Apps for “U” p. 11-13
Q&A: Quilt p. 16-17
MNTV Showcase p. 21
vol. 13 | issue 7February 17 - March 3
Can't get enough of The Wake?
Twitter: @the_wake
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ProductionProduction Manager Sondra Vine Graphic Designers Sondra Vine, Eric Berry, Kelsey Schwartz, Brittany Long Art Director Sam Lindsay Social Media Manager Kelcie McKenney Web Editor Sam Gordon Web Assistant Brittany Long Business Manager Cooper Henckel Distributors Shawna Stennes Morgan JensenSara Glesne
EditorialEditor-in-Chief Alyssa Bluhm
Managing Editor Justin Miller Cities Editor Grace Birnstengel Voices Editor Bruce Ferguson Sound & Vision Editor Sara Glesne Courtney Bade
Online Editor Lauren Cutshall Faculty AdvisorShayla Thiel-Stern
This IssueCover Artist Emily Chang (Front), Kelsey Schwartz (Back)
Photographers
Sarah Brewer, Emily Chang, Lauren Cutshall, Zach Simon
Illustrators
Dan Forke, Sam Lindsay, Lauren Long, Peter Mariutto, Lianna Matt Contributing Writers
Grace Birnstengel, Alyssa Bluhm, Aaron Bolton, Lauren Cutshall, Kirsten Erickson, Herbert B. Ferguson-Augustus, Sara Glesne, Nader Helmy, Aidan Hutt, Thomas Hvizdos, Kenai Klaskin, Dahsol Lee, Lianna Matt, Justin Miller, Shelby Miner, Alex Nelson, Eric Newland, Sam Schaust, Zach Simon, Nick Theis, Connor Wright
13:7
DISCLAIMERthe purpose of the Wake is to provide a forum in which students can voice their opinions. opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole. to join the conversation email [email protected].
©2013 The Wake Student Magazine. All rights reserved.
Established in 2002, The Wake is a fortnightly independent magazine and registered student organization produced by and for the students of the University of Minnesota.
The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
www.wakemag.org
The Wake was founded byChris Ruen and James DeLong.The Wake is published with support from
Generation Progress/Center for American Progress (online at www.genprogress.org).
Whats Inside?
Black History at the U of M p. 4
Target Express in Dinkytown p. 5
Here to Stay - New Broadcast Club p.6
Polymet Will Mine and Dash p.7
Obama's State of Disunion p.8
It's All Greek to Us, or Them? p. 9Target Data Breach p. 9
Forsaking the T in LGBT p. 10
Apps for "U" p. 11-13
The last time I noticed Ellen Page was when she was kissing Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Inception, and I was devastated. After her coming out speech this weekend, I’m not that concerned anymore.
But Page’s speech calmed me in another way, just by her sheer honesty and positivity. It’s rare to see people express raw emotion without being as phony as Anne Hathaway at last year’s Oscars, and in the process Page made some great points about everyday struggles. Just because she was talking about gay hate doesn’t mean they don’t apply to other parts of life.
Take this quote, for example:
This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.
There is no better way to phrase it. We’re all college students struggling under our respective homework-, job-, and life-shaped onuses, and being horrible to peo-ple isn’t going to make it better. Even on the worst days, don’t fo-cus on trying to be nice when you don’t feel like it. Just focus on not being horrible. Making others feel bad doesn’t do anything good.
But if you’re really at a loss, try drinking like, ten tons of Sunny D.
Alyssa Bluhm
Editor-in-Chief
Student Service Fees p. 15
Q&A: Quilt - 16-17
A Coffman Piano Player p. 18
A New Northrop p. 19Story Club Minneapolis p. 19
Siberia Through Photography p. 20
Nostalgia in the Modern Age p. 21MNTV 2014 Showcase p. 21
3 Reviews p. 22
Events Calendar p. 23
4. february 17 - march 3
Cities
On Jan. 14, 1969, seven students marched into the records
office of the University of Minnesota's own Morrill Hall and
refused to walk out. Upon creating the Black Student Union
that same day, students protested the lack of resources and
respect for black students on campus. Forty-five years later,
the University now strives to implement new strategies to
create more opportunities for black students.
One of the most recent additions to the University's re-
sources for black students is the Huntley House – a Living
Learning Community (LLC) on campus for black males that
opened in August of 2012. With troubling retention and
graduation rates for many black men, the Kaler Administra-
tion and Housing and Residential Life decided to tackle the
issue together. The Huntley House provides a space for black
males to participate in various service events, weekly study
sessions, one-on-one meetings with staff members, as well
as a monthly in-house barber shop.
While students in the Huntley House do not officially apply
to be involved, they are often recruited by the Office for Eq-
uity and Diversity, the Office of Admissions, or Housing and
Residential Life. Many believe the space not only gives these
students a better opportunity for academic success, but it
provides a better sense of community.
"[For students in marginalized groups,] there is a potential
to be 'othered' or made different, in an environment not
designed for [them]," said Leonard Taylor Jr., the resident di-
rector of 17th Ave. Residence Hall where the Huntley House
is located. The Huntley House also provides members with a
link to other student organizations such as the National So-
ciety of Black Engineers or the Black Student Union in order
to continue the legacy and community of the LLC far beyond
the year they spend living together.
Forty-five years after its establishment at the start of 1969,
the U of M’s Black Student Union continues to stay strong
in its mission to "encourage a positive image of black people
and to support its members in achieving their education
goals." Composed of an executive board of less than a dozen
people, and a general board of over 150, the BSU holds
meetings as well as various education events and often part-
ners with other black student organizations and fraternities.
While the majority of students involved are either African,
African-American, or a part of the African Diaspora, it is
open to all students at the University.
In honor of Black History Month, the
BSU is putting on several events for all
students to attend in order to better
inform everyone about black history.
“[Black history month] is to make peo-
ple conscious of our plight, our realities
of social injustice, and our commitment
as students," said DeSean Smedley, the
cultural awareness chair of the BSU
and an African American and African
Studies major. "What are we doing to
fight social injustices for our future?"
Though there has been much success in
the struggle for equal rights, the issue
of equal opportunity remains.
As students all across the country
participate in some form of cultural rec-
ognition in the month of February, the
achievements of black people are seem-
ingly condensed into just 28 days. With
February – coincidentally the shortest
month – designated as Black History
Month, the question arises: does Black
History Month point out a separation
that needs to be addressed, or is it drawing attention to a
problem we have overcome?
“Though there have been many successes in the struggle for equal rights, the issue of equal opportunity remains.”
Although many people believe that Black History Month is a
time to educate people of all races on black history, Smedley
sees it primarily as a way for black people to learn about a
heritage and history that has faced considerable difficulties.
"Black people have never had it good in America," Smedley
said. "But Black History Month is a time for us to examine,
'Where are we today?'"
For Smedley, Black History Month is an attempt to "heighten
black people's consciousness" in regards to the history and
current state of black people's rights and opportunities. Cur-
rently, the month of February provides a platform for speak-
ing out about black history as well as the future for black
people, especially within the realm of higher education. Such
a platform is necessary and for Leonard Taylor Jr., is a "step
in the right direction."
Yet, the only-one-month controversy continues to irk many
people in that it encourages a binge of black history educa-
tion, only to be ignored the other 11 months of the year.
"For me, black history month is 365 days, 24/7," Smedley
said. "There is no time that I'm not black." Still, he acknowl-
edges the importance of learning how to make the most of
the month that is available.
Though Black History Month may stir up emotions, it is
largely seen as not a dwelling on the past, but as an oppor-
tunity to change and improve the future. Even 45 years after
the Morrill Hall takeover, the formation of the Black Student
Union, and the creation of department of African American
and African studies, new programs are promoted to encour-
age thoughtful and progressive discussion. Ultimately,
Smedley concluded that Black History Month is for everyone
"to understand black culture and break down the stereo-
types and prejudices… even if it causes cognitive dissonance.
It's a learning process, and this is the space to do that."
By Lauren Cutshall
From Then to Now: Black History at the U of M An ongoing story of pride, protest, and public education.
LAUREN CUTSHALL
www.wakemag.org 5.
CITIES
By Kirsten Erickson
The monopoly that Walgreens and CVS stores have held
around the U of M campus may soon be over, as the first ever
TargetExpress will open July 27 in Dinkytown on the corner of
5th Street and 13th Avenue SE.
Minnesota’s hallmark retailer will offer university students a
condensed Target experience including grocery and pharmacy
items, along with a small selection of basic clothing, home
decorations, and electronics, according to the New York Times.
The store will be the first of its kind, a sort of test to see if the
store could work in other urban environments in the future.
Stores like Walmart Express, located in Chicago, have used a
similar formula in the past.
Squeezing into a 20,000-square-foot space on the ground
floor of the apartment building that replaced the old University
Technology Enterprise Center, the store will be one-fifth the
size of a normal, big-box Target. That’s even smaller than the
already-established CityTargets.
The July 27 opening is planned with the hope that students will
be able to shop at the store for the fall semester. The company
said it hopes to benefit from university students needing to buy
supplies for back to school.
For students, this new store will offer an alternative to the simi-
lar set-ups of Walgreens and CVS stores around campus. Prices
at the store will be based competitively on similar stores in the
area, according to the Minnesota Daily.
“It will be nice having another convenient, and hopefully
cheaper, option than the CVS on campus,” U of M freshman
Amanda Wambach said.
Other students, however, said they would have liked to see a
more grocery-oriented option close to campus, as the nearest
Cub Foods or Rainbow Foods is a bus ride away.
New Target experience planned for DinkytownTargetExpress will be a smaller version of big-box stores
“The last thing we need is another small convenience store.
Can we please just get a store within walking distance that has
a full-scale grocery?” sophomore Joanna Shoemaker said.
Whether students are welcoming the latest development or
not, Target will try to make this TargetExpress a success. Given
the significant challenges big-box retailers face today, creating
a popular new shopping experience is important.
