INFLUX Magazine Spring 2024

Editors’ Note
When we were called to be the co-editors of InFlux this semester, we think
it’s safe to say that we were equally excited, but at the same time, a bit
apprehensive and nervous. Putting together a magazine, especially within
the time constraint of a semester, was such a fun and challenging process.
To start with a blank slate and be asked to fill 60 pages seemed crazy! But each person and
each team brought so much energy and creativity and we could not be more proud of the
finished product!
Search. Such a broad and ambiguous topic.
When presented with the theme for this issue, we started by brainstorming
and trying to figure out, “What do people search for?” Was it specific, like
dogs? Places to eat? Travel? Or do we take a more philosophical approach,
like the search for love? Community? Purpose?
I guess the answer lies within the title of our magazine.
Search is always in flux.
Eventually, we settled on our stories. Going for a mixture of both
tangible and intangible, we searched for the best local coffee (page 22)
and music venues in the Twin Cities (page 46), but also the neverending
search for knowledge (page 32) and finding peace in an
unlabeled identity (page 12).
We are filled with joy to have the opportunity to work with
a fabulous team and to present this magazine. We would like
to extend our love and appreciation to everyone who worked
tirelessly to make beautiful stories and share their unique
points of view. InFlux would not be possible without the
kindness, support and knowledge of Sara Quinn and Mark
Porubcansky throughout the production process.
This issue is for everyone who searches. It is a tribute to
uncertainty, change and evolution in all aspects of life. What
we love about searching is the satisfaction it brings: finding
what we want, comparing all the possibilities and digging
through all the noise to reach an imagined outcome.
We hope you enjoy and find whatever it is you are
searching for.
Logan Roach & Sophia Marschall
Co-Editors In Chief
2 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024
ON THE COVER: Photo by Maya Modelli, Design by Kathleen Bock
This publication is made possible by the Milton L. Kaplan Memorial Fund.
For more information contact Sara Quinn, squinn@umn.edu
All Rights Reserved
Printed by Modern Press
808 First St SW
New Brighton, MN 55112
©2024 by The Hubbard School of Journalism and
Mass Communication, University of Minnesota
Murphy Hall, 206 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Volunteers help lift a
hot air balloon in
preparation for the
Moon Glow on the final
night of the Hot Air Affair
located in Hudson, WI
on February 3, 2024.
Photo by Kristina Minic

Life After the Game
The search to fill the void
of athletics: How college
athletes find themselves
after their time on the
team has come to a close.
Kimball Utsey is preparing for a run
in Minneapolis, on February 27,
2024. Photo by Maya Modelli
By Sadie Grunau
Kimball Utsey’s heart sank
when the University of
Minnesota women’s rowing
team coach informed her that
she would not be on the team for her final
year of college.
The coaching staff implemented an
entry test for the rowers at the beginning
of the season. Unfortunately, Utsey did not
make the time cut for returning seniors,
resulting in her no longer having a spot on
the team.
Her Monday through Sunday would
not involve two-hour practices, she would
feel disconnected from the teammates she
considered sisters and her long-standing
identity as a competitive athlete would be
stripped from her.
That she would have been so sad not to
be on the rowing team would have struck
Utsey as odd just a few years earlier. As a
lacrosse player for much of her life, Utsey
was seeking a spot on a Division 1 lacrosse
team during her college search. However,
with COVID-19 changing the trajectory
of many 2020 high school graduates,
Utsey decided to stay close to her home
in Wayzata and attend the University of
Minnesota.
She walked onto the women’s rowing
team as a freshman, looking for the
community of athletes she had for much of
her life. Having never rowed before, she
came to regard the decision as one of the
best of her life.
Collegiate athletes are a different
breed. There are close to 1,000 on campus,
who all eat, sleep and breathe their sport;
making friends with their teammates who
quickly become family
and dedicating their every free moment
to the team they would give anything
for. When this chapter of athletes’ lives
comes to a close, it is nearly impossible
to imagine the void. So, how do they find
their new identity, and how do they ensure
that their lives are still as full as they
once were when they had the privilege of
representing their school in competitive
athletics?
“I felt betrayed,” Utsey said. She had
given her whole life to athletics. It hurt to
have a coach she trusted strip her of one of
the most prominent aspects of her identity
that warm afternoon in September.
Athletes’ careers come to a conclusion
in many ways. There are cuts, burnout,
championships and injuries. The moment
athletics is taken away, no matter how it
happens, is terrifying. Athletes mourn the
loss of a part of themselves and begin the
daunting journey of finding new aspects of
their identity to fill the void.
Annie Keiper, a University of
Minnesota senior, had a different
experience. Her athletic career, which
began when she was 3 years old, ended on
the highest note possible: with a national
title for her and her dance team.
At the ESPN Wide World of Sports
Complex located in Orlando, Florida,
Keiper’s team was crowned the national
champions of the pom division at
the University Dance Association
Championship in January 2024.
“It was the best feeling ever. I was
ecstatic,” Keiper said. “But I’d be lying if I
said it wasn’t bittersweet. I knew this was
the end of an era.”
Maeve O’Driscoll, similar to Utsey, had
her athletic career cut short after her third
year on the University of Minnesota swim
and dive team. However, her decision to
stop swimming was her own.
O’Driscoll, a swimmer who specialized
in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle
races, decided that the swim team was
no longer what she wanted for the
remainder of her college career. She
spoke with parents, friends and coaches,
and ultimately decided that her time as a
swimmer must come to a close.
“I was burnt out. It wasn’t fun anymore
and I wanted the freedom to explore
new parts of myself without the constant
pressure to swim the fastest time in the
upcoming meet,” O’Driscoll said.
Each of these three women had
practiced for more than 20 hours per
week and dedicated many of their college
weekends to competitions all over the
country. They had not only lived with their
teammates but considered them a second
family. And then, in a snap of a finger, it
was gone.
“It’s been a journey trying to learn
how to fill my time. I have struggled with
scheduling, discipline and productivity,”
O’Driscoll said. “ But at the same time, it
has been fun to learn what I love, without
Photo courtesy of Kristi Keiper,
Annie’s mother, taken in 2004
(Left). Photo courtesy of Taylor
Coleen Perreaul, taken in 2022
(Right).
SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 5

Maeve O’Discoll, former University of Minnesota Swimmer,
poses with her athletic apparel on March 19, 2024 in
Minneapolis. Photo by Sadie Grunau
Kimball Utsey poses, wearing her letter
jacket in Minneapolis, on February 27,
2024. Photo by Maya Modelli
the swimming constantly in the back of
my head.”
O’Driscoll has found new passions in
running, music and spending time with
loved ones. She can also explore her
professional life with internships and parttime
jobs now.
It’s not only athletes that experience
this loss, of course. As college seniors
wrap up their time here at the University
of Minnesota, athletes or not, it can be
difficult to understand where to go from
here. It can feel as though life will never
be as simple as it is now, and major parts
of the person you have always been
are seemingly gone after you cross that
commencement stage in May.
“Give yourself grace,” Utsey said.
“This is a difficult time for everyone and
as an athlete, you will experience a lot of
changes, especially in your body.”
Staying disciplined in terms of health
can be hard when you no longer have a
coach writing up workouts for you seven
days a week. It can be difficult to find a
type of movement that suits you following
your time as an athlete.
“I have learned that I love to run,”
Utsey said. “It has brought me a lot of joy
after my rowing career ended.”
Lucas Mortenson, University of
Minnesota men’s rowing Class of 2017, is
further removed from his time in athletics.
He graduated with a degree in urban
planning and said goodbye to the sport he
had dedicated many years of his life to.
“It was a rude awakening. ‘Rower’ was
always in the top three words I would use
to describe myself so to have that be gone
was confusing,” Mortenson said.
Mortenson, upon his graduation, left
behind teammates and friends and moved
to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for a summer
internship.
“I would come back to the Twin Cities
on the weekends and see my teammates,”
Mortenson said. “I wanted to feel like I
was still a part of the team.”
Over the past seven years, Mortenson
has learned that being a competitive
athlete is not the most interesting thing
about him. He has developed a love for
running, has completed two marathons and
actively keeps in touch with the friends he
made on the team.
“I have gone to many weddings of
teammates over the years and it is always
fun to reconnect with them,” Mortenson
said. “I still keep a University of Minnesota
rowing visor on one of the headrests of the
backseat of my car, just to remember my
time there and to show my pride.”
Keiper describes how she, like
Mortenson, has coped with the end of her
athletic career.
“I have just tried to take in every
practice, competition and team bonding
experience,” Keiper said.
She has found a new sense of
appreciation for her time as an athlete and
has leaned into the lessons she has learned
from the dance team, such as organization,
time management and discipline.
Utsey and O’Driscoll have both found
ways to incorporate their sport into the last
year of their college experience, despite no
longer being a team member. Both young
women make an active effort to spend time
with teammates and continue to cultivate
those relationships that began with their
sport, no matter if it was in the boat or the
pool. They have kept in touch and learned
that, with effort, those relationships can
continue to flourish, despite no longer
attending practices, races and competitions.
Whether a college senior wears the
athlete tassel on their cap and gown in
May or not, this next chapter can seem
frightening for many. It also is a chance to
explore their identity beyond the confines
of this campus.
“Have fun with it and explore
new things. Keep your people
close and find out what fills
your cup again.”
— LUCAS MORTENSON
6 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 7

