The original Darwin D. Martin complex includes the homes of Darwin D. Martin and George F. Barton, two New York business tycoons, as well as a conservatory, carriage house and a pergola. All designed by Frank Llyod Wright, an exhibition of the new interpretations of these buildings is on display at Rapson Hall on the University campus.

The eight-bedroom Martin house is the jewel of the property. The home was built in 1903 and cost roughly $175,000, when an average home at this time cost about $10,000.

The Buffalo, N.Y. complex became a depressed area when Martin died in 1935. The house was abandoned in 1937 and remained empty until 1955 when another architect, Sebastian Tauriello, purchased the home. Tauriello had to sell the property behind the home to be able to afford the preservation of the main house. In 1960 the pergola (arbor), conservatory and carriage house were demolished to make room for apartment buildings. The Barton House was bought by Eric and Eleanor Larrabbee in 1967, but was eventually purchased in 1994 for the Martin House Restoration Corporation by M & T Bank, Rich Products Corp. and the Buffalo News.

The complex has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975 and the Martin House was put on the National Historic Landmark list in 1986.

In the 1990s plans for the restoration of the complex began when it was purchased by a local group. The apartment buildings were torn down and the effort began to rebuild the original three structures. Construction on this project is currently underway.

In 2002, five architecture firms were invited to design a visitor’s center for the site, which is hoping to attract tourists with their restoration efforts. The Martin House Restoration Corporation is hoping people will come to the Martin site like they flock to Wright’s masterpiece home “Fallingwater” in rural Pennsylvania, which was built 30 years after the Martin Complex.

Of the five firms, the design by Toshiko Mori Architect was chosen. According to this firm, the visitor support spaces will include an exhibition space, permanent gallery, a theater and a museum shop allowing guests to learn more about the complex and Wright.

The new architecture added to the property by Toshiko Mori will “reinterpret” the Martin House and the innovative techniques used by Wright. The firm wanted to reflect the legacy of Wright and incorporate this with modern architecture themes. They used Wright’s designs and aspirations as a springboard for the concept of this design.

The contest model submissions from the other four firms are also on display at Rapson, but Toshiko Mori’s design takes center stage in the exhibition. The winning design incorporates Wright’s use of light with raised windows on the ceiling, allowing sunlight to enter the home with ease and let nature be a part of the building and its ambience, something Wright would be truly inspired by.

The exhibit is currently on display in the HGA Gallery in Rapson Hall along with other architectural models. Visit cdes.umn.edu for more information.

You know you’re from Minnesota when the seasons change during the course of one lecture. Watching the faces of students coming out of a lecture on Oct. 11 was entertaining. Some were shocked, others angry, and a few were filled with excitement. When these students went into class, it was fall. When they came out, it looked more like February.

While most would agree that October is too early for snow, true Minnesotans know that anything is possible. A scene like this quickly brings to mind the infamous Halloween Blizzard of 1991, which serves to easily identify the out-of-state students. But if you are in fact one of those out-of-towners who does not remember this Midwestern milestone, here it is. It started during the afternoon of Oct. 31, 1991 and over the course of the next three days, the Twin Cities were buried in 28.4 inches of snow.

Obviously, this year’s off-season flurries were nothing to that extent and melted away instantly, but the cold temperatures hung around. Some students took advantage of this and used the shivering student body to advertise, handing out free cocoa along with an informative flyer about their group or cause.

Winter is definitely right around the corner and the jury is still out on questions such as ‘how cold?’ and ‘how long?’ However, if you believe everything you read, you may want to look for a warmer coat. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is available online at www.almanac.com, winter in the Midwest this year will be colder and bring more snow than is normal. The coldest temperatures will occur from late December until mid-January and then freeze us again in mid-February. The most snow will fall in early December, all of February and early March.

Regardless of whether winter is long or short, cold or mild, it will be here soon and will hang around for months. During that time, the Twin Cities area, as well as the state, is filled with opportunities to take advantage of the season we love to loathe.

Ice Skating — The Depot on Washington Ave in downtown Minneapolis is a classic Twin Cities location. Admission is $8 and on select weekends, they are open as late as 1 a.m.

Skiing/Snowboarding — Minnesota is home to plenty of powder, but a few of the main draws are Buck Hill in Burnsville ($24 for a day, not including equipment rental) or Afton Alps in Hastings, which offers college students a discount of $3 off on Wednesday nights (prices range from $25-$35). Also, if you’re looking to take a quick trip, Spirit Mountain in Duluth would be a good place to start ($20-$45, depending on length of stay). All of these locations have websites for more information.