If all goes according to plan, TargetExpress may soon become a
staple of college campuses and other urban areas.
Black History Month & U Of M Timeline
Morrill Hall Takeover
Jan.
14
1969
Jan.
14
1969
Formation of the UMN Black Student Union by John Wright
Creation of the Afro-American and African Studies (now African American and African Studies) Department, one of the first in the nation.Fa
ll 19
69
Spri
ng 1
970
Dr. Horace Huntley graduates as a part of the first AA&AS Class
Huntley House Living Learning Community Opened
Aug
ust
2012
PETER MARIUTTO
6. february 17 - march 3
Cities
By Lianna Matt
Like most new student groups, Ski-U-Media’s first semester
was spent forming the basis of the club. Despite making
their presence known at the beginning of the school year by
taking part in events like the School of Journalism and Mass
Communication (SJMC) Activities Fair and talking with the
Minnesota Daily, they had a slow, deliberate start to figure
out what their mission was, what kind of content they want-
ed to produce, and, surprisingly, something that had nothing
to do with film itself: public relations. Ski-U-Media is more
than just a hobbyist club, and by focusing on marketing,
they aim to be a prominent, professional club on campus.
Charles Weirke, one of the club’s co-presidents, has used
his knowledge as a journalism and communications major
as well as experience from his current video production
internship for the Minnesota Swarm lacrosse team to bring
Ski-U-Media to life. He realized that to make a presence on
such a large campus, he would need help.
“When we decided to reinvent ourselves this year, [Ross
Acampora] was the first person I spoke to because I knew
his background with startup businesses, and I knew he could
help out,” Weirke said.
Acampora, a strategic communications major and a veteran
in marketing for startup companies like the ByME app, had
taken Introduction to Mass Communication with Weirke.
“I was interested just from a PR
standpoint. [Weirke] had the film
experience; I have the management
experience,” Acampora said.
As the other co-president, Acam-
pora brought the mindset of busi-
ness direction that Ski-U-Media
was missing.
Ski-U-Media has three meetings
per week: one with the videog-
raphers, one with the business
people, and one big meeting to
keep them cohesive, and up-to-
date on matters and assignments.
Here To StayA new broadcast club is ready for the new semester.
Club Officer Lee Murphy strongly believes in the importance
of public relations in Ski-U-Media.
“It’s up to the PR branch to generate revenues and take care
of the bureaucratic groundwork,” Murphy said.
During public relations meetings, the students go over top-
ics such as marketing strategies for social media or ideas for
future fundraising campaigns.
“It also comes down to me [the head of the PR branch]
to make sure that all of our production efforts meet the
group’s brand standard,” Murphy said.
With teamwork between members, Ski-U-Media is learning
to navigate problems.
“What we’ve done has taken a massive amount of work to
make a reality,” Murphy said. “I’ve gotten a sense of appre-
ciation for the struggle of creating a group from the ground
up. It takes so much bureaucracy, paperwork, promotion,
politicking, and diplomacy to make a group the right way.”
All of that work channels into Acampora and Weirke’s vi-
sions of what the club could be.
“I hope our group will one day provide all U of M students
with an opportunity to learn video production, news
reporting, marketing, and all aspects that go into creating
successful broadcasts,” said Weirke. To get to that point,
though, Ski-U-Media has to create a professional learn-
ing environment, and they fully realize that.
Ski-U-Media is now armed to the teeth with
high-quality equipment and a studio
courtesy of SJMC. Acampora
spoke highly of SJMC’s director, Albert Tims. “[Tims] put it
in the hands of the studio lab manager and said, ‘Yeah, we’ll
get you in there; we’ll get you some equipment. Let’s see
what you can do,’” said Acampora.
With full dedication from both the business and produc-
tion sectors of the group (and some members participating
in both), Ski-U-Media is excited for the chance that SJMC
helped give them, but they are not being foolhardy. To avoid
dying out like previous broadcasting groups, they are careful
to prepare members for the amount of time that produc-
tion and marketing strategies can take so members do not
overwhelm themselves or lose enthusiasm.
In a media-rich campus (and a media-rich world), Ski-U-
Media is trying to make its mark. “The end goal is to pro-
duce content every other day, if not daily. We want people
to go on Twitter, click [a link], get a 30 to 60 second
update, and then a monthly news show,” Acampora said.
“The Wake brings news and culture in a magazine form,
Minnesota Daily brings news in a print form, Radio K brings
news every Sunday, and we’d like to bring news in video
form for everybody.”
As Murphy put it, “We’ve laid some serious founda-
tion and plan for Ski-U-Media to be around for a
long time.”
Prepare for a new way to consume
news on campus.
LIANNA MATT
www.wakemag.org 7.
VOICESPolymet Will Mine and DashAnd let’s face it. There will not be any jobs on a dead planet.
By Nick Theis
Let’s assume for a moment that global warming is
a hoax, that polluting Hoyt and Babbit lakes,
nearby streams, and possibly even the
Boundary Waters themselves with acid
mine drainage and heavy metals
were non-issues. If this were the
case, Polymet would have
its mineral rights and
the miners of Northern
Minnesota would have
their jobs... right?
Okay, no more pretending. You
have probably heard about the
copper and nickel mining proposal
—the so called “Northmet mine” in
Northern Minnesota—that the Cana-
dian company Polymet has submitted
to the State? If so, you’re probably
familiar with the environmental hazards it
will create, and you probably know that it will take
hundreds of years to clean up.
Proponents of the Polymet mine, however,
argue that it will create jobs and spur
economic development. This is a com-
mon argument levied against environmentalists.
Polymet’s mining project will generate about 300
jobs—but only for the 20-year duration of the
project. Moreover, what happens when the
project is over, and there is no more copper and
nickel left in the area, just a bunch of toxic sludge?
The Boundary Waters is the most popular wilderness area in
the U.S., attracting about 250,000 visitors annually. In Ely,
Minn. alone there are about 1,000 tourism jobs in the sum-
mer and 400 in the winter. Once the Ely area is polluted with
sulfide mining waste and the miners have retired to a life-
time of lung disease, these sectors of employment will take
a hit. In the Duluth Complex area, there are about four times
as many tourism and recreation jobs than will be created by
the mining project. Losing the tourism industry to pollution
is simply not worth it.
The Polymet mine will not create a substantial number of
jobs in the short- or the long-term. Both would cause a small
boom of construction jobs initially, but so would building
wind turbines and solar farms.
Will the Polymet mine help the Minnesota economy? The
metals market is notoriously volatile, and if copper and
nickel prices dip, there is no guarantee that Polymet won’t
dip with it. Where mining companies have seen their proj-
ects through, they have often left the taxpayer with the
burden of the clean-up. For instance, the Summitville Mine
in Colorado, which leaked into the groundwater in the ‘80s,
and has since cost taxpayers $185 million to clean up.
And anyway, about half of all copper consumed in the U.S.
each year is recycled copper. Recycling copper is more
efficient than mining it, and the copper recycling industry
could be expanded. Why not start a copper recycling pro-
gram in Minnesota, instead of a hazard and unsustainable
mining project? Why not divest from tar-sands oil entirely,
and move to more sustainable forms of energy?
Simply put, these projects are not intended to help ordi-
nary people, Minnesotan, American, or otherwise. Both
Polymet and its primary funder, Glencore Xstrata, are not
the least bit concerned about our interests. In fact, neither
is our government.
The environment is a non-issue to these people. Promises
of “jobs” and “economic gain” are lies. Working on a mine is
hazardous. All economic gains vary with world prices.
Mineral extraction is a matter of profit—but
perhaps not for much longer. A bill intro-
duced to congress last year would make
mineral extraction a matter of National
Defense: HR761, the National Strategic
and Critical Minerals Production Act.
If passed, this bill will militarize
the mining industry. Never mind
the environment, jobs, and the
economy, because “defense”
trumps all. But then again,
there won’t be much
to defend on a dead
planet. Now more than
ever, Americans, let alone
Minnesotans, need to put
their communities over temporary
paychecks as well as keep their govern-
ment in line.
Minnesotans need to set their priorities
before they are set for them. Unem-
ployment will always spike in good times
and bad as prices rise and fall. The tempta-
tion of sulfide mining is not worth jeopardiz-
ing the environment and the livelihood and
health of the average Minnesotan. Take a stand
Minnesota!
DAN FORKE
8. february 27 - march 3
VOICESObama’s State of DisunionHow does one issue and $10 represent the American Government?By Nader Helmy
Logging the complete record of U.S. President Barack
Obama’s relationship and rapport with the public is no easy
task. Initially, he was the young, refreshingly animated and
charismatic forward-thinker that the nation needed in a
post-Bush era. Since then, he has fluctuated from seeming
overly optimistic to too hesitant, to downright weary.
President Obama had much to consider when gearing up
for his fifth State of the Union address on Jan. 28. We see
him increasingly threaten to exercise the power of execu-
tive orders in order to accomplish things that he believes
have been delayed for too long.
“My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do.”
His idle congress and stagnantly low approval ratings seem
to mimic his position on one issue in particular: the federal
minimum wage. The issue has widespread economic and
social support, and yet it manages to be bogged down by
bureaucracy and dysfunction.
He said, “In the coming weeks I will issue an executive order
requiring federal contractors to pay their federally funded
employees a fair wage of at least 10 dollars and 10 cents an
hour because if you cook our troop’s meals or wash their
dishes you should not have to live in poverty.”
While companies are, in general, turning up higher profits,
he said, “Average wages have barely budged. Inequality has
deepened. Upward mobility has stalled.” He urges businesses
to be more like Minneapolis’s own Punch Pizza, who has
made its minimum wage $10 and has seen lower employee
turnover and higher productivity as a result.
Recognizing the barriers in place, he encourages local legisla-
tors that, he said, “You don’t have to wait for Congress to
act. Americans will support you if you take this on.” He’s
finding other ways to get the job done—recognizing that the
problem needs a fix on the federal level, but using businesses
and legislators in the interim.