Beyond the Ink
Exploring the deeper connections between tattoos and us
through the lens of a local tattoo artist
By Kailee Baumann
Do you take pride
in enduring
pain? Consider
yourself tough
as nails? Think you’ve got
the inner strength to face off
with a daunting tattoo artist?
Meet Kinsey “TOOF”
Nephele, the hard-core artist and
owner of St. Paul’s brand-new
private tattoo studio, Hard Headz,
reserved exclusively for the toughest
of souls.
Be prepared to shiver in your
boots upon entering the shop,
where you will instead be met
with a welcoming smile, an
array of custom tops and trinkets,
and your personalized choice of
curated appointment experiences
from rave lights to silent mode to
the option of watching Adventure
Time while receiving the tattoo of
your dreams.
The large-lashed, lovely face
behind Hard Headz is 23-year-old
TOOF, who bought and renovated
the new parlor off of Payne Avenue
just two years into starting her
professional tattoo journey.
TOOF in the Hard Headz Tattoo
Studio in Saint Paul.
Photo by Maya Modelli
The name of the shop playfully
challenges the “old head” mindset
among those who take tattooing
very seriously and perpetuates the
misconception that getting a tattoo
must be an intimidating endeavor.
This is a stereotype that runs
throughout the history of tattoos in
Western culture.
While it is critical to
acknowledge the deep roots that
traditional tattoos hold in the
community’s history, artists like
TOOF dare to venture into new
territory, thus taking part in the
changing landscape of the tattoo
industry.
Many college students in the
area are interested in this newer,
more freeform tattoo style that
leads them right to TOOF’s door.
Her clients typically range from
18 to 30 years old and come from
very diverse backgrounds.
Another shift of perspective
is that tattooing is not a onesided
event. People might be
seeking many different things
when they walk into a tattoo
parlor, buttattooing is not a simple
monetary or artistic transaction.
“Tattooing is
a transaction
of energy.”
—TOOF
TOOF shows her tattoos at Hard Headz Tattoo Studio located in Saint Paul,
on March 12, 2024. TOOF keeps tattoo stencils and arranges them on a
large canvas to commemorate tattoos she has done. Photo by Maya Modelli
8 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 9

She believes the energy she brings to
the studio and the energy she puts into
the tattoo will stick with the client within
the artwork. Whether they are a onetime
client or a loyal regular, a tattoo is a
moment that two people share with each
other and is often permanently ingrained
in not only the client’s skin but also in the
exchange of energy.
And this is not solely an addition to the
client, but a learning experience for the
artist. TOOF considers it a privilege
to grow and change through each
connection and each tattoo, even long
after the service is over.
“To have people who want to get
artwork done by me and continue to
live the rest of their days with my
art on their body is really just an honor
and a privilege that I will never ever fully
conceptualize,” TOOF said.
Widespread misconceptions about tattoo
shops and their artists can make it difficult
to see the larger picture of what it means to
get — and give — a tattoo. TOOF learned
after just two years in the profession that
it does not need to be an intense, scary
experience, but rather one that fosters a
connection between two people in the form
of artwork.
Artwork that lasts
for years to come, just
beneath the surface
of the skin.
Hard Headz Studio
662 Payne Ave., St. Paul, MN
(Top left) TOOF prepares for an upcoming tattoo
appointment at Hard Headz Tattoo Studio in St. Paul,
on March 12. Photos by Maya Modelli
10 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 11

Identity in the Undefined
Color Portrait
With Pride Flags
By Kathleen Bock
For members of the LGBTQ+ community, labels
can somtimes do more harm than good.
By Devlin Epding
After coming out as gay to
their friends in seventh
grade, Aidan Sears was no
longer just the nerdy kid
watching anime and reading “Dungeons
and Dragons” books. They were the sole
representative of a community their rural
North Dakota classmates were eager to
single out.
“Are you a top or a bottom?”
“How does gay sex work?”
“If you want to be gay, you have to be a
lot fitter.”
Sears grew up on a farm, but knew
they were not the typical “country boy,”
preferring theater and music to football
and dog shows. Friends understood Sears’
passions to be little more than examples of
gay stereotypes, expecting them to be an
expert on James Charles and “America’s
Next Top Model.”
Due to the social role forced upon them,
Sears had the dual responsibility of being
a positive steward for the local LGBTQ+
community while also proving they were
more than the “little fag” many classmates
reduced them to. As a result, Sears drove
themself to be “hyper-involved,” joining
roughly 14 student groups throughout
middle and high school, many of which
they became leaders in.
“It was really pushing myself to be
the best, because a lot of times, people
would refer to me as only a ‘gay person’ in
school,” Sears said. “If I become successful
in everything, then they can’t just refer to
me as gay, they’ll have to acknowledge that
I’m good at things.”
LGBTQ+ identification has more than
doubled to 7.6% among U.S. adults in
the last decade, according to a Gallup
poll released in March, largely driven by
younger generations. Roughly 10% of
millennials and nearly a quarter of Gen Z
identify as LGBTQ+.
Even though more people are identifying
as queer, social pressures and stereotypes
still create a dangerous landscape. Roughly
41% of LGBTQ+ youth in the country
seriously considered suicide in the past
year, with 14% attempting in the same time
period according to data from The Trevor
Project, a national nonprofit aimed at
preventing LGBTQ+ youth suicide.
As they assimilated into their
stereotypical gay role, coming out became
more of a constraint than a liberator for
Sears. Instead of being free to further
explore their identity, being gay was the
known, “easier” and at least partially
accepted existence.
Even as Sears met others in the
LGBTQ+ community, acceptance and
exploration continued under the guise of
categorization. While Sears knew they
“As we create more
expansive categories,
it allows people to ease
into identities and allows
people to make their own
decisions about their
lives in a way that reflects
how people actually see
themselves.”
— KAT ROHN
were gender-queer and bisexual, pressure
from friends to find appropriate labels for
themselves led to further stress and selfhatred.
Roughly seven years later, Sears is
navigating their second year of college
and says they still do not know exactly
who they are. But they know they are in
a healthier place without the continued
pressure to conform. While seventh-grade
Sears would be surprised to see themselves
still alive, fifth-grade Sears “would love
who I am today.”
“I don’t care what I am. Like, I just am
who I am,” Sears said. “If I find a label that
works one day, great. I’m not going to put
any work into finding it, though. I don’t need
to find it — I’m happy if I never find it.”
For others, shedding labels altogether is
better than expanding them. Adam grew up
in Minnesota but left and graduated from
college in New York in 2020 before moving
to Chicago. Adam agreed to be identified
only by a pseudonym because they still
have safety concerns. For Adam, figuring
out where they fit in the queerspace created
more pressure than coming out.
Adam grew up as queer definitions
were expanding. Obergefell v. Hodges
federally legalized same-sex marriage in
2015, and the national LGBT advocacy
organization GLAAD formally added “Q”
the following year as a catchall term for
everyone in the community.
Despite the move toward more
inclusive language, Adam said continuing
discussions about people’s fluid identities
within rigid categories became oppressive
and “stupid.”
“If you asked 100 people how they
12 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 13