Winter Carnival — From Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, St. Paul shows off its cold weather version of the Aquatennial and brings us the Winter Carnival. From sculpture to snow slides to hot dish tents, this is truly a winter tradition that should probably be visited as least once by anyone wanting to call themselves a Minnesotan. For more information on the festivities, visit www.winter-carnival.com.

Christmastime — The Holidazzle is a beloved holiday tradition. Running from Nov. 24to Dec. 23, Nicollet Mall brings fairy tales to life in the form of a parade. Bundle up, grab some coffee, line the streets and wait for your inner child to come to life! Also, Macy’s eighth floor auditorium chooses one famous children’s story and brings that world to life for the public to walk through. Past stories have included “The Wizard of Oz,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and even “Harry Potter.” This year “Mary Poppins” rings in the holiday season.

Want to stay warm? — If frostbite isn’t your cup of tea, the Twin Cities is filled with indoor activities as well. Theaters, art galleries, museums and shopping are abundant. www.twincities.com is a good place to start if you are looking for some ideas.

Have fun and stay warm!

The MacLaurin Institute is a Christian study center serving the University of Minnesota – “bringing God into the marketplace of ideas.” Dr. William Monsma, a physicist-theologian from the University of Colorado, founded it in 1982. Each year the institute brings 10 to 15 Christian scholars to the U of M campus, along with holding a conference each year presenting a distinctly Christian alternative.

The U of M’s latest speaker, Mustafa Akyol, is a Muslim writer based out of Istanbul, Turkey. Akyol, 34, graduated from Bosphorus University. He travels around the United States and the United Kingdom giving seminars relating to Islam and modernity. In Turkish “Akyol” means “the white path,” a theme present throughout his career.

On Friday, Oct. 20 Akyol spoke about the Pope and Islam. His lecture dealt with the Pope Benedict’s Sept. 12 comments about Islam, which said that the religion generally limits the use of reason and too often uses violence. “Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,” the Pope said, referring to the almost 80 wars led by the Prophet Mohammad.

Jesus never picked up a sword, a member of the audience pointed out a passage from Matthew 26:50-52, which states: Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

Akyol responded to the question of whether Muslims embrace violence and forget reason by demonstrating the number of different attitudes there are toward Islam. One includes those who reject reason and imitate the Prophet Mohammad, another use reason to interpret the Koran.

In the beginning, the Mutazili school of thought believed that one should use reason to understand the Koran. The Hanbali school believed that one should imitate everything in the Koran, never using reason to evaluate what’s written. Eventually middle ground was found – Ashari believed more in imitating Mohammad but still used reason.

The issue of reason, which aroused many Muslims, was the central issue of Pope Benedict’s September lecture. Akyol argued that the Pope, who is not an expert on Islam, focused on the works of Ibn Hazm. Hazm was a representative of the Hanbali (modern day Wahhabis) who strongly distrust reason and rely on the imitation of Mohammad. Akyol criticized the Pope for ignoring other Islamic interpretations.

Akyol acknowledges that Islam has been criticized for using violence or “spreading by sword.” He states that the violent expansion in the first century must be understood as a political act meant for the purpose of the survival of Islam. In later years it was used to advance Islamic rule, but was not meant to forcefully convert those who followed. Violence cannot be justified for those reasons, Akyol says.

He used Quranic verses noting that virtually all Islamic scholars today oppose violent conversions.

In a response given by Dr. Terry Nichols, Chair of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, it was noted that scholars who might have identified the problems never reviewed the text of the Pope’s address.

To attend future lectures through the The MacLaurin Institute visit their Web site at http://www.maclaurin.org/.

It was all smiles and positive thinking at the first annual Northland Bioneers Conference, held at Minneapolis Community and Technical College over the weekend of October 20-22. A newly annual three-day interactive presentation, the conference is dedicated to spreading knowledge about the environment, health, social justice and holistic spirituality.

I arrived on the second day of the Northland Bioneers Conference open-minded but three-and-a-half hours late. The majority of patrons were already in small workshops learning about the various aspects of environmentalism, sustainable living and social change. Glancing at the schedule, I quickly glided through the main room, past booths representing different biofuel, organic food and environmentalist groups and up three floors to the classrooms.