Present at the speech were the authors of a bill to be put
before Congress that suggests raising the federal minimum
wage to $10.10 an hour. All this is to say that logic and
reason both point to the obvious solution (and this seems to
be an increasing trend with all of America’s hot-button con-
troversial issues), but it is a matter of working through and
around some of our government’s bureaucratic structures in
order to fully realize it.
It’s hard to shake that the entire speech had an air of
re-establishment about it. He attempts to remind us of
the qualities which traditionally have made our country
successful. As he puts it, it is, “The spirit of citizenship,”
the story of an underdog who does his part to do good by
others and is raised on a platform of riches and respect
because of it. Obama’s rhetoric makes America sound
more like The Little Engine That Could than the powerful
big brother that we are. There’s a spirit about Americans
that sets us apart. We’re different, sure, and his SOTU is
recognition of that difference.
“My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does
what we do,” he said. But with relatively straight-forward
problems like the minimum wage remaining unsolved, un-
fortunately, it’s getting harder to ignore whether or not that
remains to be a good thing.
Nevertheless, the State of the Union has often been chas-
tised for being a catalog of vague promises. The major policy
promises that need to be made are clearer now, but Obama’s
lethargy with these issues is also just as evident. That is why
he manages to come off as simultaneously self-congratulato-
ry and self-aware. Conspicuously absent, as in his 2012 run
for re-election, were those all-encompassing buzzwords like
“change.” Instead, he calls for a “year of action,” propelling
forward ideas and bills that are already widely supported and
yet rarely implemented.
President Obama’s most recent job approval rating as
reported by the Gallup Poll is quite telling. Currently at a 42
percent approval rating, he is a full percentage lower than
even George W. Bush’s approval rating during his own second
January after re-election—43 percent, and higher only than
the old Richard Nixon’s at that same point in his presidency. In
other words, he is in hot water with his constituents.
With a stagnant Congress and a restless nation, Obama is
to breathe life into a nation in gridlock, but so long as these
issues hold us back, Washington is in comatose.
LAUREN CUTSHALL
www.wakemag.org 9.
VOICES
Training the DogThe Target debacle shows our power over corporationsBy Herbert B. Ferguson-Augustus
There are wolves in the world. Driven by the smell of prof-
its, the loyalty of corporations lies solely with the pack
that is the shareholders.
This is the image prescribed to us of the modern corporation,
when in reality they are less wolves and more like their domes-
ticated cousins. They wag their tails when you shop in their
stores and bark during talks of greater government regulation.
Yet, when you consider companies like our very own Target
Corporation, they can only do as much as you allow them.
Target peed on the carpet. In mid-December, news broke of
hackers compromising the credit and debit card information
of more than 110 million customers. The hackers responsible,
according to National Public Radio, accessed the information
through one of Target’s vendors, HVAC heating systems. It’s a
stain on the company’s history no one will soon forget.
But what is more telling of the corporation’s behavior is what
happened after the story of the data breach went viral. The
company’s stock prices hit a two-year low, revenue flattened
despite strong sales in early 2013, and the federal govern-
ment called a cyber security hearing with Target CFO John J.
Mulligan being the guest of honor. In response, the company
offered a 10 percent discount to customers for the week of
Dec. 17, and moved to implement smart chip technology for
enhanced cyber security. Even now the extent of the dam-
age of the data breach remains to be seen.
Still, Target’s response attests to its vulnerability as a
retailer and the power of its customer base. According to
Bloomberg Businessweek, discount retailers like Wal-Mart
and Macy’s continue to undercut Target prices, forcing
them to invest billions in public relations to maintain a
positive corporate image. Like a puppy to an old dog, ev-
erything changes when people have another animal
upon which to project their affections—and
their dollars—on.
Therefore, Target’s response has been practi-
cal with the apologies, discounts, and security
upgrades. This may seem miniscule in comparison
to the danger of the data breach, consider-
ing companies like AIG and how they behaved
during the 2008 financial crisis. Indeed, some
dogs are more rabid than others, but all of them roll
over when their revenue is on the line.
We as citizens and consumers need to realize this power we
have over corporations. We can no longer see ourselves as
the victims, and them as victimizers, when we fundamen-
tally determine our relationship by deciding what firms we
frequent. Target Corporation still isn’t exactly a good dog.
The average hourly wage for employees working the floor
is $8.50, according to Glassdoor, lower than other major
discount retailers like Costco, which pays $11.51 an hour.
We need to demand more accountability, greater trans-
parency, and decency to employees from our corpora-
tions because ultimately we’re the ones who adopt these
lovable dogs.
PETER MARIUTTO
SAM LINDSAY
It’s All Greek to Us, or Them? By Kenai Klaskin
The University of Minnesota campus is home to many differ-
ent sororities and fraternities, traditional and multicultural
alike. These two types of Greeks have stayed separate, never
really associating with or bothering to learn much about
each other, identifying both a distinction and a divide.
Sophomore Rawnaq Al-Gheithy, a member of the multicul-
tural Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, said that the traditional
sororities and fraternities on campus concentrate mostly on
the social aspect of Greek life, such as networking, while the
multicultural ones focus on helping out in the community
and on campus instead.
Al-Gheithy said, “I have a lot more respect for people who
pledge multicultural Greek organizations. I know they know
their history, and that they joined for the right reasons: to be
an impact on their communities through service.”
Freshman Matt Miner is a member of the traditional frater-
nity Sigma Nu. In response to Al-Gheithy’s opinion, he said,
“We actually had to take tests. If she had to go through both
processes, I think she would find that they’re quite similar.”
And while he doesn’t disagree that traditional fraternities
and sororities have a bigger focus on the social scene, he
considers this to be the most important part of Greek life.
He also quickly dismissed the idea that one type of Greek
organization deserves more or less respect than the other.
When asked how he thought the multi-
cultural Greeks run their organizations,
he didn’t have a good idea.
So, even though a clear difference has
been established between the two, both
of them still wear the Greek badge. It
still seems strange that groups that fancy
themselves “Greeks” seem to have such
little understanding of other types of
sororities and fraternities.
Traditional and multicultural Greeks are even organized
under different hierarchies, with the former organized under
the Interfraternity and PanHellenic Council and the latter
organized under the National PanHellenic Council, Multicul-
tural Greek Council.
Could their traditions be so old and cherished that they’ve
stopped caring about outside intervention, even if it means
expanding their horizons? This is hard to determine without
opening a broader discussion. The question thus arises as to
how the divide came to be and more importantly, what that
says about the University.
10. february 17 - march 3
VOICESForsaking the T in LGBTAccepting Gay Marriage is not the same as accepting the LGBT community By Connor Wright
Let’s have a talk about what being an ally to the LGBT com-
munity means. In the year where Macklemore’s “Same Love”
dominates the airwaves as states across the country enact
same-sex marriage initiatives, discussions around LGBT
rights and same-sex marriage echo the refrain, “Love is love.”
“...an individual on top of the ride shouted, “We won! Minnesota has gay marriage! The war is over!” The war is not over.”
For many, it seems obvious to think that the lives and
relationships of LGBT individuals are the same as their
straight compatriots. Pro-gay marriage ad campaigns
dedicate themselves to normalizing LGBT relationships
by focusing on middle-class, middle-aged white couples
posed against a backdrop of systematic discrimination.
Absent from these campaigns, however, are the other
forms of systematic discrimination LGBT persons face in
their day to day lives.
Statistically, we know no more than 10 percent of youth
are LGBT-identified; however 40 percent of all homeless
youth are LGBT. In Minnesota alone, over 4,000 youth
experience homelessness every night. Transgender
individuals are four times as likely to live off a household
income of under $10,000 compared with the total popu-
lation. In 2011, a survey of 16 states found that while
hate-violence incidents have decreased the number
of hate-murders of LGBTQ individuals increased by 11
percent. Eighty-seven percent of those murdered were
people of color, an increase from 70 percent in 2010,
and 45 percent of these individuals were transgender
women. Transgender individuals were 28 percent more
likely to experience physical violence compared to their
cisgender/gender-normative counterparts.
I remember attending the 2013 Twin Cities Pride Parade and
as the last float made its way down the street, an individual
on top of the ride shouted, “We won! Minnesota has gay
marriage! The war is over!” The war is not over. If anything,
the rise in deadly violence against our community, against
queer trans people of color (especially trans women) tells us
that war is increasingly claiming casualties.
When we claim we fight for LGBT equality, what are we
fighting for and are we fighting forour most vulnerable? Are
we fighting for CeCe McDonald, a trans woman wrongly
jailed for defending herself following a hate attack against
her and her friends one night in Minneapolis? Are we fight-
ing for justice for Islan Nettles, a trans woman brutally
murdered in NYC this year? Or Monica Jones, a trans woman
who spoke at a community event protesting anti-trans and
anti-sex worker police programs and was subsequently ar-
rested and charged under vague anti-prostitution statutes?
In our fight for equality, we need to center our advocacy on
queer, trans people of color.
At the recent Creating Change: National Conference on
LGBT Equality, keynote speaker Laverne Cox delivered a
heartfelt speech that soon went viral as activists latched
onto her quote.
“When you call a transwoman a man, that is an act of violence,” she said.
Soon, her video and subsequent gif sets of her words
spread across Facebook and Tumblr, and in articles
on the Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, spurring a
large discussion around the U.S.’s culture of vio-
lence and discrimination against transgender persons.
Trans women are women, Trans men are men. By charac-
terizing the act of misgendering as an act of violence, Cox
clearly states that any attempt to delegitimize transgender
lives and identities is an act of violence. If you want to show
up in support, you need to come correct.
Recently, Piers Morgan, a journalist for CNN who hosts his
own show, interviewed transgender advocate and author
Janet Mock for the release of her memoir ‘Redefining Real-
ness.’ During the course of the interview, Morgan repeated-
ly made a point to describe Mock as previously being a man,
as being a “boy until age 18,” and implying that her surgery
marked her official transformation into a woman, despite
Mock maintaining before and during the interview that she
has always identified as a woman.
