knew of enough queer performers through my own cabarets and the Hennepin Theatre Trust to include many people from all corners of our community into our show tonight.”

Playing a key role in the Minneapolis performing arts scene as a modern dancer since the 1970s, Scully used his cabaret shows to create a platform for LGBTQ performers through decades of marginalization.

Originally majoring in biology at the University of Minnesota, Scully quickly changed his course after taking a modern dance class, thus setting the stage for his post-grad future. What later began as a show to present his own work alongside his friends in 1986,snowballed into a famous performing hub named “Patrick’s Cabaret.”

“Fifty years ago, there wasn’t a queer performing arts community. There were queer people, but it was rare that they brought their sexual identity into their performance on stage,” Scully said in a separate interview. “While I was mainly a performer, I developed a knack for sharing a show, putting together something special to offer people, especially the LGBTQ community.”

Local pianist and vocalist Lori Dokken has followed a parallel path to Scully’s since the 1980s, from playing at the long gone Gay 90s piano bar to producing shows performed at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. On Saturday night, Dokken performed a soul rendition of “Closer to Fine” by the Indigo Girls.

“Patrick’s Cabaret was a big thing in the ‘80s through the ‘90s and was an important place for LGBTQ performers,” Dokken said in a separate interview. “During my first Pride here in 1982, people were celebrating, but it was nothing like it is today. People had to be more secretive and didn’t want to be seen.”

By choreographing and dancing around the Twin Cities after graduating from the University in 1976, Scully is one of the artists who helped usher queer representations into the Minneapolis arts scene. Career highlights include taking part in the first showcase of Minnesota LGBTQ performers and artists in the 1980s, putting together numerous performances that highlight his experiences living as an openly gay, HIV positive man and selling out the Guthrie Theater in 2019 with his show inspired by Walt Whitman titled “Leaves of Grass.”

“Creative people first imagine something else and better, audiences are hungry for that,” Scully said in a separate interview.

Coming out in 1972, Scully didn’t have the exposure to the same queer representation in arts and media that younger generations have today, pushing him to change that.

Beyond advocating for the LQBTQ community on stage, Scully took legal action against and confronted multiple organizations, including the Twin Cities Reader, the YMCA and the Science Museum of Minnesota in the ‘80s and ‘90s for homophobic treatment and actions.

“The other day I watched the show, ‘Heartstopper’ on Netflix featuring young love between two gay teenagers. I thought about what my world would have been like if I had gotten to see a TV show like that,” Scully said in a separate interview. “I feel like the work that artists have been part of through Patrick’s Cabaret has and will continue to make space for more space for people to live their lives on their own terms.”

Closing out the July 16th show, Apocalypse Theatre went on to perform original songs, each one getting progressively louder, as Scully handed out earplugs. The performers ended the night playing a punk rendition of “Come Together” by the Beatles, jumping around stage as they shredded on their guitars and waved around a giant Pride flag.

“There’s something about the intensity of being onstage, making it up as I go along and staying true to myself as I’m doing it. For me, it’s a metaphor for life,” Scully said in a separate interview. “It’s also the joy of being able to make a difference, and helping people live as their true selves.”

On Tuesday, July 19, the Bell Museum welcomed a traveling installation, “Gaia,” as a part of the museum’s 150th anniversary lineup.

“Gaia,” which measures 23 feet in diameter, is an inflatable and internally lit replication of the Earth designed by U.K. artist Luke Jerram. Now hanging from the ceiling of Horizon Hall at the museum, “Gaia” welcomes visitors and draws the attention of drivers on Larpenteur Avenue.

About 1.8 million times smaller than the Earth’s actual size, Jerram created “Gaia” to help visitors experience the overview effect, which is the change in the perception and psychology of astronauts as they look down at our planet during their flights into space. Visitors are able to walk the 360 degree circumference as ambient music by composer Dan Jones plays, sprinkled with children talking about climate change and the lonely beeps of a space shuttle over an ethereal track.

“The closest thing we get to seeing what astronauts see is maybe by scrolling on Google Earth,” Holly Menninger, the Bell’s director of public engagement and science learning, said. “‘Gaia’ helps them recognize how precious and fragile our planet is.”

The Bell and Jerram first became connected in 2019 when the museum showcased his installation “The Museum of the Moon” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Primarily being shown in Europe, the Bell is the first museum in the Upper Midwest to host “Gaia,” Menninger said.

Continuing his pattern of planetary installations, Jerram created “Gaia” to give visitors a more in-depth understanding of the urgency needed to combat the climate crisis.