Illustration of “Adam”
By Kathleen Bock
“If I find a label that works one day, great. I’m not
going to put any work into finding it, though. I
don’t need to find it – I’m happy if I never find it.”
— “ADAM”
define ‘queer,’ you would probably get 100
different definitions,” Adam said. “At a certain
point, it stops being productive.”
Experiences are blurrier than categorization
Kat Rohn knew they were not cisgender
around the age of 10 when the transgender
movement of the ‘80s and ‘90s was filled with
stories of people either living their lives in the
closet or having to tear their lives apart in order
to live as their authentic selves.
Rohn wanted more out of their life.
While they did not yet know exactly who
they were, categories were a way for Rohn to
reconcile with ideas they previously could not
put into words — or at least better words than,
“I just don’t feel right.”
Categories can often go from a launching
point for further exploration to a constraint for
people figuring out who they are, Rohn said.
Finding community meant finding freedom to
explore your identity by seeing which pronouns,
hairstyles or clothes felt the most affirming.
However, even older generations of queer
people tried to protect people from pushing the
boundaries of acceptance too far.
“When people initially grab on to a particular
identity, it may not always stick,” Rohn said.
“As we create more expansive categories, it
allows people to ease into identities and make
their own decisions about their lives in a way
that reflects how people actually see themselves
rather than trying to do XYZ because if I don’t,
I won’t be validated, accepted or supported.”
Rohn is now the executive director of
OutFront Minnesota, the state’s largest
LGBTQ+ advocacy group. As someone who
came out three times — once to themselves,
once to their partner and once publicly — Rohn
said finding validation can help queer people
overcome points of friction that many cisgender,
straight people never have to think about.
“It’s not about fitting into a particular box,”
Rohn said. “But when you find your community
and you find that sense of self, you’re able to
move through the world with more confidence
and support in who you are.”
Rick Nelson found that support early in
life. The first time Nelson showed any public
affection with a man, he was sitting in the back
row of a balcony inside the Uptown Theater
with a jacket to cover him holding hands with
his first boyfriend, Joe.
As a student at the University of Minnesota
in 1980, Nelson knew if anyone found out
his sexuality, he would be shunned by all his
brothers in his fraternity. But Nelson was a good
liar. He had long since perfected presenting
himself as straight, adjusting his walk and
voice, and expending all his energy into being
immersed in school activities to avoid bringing
attention to his sexuality.
On his first day working in a Dinkytown
clothing store, Joe appeared in the empty store,
where the two flirted until another customer
came in. Joe slid his number to Nelson once the
coast was clear.
By the time Nelson completed graduate
school, he had begun the process of coming out
to friends and family. Unlike Joe, whose family
cut him off after he came out, Nelson’s family
was relieved he finally made public what they
already suspected.
“It was kind of weird, but it was telling
people who I was and then walking through the
world just assuming that everyone knew I was
gay,” Nelson said. “I never really thought about
it anymore. I was much more relaxed. I didn’t
really give a shit what people thought of me
after that… it was incredibly freeing. Highly
recommend.”
Nelson still faced discrimination: A co-worker
asked if he was playing the Sugar Plum Fairy in
a local Nutcracker production during a meeting;
people doing double takes after Nelson said he
had to drop something off to his partner. The
final weight was lifted when he married his longtime
partner, Robert.
Now, 24 years into their relationship and
11 years into their marriage, Nelson said
nothing has curbed his anxiety like having the
confirmation of sharing a life with the man he
loves.
“Put your true self out there to the world,”
Nelson said. “Don’t put the idea of what you
think the world wants you to be. Be yourself.
It’s so much better than you can possibly
imagine.”
14 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 15

As the sports betting industry booms, many are getting in on the action,
while some are warning of the risks.
For many young men, betting on
sports is like a new form of social
media. It’s everywhere, and it
makes for an easy way to connect
with others.
For doubters — and there are plenty —
that’s precisely the problem.
“It’s just solidified in our society. You
can bring it up to any group of people and
people will pick up on it,” said 23-year-old
William Valentin, a recent college graduate.
“I never would have thought that would be
the case with gambling or betting.”
Valentin said he’s put money on sports
since he first got into fantasy football
when he was around 15 years old. But he’s
noticed a sharp uptick in popularity among
young men in the past few years. People
who weren’t previously into sports are
getting in on the action.
The thrill of winning money, socializing
with friends and the validation of one’s
sports knowledge are all reasons to bet. For
Valentin, the main draw is when he can bet
with other people who are watching a game
together.
“I’ll do it alone every once in a while,
but it definitely enhances the atmosphere
all together,” he said. “There’s a sense of
community with it like that.”
The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the
way for legalized sports betting across the
country in 2018. Minnesota is one of 12
states that has not approved it. However,
this hasn’t been for lack of trying. Both
Republican and Democrat state lawmakers
have called for the introduction of sports
betting, but a bill has not yet gotten through
the Legislature.
This hasn’t stopped Minnesotans from
putting down real money on the games
they’re watching. There are legal gray
areas. With daily fantasy sports apps like
PrizePicks, bettors can put money on
different outcomes within the games in
a straightforward and easy-to-learn way.
Unlike the sportsbooks available to those
living in states with legal sports betting,
daily fantasy sports are considered a game
of skill rather than gambling, and are legal
for those over 18.
A typical bet on PrizePicks, dubbed an
entry, requires little more than selecting a
couple of players and deciding if you think
they’ll exceed or fall short of a statistical
projection, like how many points they’ll
score in a game.
“I’ll do it alone every once in a while, but it definitely enhances the
atmosphere all together,” he said. “There’s a sense of community
with it like that.” — WILL VALENTIN
Empty bleachers at the University
of Minnesota Huntington Stadium in
Minneapolis on February 28, 2024.
Photo by Maya Modelli
Riley Nelson, Alex Le, and Sreeman Talatam pose, looking at a phone at the University of Minnesota
Huntington Stadium in Minneapolis on February 28, 2024. Photo by Maya Modelli
16 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 17