Turning to Twitter, Mock and her followers let Morgan know
that his show was laced with transphobia. Instead of engag-
ing in calm discussion with Mock, Morgan disregarded her
comments, defended himself as being a staunch ally to the
trans community, and attacked Twitter users as engaging in
“cisphobia,” or the irrational hatred of cisgender individuals.
Morgan can call himself an ally all he wants, but being an ally
does not always mean raising your voice. It does not always
mean occupying designated community spaces. It does not al-
ways mean prioritizing advancing “the cause” over the needs
of individuals within the community. It means recognizing
trans individuals, their lives, their skills, and their hardships.
The war is not over. For many, little relief has been provided
to those most affected by the hate and bigotry of LGBT
people in our communities, our police force, and our govern-
ment. When we claim to be fighting, we need to ask: Who
are we fighting for?
LAUREN LONG
www.wakemag.org 11.
FEATURE
Apps for
“U”
12. february 17 - march 3
By
Her
bert
B. F
ergu
son
-Au
gust
us
It c
an b
e da
unti
ng. S
ocia
l net
wor
king
app
s ov
ersa
tu-
rate
the
mar
ket.
Not
just
Fac
eboo
k, T
wit
ter,
Tum
blr
and
Inst
agra
m b
ut T
inde
r, Fi
nd M
y Fr
iend
s, V
ine,
Yond
or, a
nd H
ango
ut a
ll co
mpe
te fo
r ev
er d
imin
ishi
ng
atte
ntio
n sp
ans,
cre
atin
g ne
w a
nd e
ver
mor
e re
dun-
dant
mea
ns t
o co
mm
unic
ate.
So
inde
ed, i
n th
e ap
p
mar
ket
gold
rus
h, t
his
min
e se
ems
stri
pped
.
How
ever
, for
fres
hmen
Col
ton
Sinn
ing
of t
he U
nive
r-
sity
of M
inne
sota
–D
ulut
h an
d th
e U
’s o
wn
Ale
x T
raut
,
that
was
mor
e of
a c
halle
nge
then
a d
eter
rent
. Ac-
cord
ing
to T
raut
, Tur
f LLC
vic
e pr
esid
ent,
the
y w
orke
d
wit
h a
free
lanc
e pr
ogra
mm
er t
o de
velo
p T
urf a
Soc
ial
Net
wor
king
app
.
The
app
is a
geo
grap
hy-b
ased
soc
ial n
etw
orki
ng
plat
form
. Wha
t do
es t
hat
mea
n? It
mea
ns e
very
loca
-
tion
on
cam
pus
can
have
tur
f, or
sim
ply
a pa
ge w
here
peop
le c
an p
ost
stat
us u
pdat
es, e
vent
s or
sho
ut o
uts,
but
only
if t
hey’
ve p
hysi
cally
bee
n in
tha
t lo
cati
on a
t
leas
t on
ce, T
raut
sai
d.
“We
wan
ted
to b
ring
col
lege
kid
s to
geth
er,”
Tra
ut s
aid,
desc
ribi
ng t
he p
urpo
se o
f the
app
. How
ever
, Col
ton,
Pres
iden
t of
Tur
f LLC
, con
cept
ualiz
ed t
he id
ea a
t a
DEC
A m
arke
ting
com
peti
tion
. Ini
tial
ly, T
raut
sai
d, t
he
idea
con
fuse
d ju
dges
at
the
com
peti
tion
but
Col
ton
used
tha
t co
nfus
ion
as m
otiv
atio
n. S
ince
the
n th
ey
have
not
onl
y de
velo
ped
the
app
but
built
a u
ser
base
of o
ver
2,00
0 pe
ople
.
Wit
h th
e la
test
pat
ch r
elea
sed
Feb.
11,
the
tw
o de
vel-
oper
s ar
e fo
cusi
ng o
n m
arke
ting
, wor
king
wit
h V
ERG
E,
the
Uni
vers
ity’
s ow
n ad
vert
isin
g ag
ency
, to
grow
the
app
user
bas
e, T
raut
sai
d. A
ddit
iona
lly, T
urf’s
tea
m is
wor
king
to
add
even
mor
e “t
urf”
to
thei
r da
taba
se,
focu
sing
now
on
the
Din
kyto
wn
area
.
As
apps
rus
h to
find
the
nex
t bi
g th
ing
in s
ocia
l net
-
wor
king
, for
tune
s ar
e m
ade
and
lost
in e
qual
mea
sure
.
How
ever
, for
Col
ton
and
Tra
ut, T
urf i
s ju
st t
hat:
the
next
big
thi
ng.
Clai
min
g yo
ur T
urf i
n th
e A
pp M
arke
t
By
Aly
ssa
Blu
hm
Hun
gry
colle
ge s
tude
nts,
list
en u
p: t
here
’s a
new
way
to fe
ed y
ours
elf.
All
you
need
is a
sm
artp
hone
and
an
.edu
em
ail a
ddre
ss.
The
app
ByM
E ac
com
plis
hes
the
sam
e ta
sk a
s G
rou-
pon,
but
doe
s it
bet
ter.
Whe
reas
Gro
upon
’s d
isco
unts
are
som
etim
es s
till
too
expe
nsiv
e on
a b
udge
t, o
r ar
e
only
ava
ilabl
e ou
tsid
e th
e ra
nge
of M
etro
Tra
nsit
,
ByM
E w
orks
dire
ctly
wit
h bu
sine
sses
sur
roun
ding
cam
pus
to b
ring
rel
evan
t de
als
to s
tarv
ing
stud
ents
.
The
dea
ls, c
alle
d “d
ibs,
” ar
e a
soci
al e
ffor
t. F
or e
x-
ampl
e, if
you
cla
im a
free
bow
l of n
oodl
es a
t N
oodl
es
& C
ompa
ny, t
he d
eal i
sn’t
imm
edia
tely
ava
ilabl
e. E
ven
afte
r ca
lling
dib
s on
an
offe
r, it
isn’
t un
lock
ed u
ntil
a qu
ota
of d
ibs
has
been
cal
led.
Onc
e th
e qu
ota
has
been
rea
ched
and
the
dib
is u
nloc
ked,
no
mor
e di
bs
are
avai
labl
e.
Ano
ther
adv
anta
ge t
o us
ing
the
soci
al c
ompo
nent
of B
yME
is t
o ge
t be
tter
dea
ls. B
yME
wor
ks t
hrou
gh
Face
book
(do
n’t
wor
ry, y
ou h
ave
the
opti
on n
ot t
o
post
any
thin
g to
you
r w
all)
, so
user
s ca
n in
vite
peo
ple
on t
heir
frie
nds
list
to d
ib c
erta
in o
ffer
s or
to
join
the
app.
Whe
n fr
iend
s re
spon
d to
a u
ser’
s in
vite
s, t
he
invi
ter
rece
ives
poi
nts.
The
mor
e po
ints
a u
ser
has,
the
high
er le
vel o
f use
r th
ey b
ecom
e, a
nd t
he m
ore
likel
y
they
are
to
rece
ive
cert
ain
deal
s th
at m
ay o
nly
be
mad
e av
aila
ble
to h
ighe
r-le
vel u
sers
firs
t.
“You
’re
doin
g yo
ur fr
iend
s a
favo
r by
invi
ting
the
m,”
Ros
s A
cam
pora
, mar
keti
ng m
anag
er o
f ByM
E, s
aid.
“Rea
listi
cally
, you
cou
ld g
et a
mea
l a d
ay fo
r fr
ee.”
Uni
vers
ity
of M
inne
sota
gra
duat
e C
had
Ols
en t
he a
pp
whi
le h
e w
as s
till
a st
uden
t in
201
1. T
hen,
the
inte
nt
of t
he a
pp w
as fo
r so
cial
net
wor
king
. Soo
n af
ter
its
rele
ase,
how
ever
, he
adde
d de
als
to in
crea
se r
even
ue.
Alt
houg
h th
e ap
p is
sti
ll in
the
bet
a de
velo
pmen
t
phas
e, B
yME
is lo
okin
g to
exp
and
to o
ther
col
lege
s
and
univ
ersi
ties
in t
he a
rea,
Aca
mpo
ra s
aid.
The
app
is a
lso
expa
ndin
g in
to o
ffer
ing
free
mov
ie p
asse
s an
d
deal
s at
loca
l bus
ines
ses
like
the
Ref
iner
y.
Vis
it g
etby
me.
com
to
star
t ca
lling
dib
s.
ByM
E: B
ette
r th
an G
roup
on
Feat
ure
www.wakemag.org 13.
By
Sara
Gle
sne
The
re’s
a w
ay t
o ta
ke a
bre
ak in
the
mid
dle
of y
our
jam
-pac
ked
Tue
sday
cla
ss s
ched
ule,
ste
p in
to t
he
woo
ds fo
r fiv
e m
inut
es o
f cal
m, a
nd m
ake
it b
ack
in
tim
e fo
r yo
ur n
ext
lect
ure.
Wel
l, th
ere’
s a
way
if y
ou
use
your
sm
art
phon
e an
d a
bit
of im
agin
atio
n.
Wel
lsca
pes
is a
n ap
p fo
r iP
ad a
nd iP
hone
cre
ated
thro
ugh
a pa
rtne
rshi
p be
twee
n th
e U
of M
’s C
ente
r
for
Spir
itua
lity
& H
ealin
g an
d na
ture
pho
togr
aphe
r
Cra
ig B
lack
lock
. It
cons
ists
of f
ive-
min
ute
vide
os o
f
natu
re a
ccom
pani
ed b
y ca
lmin
g so
unds
like
a b
ubbl
ing
cree
k or
chi
rpin
g bi
rds.