I was immediately struck by the friendliness of the events staff and audience. The usually people attending events that support any sort of activism or environmentalism consistently prove to be the most positive, driven and seemingly happy people I have ever met. This is not happiness through delusion either, nor empty and unrealistic idealism. These are people dedicated to a positive approach toward affecting change in the world. These people are high on their own drive, their own need to try to do something. It is easy to become swept up in it. The entire weekend was shaped around new approaches to sustainable living that are simple and logical. The “why not?” mentality of the event as a whole was so convincing coming out that one has the impression that changing the world isn’t out of the question.

The event’s plates, cups and paper were made out of compostable materials like corn synthesized by Eureka Recycling of Minneapolis. The organization had a pledge to make the conference a zero percent trash event. Bioneers would leave MCTC in the same symbiotic relationship it came to it in. Speaking with two representatives from Eureka, I brought up the ghastly rumor that recycling isn’t profitable and therefore should be abandoned. They scoffed at the idea and told me that they have been profitable for over 20 years and that since they are a non-profit organization, all profits are put back into the community. Eureka’s mission statement is, “To demonstrate that waste is preventable, not inevitable.”

This is a refreshing stance considering America ranks number one as the biggest waste producer annually. Recycled paper has become a global economy to the extent that it is foolish on a business level not to invest in it. Ignoring recycling, I learned, is foolish. I asked Eureka what consumers can do to help the efforts of recycling. They told me that people should try to buy things in bulk and compost anything organic. By doing this you will not only help the earth, but also give yourself a base for a productive garden.

Sunday’s Energy, a business specializing in biodiesel fuel, also discussed their participation in the sustainability effort. From the group’s founder I learned that running biofuel in a diesel engine can get you up to 60 miles per gallon, a decision that makes amazing sense in lieu of the staggering gas prices.

Aveda, a cosmetics company which uses completely organic materials, was at the conference as well. Aveda, along with a number of other equally important and innovative organizations, is committed to helping the world in a progressive and straightforward manner.

To learn more about any of the groups present at the Northland Bioneers Conference or to become a bioneer yourself (as I soon am going to become), visit their website at . When it really comes down to it, why not?

Nineteen years ago, half a million people marched in Washington, D.C. to fight for gay and lesbian rights. Celebrating that day and continuing the fight for rights and awareness, the University’s Queer Student Cultural Center (QSCC) holds National Coming Out Week events each October. This fall, the QSCC’s keynote speaker asked supporters not to forget the children of gay and lesbian couples – because they too are marching through the homophobic world.

“QueerSpawn,” is what keynote speaker Abigail Garner calls herself. The daughter of a gay father and a straight mother, Garner is a professional advocate for not only the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) community, but also for their children. There is no exact figure for the number of children who have grown up in GLBT families over the past two decades, but estimates vary from one million to 16 million.

“We’re constantly trying to bring in diverse people, to represent a diverse community,” says QSCC Co-Chair Vincent Staupe, a senior journalism and mass communication major, of bringing in Garner. She spoke about issues that the rest of the week’s events did not address, Staupe explains.

Children with one or two GLBT parents face unique and demanding pressures, Garner explains. This is not because GLBT parents are any less fit than straight parents to raise children, but because of the current heated political dispute as to whether their families are “valid,” she says.

Naturally, these children feel pressure to legitimize their families and thus to refute the two widespread myths about children of gay and lesbian parents – that they too will be homosexual or that they will be damaged in some way, Garner says.

“These hot button debates about what types of families will be recognized rage on, with little regard to the reality that kids are already in these families,” explains Garner. Today’s fiery political questions of gay and lesbian marriage and GLBT parenting force the children who are already in these families under a public microscope, argues Garner.

The parents, fighting their own battles, who focus on teaching their children how to deal with discrimination they may face often do not realize the extra pressures their children cope with, she says.

Garner explains that when she was a child, “I knew that I had power, power to change people’s minds… their perceptions about gay people in general.” She says that by displaying herself as a perfect and healthy child she could become a “testament to gay parenting.” On the other hand, when children like her make normal mistakes, “the default blame for anything short of perfectionism becomes the sexuality of their parents,” Garner explains.

“For a lot of kids that realization puts tremendous pressure on them,” Garner explains, “If children are going to be visible, they have to be perfect. That’s what they internalize.” Garner interviewed many adult children and young children of homosexual parents for her book Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell it Like it Is. “Children know that we’re in this powerful position, because we are symbols of something much bigger,” she says.

If a child of GLBT parents does something like skip class or tries drugs it is blamed on their unfit parents, Garner contends. But, when their classmates (kids with straight parents) do the same things, those things are brushed off as common mistakes teenagers make.