Riley Nelson, Alex Le, Sreeman Talatam and Ryan Bondoc look at their phones at the University of Minnesota
Huntington Stadium in Minneapolis on February 28. Photo by Rosalind Ding
Though such platforms escape the label
of “gambling,” Susan Sheridan Tucker,
executive director of the Minnesota
Alliance on Problem Gambling, said they
still fit the definition of gambling. Those
using daily fantasy sports platforms may
research player statistics for their bets, but
success is not solely determined by skill,
as sports are unpredictable and anything
can happen during a game.
“The gambling industry has done
a great job in massaging the messages
with regard to what is gambling or not,”
Sheridan Tucker said. “Unfortunately,
I think this is an instance where this is
absolutely gambling, and it should not be
legal based on our definition of gambling.”
“You click on the face, and then you
click on how much money you want to
put on it,” Valentin said. “They should’ve
never made it that easy to spend your
money betting.”
Sports betting and daily fantasy sports
have boomed over the past five years.
PrizePicks alone has seen
its revenue grow 3,712%
over the past three years.
— INC MAGAZINE
PrizePicks alone has seen its revenue
grow 3,712% over the past three years,
according to Inc. Magazine.
Sports betting commercials and
endorsements can now be found
interwoven into live sports broadcasts, and
some major professional sports teams have
even partnered with the companies.
Nothing has been more indicative of
the boom in sports betting than this year’s
Super Bowl. Around 68 million Americans
were expected to have bet over $23 billion
on the sporting event, according to the
American Gaming Association.
The bets were hardly limited to the
game on the field. Bettors could wager
money on everything from Kansas City
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce proposing to
Taylor Swift to whether Usher would take
his shirt off during the halftime show.
Valentin said he could even bet on
which would be higher: the points scored
by the San Francisco 49ers or President
Joe Biden’s approval rating by the end of
his term as president.
While many are focusing on the boom
in tax revenue from sports betting, which
could bring in an estimated $18 million
annually for Minnesota, it’s also raised
concerns from some over the potential
for addiction. Sheridan Tucker and others
across the country have been working
to raise awareness around gambling
addiction, which they say has gone largely
ignored on a state and national level.
Much of daily fantasy sports
companies’ advertising consists of
promos, which lure new users in with the
promise to match the money they deposit.
Liam Cronin looks at his phone at the University of Minnesota Huntington Stadium
in Minneapolis on February 28. Photo by Maya Modelli
18 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 Liam Cronin poses, looking SPRING at his phone, 2024 at the INFLUX University MAGAZINE of Minnesota Huntington 19
Stadium in Minneapolis, on February 28, 2024. Photo by Maya Modelli

“It is just people losing their money to gambling at the
end of the day. It’s no different than someone going to the
casino and playing blackjack every day.”
— WILL VALENTIN
“It’s extremely effective,” Sheridan Tucker
said. “The promo bets are extremely deceptive
and people don’t necessarily read the fine
print.”
In some cases, users may have to wager
a certain amount of money before they can
withdraw the money they initially deposited.
Valentin sees these promos as a “foolproof”
way of getting people to spend money on these
platforms.
“That’s why the enthusiasm is so high off
the bat,” Valentin said. “Because you put in
$100 and they match it and you have $200.
Then you bet that $200 and win $175 and
you think that you won $75, even though you
actually lost.”
Though Valentin doesn’t have any friends
he would consider addicted to gambling, he‘s
seen the betting habits of others that could be
problematic. The trajectory of most who bet on
sports isn’t sustainable in the long run, he said.
“The enthusiasm goes way, way down, but
the amount of money spent goes way, way
up as time goes on,” Valentin said. “It is just
people losing their money to gambling at the
end of the day. It’s no different than someone
going to the casino and playing blackjack every
day.”
Slavik Matveiciuc, a 20-year-old sophomore
at the University of Minnesota, also said he
recognized the luck involved when playing
PrizePicks.
“It definitely still feels like gambling, but I
think there’s a way you can set yourself up to
have a better chance at winning,” he said.
Matveiciuc has been playing PrizePicks for
around a year and a half, ever since a friend
of his introduced him to the platform. He
takes a low-stakes approach to betting and,
like Valentin, likes to do it when he’s with his
friends.
Although Matveiciuc said he usually bets
daily when he has money in his account, he
doesn’t go over $5 per bet, the minimum
allowed on PrizePicks. If he runs out of money,
he usually won’t deposit more for months at a
time.
When selecting the players he wants to put
money on, Matveiciuc said he likes to default
to others. Many social media accounts have
garnered followers by sharing their picks for
winning bets, whom followers may choose
to emulate or “tail.” Matveiciuc said he’s had
success in following advice from such Twitter
accounts.
“It’s worked out for me, but myself, I
don’t do the work to find those bets. I just tail
others,” he said.
Some people rely too heavily on their
knowledge of sports when betting, Matveiciuc
said. Something that can lose them money.
“It doesn’t really translate to sports betting,”
he said. “At least it didn’t for me. I thought I
knew about sports until I started sports betting.”
Alex Le, Liam Cronin, Sreeman Talatam, Riley Nelson, and Ryan Bondoc pose, looking at their phones at the
University of Minnesota Huntington Stadium in Minneapolis on February 28 2024. Photo by Maya Modelli
20 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 21

The Best Sip
Finding the best coffee in Minneapolis’ North Loop.
By Fiona Curran
Starbucks. Caribou.
Bruegger’s. Colleges
tend to have so many
coffee chains on campus,
and while their offerings are
tasty, I felt that there was
something more. Out there.
In the city.
As an Illinoisan, I haven’t explored
downtown Minneapolis as much as I
wanted to in my time as a student. I started
college during the pandemic, and now, with
only a few weeks left, I just didn’t know
how to get started.
My friend Alayna Sikac would send me
videos of cute coffee flights and pleasing
latte art and we would talk about going on
a little adventure. She’s also an out-of-state
student, but we never planned a day to go
to the city.
So when InFlux prompted me to think
about what I wanted to search for, coffee
was at the front of my mind. I pored
over my saved videos on Instagram,
screenshotting the names of every cafe and
plugging them into Google to determine
the best location for The Crawl. As the
Grammy Awards provided the background
music to my maniacal planning, I picked
the six best shops.
Alayna and I prepared for a full day of
walking around the North Loop. At 9:15
a.m. on a very sunny, very cold February
day, we hopped on the light rail to start
The Crawl.
Fairgrounds Craft Coffee and Tea
116 N. 3rd Ave., Minneapolis
Ordered: Frothy monkey (decaf
espresso) latte with skim milk and
caramel flavoring
Cost: $5.52
When we walked into Fairgrounds Craft
Coffee and Tea at 9:43 a.m., a colorful, litup
“F” greeted us. My name starts with the
same letter, but I can rarely find anything to
show it off, so I felt immediately welcome.
Pendants from past Minnesota state fairs
hung on the walls and greenery covered the
various shelves.
The lights were made out of old glass
pour-over coffee makers. The bright, warm,
natural sunlight woke me up before I even
had any coffee. And, perhaps my favorite
part, they had swings you could sway on
while sipping your coffee. Alayna drew
on the Etch A Sketch propped up by the
espresso machine.
The barista couldn’t have been kinder to
us and walked us through the menu, which
included drink options of coffee, tea and
kombucha. Fairgrounds makes their vanilla
and caramel in-house and doesn’t charge
customers for milk alternatives as many
other cafes do.
As I sat sipping on my latte, which
had a cute balloon floating on top in foam
art, I thought about what a strong start
Fairgrounds was for The Crawl. Alayna and
I stayed there for almost an hour and while
we were sad to leave, we were even more
excited to continue on our journey.
Backstory Coffee Roasters 528 N.
Washington Ave., Minneapolis
Ordered: Honey cinnamon latte with
skim milk
Cost: $6.61
At 10:43 a.m., Alayna and I walked up
the stairs to Backstory Coffee Roasters and
I immediately loved
the interior design. Plants combined
with dark, moody shades
of green are two of my favorite aesthetic
decisions, and this place had both! The
lights looked like blooming flowers and
the natural sunlight came in through huge
windows, adding to the industrial feeling.
The coffee bar was gilded in bronze on the
top and mirrors lined the back wall. People
could chat while sitting at the marble
countertop.
The large bookshelves were filled with
antiques, with each section highlighting
a different vibe. The back wall was my
favorite. It was covered in unique vases, a
typewriter and two mannequins that both
unsettled and intrigued me.
Along the walls were U-shaped couches
where you could socialize with friends. A
group of guys lounged in sweatsuits and on
the other side, a group of girlfriends chatted
with coffees in hand. In the center of the
room, people filled every seat at a long
wooden table where they typed away on
their laptops.
I loved everything about Backstory.
Every time I shifted my focus, something
new stood out to me.
A barista at The Last Drop Cafe brews the
Valentine’s Day coffee flight located in Minneapolis
on February 16, 2024. Photo by Fiona Curran
22 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 23

