As reported earlier this week, University of Minnesota Interim President Jeffrey Ettinger announced on Monday, June 10, that he had paused the search for the university’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies director in the face of public outrage, “to allow an opportunity to determine next steps” after “members of the University community [came] forward to express their interest in providing perspective on the hiring.” Ettinger took this extraordinary measure after internal and external stakeholders expressed dismay over Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Ann Waltner ha ..read more

On the evening of Friday, June 7, the University of Minnesota Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies suddenly lost two members of its advisory board when Karen Painter and Bruno Chaoat emailed letters of resignation to Provost Rachel Croson and Interim President Jeff Ettinger to protest the hiring of a controversial new director of the center. In a move that left observers in dismay, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Ann Waltner offered the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies directorship to Raz Segal, a professor at Stockton University. Why is Segal controversial? In a nuts ..read more

There are few books out today that offer both a meaningful message and an entertaining story. Authors are oftentimes forced to pick between one or the other, a riveting plot or straightforward subject matter. However, in a crisp 140 pages billed as a “business fable,” Brian Slipka’s debut book, Win Some: 5 Proven Life Strategies to Win in Relationships, combines a compelling story with an impactful and profound lesson about how to build fulfilling relationships in life. Slipka is a 2000 graduate of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, where he earned a degree in Business A ..read more

“Your submission was not considered solely on the basis of your current work at and affiliation with Israeli academic institutions… we noticed that you listed Tel Aviv University and Belazel Academy of Arts and Design on your Academia.edu page.” This is an excerpt from a May 26, 2024, email that an Israeli scholar received from assistant editors of the academic journal Cultural Critique, Alya Ansari and Devon Moore, rejecting a manuscript that he submitted for consideration for publication in the journal. The University of Minnesota Press publishes the journal, and Ansari and Moore list 235 Ni ..read more

The Minnesota Vikings will have the 11th and 23rd pick at this year’s NFL draft, giving them a great chance to land a new Quarterback to replace Kirk Cousins. Kirk Cousins was picked up in free agency for the Atlanta Falcons on a 4 year, $180 million deal. With this being so far outside the Vikings asking price, they decided to move on.  Today I will profile the top quarterback options in this year’s draft in conjunction with quotes on what several University of Minnesota students think about them potentially being the Vikings next quarterback. Caleb Williams: Williams entered the draft a ..read more

As spring time arrives it’s time to start apartment shopping! Dinkytown is a hub for nightlife, bustling streets, and unique culture, and offers a wide range of apartments in terms of amenities and pricing! From their cool designs to their convenient location near schools and entertainment spots, these apartments offer more than just a place to live – they’re a gateway to the vibrant lifestyle of city living. Whether you’re new to the area and looking for a place to call home or you’ve been here a while and want to learn more, join us as we take a closer look at the charm and convenience of Di ..read more

Looking for volunteer hours/opportunities? Jinglin Li, a student at the University of Minnesota, created an organization called Living Room Tutors, a volunteer organization that allows students to tutor other students. Living Room Tutors is a non-profit virtual organization that helps communities lessen the impact of school closures by connecting volunteer student mentors with students in need. Providing materials for students, families, and educators to help improve K-12 students’ learning experiences. The objective of the program is to help kids who have had their education abruptly interrup ..read more

With a subpar start to the Minnesota Twins season, things must turn around quickly for the team to find themselves in the playoffs. Last season ended with a bang, as the Twins were able to win their first postseason series snapping a historic 18-game postseason winning streak.  Propelling the Twins to that postseason success were pitcher Pablo Lopez and third baseman Royce Lewis. Now in a new season, the two have not been as productive. Lewis started the season with a home run but was later injured in the game which has had him on the bench since.  As for Lopez, the star pitcher has ..read more

Hundreds of participants in the Norwegian Foot March Last weekend, on April 13th, the University of Minnesota Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (UMN AROTC) program would host, their annual Norwegian Foot March. Cadets, service members, and those looking to challenge themselves would travel to Arden Hills, Minnesota to compete in this grueling race. While many competitors had traveled from areas all across the state of Minnesota, there were many competitors hailing from adjacent states as well, with participants showing up from the far corners of North Dakota and Michigan. This year would see ..read more

Samia Hesni (they/them) presenting their colloquium (Nicky G) If one goes to a coffee shop and the barista asks “What do you need?”, intuitively we recognize that need falls within the contents of what coffees they can provide. There may be many things we need – a shoulder to cry on, a new car, laundry folded, but we know that saying this to the barista would be misplaced (and the barista may likely laugh at you).  Last February, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Boston University Samia Hesni (they/them) discussed their ongoing research about how these scripts work, how they can often ..read more