Ironically, if children of GLBT families grow up to identify as GLBT themselves, they are often reluctant to come out to even their parents because they do not want to confirm the myth that GLBT couples reproduce GLBT children, Garner says. No studies have shown that GLBT parents are any more likely to produce GLBT children than straight parents, she points out.

Aside from facing discrimination and pressure to display public perfectionism, children in these families also live with a lack of laws protecting them, Garner argues. Because their parents are not always legally recognized as parents, or this status changes across state lines, children face risks in situations where a “legal parent” needs to be present, Garner says.

Both the GLBTA (A is for Ally) and the anti-gay marriage/adoption crowd contribute to the negative forces these children face, explains Garner. While the far right condemns the parents and makes claims that the children are unhealthy, the left fights back boasting the flawlessness of their children. Both are unwise moves, Garner warns. “What it’s really like for kids to grow up with GBLT parents is much more complex than what either side of the rhetoric claims.”

“I hope that with more honest conversations, the children in these families will someday have the rights that children in other families have, including the luxury to be as dysfunctional and complex as any other family, without worrying about the backlash of prejudice,” Garner says.

The QSCC hosted a variety of events in the week to encourage such honest conversations about GLBT issues, Staupe says. Luncheons, outings, a rally complete with a literal “Coming Out Door,” and an annual drag show were very successful, says Staupe.

Despite rainy weather, over 200 students showed up to the rally, where they picked up t-shirts donning the words “gay,” “bisexual,” “lesbian,” “transsexual,” “ally,” or “me.” “The main point of the week for us is to raise awareness of GLBT issues,” Staupe explains.

“We just want to let people know that we’re here. We’re [QSCC] at 205 Coffman Memorial Union, and we’re here for the students.”

More about Abigail Garner’s advocacy and research can be found at .

I remember my first experience with Homecoming. Excited to be at such a massive university, I was ready to participate. But the events were geared toward the Greek system, making it difficult and awkward to fully enjoy Homecoming as a newcomer and a commuter student. Without a sorority or residence hall to lead the way towards activities, I was without direction. I don’t remember a lot about that fall, but I do remember the Homecoming parade that went down University Ave.

It was chilly and was raining on and off throughout the morning, and I found a spot in the heart of frat row. A few houses were elaborately decorated with facades in front of the house held up by scaffolding to go along with the year’s theme. As the floats went by, people gave handouts to the noisier members of the crowd. As I was standing in front of the houses, I remember thinking about how long the people had been drunk and if they even slept at all the night before because it was early in the morning and I was sure the people celebrating were wasted. I ended up having a good time at the parade and at the football game afterwards even though I was not as drunk as the other people and the weather sucked.

Homecoming at the University of Minnesota has been celebrated since 1914, and the goal is to promote school spirit and the energy of maroon and gold. It is a week full of events that are coordinated by the Homecoming Committee which consists of 11 students and two faculty members. Even though the main groups that participate in the events are residence halls and members of the Greek system (most events are team events), there are things that any student can participate in or watch. The most popular events are the Homecoming parade on Saturday along University Avenue and the football game afterwards. This year, the Gophers will take on Indiana at 11 a.m.

Alissa Pepelnjak, the Campus Wide Activities Co-Coordinator, says that she wants to include commuter students in Homecoming. In putting up flyers and attending events for transfer and commuter students, she hopes to encourage their participation.

Pepelnjak believes that Homecoming is important for the U. “It’s a great time to get everyone involved to celebrate the tradition of the U and spirit of the maroon and gold. It’s also a lot of fun,” Pepelnjak says.

Sororities and fraternities are involved in many things during Homecoming week and it’s no exception this year for “The Wild, Wild Midwest,” theme. This year’s activities include the lip sync competition, barbecues, flag football, water polo, the parade and more.

One of the sororities on campus that gets involved in homecoming is Alpha Chi Omega. They are involved in all of the activities this year. Annette Reichkitzer, philanthopy chair for Alpha Chi Omega, says that her sorority either is involved in or watches the events to earn laching points, which are earned by sororities and fraternities. The amount of laching points depends on how well you do in an event and how much spirit you show for your group. The group with the most points by the end of the week is the winner, Reichkitzer says

Delta Upsilon, a fraternity, is participating in lip sync, float/house front making, flag football, cheering and the new event, water polo.