On
top
of t
hose
sou
nds,
use
rs
can
play
a g
uide
d m
edit
atio
n tr
ack
that
hel
ps le
ss
spir
itua
lly-i
nclin
ed m
inds
get
into
pra
ctic
e by
off
erin
g
advi
ce t
o fo
cus
on b
reat
hing
, phy
sica
lly r
elax
ing,
and
just
enj
oyin
g th
e sc
ener
y pr
esen
ted
by t
he a
pp.
Mar
y Jo
Kre
itze
r, di
rect
or a
nd fo
unde
r of
the
Cen
ter
for
Spir
itua
lity
& H
ealin
g, a
ttri
bute
d th
e pr
ojec
t’s
insp
irat
ion
to a
har
dshi
p of
Bla
cklo
ck’s
: his
mot
her’
s
stru
ggle
wit
h ca
ncer
. She
sai
d th
at t
hrou
gh t
he
app
Bla
cklo
ck h
oped
to
“bri
ng t
he o
utdo
ors
to h
is
mot
her,”
from
her
bed
.
The
cre
ator
s of
Wel
lsca
pes
reco
mm
end
taki
ng a
bre
ak
betw
een
offic
e m
eeti
ngs
wit
h th
e ap
p. It
cou
ld a
lso
serv
e as
a s
tudy
bre
ak t
hat
mig
ht ju
st h
elp
a st
uden
t
focu
s m
ore
than
con
vuls
ivel
y ch
ecki
ng F
aceb
ook
does
.
Five
min
utes
isn’
t su
ch a
long
tim
e, e
spec
ially
whe
n
rela
cou
ld b
e th
e re
set
butt
on y
our
min
d ne
eds
in
the
mid
dle
of a
day
on
cam
pus.
Giv
e it
a t
ry. A
fter
all,
Wel
lsca
pes
is fr
ee! A
hea
ds u
p:
the
app
com
es w
ith
just
one
five
min
ute
vide
o lo
aded
.
The
four
add
itio
nal v
ideo
s se
ll fo
r $1
.99
apie
ce. T
his
tim
e of
yea
r, I’d
rec
omm
end
anyt
hing
asi
de fr
om
“Win
ter
Mar
sh”
whi
ch, w
hile
bea
utifu
l, m
ight
just
mak
e us
ers
feel
glu
m a
bout
the
win
ter
wea
ther
in o
ur
actu
al n
atur
al s
urro
undi
ngs.
Cent
er fo
r Sp
irit
ualit
y &
Hea
ling:
Wel
lsca
pes
App
Smar
t Pho
ne T
echn
olog
y Fo
r N
atur
e an
d R
elax
atio
n
By
Just
in M
ille
r
Like
any
goo
d te
ch id
ea w
orth
its
wei
ght
in fu
ture
IPO
pot
enti
al, t
he E
vent
Spa
rk m
obile
app
sta
rted
in
a do
rm r
oom
. In
the
spri
ng o
f 201
3, a
few
U o
f M s
tu-
dent
s liv
ing
in C
omst
ock
Hal
l tos
sed
arou
nd t
he id
ea
of c
ompe
ting
in t
he U
’s M
obile
App
Cha
lleng
e. T
ired
of t
he s
trug
gle
to fi
nd t
hing
s to
do
afte
r a
long
day
of s
choo
l, th
e te
am d
ecid
ed t
o ta
p in
to t
he s
ocia
l app
tren
d an
d cr
eate
a “
spat
ial e
vent
find
er.”
Now
juni
ors
at t
he U
, the
stu
dent
s th
at b
roug
ht t
he a
pp t
o lif
e in
-
clud
e W
ill N
ayes
, Ale
x W
esto
n, R
yan
Kot
val,
Jona
than
Stef
fl, a
nd Ja
cob
Wal
der.
It’s
an
app
that
allo
ws
user
s to
cre
ate
or fi
nd e
vent
s
in t
heir
are
a si
mpl
y by
bro
wsi
ng t
he v
irtu
al r
ealit
y of
a G
oogl
e M
aps
inte
rfac
e. T
hink
of i
t as
Fac
eboo
k’s
even
ts fe
atur
e, e
xcep
t ev
eryo
ne’s
invi
ted
and
you
can
easi
ly v
isua
lize
the
loca
tion
s an
d ty
pes
of e
vent
s
goin
g on
. Bro
ken
dow
n in
to s
ix e
vent
cat
egor
ies—
aca-
dem
ic, a
thle
tics
, ent
erta
inm
ent,
pro
mot
ion,
soc
ial,
othe
r—Ev
ent
Spar
k is
nov
el in
its
abili
ty t
o of
fer
a bi
t
of e
very
thin
g.
“We
wer
e ai
min
g fo
r a
mid
dle
grou
nd b
etw
een
inst
i-
tuti
onal
and
thi
ngs
that
are
for
fun.
We
real
ly w
ante
d
to m
ake
it c
ompa
tibl
e fo
r bo
th,”
sai
d A
lex
Wes
ton,
a
biom
edic
al e
ngin
eeri
ng m
ajor
.
Even
tho
ugh
the
grou
p of
guy
s co
mbi
ned
had
con-
side
rabl
e ex
peri
ence
wit
h pr
ogra
mm
ing,
in t
he a
pp
wor
ld “
we
had
to s
tart
from
the
gro
und
up,”
sai
d R
yan
Kot
val,
a co
mpu
ter
scie
nce
maj
or. T
here
wer
e pl
enty
of c
halle
nges
wit
h tr
ansf
erri
ng t
heir
idea
into
a s
leek
,
intu
itiv
e ap
p; ir
onic
ally
, one
of t
he m
ain
obst
acle
s w
as
that
the
y w
ere
a bu
nch
of c
ompu
ter
scie
nce
and
engi
-
neer
ing
stud
ents
. As
Wes
ton
puts
it, “
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Contact us for CHEAP AD SPACE!
STUDENT GROUPS
LOCAL BUSINESSES
MISSED CONNECTIONS
WHATEVER ELSE!
www.wakemag.org 15.
VOICESStudent Service FeesMismanaged Despite rising student service fees, minimum oversight on their disbursement persistsBy Shelby Miner
Each year, over 80 student groups apply to get funding for
the next year from the SSF coffer. This funding is one of
the few ways that many student groups stay afloat and are
able to function. The SSF board is made up of students who
review the budgets submitted by student groups and ad-
ministrative units on campus. The board looks over how the
groups contribute to campus and benefit all the students
who pay into Student Service Fees (all of us).
One of the largest issues with this system is there is no limit
to the amount of funding the SSF board can award. Theoret-
ically, they can give out as much funding as they want, and it
would get charged through tuition to students the next
semester. This is one of the reasons the fee charged to
each student per semester has been raised consistently
over the past few years; more and more groups request
funding, so more money is doled out.
“One of the largest issues with this system is there is no limit to the amount of funding the SSF board can award.”
This seems like a minor problem—until it is exploited. During
the 2011-2012 academic term, the Campus People Watch-
ers requested $1,000,000,000,000 for their group in order
to purchase the state of Minnesota. Although this is clearly
an unreasonable request, according to Katie Saphner, previ-
ous chair the SSF board, the board had trouble finding a
criterion with which to turn the group down.
She said they ended up claiming the group had turned in an
“intentionally falsified budget” on the grounds that it “in-
cludes programs the student group admittedly does not plan
to hold.” But, what if their request had met the criteria for
funding? What if the group was planning on actually buying
Minnesota? The fact there is no limit to funds that can be
allocated creates an opening for the system to be exploited,
which ultimately is paid for by the students.
Another big issue effecting fair funding is the fact that the
Minnesota Student Association (MSA) and the Graduate and
Professional Student Association (GAPSA) have the right to
veto two members each of the applicants to be on the SSF
board while still appealing to SSF for their yearly funding.
This clearly creates a conflict of inter-
ests in which SSF board members
can be kicked off the committee
for not approving the budgets of
GAPSA and MSA.
According to Katie Saphner
and Kyle Kroll, many
members of the SSF
board either
don’t
re-apply to be a
board member due to
this fear. This conflict of
interests has been made clear
several times, once in an instance
where MSA was
the only student group to receive fund-
ing at meetings in 2011, and once when
GAPSA turned their budget in late, only to
still receive full funding.
Moreover, the SSF board is the confirmation that student
groups are spending student money the way they said they
would. This is determined by an audit, which each student
group goes through every three years. This audit determines
future funding of the group by SSF if they determine the
money was spent responsibly and legally.
In 2010, the Black Student Union was audited, and was
recommended to receive $0 of the requested $65,000.
This was due to a failure to comply with the minimum
criteria for funding. Saphner said specifically that their
audit was off by “several thousand dollars” and “BSU
failed to produce records for multiple transactions,”
causing the committee to believe “the many discrepan-
cies revealed in audit of the Black Student Union are
signs of financial misconduct of inability to maintain
proper records on the
part of BSU.”
Basically, how
student money was
spent was not accounted for or
it was spent fraudulently. According to
Katie Saphner, the BSU was not happy
with this decision, and many of the
group members attended one of the
public hearings offered by SSF, dur-
ing which time they called the committee
members racist and insisted the discontinua-
tion of their funding was based on prejudice and not
on fraudulent spending. The BSU received $54,992 of the
requested $65,000.
“The SSF process is a good one – in theory. In reality, the system has a lot of flaws and questionable processes.”
The SSF process is a good one—in theory. In reality, the
system has a lot of flaws and questionable processes. All of
the records of SSF activity are public, but many students
don’t even know what the SSF charge on their tuition bill is.
The lack of student awareness and oversight of this com-
mittee is one reason these events have taken place. If more
students get involved with the process, it’s possible it could
be changed for the better.
MICAHSTUBZ.COM
16. february 17- march 3
Q&A
By Grace Birnstengel
Boston’s Quilt released their sophomore effort Held In Splendor less
than a month ago on Mexican Summer. The Wake had the chance to
sit down with members Anna Fox Rochinski, Shane Butler, and John
Andrews before their show on Feb. 7 at 7th Street Entry to talk about
their tour, being called a “throwback band,” and Valentine’s Day.