THE LAST DROP CAFE
506 N. 4th St., Minneapolis
What I got: Valentine’s Day coffee flight
Cost: $18
What I
Ordered on
the Coffee
Crawl
By Fiona Curran
FRGMNT
Coffee
729 N. Washington Ave.,
Minneapolis
What I got: Decaf
dulce de leche latte
with oat milk
Cost: $7.80
FAIRGROUNDS
Craft Coffee and Tea
116 N. 3rd Ave.,
Minneapolis
What I got: Frothy monkey
(decaf espresso) latte with
skim milk and caramel flavoring
Cost: $5.52
SPYHOUSE
Coffee Roasters
907 N. Washington Ave.,
Minneapolis
What I got: Solid gold
latte with oat milk
Cost: $7.03
I liked how it was segmented into the
social areas and the places where you
could lock in and work. The quiet music
relaxed me, even though I forgot to ask for
my coffee decaf. I did think this was pretty
expensive for a latte, but it was also one of
the most delicious coffees I had during The
Crawl. After Alayna and I stopped ogling
the little cow snow globe we found on one
of the bookshelves, we bundled up and
braved the cold to our next spot.
Corner Coffee
514 N. 3rd St. #102,
Minneapolis, MN
Ordered: Salted bourbon caramel latte
with oat milk
Cost: $7.50
By the time we walked into Corner
Coffee at 11:37 a.m., I felt a caffeine buzz.
The cafe was smaller and cozier than the
first two places we’d been but still had nice
natural lighting and plants. However, this
place leaned into the fact that it’s a cafe in
Minnesota. As soon as you walk in, there
is a light-up Minnesota cutout, and there
are multiple others throughout the building.
The logo for the shop has the Minneapolis
skyline in a circle. The skyline is also
painted very faintly on the distressed,
wooden wall in the back of the shop
where I spent my time.
Alayna and I sat and enjoyed soft-rock
music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and hummed
along whenever Fleetwood Mac played.
Even though some great music played
through the speakers, the other customers
sat with headphones on while getting their
work done. We were talking at a respectful
volume, yet I still felt like my conversation
with Alayna was too loud. I didn’t want to
disturb anyone.
I sipped my latte, which was made
with the bourbon-infused salted Ghiradelli
caramel that is created in-house.
Unfortunately, the foam wasn’t very
thick so the latte art didn’t stay on the top
while I drank, but the taste was interesting.
The top was lightly dusted with Hawaiianstyle
black lava salt, so you had to drink
it at the right anwwgle to make sure you
weren’t only tasting salt. I thought it was a
cozy place to visit.
The Last Drop Cafe
506 N. 4th St., Minneapolis, MN
Ordered: Valentine’s Day coffee flight
Cost: $18
We finally started the second half of The
Crawl at 12:45 p.m. The Last Drop Cafe,
which turns into a wine bar in the evening,
is inside Graze Provisions & Libations, a
trendy food hall. I’d seen the Valentine’s
Day coffee flight on Instagram since
January. Alayna and I sent this one to each
other a few times and we were so excited
it fit into our route. The sequined curtains
sparkled in the sunlight, which lit up the
neon furniture, especially the lime green
table. There were games you could play
with your friends and floating egg chairs
you could hang from while chilling with
your coffee.
The flight was adorable. The first one
was called “I Love You A Latte.” While it
was the cutest, I could not drink it to save
my life. It tasted like iced milk, almost
as if they had forgotten the coffee. It was
terrible. That didn’t stop me from eating the
accompanying conversation hearts, though.
The “Marry Me Matcha” drink wasn’t any
better. I’ve never been a huge fan of matcha
and this one coated my mouth weirdly.
To make things worse it was topped with
strawberry foam that tasted extremely
artificial. The “Berry Sweet Milk Tea”
tasted watered down and fake, but Alayna
enjoyed it more than I did. I only liked the
“Cupid’s Cold Brew,” which had perfect
foam and a bold coffee with hints of mocha
flavoring.
The Last Drop has some standard
coffees, too, like lattes and cold brew, but it
promotes its seasonal flights heavily.
The view from behind the counter at Fairgrounds Craft Coffee and Tea in Minneapolis on February 16, 2024. Photo by Fiona Curran
BACKSTORY
Coffee Roasters
528 N. Washington Ave.,
Minneapolis
What I got: Honey cinnamon latte
with skim milk
Cost: $6.61
CORNER
Coffee
514 N. 3rd St. #102, Minneapolis
What I got: Salted bourbon
caramel latte with oat milk
Cost: $7.50
24 INFLUX MAGAZINE
SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 25

Despite the vibrant atmosphere and their
creatively named drinks, I left disappointed.
However, it is a great place to take some
aesthetic Instagram shots. While we were
there, a bachelorette party walked around
the different restaurants, but even they
didn’t stop at the coffee bar.
FRGMNT Coffee
729 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis
Ordered: Decaf dulce de leche latte
with oat milk
Cost: $7.80
Alayna and I were exhausted. At 1:36
p.m., we arrived at FRGMNT Coffee. As
soon as we walked in, two friends who
hadn’t seen each other in a while were
reunited. A couple worked side-by-side
at a long table. A large group sat by the
TV and shelves covered in geometric art.
Two people read in front of an industrial
fireplace.
I was tempted to pick up a treat from
Cardigan Donuts, but I was already buzzing
from the caffeine and figured adding
more sugar to the mix would be a terrible
idea. The pink tile behind the counter was
different from the black fabric that lined
the leather couch and the white geometricpatterned
wall. Somehow, it still worked.
Alayna and I sat on a large couch next to
a couple who were watching a TV show
together on a laptop. We played the card
game Trash while I drank my coffee.
What we were most excited about was
the possibility of seeing a dog, as we’d
both had this coffee shop come up on
our Instagram Explore pages separately
because they allowed dogs.
Eventually, our wish came true.
Winston, a 6-month-old Goldendoodle,
walked in with his owner. He was a ball of
energy and brightened up the atmosphere.
He was definitely my favorite part of
the visit. This latte was also one of my
favorites, but the price makes it a treat
solely for special occasions.
Spyhouse Coffee Roasters
907 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis
Ordered: Solid gold latte with oat milk
Cost: $7.03
At 2:22, we arrived at our final
destination: Spyhouse Coffee Roasters. I
was all coffeed out. I didn’t think I could
handle another cup of joe. Alayna hyped
me up before I ordered. When I finally
ordered, I struggled to speak. All the
caffeine had caught up with me.
The black-and-white, classic decor was
not the vibe or headspace that I was in
at the moment. I wanted something cozy
and relaxing, but no matter where I sat, I
felt uncomfortable — no doubt due to the
eight previous coffees. Still, I had to power
through.
The solid gold latte is flavored with
ginger and turmeric. I had never tasted
a coffee like it before, but I could barely
take a second sip. All the milk and caffeine
combined had filled me up over the course
of the day. The turmeric left a weird feeling
in my mouth and the pepper sprinkled
on top overpowered everything else. It
also didn’t help that a portrait of former
president Franklin Delano Roosevelt stared
me down as if I had to finish my coffee or
else I’d be wasting it.
Eventually, my friend Leah Hawley
picked us up and thankfully finished my
coffee so I didn’t have to suffer the wrath
of FDR.
Final Thoughts
I spent $52.46 on all the coffee, which
is more than double the amount I usually
spend on coffee in a month. I hit the wall
halfway through our visit at FRGMNT,
which contributed to my perception of
Spyhouse. Had I not been practically
keeling over from my caffeine consumption,
I probably would have enjoyed it more.
However, each place I visited had its
strengths.
If you want a super fun, bright, engaging
place to hang out with your friends,
Fairgrounds is the place to go. It had the
best atmosphere, and I had the most fun
here. It also had the cheapest coffee of the
day while still being good quality.
Backstory was my favorite place overall.
It had the best coffee and design. You could
either put in earbuds and get to work or sit
and chat with your friends. It was perfect
for both.
If you choose your favorite places based
on the music and the vibes, Corner Coffee
is the place for you. I can’t think of a better
style of music to listen to while drinking
coffee. It was also a great cafe to get work
done.
The Last Drop had the best Instagramworthy
aesthetic. I did get some cute shots
of the flight and the vibrant furniture makes
it a fun place to look at.
If you’re looking for a place where you
can read, work, hang out with friends or
potentially run into a dog, FRGMNT is
great. The coffee tasted great. And there’s
nothing better than seeing a new furry
friend when you’re not expecting it.
If you want to try a flavor you’ve never
tried before, Spyhouse is a great option.
There’s a lavender and honey flavor that
I’m intrigued by, so I’ll probably have to
head back there myself!
While I’m glad I experienced this, I
don’t think I’d go on another crawl again.
The human body was not meant to handle
this much coffee in one day! As someone
who only drinks coffee maybe once or twice
a week — and only orders it caffeinated
when she forgets to ask for decaf — this
was a struggle. After we left Spyhouse, the
jitters started. After eating a bagel, some
carrots and pasta, courtesy of Leah, I fully
recovered from my over-caffeination threeand-a-half
hours later. However, getting
to explore the city was so much fun. Thank
you to everyone who followed along on
my journey through these pages. And now
learn from me and split up your days when
visiting each cafe.
Backstory Coffee Roasters located in Minneapolis,
on February 16, 2024. Photo by Fiona Curran
26 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 27

