By: Janice Bitters

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a tuition freeze for resident undergraduate students Friday, the first time in a generation.

The freeze, a fulfilled promise from University President Eric Kaler to state legislators in exchange for increased funding, will hold tuition steady for the next two years for in-state students.

But with the freeze comes increased tuition by 3 percent for non-residents and graduates. Some professional students, like first-year law students, will see tuition rise by 9 percent.

The Board also approved Kaler’s capital improvement plans and heard a presentation by Huron Consulting Group, who was hired to study the University’s administrative spending and recommend ways to increase efficiency.

Operating Budget

In addition to the tuition freeze, Kaler’s 2014 operating budget — which passed with only one dissenting vote Friday — students will also see increased students services fees, including an increase specifically for international students, according to Julie Tonneson, associate vice president for budget and finance.

“This is really a fee designed to provide additional services to help these students be successful academically, so it would be for things like advising or tutoring.”

The large professional program increases are what caused Regent Laura Brod to vote against Kaler’s budget, noting she didn’t agree with the high tuition and high financial aid model the large increases create.

“I feel like we shouldn’t have a Kelly Blue Book for tuition,” she said. “We should know what [tuition] costs and … have students know what the cost is to them.”

Resident undergraduate student tuition will stay the same as last year at $12,060, a point of pride for Kaler in his budget.

“The hallmark of this budget is our commitment to affordability and access for Minnesota resident undergraduate students,” he said.

The 3 percent tuition increase for non-resident undergraduate students will equal a $1,000 jump next year.

Kaler’s budget also sets aside funding for mental health resources at Boynton Health Services next year, which has seen a 9 percent uptick in counseling service requests in the past decade, according to Ferdinand Schlapper, Boynton Health Services director.

Currently, 27 percent of University of Minnesota students have been diagnosed with at least one mental health issue in their lifetime, Schlapper said, adding some students face a two-week waiting period after making appointments at the clinic.

 “If they have a two-week wait for a series of mental health issues, that may be the end of their academic career,” he said.

Regents chair Linda Cohen said she’d like to see preventative measures taken on the issue, including educating freshmen on resources during orientation.

Capital Improvement

The Board voted unanimously Friday to adopt Kaler’s capital improvement plans, which will fund the last of four biomedical facility projects on the Minneapolis campus, allow construction on Northrop Memorial Auditorium to move forward and serve as an outline for the University’s legislative bonding requests next year.

The final biomedical facility project will receive $63 million in the coming year, bringing funding for the four-building area near TCF Bank Stadium, known as the Biomedical Discovery District, to nearly $300 million dollars.

An additional $2 million will be allocated to finish construction on Northrop next year, which Pam Wheelock, vice president for University services said will be used for graduation ceremonies in the future.

Students will also see the completion of the new recreational center and residence hall on 17th Avenue in the coming year.

The recreational facility funding accounts for 75 percent of a $95 student services fee increase that all students will see next year, said Richard Pfutzenreuter, University vice president and chief financial officer.

Huron Study

The Board of Regents also heard an overview of a 175-page study conducted by Huron Consulting Group Friday.

The 12-week study by Huron Consulting Group was prompted in light of legislative concerns after a Wall Street Journal article criticized the University’s administrative spending in January.

The study outlined multiple opportunities for improvement, but also noted the University, “is already undertaking major initiatives to promote efficiency and effectiveness and to reduce administrative costs.”

One of the main improvement areas the study pointed to is reporting structures between departments, saying the University — like many public research universities — operates as collection of departments, rather than a “unified enterprise.”

The report acknowledged administrative reporting structure changes the University has made to date but said the, “full benefits of improving alignment and reducing duplication have not yet been achieved.”

Throughout the report, Huron Consulting suggested the University work towards consolidating certain internal processes, use new metrics to measure performance and need, and automate forms that are currently done via paper — like invoices and reimbursements.

One way the University is already tackling these initiatives is through an $83.5 million Enterprise Systems Upgrade Program. The Board heard an update on the progress of the ESUP Friday before Huron Consulting presented its findings.

The executive oversight committee who gave the ESUP presentation Friday said the upgrade is cost-effective and needed for long-term savings.

Regent Abdul Omari noted that nearly 40 percent of the ESUP’s budget goes to CedarCrestone, Inc., an Atlanta-based consulting firm.

“In my eyes, that seems like a very large number,” he said.

The Huron report concluded that overall, the University does not stand out among its peers for administration spending in the four key areas. However, it also noted much of the data received from peer schools was incomplete or estimated.

In March, the University received the results of a smaller study by New York-based Sibson Consulting, which determined the University’s ratio of managers to employees was low in some areas, but on par in others.

