By: Roy Aker

The University of Minnesota’s Ayn Rand Study Group started four years ago, but members still feel misunderstood by the campus community. 

The group, which has 10 regular members, studies Ayn Rand and her philosophies, in particular objectivism.

The group’s president, Katie Cowles, said that as students who study Rand’s ideals, they face many misconceptions.

“Some people probably think [we’re] like a cultish sort of a thing,” she said.

The group discusses Rand’s work and how her writing from the mid-20th century relates to modern-day current events and politics.

 Cowles said some think the group wants to influence, or push their ideological agenda on students.

“We’re not trying to convert everyone, we’re really just there to educate people about the philosophy and present a new philosophy that most students aren’t aware of,” said Cowles.

Rand, who gained notoriety in the early- to mid-20th century with her works Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, has become a symbol for many modern-day libertarians.

Her writings stress objectivism, or the idea that reality is an “objective absolute, — facts are facts, independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes or fears,” according to the Ayn Rand Institute.

Cowles said the 10-member group is still growing, and has a 200-person mailing list. 

Thursday, the group hosted a lecture by Dr. Eric Daniels, who spoke on the state of free speech in America, something group officer Vincent Brinker said the group focuses on.

Brinker said free speech and free will are concepts that often revolve around the philosophy of objectivism.

In addition to guest speakers, the group has movie showings at Coffman Union Theater and is planning a trip to a Chicago conference on objectivism this summer.

The group is less about implementing its ideas throughout campus, Cowles said, and more about educating students on Rand’s philosophy.

“We think that if you learn about Ayn’s philosophy, you’ll find it to be moral and then you’ll implement it in your own life.” 

By: Hailey Colwell

Growing up, Champlin Park High School Freshman Mela Nguyen said her community wasn’t exposed to much healthy food.

“I grew up in north Minneapolis,” Nguyen said, “and all I [saw was] fast food and too much friend chicken around.”

Nguyen recently joined the Youth Farm and Market Project, a program that teaches adolescents about urban agriculture and healthy, sustainable food.

Youth Farm joined a number of organizations Friday for Growing Food, Growing Youth: The Bud Markhart Urban Youth and Food Day on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus. The event brought together high school students from across the Twin Cities to discuss food culture and justice while learning about higher education.

“With contemporary life, [students] tend to see food as beginning in a restaurant or in a grocery store,” said Food Science and Nutrition professor Craig Hassel. “We’re trying to bring back a more meaningful experience around food for students.”

Throughout the day, students experimented with native Minnesotan food, cooking wild rice and concocting their own all-natural salad dressing.

They learned about hydroponic farming — using all water but no soil to grow crops — and micro greens, or plants harvested at an early seeding stage that are often used in fine cooking.

They also got a taste of college by exploring the St. Paul campus and learning about the University’s admission process — a new experience for some students.  

 “Not everyone is able to have a campus tour,” said Elizabeth Zalanga, a junior at Central High School in St. Paul. “It’s really interesting and it gives people an insight into what college is like.”

The event was created in honor of University professor Bud Markhart, who passed away in June 2012. Markhart brought his teaching background in sustainable agriculture to various communities, and was especially interested in educating youth about food produced in different cultures, Hassel said. 

He said Friday’s event would commemorate Markhart by continuing his work in showing students the significance of food.

“It’s not just something that tastes good or something that’s satisfying in a narrow, consumerist role,” he said, “but something that is part of their connection to place, their connection to community and their connection with family.”

Tartan High School freshman Armon Amini said the day helped him learn about food’s connection to fitness.

“It helps physical health,” said Armini, who plays on the school basketball team.

Nguyen said she hopes to bring what she’s learned about sustainable agriculture and healthy food back to the community she grew up in. 

“I could probably speak to the people of north Minneapolis so they open their eyes and see that what they’re eating is unhealthy.”

By: Marjorie Otto

Legislators in Minnesota are working on a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.

The measure would make Minnesota the fifth state to allow undocumented immigrants to receive driver’s licenses.

The proposal, authored by Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, would change Minnesota law to allow people to apply for a driver’s license with a government-issued identification card from another country.

Hopeful drivers would have to show identification from their home country and a sign a form acknowledging they live at a permanent address they’ve provided.