A
A
H
Tracking Wildlife at Wakan Tipi
A
A
H
A
A A
A
A
A backpack holds tracking materials, reference books and necessities. Photo by Rosalind Ding
B B
Liz Perelman, Mark Hover and Jenna
Grey Eagle hope to find wildlife tracks
Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, a sacred
Dakota site near the Mississippi River in
St.Paul on February 18, 2024.
Photos by Rosalind Ding
B B
Whitney Sansom
holds a bird's foot
found during the
group tracking
session in St. Paul.
A
A
A
By Rosalind Ding
Snow tracking, a specific type of
tracking that occurs in frosty
climates, allows people to
understand what kind of animals
are living in a specific area. By identifying
certain signs animals leave behind, such
as their scat, rubbing on the trees, or the
remains of their prey, wildlife biologists
can grasp the knowledge and understanding
of what animals’ behavior is like. Tracking
could happen on various soil types, such
as mud or sand, and different areas with
an assortment of wildlife determine which
process should be used for tracking.
By understanding tracking, you can
identify a red squirrel versus a gray squirrel
based on their track mark. Just like puzzle
solving, Whitney Sansom, a
member of the Minnesota
Tracking Club, said one of
the biggest things to do
before you go on track is to
know what kind of habitat
it is and what you expect
to live there. When you
see tracking signs, you
start by identifying
different shapes and
Henry Parks looks
through binoculars.
Photo by Rosalind Ding
sizes, narrowing them down into small
pieces based on their location and finally
putting together a broader picture.
In preparation for snow tracking, you
will need essential tools, such as warm
clothing; navigation tool (i.e., a map,
compass, and/or GPS device); comfortable
shoes, like snowshoes or skis depending
on the weather; Avalanche Safety Gear (if
applicable) like beacon, probe, and shovel;
a backpack that can carry all the essentials;
bring a small pack of first aid kit; prepare
with sun protection, emergency gear, food
and water, communication devices like
a radio or your phone. Most importantly,
bring a field guidebook and travel with
groups to share and compare your results
with others.
q
q
28 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 29

What’s better than a cheeseburger?
A burger stuffed with cheese!
Aenea Keren eats a Jucy Lucy at Blue Door Pub located in
Minneapolis on March 15, 2024. Photo by Maya Modelli
By Emmanuel Monrovia-Tommy
The Twin Cities are home to many innovators,
including 3M, Prince and the creator of the
Jucy Lucy burger. Invented in the 1950s by a
courageous man who ordered two patties
with a slice of cheese in the middle, the Jucy Lucy
has become a local favorite. Since its creation,
many restaurants have attempted to replicate
the revolutionary patty, sparking heated debates
on which restaurant serves the best one.
I had the pleasure of trying four Jucy Lucy
burgers from critically acclaimed restaurants.
While taste is subjective, I found that Matt’s
Bar had the best one. The first bite made
me feel happy, warm and satisfied. Food
is an experience that should make you
feel something, no matter what you
eat. So, the next time you’re in the
mood for a Jucy Lucy or any
other kind of food, take a
moment to slow down a
nd savor the experience.
To see all the mouthwatering
Jucy Lucys
I devoured, check out
my full review on
@influxmag’s
Instagram page.
30 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 31

An Endless Search
for Knowledge
Learning endures through a Senior Citizen Education
program at the University of Minnesota.
By Ariana Valentin
At a time in life when most
people are collecting Social
Security, going on vacations
or spending time with
grandchildren, Fran Linhart went back to
school to study music. And then history.
And theology.
“When you retire you can choose to be
old and live in your old thoughts,” Linhart
said. “Or, you can choose to be curious
about the world.”
Seven years ago, Linhart, 72, enrolled
in the Senior Citizen Education program at
the University of Minnesota. This program
is possible due to a Minnesota state statute
that allows residents 62 and older to take
classes at any Minnesota state university
for $10 per credit, or free if they sign up to
audit the class.
This program is not unique to
Minnesota; several states, such as Alabama
and Maine, have programs that allow
senior citizens to take classes tuition-free.
Linhart studied music 50 years ago,
so when she first enrolled in classes,
she chose to relearn the things she had
previously studied and spent her career
practicing.
Her energy fits in at the university. With
a cheerful smile and a bright coordinated
outfit, her radiance makes her easy to
approach and chat with.
“I used to play in bands,” said Linhart.
“When I went back to school, I had to
study all this stuff I didn’t know, even
though I spent 50 years listening to it.”
When Linhart hit a wall of prerequisites
Fran Linhart looks over handwritten notes ahead of class in Blegen Hall, located
in Minneapolis on March 20, 2024. Photo by Fartun Hassan
Fran Linhart talks to a student, sharing her experience at the tech
space in Blegen Hall located in Minneapolis on March 20, 2024.
Photo by Rosalind Ding
32 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 33