Between the two studies, the University has paid more than $540,000 in analyzing administrative spending.

Sibson Consulting will continue an extended study for the University later this year, according to a University press release.

By: Branden Largent

The University of Minnesota Law School received funds Wednesday to establish an immigration law center and to support its current institute for criminal law and criminal justice.

The Robina Foundation pledged to give almost $9 million to the law school — one of the largest gifts in its history — to fund its  Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and a new University of Minnesota Law School Center for New Americans, according to a Wednesday news release.

The immigration law center will address immigrant groups and their legal and social needs, according to the press release.

“The new immigration law center underscores the mission for the Law School’s clinics to address pressing societal needs,” Law School Dean David Wippman said in the news release.

Working with professional law firms and non-profit organizations, the law school is aiming to expand the necessary legal services for immigrant communities and improve the laws affecting immigrants.

“This generous gift will help sustain the law school’s reputation as an international leader in legal education,” Wippman said. 

By: Roy Aker

A University of Minnesota student was killed last week in a motorcycle accident, authorities announced Tuesday.

Thirty-year-old Patrick Buxbaum was killed in a motorcycle accident at the intersection of 27th Street and Emerson Avenue, shortly after 3 a.m. on May 19, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, who released his identity Tuesday.

The accident occurred just blocks away from his Minneapolis home.

Authorities have yet to reveal the circumstances leading up to the crash, but say Buxbaum was found dead at the scene of the crash.

Buxbaum, who was originally from Sidney, Mont., was a veteran of the U.S. Marines and had served overseas in Japan.

After four years in the military, Buxbaum moved to Minneapolis to attend Minneapolis Community & Technical College, later transferring to the University of Minnesota.

Minneapolis police and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner are continuing their investigations.

By: Cody Nelson

A bill to protect underage drinkers seeking emergency help is one step closer to becoming law in Minnesota.

Thursday, the state House passed medical amnesty legislation, which would provide legal immunity from the possession or consumption of alcohol for underage drinkers if they seek help for themselves or others.

“We want to encourage responsible choice,” said Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, the bill's author.

Some Minnesota colleges already have medical amnesty policies, but student organizations, including the Minnesota Student Association, pushed legislation to make it a statewide policy.

With a 124-8 vote, the House bill passed with bipartisan support, but a few dissenters had issues with the bill's necessity and scope.

Rep. Ernie Leidiger, R-Mayer, said the measure “legislates common sense.”

“When it comes to saving a life,” he said, “isn't it common sense that we're supposed to [seek help] first?”

Supporters, however, said the bill is necessary because it will make minors more likely to seek emergency medical help.

“This bill does not legislate common sense,” Liebling said. “It just removes one of the barriers to common sense.” 

Others questioned the measure's scope, but Liebling answered them by clarifying the bill only provides exemptions.

“The bill itself is very, very narrow … it has to be someone calling 911 for a medical emergency,” Liebling said, adding that the bill “strikes a good balance” in its scope.

The Senate is expected to hear its medical amnesty bill on Friday.

By: Cody Nelson

Come August 1, same-sex couples will be able to get legally married in Minnesota. 

Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill  Tuesday to make Minnesota the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriages.

The bill legalizes civil marriages between two persons and provides exemptions based on religious association.

After hours of debate in both the House and Senate, the bill got to Dayton, who signed it in front of a packed crowd on the Capitol steps in the sweltering Tuesday evening heat. 

“I'm 60 years old and I never thought I'd live to see this,” said Linda Lindsay, a volunteer with Minnesotans United For All Families, the main organization supporting the push.

The historic measure marks a rapid shift in public opinion regarding same-sex marriage.

Two years ago, the Republican-led Legislature put last fall's proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota on the ballot.

Minnesotans, however, voted the amendment down and put DFLers in control of both the House and Senate.

“Times change, perceptions of what's acceptable in society change,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, in an address to the Senate floor on Monday. “This is indeed the civil rights issue of our generation.”

The Senate bill's author, Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, gave his support for the bill in personal terms and talked about his husband,  Richard Levya.

“Here in Minnesota, [Levya] and I are legal strangers,” Dibble said. “How can that be okay?”

But the measure didn't pass without some controversy.

Monday, many voiced moral concerns with the law, which would also make it so clergy members can refuse to recognize a civil marriage for any reason.

“I think it's a sad day for Minnesota,” said Linda Sevlie, who rallied against the bill, “a tragic day.”

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, said he will be called a “bigot” or a “hater” for voting against the bill, but stood by his decision.

“There are things in life that are worth standing up for, even being persecuted for,” he said to the Senate. “May god help us.”