“We’re pretty pumped. Homecoming’s always sweet, especially for the Greeks, definitely the Greeks, it’s pretty much made for us,” says Ben Bundul, vice president of recruitment.

Fraternities and sororities pair together each year to go to the events. “Our theme for our pairing is Blazing Saddles,” Bundul says and adds that his fraternity’s shirts and floats are “sweet.”

Sororities and fraternities also work together on projects that are not related to Homecoming. Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Upsilon and Phi Sigma Kappa are working together on a philanthropy project that is being hosted by Alpha Chi Omega, Reichkitzer says.

This past year one sorority from the Pan-Hellenic council, the governing body for sororities on campus, and one fraternity from the Inter-Fraternity council, the governing body for fraternities on campus, had a member volunteer each weekend feeding starving children. Working together makes volunteering more fun, Reichkitzer says.

As long as there is a Homecoming at the U, sororities and fraternities will be involved in the activities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved too. For a full schedule of events and information on how to participate, check out the Homecoming website: .

Candidate: Tim Pawlenty
Running For: Governor
Party: Republican
Top Priorities: Economic growth, education and public safety
Experience: Minnesota Governor, 2002-present
Hometown: South Saint Paul, Minn.
Family: wife Mary and two daughters Anna and Mara
Favorite Sport: Hockey
Quote to Note: Earlier this year Pawlenty declared, “the era of small government over” in an interview with the Star Tribune. “Government has to be more proactive, more aggressive,” he went on. Pawlenty later claimed he was quoting New York Times columnist David Brooks and said that he meant he actually just wants to make government more effective. Right.

Candidate: Mike Hatch
Running For: Governor
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Top Priorities: Providing the middle class better access to healthcare and education
Experience: Minnesota Attorney General, 1998-present, Minnesota DFL party chair, 1980-1983
Hometown: Duluth, Minn.
Family: wife Patti and three daughters Katharine, Elizabeth and Anne
Pets: Bella and Laddy, both golden retrievers, Buffy, a cocker spaniel, and Nico, a formerly homeless cat.
Quote to Note: From a speech at a Hindu Temple last spring: “Minnesota is becoming an increasingly diverse state and with change comes choices. We can embrace diversity and the added richness that diversity brings to our communities, or we can use resentment and fear to react in a destructive manner.” The choice is yours…

Candidate: Peter Hutchinson
Running For: Governor
Party: Independence
Top Priorities: Affordable healthcare, easier access to higher education, reliable transportation options and addressing the environment and energy concerns through a reduction in foreign dependence on oil
Experience: former Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent
Hometown: Faribault, Minn.
Family: wife Karla and two daughters Emily and Julia
Avoids: “The 5 G’s.” Meaning, he doesn’t use guns, gays, gynecology, gaming and gladiators, by which he means sports stadiums, in politics because he considers them “wedge issues.”
Quote to Note: On the way his approach to public safety differs from Pawlenty’s: “I think calling people names and taking them out in public is not the way you get this stuff done.” Hutchinson promotes collaborations between state and local governments as the best way to fight crime. Also says, “I’d be two or three orders of magnitude less divisive” than Pawlenty or Hatch.

Candidate: Amy Klobuchar
Running For: U.S. Senate
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Top Priorities: Reforming healthcare, supporting education and holding Washington accountable for its actions.
Experience: Hennepin County Attorney, 1998-present
Hometown: Plymouth, Minn.
Family: husband John, daughter Abigail
Claim to Fame: The valedictorian of her high school class, she’s the daughter of former Star Tribune sportswriter and columnist Jim Klobuchar.
Quote to Note: Following the blogger-“finds”-Kennedy-ad-and-sends-it-to-the-Klobuchar-camp debacle, Klobuchar said “what happened here was wrong. … Some people may believe that this happens on campaigns all the time, but it is not acceptable on our campaign.”

Candidate: Mark Kennedy
Running For: U.S. Senate
Party: Republican
Top Priorities: Winning the War on Terror, reducing traffic congestion and ensuring the federal government plays a limited role in education.
Experience: U.S. House of Representatives, 2000-2002 (Second District) and 2002-present (redrawn Sixth District)
Hometown: Benson, Minn
Family: wife Debbie and four children
Brought us: The “because they’re true” commercial in which an elderly woman approaches Kennedy innocently reading the newspaper on a park bench and chastises him for “picking on Amy Klobuchar.” She asks him why he “said all those things” and he responds “because they’re true.” It might be the cheesiest political ad ever aired.
Quote to Note: The former Boy Scout’s website says: “Because we live in America,
Mark married the girl of his dreams (a farmer’s daughter he met in 4-H)” and
they lived happily ever after…