“When you retire
you can choose
to be old and
live in your old
thoughts. Or, you
can choose to be
curious about
the world.”
—FRAN LINHART
Fran Linhart sits in the back
of the room, overlooking the class
in Blegen Hall on March 20, 2024.
Photo by Fartun Hassan
with music classes, she decided to keep
going and enroll in more classes about
the things she has always been curious
about. This semester, she’s in a class about
Christianity.
“I wasn’t raised in a church so I want
to try and understand it more,” she said.
“Especially with everything that’s going on
in the world right now.”
Linhart spends a lot of time playing
piano, singing and doing other work in
churches, so the classes at the university
allow her to understand the communities
she has become a part of.
Even though Benjamin Osborn, 55, is
not old enough to qualify for the senior
program, he has been taking classes at the
university for the last ten years.
“I came into some money so I didn’t
have to work,” Osborn said. “I don’t want
commitment and with classes, if I don’t
want to come in, I can just turn the alarm
off.”
Osborn’s career was in computer
science and he went to school for several
years before he became so successful.
“I graduated in the 2000s with a history
degree and I went out to get a master’s in
history. I started the Ph.D. program but
then realized that I was not motivated
enough to do that,” Osborn said.
“A few years later I came back to be a
computer science major, which was what I
originally went to college for, and flunked
out,” he said. “So I finished that and did
networking. By the time I had enough
money coming in where I didn’t have to
work, I just kept taking classes.”
Because Osborn isn’t old enough to
qualify for the program, he has been
paying full tuition to learn more. He
takes mostly history classes, as well as
psychology, economics and some computer
science.
He has taken several World War I and
II classes that specifically address the
relationships between the colonized and
the colonizers. He learned about how
the decreased technology gap during the
First World War started to change other
countries’ perceptions of the United States.
This semester, he is taking History of
Tourism.
“We have talked about the impact on
Indigenous people, and now we are getting
into the environmental impacts,” he said.
He is also taking an art class about
Irish history. “It’s focusing on the 1500s
and 1600s right now, and then the last few
weeks will bring it up to the 1920s when
the Irish Republic began.”
Osborn is more motivated to come to
classes when he has two in a day because
that means he will be spending more
time at the university learning than on his
commute from Uptown.
He said he plans on continuing to take
classes until he runs out of stuff to learn or
enroll in.
Both Osborn and Linhart have gotten
to enjoy learning and taking classes while
also observing the social patterns of a
different generation.
“If you select, and you only stay around
people your own age, you miss out,”
Linhart said. “Being around young people
is really exciting. We can learn so much
just by being open.”
None of Linhart’s friends or neighbors
are enrolled in the program, but that hasn’t
held her back.
“There’s one guy in here that I’ve met in
another class, another old senior,” she said.
“But you have to get up, you have to drive
here, you have to park. Gee. You have to
walk. Not a lot of people are doing it.”
Continuing to learn and be curious
about the world correlates with positive
aging, and this program allows seniors to
continue thriving after retirement.
34 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 35

The personal effect
Many of us at the university have had
the opportunity to have a senior in at least
one of our classes, and the experience may
come with a range of emotions.
According to Forbes, the total
student loan debt in the United States in
2024 is $1.75 trillion, and over 50% of
students attending a four-year university
had student loans. The University of
Minnesota’s average tuition cost before aid
is $31,000 a year.
When I first heard about this program,
the first thing I felt was jealousy. And a
little resentment.
Going to college is stressful, and over
the past four years, the pressure has gotten
to me a few times.
I had an older person in one of my
classes sophomore year, and I spent time
wishing I was in her place.
When you audit a class, you’re not
required to do assignments, and this
class had several in-front-of-the-class
presentations, which were daunting
considering this was 2021 and I wasn’t
used to talking in front of large groups of
people.
I wanted the opportunity to learn
without commitment or responsibility.
Growth brings maturity and a changed
perspective, and as I prepare to graduate
in May, my attitude toward the program
has greatly shifted.
As Linhart said, when you only spend
time around people your age, you miss
out. Allowing yourself to be open to the
experiences of others teaches you more
about the world and gives you a rounded
education.
The search for knowledge is endless,
and in 40 years I would enjoy participating
in a program like this one. There is always
more to learn.lways more to learn.
Contact sheet of photos taken earlier in her career.
By Hal Garb, courtesy of Fran Linhart
“If you only stay around people
your own age, you miss out.”
—FRAN LINHART
If you’re searching for good grades, this
student-designed website might help.
Gopher Grades
By Gustav DeMars
Around midnight on
a November night
in 2022, Kanishk
Kacholia and a few
of his colleagues ran around the
various halls of the University of
Minnesota’s East Bank campus
scribbling a message on any
whiteboard they could find. The
message read, “Don’t be unprepared
for registration, go to umn.lol.”
The short and playful URL brought
people to a webpage adorned with an image
of Goldy Gopher and the words
“Gopher Grades!” The website,
developed by Kacholia alongside fellow
computer science students Samyok Nepal
and Joey McIndoo, shows all past grades
students received in classes taken at the
University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities
campus to aid students while registering
for classes.
When it came time to launch their
website, Kacholia said they decided on
the enticing domain “umn.lol,” which
Nepal had been holding onto for a while.
“We thought, ‘Why not just have it be
umn.lol?’” Kacholia said. “It’s short, it’s
memorable and it’s funny enough that if we
put it on a whiteboard, people are going to
be willing to go to that website.”
Gopher Grades is simple. Entering the
name of a course or a professor shows
a graph of how many students received
each letter grade in previous semesters.
The website also gives students browsing
classes extra information by pulling data
from Rate My Professors, a platform where
students can rate and leave reviews of
professors.
Though Kacholia said Gopher Grades
was mainly used by computer science
students at first, over time, the website has
View all of the past grades for classes
taken at the University of Minnesota
Twin Cities.
seen an increase in users. The website now
sees students looking for classes across a
variety of departments and has been used
by over 50,000 people.
Although the concept was not original,
Kacholia and others took the idea and ran
with it, exploring new possibilities along
the way. The current iteration, known as
Gopher Grades v2, follows in the footsteps
of an earlier version created by University
of Minnesota students, who got the idea
from a website created by the computer
science department at the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Kacholia and other developers have
expanded on these ideas by adding more
class data and new features. One such
innovation was a browser extension, which
allows students to see the grade data directly
overlaid on the university’s Schedule
Builder website, visualize their schedule on
a map of campus to help plan the logistics of
getting between classes and more.
Those working on the website continue
to plan new additions to Gopher Grades,
including expanding beyond just the Twin
Cities campus.
Kacholia estimates they paid a little over
$200 for the data used on their website
during the first three semesters of the site
being up. However, they no longer have to
after the university’s Office of Institutional
Data and Research automated the process
of providing the data, he said.
When they were being charged by the
university, there were talks of putting ads
on the site. With the lowered financial
burden, Kacholia said the plans are to keep
Gopher Grades free of ads and accessible to
all students.
“Having grade data for everyone for a
long time is the goal,” he said.
Goldy Gopher
36 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 37

The Luxury Shrink
Meet Leslie Randall, designer, artist, stylist, educator and fashion expert.
By Lily Ziaja
By Lily Ziaja
Originally from Wisconsin,
Randall attended the University
of Minnesota. Immediately
upon graduating with a degree
in apparel design, Randall moved to New
York City. After almost a decade in New
York designing embellishments, patterns and
graphics for Kate Spade, Randall decided
to relocate to St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2019,
Randall established The Luxury Shrink, a
one-stop shop for her curated services in
artwork, branding and styling.
As she began to establish herself in St.
Paul, Randall turned to her alma mater
in hopes of sharing her experience in the
fashion industry. This led to the 35-year-old
fashion expert becoming a crucial member
of the Design Board at the University of
Minnesota.
This interview touches on creative
inspiration, how fashion shapes us as
individuals and the meaning behind staying
true to ourselves.
Who is your biggest fashion inspiration?
I have always loved Jackie Kennedy.
She was the first person I really recognized
as a fashion icon. There was something
so effortless about her and what she wore.
Everything was tailored to perfection.
The perfect balance of ease, class and
modernity but also timelessness.
What is your strategy in dressing?
I love to wear printed pants. A lot of
my tops are basic. It is a similar formula,
it's almost always a t-shirt, but then I'll do
either crazy pants or a crazy jacket. I go
crazy for vintage jeans as well. I am also
really into fabric, so I do not buy a lot of
synthetic fabrics and that is something I
have learned over the years.
Photo courtesy of Leslie Randall
If you could live in any era of fashion
what would it be/what is your favorite?
I would say early 60s. It was the perfect
blend of funkiness but also this really cool
exploration of silhouettes. The prints. The
polka dots, florals, and what they printed on
silk. The 70s was when polyester became a
thing. When you look at a silk print, it's so
vibrant in a way that polyester isn’t.
What is your favorite piece in your
collection?
I have my everyday piece that I cannot
live without, which is my Jean-Charles
de Castelbajac jacket. It is funny because
I never would have thought it would be a
staple piece for me. Sometimes you buy
something that is not you and you just love
it. I got it in New York and it is the most I
have ever spent on a coat. I have worn it to
death. It is my favorite. It is so versatile.
Has fashion allowed you to form your
identity as an individual?
When I started fashion I was taught it
wasn't about your identity, it was about
your target market. When I moved to NYC
I started to explore my own identity and
style. I got into vintage which is incredible
because its better quality, more affordable
and it's one of a kind. I realized every
fashion house uses vintage as inspiration
because it is not replicable and it's the best
of the best. Often we’re told it's not about
you, but when it's your personal style, it's
always about you. If you do not have a
strong sense of self, how can you really
ever have an opinion on anything? I grew
to know what I liked and then I would
attract people who liked the same thing. I
built a little community. To me that was the
most successful part in figuring out who I
was and my own identity in fashion.
What advice would you give someone
wanting to enter the fashion industry?
The biggest thing is to stay true to
yourself and your own identity. That is
the most important, it is why you love it
in the first place. You should love what
you do and you should love who you do
it with. You should want to wear the stuff
you make or even love it enough that you
can see someone else wearing it. If you
aren't happy, you can change direction. If
you aren't paid enough, you can ask for a
raise. Never lose sight of the fact that your
standards are your standards and you don’t
have to listen to them.
What would you tell your 20- year- old
self in regards to dressing and creative
expression?
I think one, you’re way too hard on
yourself. I worked so hard and still didn’t
think I was good enough. I felt like I didn’t
deserve to be there because I was from the
Midwest. Looking back, I know I killed
it. Your job is to worry about yourself
first. Also, that my mistakes would be as
important, if not more important as my
successes. Ultimately I wouldn’t change
any of it.
Illustrations by Leslie Randall
38 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024