Some senators said there isn't a consensus supporting same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Last fall's amendment failed with 52.5 percent  of Minnesotans voting it down. The measure passed with far stronger support in the metro area than in many greater Minnesota cities. 

“I'm sorry that we don't have room for people of faith in our statue books anymore,” said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove.

Others disagreed, including Dibble, who said the bill isn't as “earth-shattering as people might think.”

“We are redefining nothing,” Dibble said. “There's no limit to love; it's not going to be used up — it only expands.”

In the Senate, one lone Republican, Sen. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, voted in favor of the bill. During debate, he said he's never felt more uncertain about his future in office, but stood by his vote.

“I'm absolutely certain that I'm standing on the side of individual liberty.” 

By: Brian Arola

Jacob Frey won the 3rd Ward DFL endorsement for Minneapolis City Council Saturday after incumbent Diane Hofstede withdrew from consideration, citing flaws in the system.

Frey, in between hugs from an onslaught of supporters after receiving the party’s backing, said he was thrilled to receive the endorsement with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Speaking to a sea of red-shirted Frey supporters at DeLaSalle High School in northeast Minneapolis, Hofstede said some of her constituents were disrespected and unable to participate fully in the precinct caucuses to elect delegates in early April.

But the former Team USA runner’s path to City Hall isn’t without hurdles, as Hofstede said she’ll continue on with her campaign.

“I will take my campaign to the people and let them decide,” Hofstede told the crowd, suggesting the convention goers didn’t accurately reflect the ward as a whole.

She had previously said that she’d abide by the endorsement, and her change of heart angered some in attendance.

“She was going to respect the endorsement when she thought she was going to win it,” said Frey supporter Christopher Meyer. “As soon as she realized she wouldn’t, she changed her mind.”

Frey said he was disappointed Hofstede decided not to abide by the endorsement, but hopes she’ll come around and support his campaign.

A robust campaign of her own is in her sights, however.  She said many East African and older supporters of hers were mistreated and kept from participating in the day’s convention. Those concerns led her to withdraw from the endorsement process.

“There are just too many irregularities with this caucus system,” she said.

Frey supporters questioned the merits of her concerns, and said they hadn’t noticed any issues.

State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, who supports Hofstede, said she was at various precinct caucuses earlier in the month and noticed the problems Hofstede was referring to.

Kahn said large groups of pro-Hofstede Somalis showed up, but surprisingly few of them were on the convention floor Saturday morning.

“None of them ended up being delegates,” she said, indicating that something in the process cut them out.

Though Kahn is a Hofstede supporter, she said she wished the councilwoman would’ve at least waited to withdraw until after the question and answer section of the convention.

“I think that would’ve shown what a deeper insight she has into the city,” she said.

‘Frey’s our guy’

Despite an opponent gearing up a full campaign to beat him, the day was a good one for Frey.

After Hofstede dropped out, he gave an impassioned speech rallying his supporters about the strides the 3rd Ward can take under his watch.

One supporter, matching his passion, yelled “I love you, bro,” to Frey, to which the newly endorsed candidate responded, “I love you right back.”

Frey’s accessibility, willingness to listen and closeness to his supporters have been cited consistently by his supporters as strong leadership qualities.

Frey lauded the work his supporters have done so far, and said regardless of Hofstede’s intentions he fully expects to win in November.

“We’ve got a grass-roots organization that’s growing every day,” he said.

Frey said it was thrilling to win the endorsement, and he couldn’t be more proud of his staff.

By: Brian Arola

Jacob Frey won the 3rd Ward DFL endorsement for Minneapolis City Council Saturday after incumbent Diane Hofstede withdrew from consideration, citing flaws in the system.

Frey, in between hugs from an onslaught of supporters after receiving the party’s backing, said he was thrilled to receive the endorsement with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Speaking to a sea of red-shirted Frey supporters at DeLaSalle High School in northeast Minneapolis, Hofstede said some of her constituents were disrespected and unable to participate fully in the precinct caucuses to elect delegates in early April.

But the former Team USA runner’s path to City Hall isn’t without hurdles, as Hofstede said she’ll continue on with her campaign.

“I will take my campaign to the people and let them decide,” Hofstede told the crowd, suggesting the convention goers didn’t accurately reflect the ward as a whole.

She had previously said that she’d abide by the endorsement, and her change of heart angered some in attendance.

“She was going to respect the endorsement when she thought she was going to win it,” said Frey supporter Christopher Meyer. “As soon as she realized she wouldn’t, she changed her mind.”

Frey said he was disappointed Hofstede decided not to abide by the endorsement, but hopes she’ll come around and support his campaign.

A robust campaign of her own is in her sights, however.  She said many East African and older supporters of hers were mistreated and kept from participating in the day’s convention. Those concerns led her to withdraw from the endorsement process.