Statutes to allow licenses for undocumented licenses in other states have faced heavy criticism. Opponents say the system has a high potential for fraud and have tried to repeal the laws in some states, like New Mexico.

Illinois passed a similar law in January and Maryland is in the process of debating one. New Mexico and Washington state issues licenses while Utah only allow permits.

While some states allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses, Arizona bans undocumented immigrants from getting driver’s licenses.

With the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy (DACA), anyone who is deferred and receives permission to work and a Social Security number may apply for a driver license, depending on a state’s specific laws.

Check Wednesday's Daily for the full story. 

By: Alexi Gusso

A recent examination of four University of Minnesota administrative units found some areas the school could improve efficiency.

University President Eric Kaler presented the preliminary analysis report conducted by Sibson Consulting, a national human resources consulting firm, at Friday’s Board of Regents meeting. 

“This is not the silver bullet,” Kaler said. “It calls out areas in need of examination.”

The report, which was requested in January by two state legislators, identified a few areas the University could maximize the number of employees per supervisor.

It examined the number of supervisors and subordinates in each information technology, finance, human resources and purchasing.

It highlighted the Office of Information Technology as a department streamlined operation. The average supervisor oversees more than 9 employees.

In Purchasing Services, a supervisor oversees about 3.6 employees, a low by industry standards.

In a media briefing on Thursday, University Chief Financial Officer Richard Pfutzenreuter said that the low averages indicate “areas of opportunity” in which the University can conduct a more in-depth evaluation.

 He said the low numbers, like in purchasing, represent an “alert” but don’t necessarily mean that immediate action must be taken.

Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, requested the University conduct a spans and layers analysis after a late-December Wall Street Journal article accused the University of administrative bloat.

Bonoff and Bakk requested an interim report of the findings no later than March 15 for lawmakers to use as a “strong tool” in formulating the 2013 budget.

Kaler said that Sibson — which the University paid $48,000 for the initial month-long analysis — will conduct the same analysis on each remaining University unit by the end of May.

University have not yet disclosed how much Sibson will receive for the rest of its work.

The University also hired Huron Consulting Group to conduct a benchmarking of the University’s administrative costs in relation to peer institutions as requested by Bakk and Bonoff.

This second analysis will cost the University an additional $495,000 and will be completed by May 31.

Kaler acknowledged that these costs “are not small” but said they are necessary because “the status quo is not okay.”

After an analysis, implanting changes to large universities can take up to three to five years, but Kaler said he’s not interested in waiting that long and wants an expedited process.

The University will present the final report to state lawmakers on Monday and Tuesday. 

By: Emma Nelson

Minneapolis FBI agents searched a student’s dorm room in the University of Minnesota’s Middlebrook Hall early Wednesday morning.

University spokesman Matt Hodson said the agents had a search warrant, but didn’t know what the agents were looking for or whether they found it.

Hodson was unable to comment about the status of the student whose room was searched.

The FBI notified University police in advance, said Greg Boosalis, Division Counsel for the FBI’s Minneapolis Division.

“Typically when we do a search warrant, we always contact the local agency to make sure that they know that we’re going to be there and there’s no conflict,” he said.

A UMPD investigator assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing to assist with the investigation, even though the case is not a terrorism case, said University police Deputy Chief Chuck Miner.

Miner said he wasn’t sure if Housing and Residential Life was notified in advance of the search, but said it’s typical to do so. Housing and Residential Life employees can then help with unlocking doors, for example.

“With a search warrant, you can generally break open a door to get into a residence or an apartment,” Miner said. “But there’s no need to do that in this case, when we can get the keys through other means.”

The residence hall, located on the University’s West Bank, houses about 900 students, according to University’s Housing and Residential Life website.

A number of University students commented on the incident on Twitter, beginning Thursday and continuing Friday.

By: Jessica Lee

Clergy, state legislators and Minnesotans rallied at the state Capitol Thursday afternoon against a bill that would legalize same-sex marriages in Minnesota.

Minnesota for Marriage, the main group fighting a bill to change state marriage laws, hosted an event where opponents spoke to an enthusiastic crowd about keeping the laws the way they are.

Nearly two dozen state politicians came to show their opposition to the same-sex marriage bill.

“Marriage is just fine the way it is,” said Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover.

Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage,  urged Minnesotans to tell their legislators to oppose the bill.