Candidate: Robert Fitzgerald
Running For: U.S. Senate
Party: Independence
Top Priorities: Reducing the national debt, balancing the federal budget, energy independence
Experience: none, pretty much. Just Kidding, people. He’s the former Executive Director of Access Television, obviously.
Hometown: Rothsay, Minn.
Family: wife Carolyn
Interestingly enough: Fitzgerald stars in several non-pornographic videos on YouTube
Quote to Note: On the Iraq war he says “it’s time to get out of Iraq now.
Congress has abdicated its responsibility of oversight while cost overruns and emergency funding have masked the true cost.”

Candidate: Keith Ellison
Running For: U.S. House of Representatives, Fifth District (which, if you reside in Minneapolis, you live in)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Top Priorities: Instituting a system of universal healthcare, immediate withdrawal from Iraq, the elimination of poverty (all very modest goals.)
Experience: Minnesota House of Representatives, 2002-present
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. Ellison moved to Minnesota in 1987.
Family: wife Kim and four children Amirah, Jeremiah, Elijah and Isaiah
Would be: Minnesota’s first black Congressperson and the United States’ first Muslim Congressperson
Quote to Note: “At sunset today (September 22) those of the Jewish faith around the world will commence the observance of Rosh Hashanah, a sacred holiday which marks the beginning of a New Year, 5767, by solemnly taking stock of the year past, acknowledging their mistakes and planning changes to make the new year a better, more fulfilling and joyous one. I can think of no more appropriate frame of mind for any of us to embrace in this final month of the secular political year.” He’s right; it is the perfect frame of mind!

Candidate: Alan Fine
Running For: U.S. House of Representatives, Fifth District
Party: Republican
Top Priorities: Support economic growth, promote family values and reform healthcare
Experience: Senior lecturer in Carlson
Hometown: Minneapolis
Family: son Louis
Wrote: “Empower Your Self: A Framework for Personal Success”
Pets: Attention-whoring Shetland sheepdog puppy named Blaze
Quote to Note: “This district is a bastion of diversity,” Fine told the Southwest Journal. And he says “have a Fine day!”

Candidate: Tammy Lee
Running For: U.S. House of Representatives, Fifth District
Party: Independence
Top Priorities: Balancing the federal budget, public education, healthcare access
Experience: Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey’s communications director, corporate affairs vice president of The Mark Travel Corp.
Hometown: Alexandria, Minn.
Family: daughter Lissa
Aired: Commercials in which she shreds paper. It’s really exciting stuff.
Quote to Note: In a debate earlier this year, Lee said “we’re going to see a lot more bad stuff and mudslinging come out during this campaign. I respect the fact that Keith said he’s running his own campaign and it’s going to be about the issues. I think Alan and the Republican Party are running his campaign. They’re going to have a very different style and approach and I’m running my own campaign. I will contrast my positions with the other candidates in this race.” Wow, talk about a campaign strategy!

As I sat silently in my seat, poring over my Spanish flash cards, I took a moment to peep around my surroundings. It was Monday, Oct. 9, and I was in the Coffman Bookstore, awaiting the arrival of heralded author, renowned radio personality, master storyteller and (as of most recently) international movie star, Garrison Keillor.

There were representatives from most age groups present; however, those on the wrong side of 50 greatly outnumbered those of us on the right. Small smatterings of college students were seen here and there. There was a group of freshmen in front of me, discussing the new Michel Gondry movie. To my right was a fellow in his fourth year studying a bit of Arabic and in the very front I spied a wide eyed freshman who could be found minutes later sitting so close to the edge of his seat, it’s a wonder he was able to stay on. The rest of the crowd consisted of turtle-necked moms and dads, husbands looking awkward in collared shirts their wives had clearly forced them into, and (my personal favorite) women wearing standard old lady sweaters with some sort of animal or plant life print on it.

The lack of youths in attendance leads me to this assumption: I’m not alone in my minimal exposure when it comes to Garrison Keillor and his works. There are likely hoards of young Minnesotans out there, who, like me, know only of him as that voice we heard on the occasional Saturday evening when our parents were listening to the radio. I’m glad I had the chance to have my perceptions of him changed. After attending the book discussion for his newest work, Homegrown Democrat: A Few Plain Thoughts from the Heart of America, I see the man in a whole new light.