The Wake: It’s your fifth night on tour. How’s it going so far?
Anna: It’s going well. We did a co-headlining tour once, but this is
our first “just us” headlining tour.
The Wake: How does it feel?
Anna: Pretty cool.
The Wake: Have any cool fan stories?
Anna: We got drawings from this guy in Baltimore. He gave us art
that he made. It was amazing, just so nice.
Shane: He made us drawings and framed them. We each have one.
He drove from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Wake: Is this your first time in Minneapolis?
Shane: We played at the 400 Bar once. After our show we had this
really amazing experience in St. Cloud.
John: Our van broke down.
Anna: We had to go to a transmission specialist there. So while the
van was getting worked on, we got my amp fixed and went to a
guitar store to get strings. It was a day of winning.
Shane: We found all these great stores in town and everyone was
so nice.
The Wake: It’s a classic Minnesota town.
Anna: Awesome accents and stuff like that.
The Wake: For sure. So, congrats on the new album. It’s extremely
cohesive, but not in a way where all the songs sound the same. From
that, I’ve come to the conclusion that you guys must have a really
great vibe and dynamic within the band. Could you describe it?
QuiltRetro without ever trying
John: We’re all songwriters. We write and sing songs outside of
Quilt, too. So when we’re all together, it’s ideas going all over
the place.
Shane: I think it’s kind of like that thing with highway inter-
states, you know? Like there’s all the highways and they’re
connected at different crossroads. Quilt is like the intersection
and it’s a very good place to hang out.
The Wake: I like that analogy. I was reading a bunch of reviews
online of Held In Splendor and people slap the craziest labels on your
music. Like, “psychedelic folk,” “paisley-colored retro pop-rock.”
What do you make of this?
Anna: I take them with a grain of salt. I mean, it’s always really nice
if journalists take time out of their day to write about you, even
if it’s like “paisley Austin Powers beaded necklace bedroom lo-fi
psych-pop-oriented.” But I also prefer the reviews where they use
more inventive language and the review becomes a little piece on
its own. You know, they get more into the language play of it and
it’s less about comparing us to a bunch of stuff. At the same time,
we’re in the 21st Century and we’re in a very unique culture where
art is produced in a different context than it ever has been. So if
everything is referential, I can deal with it. What’s really nice about
the reviews is that they’re mostly saying, “It’s this retro-sounding
record without being like a throwback or stuck in the past.” That’s
all I can ask for at the very minimum. To me, we weren’t trying to
make a ‘60s-sounding record, but if that’s how people are respond-
ing to it, that’s at least a positive outlook. I’m just open to whatever
people put out.
The Wake: Do people always just assume that you’re influenced by
‘60s and ‘70s music?
The individuality of each person is a very real thing, but the reality of the band is that we are really just stitched together and it’s a beautiful thing.
Anna: Yeah, which we are. It’s a fair assumption to make.
John: There was no point in the album where we were in the studio
and we were like, “We want this to sound so ‘60s, or else!” When
I listen to the album, I hear like The White Stripes and stuff. We’re
influenced by stuff like that just as much.
Shane: We like contemporary stuff just as much.
The Wake: Could you name a few?
Anna: My whole year has been like, St. Vincent, Tame Impala, and
Cate Le Bon.
Shane: Parquet Courts, Atlas Sound, Deerhunter. Also, it’s funny
that you talk about our vibe, because we never had any intention
of being a retro band or anything, but we do have some kind of
vibe like that in-the-car, like-the-hippie vibe. We’re all light-hearted
people in general.
The Wake: Yeah, I suppose you guys get called hippies a lot.
Anna: Since I was 9-years-old. But it’s not the ‘60s anymore;
therefore I don’t think those labels mean anything. I love throwback-
sounding bands, but that’s not the goal.
The Wake: If you had to turn people onto your music in one sen-
tence, what would you say?
Anna: Qdoba Understands I Love Tacos. It’s an acronym for Quilt.
Shane: Quirky Underwear In Little Tote Bags.
Anna: Quit Using Italian Leather, Tina!
Shane: Quiet, Understand I Love Tuna.
Anna: I had a good one that was like real deep, too. Quivering
Underneath Infinity Lovers Turn. Before we actually had a band bio
back in the day, we just wanted our bio to be all the acronyms.
Shane: It was on Last.fm. Probably 50 of those acronyms.
The Wake: As long as we’re talking about Quilt acronyms, why are
you called Quilt?
Anna: Just because. It’s not a very interesting story. What is interest-
ing is that over time, it creates its own meaning for us and we start
to pick up different threads. Oh, wait, that’s such a bad pun. I didn’t
just say that.
The Wake: What’s the current interpretation that you’re sticking with?
Anna: I was thinking about the idea of evolution as a group. The indi-
viduality of each person is a very real thing, but the reality of the band
is that we are really just stitched together and it’s a beautiful thing.
Shane: I think about DJ culture a lot, too. DJs mix and match songs
together and I think about us in terms of this weird DJ. We essen-
tially take all of our influences and play them for people. It’s like all
of this music that we love, filtered in so many ways that you can’t
recognize it.
The Wake: I want to talk about Mexican Summer a little bit. A lot
of bands in similar genres get lost in big label pools. Do you think it
benefits you to be on a smaller label?
Shane: It’s awesome. A lot of the bands on the label are buddies of ours.
It’s turning into a family of bands, which is great. We know everybody
www.wakemag.org 17.
Q&Athat works for the record label and we talk to them daily. When we’re in
New York we hang out with them and we go to the office.
Anna: It’s kind of like a clubhouse or something. There’s the office
and then there’s the studio downstairs.
John: There’s a record shop next door, too, that they basically run.
Anna: We’re so lucky.
The Wake: How did they find you?
Anna: It was basically through a friend who works for Captured
Tracks. We put out a single and she sent it to Mexican Summer. We
had recorded most of our first album and hadn’t planned to put it
out on a label, but then one thing led to another. They were even
into the idea of putting more songs on the album that John had writ-
ten since joining the band.
The Wake: They sound really chill.
Shane: Mexican Summer really allowed us to take the time to make
sure we had everything we wanted. They also provide us with the
support to get things done on time.
John: We got a good vibe off the start and they’re nothing but the
best to us.
The Wake: Valentine’s Day is coming up. I want each of you to tell
me your favorite love song.
Shane: “You’re So Great” by Blur. I love melancholy love songs. It’s
beautifully sad.
Anna: “Let Me Try” by MC5. We were listening to it in the van today.
It’s this beautiful, slightly sad, yet sexy love song.
John: I’d say “Museum of Love” by Daniel Johnston. It’s not like a
straightforward love song. It’s more abstract ways of saying that.
When you’re in a relationship, saying I love you doesn’t really cut it.
The Wake: Are you going to keep up with the Olympics? I know you
guys just went to Russia, so you have that connection.
Anna: I don’t know if we can!
John: We’re going to be in bars every night, and they’ll be playing it. I
love watching the Olympics.
The Wake: Which sports?
John: Hockey. I’m a huge hockey fan.
Shane: Snowboarding. I just love watching humans fly through the air.
The Wake: Did you pick up any Russian while you were in Russia?
Anna: No. People that we were with spoke English.
John: It was so much fun going there.
The Wake: Were you in Moscow?
John: Yeah, for four and a half days or something. We were really ner-
vous before we went. We all thought we were going to get arrested or
something. So we were really conservative at first and then just kind
of felt it out. Next thing we knew, we were walking up to the venue at
6 a.m. so drunk, yelling at people in the windows of stores.
The Wake: Did you try Russian vodka?
John: Yeah, they told us not to, but I did.
Shane: One of the first things that our guide said to us was, “What-
ever you do, do not drink Russian vodka!”
The Wake: The Wake is made up of a lot of aspiring student artists,
both in our membership and readership. As former art students, do
you have any advice for those trying to make their art into a lifestyle?
Shane: If you look at biographies of artists, you’ll see that a lot of
them went through periods of long sacrifice. To be an artist, it
might help to allow yourself the freedom to live an irregular lifestyle,
and that does mean sacrificing certain types of comforts. Create a
lifestyle where you can sustain yourself while being able to focus on
your art. Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing.
Anna: Be around artists, too. If you associate yourself with fellow cre-
atives fairly consistently, it’ll help. It’ll keep you in your flow. Just do it.
John: That’s what I was going to say! Nike: Just Do It. A lot of people
can talk about doing it forever, and then when it comes down to it,
they don’t. Actually make stuff. Sometimes you won’t be satisfied
with everything you make. I went to community college for film and
remember working on projects where I just didn’t like what I was
making. You have to get through weird times in school so you can
actually work on things you want to work on.
Shane: Don’t be afraid to share as much as possible. Critique helps
you move past it.
Anna: Everyone has his or her own comfort level. Don’t get overly
frustrated if you hit a wall. Take it one step at a time. Don’t think
you’re going to be like this Renaissance man constantly. Be patient.
Shane: Look up “John Cage: Some Rules for Students and Teachers.”
Those steps are a great thing to read.
The Wake: After this tour gets done in about a month, what’s on
the Quilt agenda?
John: A lot of touring.
Anna: Europe, then more U.S.
Shane: And then possibly more Europe.
The Wake: Are you exhausted just thinking about it?
Anna: I mean I could make myself exhausted, but like, I think it’s just
going to be really fun. PITCHPERFECTPR.COM
18. february 17- march 3
Sound & Vision
By Aaron Bolton
The piano in the Coffman Student Union can be a great addi-
tion to your time there or a terrible one, depending on who
sits on its bench. With a good player at the keys, it may be
one of the best features of the union.