This summer especially has exhibited the dangerously-high temperatures and abnormally frequent natural disasters associated with the climate crisis.

“It [‘Gaia’] makes me realize how small I am. I’m worried about the way it is going to change over time,” Emily Wagner, an exhibit visitor, said as she gazed up at the massive globe.

On opening day, Menninger overheard a child talking to their mom, asking where the lines of the countries were on the globe.

“To take the time to recognize the Earth as a whole when there’s so much conflict and strife on the planet, and to have that moment of connection and unity with the rest of the world, I think is really important,” said Menninger.

For better viewing of “Gaia,” the Bell is extending its hours on Thursdays to 10 p.m., offering an opportunity for visitors to see the museum after dark. On Aug. 4, there will be a nighttime telescope showing from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Bell’s Big Rivers Garden.

Along with the installation, the Bell’s planetarium is offering a specialized planetarium show, “Atlas of a Changing Earth.” It shows visitors how global warming is impacting the Earth, using imaging from space that shows melting glaciers and shrinking coastlines among other crises.

After its stay at the Bell, “Gaia” will continue its journey through showings at churches, museums and in outdoor spaces around the world. As for now, it will be at the Bell through Aug. 14.

Who knew the joke sparked by moms on Facebook, “go to Target to pick up a few things, but leave having spent $200,” would remain painfully true.

As Minnesota’s famous one-stop shop for nearly every human need, Target is a prime source of, in an odd way, comfort. With inflation and supply-chain issues, shopping trips have quickly complexified — but fear not, Twin Cities shoppers, those who intend on keeping a closet full of Wild Fable and a pantry stocked with Good & Gather still benefit from a variety of nearby options.

After a concerningly deep dive into Yelp and Google reviews, asking the opinions of many Twin Cities Target shoppers and personal experience with running around to almost all of the locations in the metro area, here is a closer look into some of the area’s local Targets.

Dinkytown Target
Location: 1329 5th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
One of the most established landmarks in Dinkytown is, for better or worse, the Dinkytown Target. Built specifically for University of Minnesota students, this location is technically express-sized but still offers some necessities. Considering that the Dinky Target is one of the only grocery stores in the University area’s food desert, there aren’t nearly as many grocery options as there should be. Another low point is the eyebrow-raising expenses imposed on often-broke, often-carless students. All of that aside, the Dinky Target’s accessibility is unmatched for students, and it serves as a handy reference point when describing any area within a four-block radius of the store.

Downtown
Location: 900 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Perhaps the least traditional Target in the cities, the downtown location is a whole experience. Walking into an open atrium at the entrance, riding escalators and having access to the Minneapolis skywalk system definitely alters the classic Target experience. Although it is well-stocked and organized, the double floor layout can be confusing if you are in a rush. Even if you take the short bus ride from campus or manage to park in the Target garage, this location is catered toward the office drones who roam the skywalks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so the Downtown Target closes its doors at an inconvenient 6 p.m.

Lake Street Target:
Location: 2500 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Recently remodeled in late 2020, the Lake Street Target has a varied reputation. Civil unrest following George Floyd’s murder in May 2020 brought this Target into national headlines and Twitter memes before a temporary closure due to extreme damages. Even before the closure, this store had multiple complaints of disorganization and minor chaos. Using the recent reopening in November 2020 to regain its footing, the Lake Street Target recruited local artists to cover the outside in vibrant murals, rebuilt an open grocery section shrouded in natural light and improved the floor layout. With a well-stocked grocery section, fewer crowds and close proximity to public transportation, the Lake Street Target may pleasantly surprise you.

Quarry Target
Location: 1650 New Brighton Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55413
It felt like a given to start with the infamous Quarry Target due to its size and proximity to the University. Shopping at this Target is like asking for Sprite and getting Sierra Mist: close enough, but not as good as the original. The Quarry Target’s reputation for being perennially picked over and understocked is in part due to its location in a heavily populated area. The recent renovation, however, only complicated the issue these last couple of months. With tampons placed by the children’s shoes, a relocated Starbucks and a haphazard grocery area, it’s stressful just trying to pick up a few essentials without getting lost. All hope’s not lost quite yet for the Quarry Target. New elements of the renovation will include a new boutique-like beauty section and more personal checkout stations.

St. Louis Park Target
Location: 3601 MN-100, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Definitely worth the 20-minute drive from campus, the St. Louis Park Target achieves hidden gem status through its well-stocked shelves, minimal crowds and overall consistency. No, it’s not as big as other Super Targets in the Twin Cities, but the St. Louis Park Target wins bonus points for its proximity to Trader Joe’s and a Half Priced Books.