“Fifteen years ago no one would have guessed we’d have to have a rally like this … to protect the union as one man and one woman,” he said.

Last fall, supporters of the marriage amendment ballot question were defeated because of expensive advertising from same-sex marriage proponents, Brown said.

Same-sex marriage opponents are coming back to fight the current bill “stronger than before,” he said.

Jacob Giese said he’s against the bill because the “happiest, healthiest homes to raise kids” are ones with a mother and father.

“Children, you’re the reason we’re” taking a stand, Scott said.

Rally-goers held signs that said “don’t lie to children,” passed out Bible verses and cheered as the speakers advocated against Sen. Scott Dibble’s same-sex marriage bill.

Three teenage girls held a homemade sign that read “The legalization of homosexuality induces children to gay relationships.”

Volunteers also passed out t-shirts that read: “I’m with Adam” and “I’m with Eve.”

The bill, which will get its first look in the House Civil Law committee Tuesday, would repeal the state’s 1997 ban and let same-sex couples wed in Minnesota.

 “They do not yet have the votes,” Brown said.

By: Alexi Gusso

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler assured students and faculty Thursday the University has made progress and will continue to do so in his State of the University address while he announced increased funding for graduate school students and his launch of personal office hours. 

In his speech to an audience of roughly 250, Kaler noted the University’s past challenges and outlined the next steps in embracing new changes and ideas.   

“I know we’re not perfect, but our flaws are not fatal," Kaler said, "and the state of the University is strong."

Kaler wants to strengthen the University’s graduate programs and medical school, he said Thursday afternoon in Coffman Memorial Union, emphasizing the importance of attracting the nation’s top graduate and professional students. 

“I came here as a graduate student and I am not about to let our graduate programs slip in terms of national reputation,” he said, noting that Provost Karen Hanson would partner with deans and faculty leaders to create a long-term and sustainable plan for graduate student recruitment.

He said the first step to what he called “Graduate School 2.0” would be to increase funding to Ph.D. fellowship programs by more than $750,000.

The president announced that he would begin holding monthly office hours on the Twin Cities campus to increase interaction with students.

He said he will also travel to the University’s Duluth, Crookston, and Morris campuses in the coming months to meet with students.

“I miss being around students, I get great energy from their enthusiasm and their curiosity,” Kaler said.

Kaler mentioned the budgetary limitations to interdisciplinary work and research that “defines the cutting edge in most fields and that is critical to solving most of today’s problems.”

He called on Provost Hanson and Vice President for Research Brian Herman to develop recommendations to strengthen interdisciplinary teaching and research.

Some students initially had mixed reactions to his address.

Cate Brumm, a third year dentistry student, said that she would have liked to hear professional programs mentioned more in Kaler’s speech.

“It’s interesting because the professional schools aren’t really mentioned in the push for an increase in graduate funding,” she said.

Brumm said that the cost of professional education has increased exponentially, with some dentistry students facing $400,000 in debt. 

“Proportionally that’s a little out of the same league as undergrads, so we’d like to see the president really increase affordability to professional schools,” she said.

“I think it’s in the works, maybe.”

On Kaler’s office hours, some were excited.

Freshmen Joelle Stanger and Valkyrie Jensen attended the event and said they would definitely take advantage of the office hours.

“We were sitting next to each other and when we heard him announce that he would be doing office hours, we were like ‘we’re going to go every single time and talk to him,” said Stanger, a political science major.

Both Jensen and Stanger are members of the Minnesota Student Association. Jensen said she would like to talk to Kaler about the role he thinks student government should play on campus. 

“[I’d ask him] ‘what do you want to see from student government?’” she said. “Because I don’t feel like they have as large of a presence as they should.”

In addition, Kaler outlined other priorities for the next year including increasing campus diversity, improving faculty recruitment and retention, and expanding the University’s eLearning strategies ­— including further testing of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) — among others. 

By: Tyler Gieseke

Fourteen University of Minnesota faculty members have kept their word.

Last month, a group of professors sent a letter to TCF Bank protesting the financial institution’s notice to close at least eight Iranian University students’ accounts.

The professors promised to move their direct deposit accounts in defiance of the bank’s actions and, according to Karen Ho, associate professor of anthropology, all have done so.

Students and faculty spoke out after several Iranian students received closure letters in late December without explanation.