The piano players provide entertainment, background noise
while visiting with friends, or just a good reason to procras-
tinate. Popular songs students already know are covered,
along with an array of beautiful classical pieces. Songs may
get covered on the daily, but how often do you hear original
material echoing from the corner?
He enjoys writing songs on the spot at Coffman as well as experimenting with material written at home beforehand.
Chicago transplant Quinn Devero isn’t just one of the few
people you may hear simultaneously playing and singing cov-
ers in Coffman; he also performs his own original material.
A sophomore at the U of M, Devero has been playing piano
since age three. He learned on his grandmother’s piano.
Taking lessons were a part of his very young start, though he
outgrew them fast. He quit formal piano classes at age five.
Since then, he’s primarily been self-taught.
His material ranges over a variety of songs, from his comical
“Friend Zone” song to many more serious tunes that spin
a variety of stories. He enjoys writing songs on the spot at
Coffman as well as experimenting with material written at
home beforehand.
There are many facets to his music, such as his guitar play-
ing, and beat boxing. One notable display of Devero’s talent
is his cover of “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby, which he
accompanies with some spot-on beat boxing.
Though he likes playing piano, Devero said he has been
gravitating more toward guitar recently. He enjoys playing
at Coffman because he enjoys having an audience. The pres-
ence of others motivates him, and that in turn, he said, helps
his songwriting process. Performing in the corner might not
provide a stage for all to see, but Devero’s music often com-
mands the attention of the room.
He enjoys playing at Coffman because he enjoys having an audience.
Devero said he hopes to eventually get a band together.
Right now he’s actively looking for more people to play
music with. Coming from a city as large as Chicago, he said
he enjoys the tight-knit music scene in Minneapolis.
In recent weeks he has found several places to display his
talents, like open mic nights and public spaces. He recently
played guitar in a downtown skyway, and said his music
received a nice response. If you’re in Coffman frequently
enough, you will likely hear Devero. His music may distract
your mind from studies by captivating your ears.
A Coffman Piano PlayerNot your typical background music
SARAH BREWER
www.wakemag.org 19.
Sound & Vision
Art and cultural events start up again after constructionby Dahsol Lee
Whether it was receiving a diploma, watching a ballet
performance by the Royal Ballet of England, or listening to
a thought-provoking lecture presented by Robert Frost,
history has been made on the University of Minnesota’s
Northrop Auditorium stage for nearly 85 years.
Since remodel construction started in February 2011,
however, exhibitions at Northrop have been put on pause.
These renovations include acoustic modifications and a
redesign to increase student recreation areas. And, after
three years, those renovations will finish on April 4.
“I still miss the old Northrop, especially considering com-
mencement took place at Mariucci while renovations were
underway,” said 2012 graduate Tim Mackie. “But I’m excited
to see what the new auditorium looks like.”
Northrop Director Christine Tschida described Northrop
as “more than a stage to march across only at graduation.
Northrop is a place you can visit every day and experience
something new.” After the renovations, student acces-
sibility will be greatly increased, with the addition of six
new study lounges, a café, and some smaller rooms fit for
seminars and discussions.
“If you’re interested in ideas and culture it will be constantly
brewing at Northrop,” said Provost Kathy Hanson, who has
played a role in the completion of this project since her ap-
pointment in February 2012.
A Minnesotan and University of Minnesota graduate,
Hanson remembers attending performances and lectures at
Northrop back when she was in junior high. “Everyone in my
community would want to come hear from people who were
making news, shaping the world, and who were reputable,”
she said.
With a new film and lecture hall and a visual art gallery, on
top of the renovated stages for some of the most respected
performances in theater and dance, Northrop will maintain its
reputation for bringing the best in the arts to the university.
And Northrop will spare no time in reviving that reputation.
Opening week events are planned to integrate students,
faculty, staff, and community members into the celebration.
Opening weekend kicks off April 4 with an opening gala,
performances by the American Ballet Theatre, and various
activities on the plaza to give students a chance to get in-
volved. However, the celebration doesn’t stop after reopen-
ing week. Several events have been booked for the season
that are also free (that’s right, FREE) to students, like Colleg-
eHumor Live on April 10, and Trey McIntyre’s Contemporary
Dance Company on April 22. A full list of events can be seen
at northrop.umn.edu/events.
Story Club MinneapolisA laid-back evening of storytellers and listenersBy Erik Newland
Tucked away in a nearly hidden corner of Bryant-Lake Bowl
is a small, sparsely lit theater which seats about 90 people.
On the last Thursday of every month, this unassuming venue
is host to Story Club Minneapolis.
Originally a hit in Chicago, where it was founded, Story Club
has held monthly shows in Minneapolis since September
2013. Through a combination of open microphone and cu-
rated storytelling, Story Club offers something unique from
similar spoken word events, such as the older Story SlamMN!
and New York’s The Moth. There are no judges, no scores,
and no constraining themes. There’s just an evening of
eight-minute-long stories, and as host Mimi Nguyen assures,
there are “no dudes with guitars, and no poetry.”
A clipboard and a pencil hang by the door. Audience members
can sign up for open mic slots before the show starts at 7 p.m.
Before the show starts, the stage is empty, save for a micro-
phone, a music stand, and a worn-out rug. The stories told
from this stage are as varied and colorful as the storytellers
themselves. One storyteller, Minneapolis artist Amina Harp-
er, shared a story about an embarrassing medical condition.
“I can hear that some of you know what a staph infection is,
but I don’t care, I’m telling you anyway,” she said. The rest of
the stories were no less forthright.
For those who haven’t done much storytelling before and
may be nervous about putting their name on the open mic
sign-up, don’t worry. Story Club attracts first-time storytell-
ers as well as more established local artists and writers.
Nguyen herself, a storyteller and friend of the Chicago
event’s founder, attributes this variety to the “very relaxed
and supportive” atmosphere. It’s one in which the lack of
judges and scores puts the focus on “sharing the human
experience through stories.” It’s this atmosphere that makes
Story Club so unique.
Don’t want to tell a story? Just relax and listen. You can have
dinner served right to your seat, as well as an extensive
selection of beer and wine. Tickets are on a “sliding scale,”
allowing you to choose what price you’d like to pay between
$6 and $12.
Show up to listen to the stories of others, and leave inspired to
come back the next month—to tell a story of your own.
LAUREN CUTSHALL
MINNEAPOLIS.CITIES2NIGHT.COM
A NEW NORTHROP
20. february 17- march 3
Sound & Vision
By Thomas Hvizdos
Photography is a peculiar thing. It’s an art form, to be sure,
but it’s more commonly used to convey information—to
capture an image for later use.
In Siberia: Imagined and Reimagined, Leah Bendavid-Val
lets her photographers’ images play both roles. The photos
themselves are beautiful, representing the best work of a
century of Russian photographers. They’re also mini history
lessons. Bendavid-Val has written several books on Russian
photography, and her knowledge shows. Each photo (or in
a few cases, set of photos), has a detailed placard explaining
the cultural and historical context of the images. It’s a unique
combination, and it works really well. The images are striking
in their own right, but they become even more interesting
when you learn the socio-political background. Both the
images and the text are extremely well-executed, and they
enrich each other a great deal.
The exhibition covers quite a bit. Pictures range from the
late 19th century to the present, and are diverse in their
subject matter. Themes include religion, collectivization,
industry, leisure, and more—all from a Siberian perspective.
Through PhotographySiberia Brought to Our Own Frozen Tundra
It’s a testament to Bendavid-Val’s skill that the exhibit never
feels scattered. Each image fits seamlessly with the photo-
graphs around it, while at the same time offering something
unique from both a visual and thematic perspective.
The exhibit is split into roughly two galleries. The first sec-
tion features photographs in the “Socialist Realism” style,
which, as the name implies, is a mode of photography that
strives to produce images as true to life as possible. This goal
(and the accompanying restriction on artistic interpretation)
was attractive to communist leaders, and, as a result, it was
more or less the only form of photography permitted by the
state. Most of the photos in this section deal with life behind
the Iron Curtain, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the overall
tone is rather bleak. The majority of the photos are in black
and white, and even the happier pictures are accompanied
by descriptions of the many humanitarian and environmen-
tal injustices perpetrated by the Soviet regime. The few pho-
tos from the present continue that theme, noting the many
ways in which Russia’s current government remains less than
concerned with the well-being of its citizens or wildlife.
The second part of the exhibit conveys a more upbeat, if less
focused, message. Here, black-and-white devastation gives
way to the vibrant color of Siberian life. The majority of the
photos were taken after the fall of the Soviet Union, and
there’s a big increase in the number of styles on display.
Again, the images are artfully chosen, and provide a series
of charming windows into everyday modern living.
If the exhibition falters, it is in the final collection, which
is devoted to comparing Siberia with the American West.
Here, various photos of Siberian life are placed next to
pictures depicting almost identical scenes taking place in
America. It’s a neat concept, and the photos are compe-
tently composed.
But there’s a lack of vigor to it. The pictures are just sort
of… there. After such a fierce and precisely composed les-
son on the unique beauties and history of Siberia, they feel
out of place.
That said, Siberia: Imagined and Re-imagined is a fascinat-
ing experience. Whether you’re interested in Russian cul-
ture, or just want to look at cool photographs, it delivers.
And, with the Weisman being free and on campus, there’s
no reason not to check it out.
SERGEY MAXIMISHIN, VLADIVOSTOK, 2008. RASUL MESYAGUTOV, NAGAYEV BAY IN WINTER, MAGADAN REGION, 2006.
www.wakemag.org 21.
Sound & VisionNostalgia in the Modern Age: Budget Movie TheatersBy Zach Simon
Walking through south Minneapolis the other day, I hap-
pened to pass by the iconic Riverview Theater in all its Mad
Men-esque glory. It reminded me of the good old days:
Legos, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Disney movies, and the time
uncle John had just a little bit too much to drink at my sixth
birthday party. Events like these define a childhood.