T1: Roseville Location
Location: 1515 County Road B W Roseville, MN 55113
Opening its doors in 1962 as the first Target ever, the Roseville location, cleverly nicknamed “T1,” is a hub for both city and suburban shoppers. Although this Target is a 15-minute drive from the University campus, its size and selection make up for it. As a Super Target, this location has more variety, a separate liquor section and a Starbucks. The grocery section is its best trait, containing a deli, a bakery and a large produce selection. Because of its established history and wider product diversity, T1’s one glaring downside is the overwhelming crowds.

University Avenue Target
Location: 1300 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
Not as close, but definitely bigger than the Quarry location, the University Avenue Target is one of the best options available to University students. Sitting on the light rail’s green line, the University Avenue Target is surprisingly well organized and not too picked over. It’s a Super Target, so expect a Starbucks, a separate liquor store and an extended grocery section in addition to optical services. The home goods section steals the show at this location, where items like ultra-soft blankets and vibrant mugs are more abundant than in other stores. The only area consistently lacking is the dry goods aisle in the grocery section, where they’re almost always clean out of instant meals and spices.

This inaugural week of Five Favorites features Parker Fox, the University of Minnesota basketball player who has built a name around Dinkytown on anticipation alone. Parker, a forward on the team, garnered national attention during his time at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota before joining the Gophers.

Since then a pair of knee injuries have seriously impeded his time on the court but not his endorsement deals, most notably a tater tot dish at Sally’s Saloon. Unsurprisingly, Fox enjoys plenty more than sports and fried food, including a certain basketball-obsessed rapper. Here is Fox’s five favorites:
1. Favorite song?
“‘Jimmy Cooks’ by Drake. He is my favorite artist because he has songs for all different types of moods. The song has a feature with 21 Savage, who is also one of my favorite rappers.”

2. Favorite local restaurant?
“Crisp and Green. I like to make my own bowl, but I also love the açaí bowls that they have now. It is conveniently located in Dinkytown, and I am able to stop there quickly for lunch a lot.”

3. Favorite movie?
“‘Stand by Me’ is my favorite and has been for a while. It’s a feel-good movie that always puts me in good spirits.”

4. Favorite social media platform?
“Instagram or TikTok. I love Instagram because I have had it for the longest, and I love following my friends and interacting with them through the platform. I’ve enjoyed TikTok recently because it’s new and fun and I am able to make videos without it being too serious and have fun with it.”

5. Favorite bathroom on campus?
“Locker room bathroom because it’s where I spend the most time and where we as a team are because of practice.”

“I never thought I would be able to play First Avenue again,” said Michelle Zauner, the 33-year-old lead singer of Japanese Breakfast, as she caught her breath in between songs. “Last time I was here, I cried in the parking lot for an hour because the concert didn’t go as well as I wanted it to. This show is definitely a redemption.”

On July 11, less than a year after Zauner cried in the parking lot, Japanese Breakfast played a sold out show at First Avenue once again, this time with the help of teen band openers The Linda Lindas.

The Linda Lindas, a Southern Californian punk-rock band consisting of four tween and teen girls, are drawing the attention from listeners of all ages as they usher in a new generation of music. After initially forming in 2018, the band rose to popularity with a viral video of them performing their song called “Racist, Sexist Boy,” in the Los Angeles Central Library last year. “Racist, Sexist Boy” was written after one band member experienced racist comments from a fellow student before the COVID-19 lockdown in the spring of 2020 due to her Chinese heritage.

At an 18+ show, the large number of kids in attendance with their parents to watch the opener was noteworthy, arriving all decked out in cat ears and Linda Lindas shirts.

Rob and Sherri Shellman brought their 8-year-old daughter, Maggie, to see her first concert.

“The Linda Lindas’ music is a big part of our family,” said Rob Shellman, 45. “My daughter could not be more excited to be here right now.”

As they took the stage, Mila de la Garza, barely tall enough to see over the drum set, banged her drumsticks together three times and the room erupted with the sharp crunches of their electric guitars and cheers from the crowd. They started off the set with a cover of “Linda Linda,” by Japanese punk rock band, The Blue Hearts, accompanied by head banging and hair whipping.

“I first heard of them through ‘Racist, Sexist Boy’ and introduced them to my daughter, who loves them,” Carly Schmaltz, 45, said while explaining why she brought her 8-year-old daughter, Matilda, with her. “The Linda Lindas are cool because they show young kids that they can use their voices.”