From the moment he appeared he had my complete attention. Aside from his telling facial expressions, sideways glances, and the occasional goofy bit of posturing, the reason is evident. It’s that voice. I would believe anything James Earl Jones ever told me, I think nearly everything Christopher Walken says is hilarious, and I believe that Morgan Freeman could answer any question I would ever confront him with, all because of their distinctive voices. For this same reason, I could not stop listening to Garrison Keillor, even for a moment. He’s got one of those rare, definite and truly powerful voices. This is something I’d sort of already known, but to experience it in person is to be converted into a fan.

Another revelation, which I’m quite late in uncovering, is that Garrison Keillor is a funny, funny man. For the first of 45 minutes of his talk, he failed to mention his new book even once, electing instead to do what came across to me as a bit of stand-up comedy. Keillor tore down the house. He reps Midwestern democrats and Norwegians in the same way that Dave Chappelle does African-Americans. They both make observations and social commentaries through the eyes of their respective communities, and put their own personal styles and mannerisms on them, which their audiences absorb. They both also touch on some of the same topics, like the criminalization of smokers and the war in Iraq. When I took some time to read his new book, I enjoyed it immensely. It was a great read! Keillor dishes out series of rants and raves, limericks and alliterations, and the most creative disses since rap music started to suck.

I enjoyed learning about his past. He talked in person, and in his new book, about his years here at the U of M. He told stories of eagerly departing his childhood home of Anoka, his start in radio as a freshman (a situation in which he broadcast the whole year on a station which wasn’t even on air), the frat boys on University Avenue and their pajama parties, and getting to hear John F. Kennedy, Jr. speak. I was able to relate to what he was talking about, despite the fact he was here in the early ’60s.

It’s in this way that he helps to bridge the gap between us and our elders. In the first chapter of his new book he talks about being proud to be from the state, “… that produced Fitzgerald and the Mayo Clinic and Lindbergh, and Sinclair Lewis and Hubert Humphrey.” These words, which bring about such unwavering home-state pride in those of his same generation, might not have the same impact on us. But if I were to speak of my sources of pride, I’m sure the reverse would be true. Names like Atmosphere, Mitch Hedberg, Mason Jennings, or Nick Swardson wouldn’t do much for them either. Keillor is like a Prince or a Bob Dylan, someone we can all appreciate. He’s like the Twins, or hating Iowa and North Dakota, or putting ketchup on everything. He’s a Minnesotan, he’s damn funny, and at the end of the day, that’s something we can all hang our (winter) hats on.

Every summer, eager and nervous incoming freshmen flood the University of Minnesota campus to take part in a required two-day student orientation, led by current students clad in maroon and gold polo shirts. This program is meant to offer a smooth transition into the University community in order to maximize academic success. Students come prepared to meet fellow classmates and staff members, register for classes and enjoy their very first dorm-living experience. Hopefully these students gain a sense of community and support as they enter the college world. It is here that these young minds can listen to experienced college students talk about how to survive their first year and make it fun while they’re at it.

But few people realize the time and effort that goes into the program that leaves a lasting first impression on those newbies.

The University of Minnesota’s Orientation and First Year Programs (OFYP) provides any University student with two semesters under their belt the opportunity to become an orientation leader. OFYP recruits for the position all though October, with banners in Northrop Mall, posters, ads and e-mails to student groups. Applications for the position, which gives a $2,900 stipend for the summer, are open from the beginning of October through Nov. 3, 2006. Hiring is an extensive process, as students who are invited to interview for the job must endure three interviews: first as a group with different members of the OFYP staff, followed by individual interviews with members of their college and finally with the student orientation coordinators.

This process singles out the best-qualified candidates to determine the most diverse to represent the University of Minnesota. The 24 students who emerge as orientation leaders then undergo rigorous training throughout spring semester. The time commitment includes weekly four-hour meetings, which can be taken as a class, as well as summer training from the conclusion of spring semester through the beginning of orientation.

Throughout training, orientation leaders work on personal leadership development, team building, conflict resolution and group facilitation. And that’s before orientation even begins. Beginning at the end of the spring semester, leaders live together in a residence hall and endure sun-up to sun-down training, according to orientation coordinator Joanne Reeck.

But despite the level of commitment necessary for the job, orientation leaders all seem to love the experience. Freshman orientation student coordinator Mike Traxinger says, “It’s a huge commitment, but a great learning experience. By the end of the summer, you’re a very close knit group.” Traxinger and fellow student coordinator Brandon Creager also highlight the leadership experience and professional skills that you gain in the program. For Creager, the most memorable thing about his summer was running into new students on campus in the fall and seeing how they adjusted with his help.