For me, childhood memories are intimately linked with mov-
ies of the past. But seeing the Riverview’s lobby filled with
happy moviegoers, a question nagged at my mind: how do
these temples of sentiment stay afloat in a modern, prag-
matic world?
In the words of Don Draper: “Nostalgia—it’s delicate, but
potent… It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than
memory alone.”
Walking into the Riverview, you’re surrounded by a scene of
vintage decor and De Stijl-style end tables. Buying tickets at
the box office feels like a step into the past. The attendant
sports a retro red jacket, a bowtie, and greased-back hair.
The nostalgia hits harder when you walk through the next
round of doors: that timeless smell of popcorn.
While theaters like the Riverview charge next to nothing for
admission ($3 evenings, $2 matinee), the same money-mak-
ing tactics used by big chains like AMC are still at play: con-
cession sales. Ticket prices merely cover the cost of provid-
ing the movies, but the amazing aroma of the popcorn and
those fizzing sodas are what really keep the lights running.
I asked a moviegoer on his way out of Captain Phillips why
he went to the theater when alternatives, such as Netflix and
Project Free TV, are so plentiful and accessible. His response
was simple: “When I was a young man, I used to go to the
theater all the time with my friends. It was just the thing to
do. Now I can’t imagine a world without it.”
I can’t guarantee that every one of us was an avid moviegoer
as a kid. However, there is always some childhood activity
that sticks with a person—from reading aloud, watching
Saturday morning cartoons, or going to the theaters.
That’s one thing that Netflix and Hulu will never be able to
provide. At the Riverview it’s not about the taste, it’s about
the contentment.
So go ahead. Buy that $8 bag of salty heaven. You deserve it.
By Aidan Hutt
With the Golden Globes in the past and the Academy
Awards on their way, film is a hot subject within the national
art spotlight. The Walker Arts Center fits within this trend
with multiple film-related exhibits. Complementing their
regular screenings of documentaries and critically acclaimed
films, the Walker now hosts MNTV 2014.
Partnered with the Inde-
pendent Filmmaker Project
of Minnesota (IFP MN),
Twin Cities Public Televi-
sion (TPT), and the Walker
Art Center Film and Video
Department, MNTV is an
exhibit that showcases 15
independent Minnesota
filmmakers. Hosted in the
Walker Art Center’s lecture
room, MNTV 2014 will be
featured until Feb. 27.
Compiling 15 works into
three separate hour-long
programs, MNTV brings to-
gether shorts of all genres.
While there are seven
documentaries, ranging from three to 25 minutes in length,
the programs also contain traditional narrative films, experi-
mental films, animations, and music videos. An introductory
video starts every program off, explaining the program’s
intention of giving Minnesota filmmakers an opportunity to
show their films.
The presentation of the exhibit is optimal for attracting
viewers. As the films do not run very long, a visitor does
not need to commit a great deal of time to enjoy some
independent films. Each film runs its duration and, before
most screenings, the director of the following short gives an
insight or detail regarding their films. Apart from an oppor-
tunity to present their achievements, the independent direc-
tors are given a podium to speak on behalf of their work.
The films are selected based off of merit, with no particular
theme, and the variety that each program offers makes each
a very dynamic experience. After being hooked by a charm-
ing hybrid stop-motion/live love tale, Eric Groves’ Keepsake,
Forever More and then sucked in and spat out by Ann Prim’s
nightmare-influenced, intensely textured experimental Time
has Peeled Back the Skin of Things, the potential of Minne-
sota’s independent filmmakers is obvious. A non-traditional
documentary about a Christmas tree-packaging factory,
Beaver Creek Yard, by Laska Jimsen, is both beautifully and
simply shot. Emily Fritze presented a finely crafted animated
music video, “Ship of Fools” for the Minneapolis-based blue-
grass band, Pert Near Sandstone, while fellow animator John
Akre screened Sheepdog Wanted, a black comedy animation
about a disguised wolf managing a sheep flock.
The standard styles of narrative cinema were Katina Petsou-
lis’ Sister and Darin Heinis’ DET. The latter film closed out
the program with a 15-minute thriller about a war veteran
struggling to reconcile his past.
The variety of topics and style that the three separate pro-
grams of MNTV 2014 provide are enough to guarantee film
lovers will be checking back to the Walker to catch them all.
MNTV 2014 Showcases Best of
Minnesota’s Independent Film
ZACH SIMON
EMILY CHANG
EMILY CHANG
22. february 17- march 3
Lola Arias: The Year I Was Born / El Año en que nací
By Sara Glesne
Theater has long been used as a tool of political resistance in Chile. In her play “The Year I Was Born,” Argentinean writer Lola Arias transformed this history into a new sort of play that interacts with the politics of generations past to show how they inform modern Chile.
The country has a turbulent and somewhat recent past of violent conflict. An early scene retells the stories nine cast members, all Chileans born in the 1970s-90s, remember hearing from childhood of where their parents were on September 11, 1973: the day that dictator Augusto Pinochet took leadership in a coup d’état.
Through a variety of media—1970s TV clips, sentimental sailor postcards, and articles of clothing that are the only remnants of family members now dead—the cast captured the audience’s attention.
In one scene, the actors organize themselves in a line representing their parents’ political affiliation and socioeconomic status. The tiffs that break out over this order feel pressing and natural, despite being scripted and pre-translated.
Cast members reflected on their parents’ lives today. Some former members of MAPU (a radical leftist group) no longer talk politics. One mother was killed during the dictatorship: her story told, chalk body outline and all, during the play. One cast member lost contact with her mother because she doesn’t approve of the play, and has simultaneously discovered where her “disappeared” father has been for years: in prison for a murder committed during the dictatorship.
While the actors portrayed themselves, it doesn’t mean they don’t push the limits of their comfort onstage. In “The Year I Was Born,” Arias and her team successfully roll history and personal narrative into one.
Quadron at First AveBy Alex Nelson
Danish electro-soul group Quadron made some rumblings with their formidable 2013 sophomore effort Avalanche, but the roar didn’t carry quite as far as it deserved. The duo, composed of Robin Hannibal (also of Rhye) and songstress Coco. O, are bringing their tunes on tour with Mayer Hawthorne, where their groovy pop-infused soul sound will surely catapult them into the relevance they deserve.
At First Ave on Feb. 13, Coco strutted onto the stage in a shimmering jumper and launched the band’s sassiest song into the crowd: “LFT,” a smashing ode to a night of pre-gaming, partying, and “looking for trouble” with her girlfriends. Audience members are already shouting their appreciation of Coco’s mas-terful vocals (in the form of steamy “ow!’’s and screams) when the band relentlessly storms into their second stomper, “Favor-ite Star.” At this point, everyone in the crowd was convinced that this chick is a flawless and fabulous diva.
These conclusions are confirmed when Coco tackles Lauren Hill’s iconic “Ex-Factor.” Since the band has won over the at-tention of everyone in the joint by now, they dial back the diva notch just a bit to unleash “Sea Salt,” which, instead of charging forward with soul-powered force like preceding numbers, sizzles and simmers as it’s brought to a softer boil.
To conclude the 30-minute showcase of their unique passion-ate and danceable fusion of jazz, pop, R&B, and soul, Quadron settles into “Pressure.” This is an expert presentation of show-stopping powerhouse vocals that erupts into a bouncy display of upbeat pop music, springing Quadron into the realm of full-blown stardom.
Octodad: Dadliest CatchBy Sam Schaust
Your secret is safe with me, Octodad. As the low-fi hum of his theme song goes, “Nobody suspects a thing,” and as his operator, it’s your job to keep his identity safe. Besides masquerading as a father of two, Octodad only cares to be ordinary in the sense of grilling burgers, weeding the garden, and grocery shopping with his family.
Finding your footing is the greatest challenge in a game confidently categorizing itself as “fumblecore” (a genre founded on purposefully flustering control schemes designed for comical failure). There is no mastering Octodad as each limb confusingly utilizes its own button of control—meaning that when your daughter Stacy wants a glass of milk, you’ll spend half a minute banging the jug against her face before throwing it halfway across the room into a china cabinet. It all adds up to some of the finest-tuned slapstick humor you’ll find nowadays.
This three-hour-long misadventure is short and sweet, and prime to share with friends. As a miraculous godsend, there is cooperative action for up to four well-coordinated comrades where each player can operate a separate tentacle. Under this mode, communication is critical, yet can result in some of the best laughs as your roommate accidentally slips on a banana peel, sending everyone flipping into a crate of watermelons. It must be said, the second half of “Octodad” is littered with maddening stealth segments, although the game is forgiving. After all, when your protagonist is a blubbering cephalopod who plays like a wound-up pile of wet spaghetti noodles, who gives a shit?
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UPCOMINGEVENTSTUESDAY, February 18
The Wild Feathers
Turf Club / 7:00 p.m. / 21+ / $15 door
WEDNESDAY, February 19
FRIDAY, February 28
SATURDAY, February 22
U Choose: Students’ Night
Weisman Art Museum / 6:00 p.m. / Free
Film: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Coffman Union / 7 & 10 p.m. / Free
The Music Man
Open Book / 8:00 p.m. / $15-25
THURSDAY, February 20
SUNDAY, March 2FRIDAY, February 21
THURSDAY, February 27
Film: Inequality for All
Willey Hall / 3:30 p.m. / Free
Last day to skate
The Depot / 10-6 p.m. / $9
U of M Job and Internship Fair
Minneapolis Convention Center / 10-4 p.m. / $25
door
University Dance Theatre: New Dance/ New Space
Rarig Center / 7:30 p.m. / $6 students
Handsome Midnight, Delta Routine, SDRA
Kitty Kat Club / $5 / 21+
Oscars
Your TV / 7:30 p.m.Film: Gravity
Coffman Union / 7 & 10 p.m. / Free
www.wakemag.org 23.
The WakeCome to our next meeting Monday February 24@ 8pm
Fowell Hall Room 12 // We need Illistrators, Photographers, Writers, and You // wakemag.org for more info