As Eloise Wong screamed with a guttural tone into the microphone during “Racist, Sexist Boy,” and Lucia de la Garza threw her long, black hair back during guitar solos, everyone in the crowd from age 8 to 60 sang along.

“I was drawn to Japanese Breakfast because they are low stress, well-written and unique,” said Kevin Buschkowsky, 23. “It’s cool that they are giving the Linda Lindas a platform to show people that they are more than their age. I am excited to see where they end up going.”

When Japanese Breakfast eventually took the stage, they brought their recent music industry ascent along with them.

Japanese Breakfast’s 2016 debut, “Psychopomp,” expertly introduced the band with shoegaze and lo-fi sounds. In 2021, everything changed when Zauner released her critically acclaimed and best-selling memoir, “Crying in H Mart” just weeks before Japanese Breakfast released their similarly successful third studio album, “Jubilee,” an upbeat dream pop record. Since then, both Zauner and her band have enjoyed an elevation in stature and fame that’s included two Grammy nominations, a Time 100 entry, a shoutout from Barack Obama and more.

The band’s distinctive sound, a deeper bond to the music created by “Crying in H Mart,” and music that’s both emotionally complex and lighthearted were all oft-mentioned during a canvas of the crowd that night.

“[Zauner] is such an instrumentalist, the music has depth and breadth” Erica Shearer, 46, said while waiting in line against First Avenue’s star-studded walls. “I saw Japanese Breakfast last time they were here and Michelle was busting down in a sequin romper. I expect that she will take the stage with just as much energy and style tonight.”

Indeed Zauner did, stepping into the stagelight in a black pleated skirt, gray blazer and chunky, black platform boots, all revved up as she banged a sunflower embellished gong to the opening song, “Paprika.”

“I think I like their music because it is artistic and beautiful, but it is also just catchy,” Marissa Brannen, 24, said before the show started. “They have a very unique sound.”

When summer hits, many of us plan on getting out of the house and into the sun. With that said, somewhere around the 85 degrees mark our ambition starts to melt away along with the ice in our glasses.

With both global temperatures and prices rising, many college students on a budget are forced to choose between their wallets and their comfort. This guide is for those who don’t have the luxury of air conditioning and still want to make the most of summer.

Big sports fan looking for an air conditioned stadium game? Minnesota’s WNBA team, the Lynx, have college nights where students can get tickets for $10 online with a “.edu” email address.

Heat bearable enough to sit outside? Stop by Target Field for a Twins game. Tickets are $5 for students Monday through Thursday. Pick up a baseball cap full of rich ice cream, sit back and enjoy the game, whether or not you actually understand the rules.

Less of a sports enthusiast and more of a film buff? AMCs across the metro area offer $5 fan favorite movies daily. Local The Riverview Theater in Minneapolis offers $5 movies all day Tuesday or any day before 6 p.m. So bundle up for the notoriously excessive movie theater air conditioning, take a break from that laptop screen and enjoy the silver screen.

Curious about checking out the art scene in the Twin Cities? There is a diverse array of museums in both St. Paul and Minneapolis that offer either free admission or student discounts. In Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Weisman are two of the many that offer free admission. In St. Paul, the Minnesota History Center offers discounted tickets for students. The History Center’s current exhibits include a showcase of paintings, sculptures and photos by Minnesotan artists.

Want to cool off by going for a dip but are hesitant to swim in possibly polluted water? Thankfully, there are many places in the cities where it is both enjoyable and safe to swim. One well known place in Minneapolis is ironically named Hidden Beach on Cedar Lake where you can take a plunge without leaving the city. A less populated swimming beach can be found at Phalen Regional Park in St. Paul. On the refreshing, clear waters of Lake Phalen, visitors can even take discounted sailing, rowing and paddling classes.

Need something to do in the evening as the day cools off? Como Park recently introduced swan paddle boats for visitors to rent. The swans even light up for night rides. It costs $30 to rent a four-person boat for an hour, so get three friends or organize a double date for a cruise around the lake.

Feeling lazy? The all-time cheapest, simplest way to get out of a hot, stuffy apartment on a sunny day is to just lay in the shade. A few parks tout a noteworthy amount of leafy trees to tie up a hammock or lay out a blanket but one especially known for its tree cover is Deming Heights Park. Surrounded by colossal, luscious oak trees, one can escape with a book and a favorite refreshing drink to spend a day under the leaves.