By: Callie Sacarelos

Minnesotans have learned that the only way to survive the winter year after to year is to embrace the cold and make the most of the snow and ice.

That would explain the record-breaking 20,000 people who visited the biannual Art Shanty Projects on Medicine Lake during the dead of winter in 2012.

The artfully constructed ice houses return this year but are calling White Bear Lake their new home.

read more

By: Anne Millerbernd

The 17th Avenue residence hall’s emphasis on boosting campus greek life was successful in the dorm’s first semester.

Leaders of the University of Minnesota’s Theta Chi fraternity and Chi Omega sorority chapters said the residence hall’s dedicated space for greek organizations helped the group’s recruitment numbers.

read more

By: Anne Millerbernd

The 17th Avenue residence hall’s emphasis on boosting campus greek life was successful in the dorm’s first semester.

Leaders of the University of Minnesota’s Theta Chi fraternity and Chi Omega sorority chapters said the residence hall’s dedicated space for greek organizations helped the group’s recruitment numbers.

read more

By: Meghan Holden

Jacob Vasquez couldn’t access parts of his online Spanish homework because his text-to-speech program couldn’t read it.

Eventually, he dropped the class, switched degrees and adapted his schedule so he wouldn’t have to struggle in foreign language courses that required large amounts of online work.

Like Vasquez, who is blind, students with disabilities at the University of Minnesota sometimes struggle with the institution’s websites and programs — potentially risking their academic success. But now, the University is planning to improve access.

read more

By: Meghan Holden

Jacob Vasquez couldn’t access parts of his online Spanish homework because his text-to-speech program couldn’t read it.

Eventually, he dropped the class, switched degrees and adapted his schedule so he wouldn’t have to struggle in foreign language courses that required large amounts of online work.

Like Vasquez, who is blind, students with disabilities at the University of Minnesota sometimes struggle with the institution’s websites and programs — potentially risking their academic success. But now, the University is planning to improve access.

read more

By: Mitchell Yurkowitz

Gov. Mark Dayton’s bonding proposal fell nearly $114 million short of the University of Minnesota’s 2014 capital request.

Though Dayton’s plan — released Wednesday — provides complete funding for only three of the six construction projects included in the University’s $232.7 million proposal, some administrators still say the institution is in a good place to begin

lobbying this legislative session.

read more

By: Mitchell Yurkowitz

Gov. Mark Dayton’s bonding proposal fell nearly $114 million short of the University of Minnesota’s 2014 capital request.

Though Dayton’s plan — released Wednesday — provides complete funding for only three of the six construction projects included in the University’s $232.7 million proposal, some administrators still say the institution is in a good place to begin

lobbying this legislative session.

read more

By: Anne Millerbernd

Beginning fall 2015, the University of Minnesota will allow some students to share rooms in on-campus housing regardless of their gender.

In offering gender-neutral housing, the University is joining a growing trend in higher education. But while some are optimistic about the new housing option, others remain apprehensive.

“I think, in name, it represents something that is really potentially useful to a lot of different people … but that it needs to be implemented correctly,” said Gwen Carlson, president of University student group Tranarchy.

read more

By: Anne Millerbernd

Beginning fall 2015, the University of Minnesota will allow some students to share rooms in on-campus housing regardless of their gender.

In offering gender-neutral housing, the University is joining a growing trend in higher education. But while some are optimistic about the new housing option, others remain apprehensive.

“I think, in name, it represents something that is really potentially useful to a lot of different people … but that it needs to be implemented correctly,” said Gwen Carlson, president of University student group Tranarchy.

read more

By: Nicolas Hallett

Ten Dinkytown property owners say the city and business leaders have excluded them as the district continues to outline its future with a burgeoning small-area plan.

The Dinkytown Property Owners Group organized after the possibility of obtaining historical designation for the four-block business hub arose in November.

In a letter to the city, the group said plan organizers have ignored them throughout the process and believe any historical status would diminish the value of their properties and prevent future development.

read more