“There are just too many irregularities with this caucus system,” she said.

Frey supporters questioned the merits of her concerns, and said they hadn’t noticed any issues.

State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, who supports Hofstede, said she was at various precinct caucuses earlier in the month and noticed the problems Hofstede was referring to.

Kahn said large groups of pro-Hofstede Somalis showed up, but surprisingly few of them were on the convention floor Saturday morning.

“None of them ended up being delegates,” she said, indicating that something in the process cut them out.

Though Kahn is a Hofstede supporter, she said she wished the councilwoman would’ve at least waited to withdraw until after the question and answer section of the convention.

“I think that would’ve shown what a deeper insight she has into the city,” she said.

‘Frey’s our guy’

Despite an opponent gearing up a full campaign to beat him, the day was a good one for Frey.

After Hofstede dropped out, he gave an impassioned speech rallying his supporters about the strides the 3rd Ward can take under his watch.

One supporter, matching his passion, yelled “I love you, bro,” to Frey, to which the newly endorsed candidate responded, “I love you right back.”

Frey’s accessibility, willingness to listen and closeness to his supporters have been cited consistently by his supporters as strong leadership qualities.

Frey lauded the work his supporters have done so far, and said regardless of Hofstede’s intentions he fully expects to win in November.

“We’ve got a grass-roots organization that’s growing every day,” he said.

Frey said it was thrilling to win the endorsement, and he couldn’t be more proud of his staff.

By: Alma Pronove

The full Minnesota House voted to increase funding for the University of Minnesota after an hour-long debate. 

Representatives passed the bill that would freeze tuition for Minnesota undergraduates at the University for the next two years.

Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, said the bill passed with bipartisan support.

“It’s hard to be opposed to education. Nobody wants to vote against the kids,” he said.

Fourteen House Republicans voted in favor of the tuition freeze, despite concerns over raised taxes to meet those costs.

Legislators praised House higher education committee Chairman Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, for his critical response to the University of Minnesota’s request for more funding.

The bill also includes language detailing increased administrative oversight and how higher education institutions are to report to the state, in response to the Wall Street Journal article discussing administrative bloat.

“Higher education has to report to us differently,” Pelowksi said. “There has to be some accountability in administrative costs.”

Contrary to the Senate version of the bill, the House version doesn’t include any performance goals the University would have to meet to receive a portion of its funding in the future. Pelowski said he wasn’t convinced performance goals were effective.

A few legislators introduced amendments aiming to decrease administrative spending, but none were adopted.

The House version of the bill is about $113 million less than the one the Senate passed last week.

Legislators will meet in conference committee to iron out the differences between the two bills in the coming weeks.

By: Rebecca Harrington

The dust has settled after sweeping budget cuts went into effect last month, and federal agencies have responded with how they’re going to implement them.

University of Minnesota Vice President for Research Brian Herman said University research will be largely unaffected this fiscal year, but the future is less certain.

Most federal research funding agencies have taken a 5.1 percent from the sequester. The National Institutes of Health — the University’s largest federal funding agency — will take this full cut, translating to $1.5 billion fewer research dollars this fiscal year.

Herman said his office has a number of programs and ideas it will implement over the next couple of years to help mitigate the effects of these cuts, many of which are already in place.

These programs include a “bridge program” to keep funding research, increased partnering with industry, reducing the faculty administrative burden and encouraging more collaborative research.

“We’re already doing a lot of things to try to support the University community on an ongoing basis,” he said, “… hopefully some will be earlier, but within the next six months or so these things will be formalized and then implemented.”

For more on how federal cuts are affecting University research, pick up an issue of Monday’s Daily. 

By: Jake Stark

University of Minnesota police issued a trespass warning Thursday to a Minneapolis man who has been banned in the past from two area colleges.

 Larry James Pinkney, 62, allegedly harassed several students and two staff members at the Social Sciences Building last week, according to a University police report.

Pinkney has been banned from St. Thomas University and Macalester College in the past, according to the report.

Two staff members found Pinkney interviewing several students in a conference room around 5 p.m. Friday, April 5. Pinkney showed them his credentials and said he was a journalist and was interviewing the students for research.

The staff members asked him to leave the building, which was closed, and told him the conference room was reserved for a private meeting, the report said. Pinkney then allegedly became hostile but left the area after they repeatedly told him to leave.

University police investigated Pinkney and discovered the past issues with local colleges and that he had been convicted of third degree sexual assault in 1995, as well.

Officers delivered a trespass warning to Pinkney at his Minneapolis home Thursday, the report said. If he returns to campus in the next year, University police will arrest him, said Deputy Chief Chuck Miner.