So, if you work well with others and strive to wear the infamous maroon and gold polo, apply online before Friday Nov. 3 at 4:30p.m. at . OFYP requires a minimum GPA of 3.20, and students who will be graduating before the end of the orientation session are not eligible.

More than likely the United States will never be one nation for liberty and justice for all. Everyday, people are divided into race, class and gender, but wealth is also added into this division.

Rose Brewer, professor of African American and African studies at the University of Minnesota, co-wrote a book that looks deeply into the wealth divide of five different racialized groups. The Color of Wealth: The Story behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide lays out the obstacles for Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans by government actions or inactions. The book also looks at details that have boosted the white population’s wealth status through public policy.

At Coffman Memorial Union Bookstore on Wednesday Oct. 4, Brewer had a book signing discussing her book and her personal experiences. At first glance, it was just another book review but ended with a crowded audience of all races who were intrigued by her words. Dressed all in black and hair tied up, Brewer talked with strength and pride as she began to explain where she came from and why her research for the book is so important.

“I always go back to Tulsa, Okla. where I was nurtured and where I was reared,” Brewer says. “That is where the seeds of activism were planted.”

Brewer grew up in Tulsa where deep racial inequality continued after the racial terrorism of 1921, she says. The state of Oklahoma incorporated the racial practices of Jim Crow: segregated schools, housing and public accommodations. A prosperous entrepreneurial sector called Greenwood emerged in North Tulsa, but the majority of black Tulsans worked in domestic fields and poor-paying manual labor, Brewer says.

“I grew up in the caldron of racism but also, in the midst a community that expected much from her children, believed in us,” Brewer says. “That is the context of my birth and the trajectory from which I come to write this book collaboratively.”

The book addresses wealth and equality among different racial groups and each author gives their unique history with deep rationality to each other. As with Brewer, the other co-authors each described their personal experiences in the sections regarding their own race and wealth history. Also, each author has a connection with United for a Fair Economy, an organization that over the years has issued reports and briefings on wealth and equality in the United States. Their work for UFE is how the book came to be.

The book talks about the United States as a whole, but Brewer brought the thought of racial wealth divide closer to home. On Oct. 3, 2006, a report was released about the Twin Cities that shows one of the highest white home ownership ratios in a major U.S city with about 78 percent in contrast to black homeownership at 29 percent. “That makes us 45th in the nation close to Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, which are the states that have been historically at the bottom of equity, income and wealth divide,” Brewer says. These statistics were not put in the book but are some of the issues the authors are addressing.

Statistics also show that for every dollar possessed by the average white family in the U.S., the average family of color has less than one dime. For centuries there were barriers put up by law, by constitution, discrimination and violence against participating in government wealth building programs that were beneficial to whites.

To reach racial wealth equality, it’s important to first understand the roots of the racial wealth divide. Wealth is a better indicator of inequality within society than talking about race or class, Brewer says.

At the same time, we have a difficult time talking about wealth. The median wealth statistics for median net worth, which is the mid-point where half the population is above or below, show quite a discrepancy. In 2001, whites’ median net worth in the United States was $120,900, and for blacks it was $17,100.

“Wealth in this country is passed on generationally,” Brewer says. Depending on the race, ancestors set up the lives of their forbearers. Homesteaders gave land to their future families, whereas slaves were unable to homestead land like Europeans.

The Native American, Asian American and Latino population also have had their struggles when compared to white wealth and success. Between 1960 and 1980, Native Americans faced difficulties with hunting and fishing rights by commercial sportsmen. A campaign against Indian fishing rights was expressed in terms of sportsmen interest and environmental protection. They blamed Indians for smaller fish runs that were actually caused by normal fish patterns and stream pollution by corporations.

The Latino population, which is an umbrella term that includes Puerto Ricans and Cubans, is a story of land and labor expropriation. Land owned by Mexican Americans was lost after the Mexican American War but was protected under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and U.S. law. Congress later ratified the treaty and the treaty was omitted. In other words, the Mexican American land was no longer theirs even after the treaty said it would protect their land.

Asian Americans also had land and law problems. The first land restriction for Asians occurred as early as 1857, when the Chinese were prohibited by law from exercising mining claims in several western states, Brewer read. These groups of color have all been penalized for their race, and share similar histories of inequality.