A week after the professors’ Jan. 22 letter, the bank responded with its own.

In its response, TCF explained federal laws it must abide by.

The bank expressed concern for the faculty members’ protest and outlined its legal obligations. According to the letter, banks are required to monitor transactions to prevent money laundering under the Bank Secrecy Act. Also, banks must follow economic and trade sanctions.

“In the course of performing this due diligence, the institution may be required to … close an account and discontinue the customer relationship,” TCF said in the letter.     

Adherence to U.S. sanctions against Iran is “complicated,” the bank said in the letter.

“It is necessary that a depository institution ensure that funds do not originate from a U.S. blocked Iranian financial institution, and this may not be easy to do, especially when funds are deposited in cash.”

But faculty members working with the affected Iranian students said the students didn’t violate any laws.

Ho, the primary author of the faculty members’ letter, said she noticed TCF’s response didn’t state the Iranian students had violated the sanctions.

She also said the protesting faculty members felt the bank’s actions fit the profile of discrimination based on national origin.

Because the professors weren't discriminated against, they can't sue and Ho said any suit against the bank would be difficult because TCF could use the sanctions as its defense.

“That, too, is a law,” she said.  

Although she said she was pleased TCF responded, she said the bank didn’t give the Iranian students an explanation when they followed up.

The fact that the students received a response through the actions of the faculty, she said, is demeaning.

“It was sort of a slap in the face,” she said.

Ho said some of the faculty members that closed their direct deposit accounts will also begin to move their TCF mortgages and other accounts.

“I will close my accounts. And that’s not up for negotiation.”  

By: Kevin Burbach

A bill introduced in the Minnesota House on Thursday would allow alcohol sales at Mariucci and Williams Arenas, pending Board of Regents approval.

Authored by Rep. Dan Schoen, DFL-St. Paul Park, the bill would allow the University to serve alcohol to the general public at sporting events in the arenas. Currently alcohol is only served in premium seats in Mariucci and Williams Arenas.

The Legislature passed a bill last year to allow alcohol in TCF Bank Stadium and the Regents approved a measure in July to do the same.

The University brought in more than $900,000 in sales from alcohol at TCF last season, according to school officials.

The bill was moved to the House Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee. No hearing for the bill is scheduled yet. 

By: Jessica Lee

Lawmakers, clergy students and more rallied Thursday to drum up support for the state’s forthcoming same-sex marriage legislation.

Hosted by Minnesotans United for All Families, the more than 2,000-person Valentine’s Day rally marks the beginning of this year’s same-sex marriage conversation at the Capitol.

Political and religious leaders took to the podium to share their views as waves of supporters cheered on.

“I really hope this is the kick-off point for a discussion and ultimately leads to the passage of marriage-equality legislation,” University of Minnesota political science freshman Gabe Aderhold said.

Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, who said he's expected to author the bill, said he's frustrated that he and his spouse, Richard Leyva, are viewed as “legal strangers in Minnesota” because they were married in California years ago.

“I cannot think of anything more intrusive than the government telling people who they can marry and telling churches which marriages they can solemnize,” Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said prior to the event.

About a hundred clergy members of various faiths attended the rally and a handful of leaders testified as proponents of the bill.

“In the eyes of Judaism, marriage links us to the basis of our faith” like family and love, said Rabbi Melissa Simon of Shir Tikvah Congregation.

She said the language in the legislation would allow churches the option of solemnizing same-sex marriages, but they wouldn’t have to.

Audience members held signs and chanted in unison, “Now is the time, this is the year!”

The rally mirrored the energy of the fall when Minnesotans United organized events to defeat an amendment that would define marriage as one man and one woman.

“The amendments on the ballot this fall may have been the thing that built up this huge momentum for this,” Marty said.

Molly Tofayo, a spokeswoman for One Iowa – an organization that raises awareness for LGBT Iowans, similar to Minnesotans United – said she is hopeful for the state’s battle to legalize same-sex marriages.

“To have Minnesota stand up and say no, we don’t want this amendment, we don’t want discrimination written in our constitution and then to ride that wave of momentum, into what I hope will be a successful push in the Legislature,” Tofayo said.

Marty said Dibble’s bill will be formally introduced to a Senate committee in the next few weeks.

“I think there’s a really good chance that it’s going to pass this year," he said, "and if so, things will happen very quickly."