“It’s really empowering
to be self-taught.
If you love it, chances are it’s
going to apply to something
that you’re doing.”
Image courtesy of Leslie Randall
—LESLIE RANDALL
Photo courtesy of Rose Callahan
Textile designs by Leslie Randall
What challenges and opportunities have
you encountered in the fashion scene
since relocating to Saint Paul, MN, and
how has it influenced your approach to
your work?
When I left New York, I thought
I would fall off the face of the earth.
Everything in fashion is there so I thought
I wouldn’t get any work. It is totally
not true. I can remotely work for a ton
of different designers and somehow I
happened to be working with way more
people than I ever could have in New
York. I am also able to slow down. The
biggest challenge however is that I miss
being inspired. I am just a dime a dozen
in New York because someone is always
wearing a crazier outfit. Here you don’t
get that experience as much. They’re here
but it's nowhere near the level of unique
and authentic style that is in New York.
What background do you have in
fashion? What education do you think is
necessary in determining vintage, styling,
working with big brands?
I went to school for apparel design
and am self taught in graphic design. If
your work speaks for itself, it doesn’t
matter. Textile design is my favorite part
of my business but my apparel design
background makes me better at it because
I understand how a print is going to
go on the body in a way. I am also self
taught in vintage. Vintage is a lot like
wine, the more you drink it, the more you
know and the more you like it. It’s really
empowering to be self-taught. If you
love it, chances are it's going to apply to
something that you’re doing.
Image courtesy of Leslie Randall
SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 41

First Gen: Navigating
Higher Education
A first-generation student’s journey at UMN
By Ryan Cardenas
No matter how much praise
Hannah Hanson received from
loved ones for being the first
person in her family to go to
college, she admits that she wasn’t fully
prepared for the experience. The financial
struggles and expectations of being a full-time
college student took her by surprise.
With her time at the University of
Minnesota winding down — and a job already
lined up — the White Bear Lake native is
looking back on what this accomplishment
means for her and her family.
“Being the first in my family to attend
college has been both incredibly rewarding and
challenging,” Hanson said. “While I receive
a lot of praise from my parents and extended
family, hearing words like ‘I can’t believe you
did it!’ and ‘You’re going to be the first one in
our whole family!’ is sweet, but it’s the unique
challenges faced by first-generation students
that resonate with me the most.”
The positive reaction to receiving praise
and affirmation is a given, but when Hanson
opened up about the unique challenges she
faced, one can see every emotion that a firstgeneration
college student endures.
When discussing the struggles she first
faced, she mentioned the financial aspect.
“One of the biggest challenges I faced
was the lack of understanding surrounding
finances, typical college paths and the purpose
of a degree. For instance, my parents were
unaware that students often live in off-
“When I was accepted I literally thought
it was a mistake in the system.”
—HANNAH HANSON
Hannah Hanson poses in front of the Northrop Mall
at the University of Minnesota on March 15, 2024.
Photo by Kristina Minic
42 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 43

“I’ve witnessed firsthand that tremendous
success can stem from networking and hard
work, as reflected by my parents.”
—HANNAH HANSON
campus housing, which posed financial
difficulties during my transition from living
at home to university life,” Hanson said.
Like most college students, Hanson
learned how to overcome these
obstacles. For example, she now lives in
an off-campus house with four roommates
who have become some of her best friends.
After adapting to new ways of life,
she stumbled into a common struggle that
most sophomores and juniors face: finding
internships.
Despite this intense phase of adversity,
she credits her parents for her ability to
figure it all out, who, despite not getting
a college degree, were able to help her
through times like these with unwavering
support.
Hanson mentions how her initial plans
were not to pursue higher education after
high school, but after working full-time
at a financial institution, she was quick to
realize that she wanted more than the entrylevel
job she was in. After discussing it
with her parents, she realized that they were
going to be there for her and would support
any decision she decided to make.
This is where her collegiate journey
began. She took classes for two years at
Century College, a community college in
White Bear Lake, and then transferred to
the University of Minnesota, where she is
set to graduate in May 2024. When she first
applied, she was convinced that she would
not get in.
“When I was accepted, I literally
thought it was a mistake in the system, until
I called and made sure I was accepted,”
Hanson said. She also mentioned
experiencing intense imposter syndrome
but ultimately adapted to her new home.
After going through roughly 3 ½ years
of college, Hanson has newfound standards
for her own future kids. While she does
hold some expectations in terms of going to
college, she does acknowledge that it may
not be for everyone.
“I also recognize that it’s not
necessarily the right path for everyone.
I’ve witnessed firsthand that tremendous
success can stem from networking and
hard work, as reflected by my parents,”
Hanson said. “Therefore, while I value my
own experience at a four-year institution
and see it as a valuable guide for my future
children, I’m equally prepared to support
them if they choose a different route, just as
my parents did for me.”
Hanson makes a point to mention
that she would not be here if not for the
tremendous amount of support and love
from her parents. She also states that
her success has been built from her own
diligence, research and willingness to
uplift others around her, along with the
community she has built within her friend
group and house.
Hanson has accepted a full-time
position at U.S. Bank as a user experience
designer, with a start date just one month
after her graduation. She connects the
acceptance of this position with the worth
of her college experience and is forever
grateful for living the life she has long
envisioned.
Hannah Hanson sits on the steps of
Northrop Auditorium at the University
of Minnesota looking out toward the
campus, on March 15, 2024. Photo
by Kristina Minic
44 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 45

TWIN CITIES SOUND
FINE LINE
FIRST
AVENUE
By Sarah Horner
First Avenue is a popular venue in the heart of downtown. It attracts a wide
range of music lovers, young and old alike. Its biggest draws include the
cool and spacious main room, the iconic stars decorating the building and
the convenient, historic location. “I am a huge Prince fan and I love the
history of the venue,” said Kate Nelson, a University of Minnesota student. She also
noted that the crowd etiquette is generally good, perhaps because of the venue’s
respected status and well-trained staff. Overall, it’s a top choice for seeing established
artists while still maintaining a decent level of fan-performer intimacy.
By Sarah Horner
Owned by the same management as First Avenue,
Fine Line Music Cafe is ideal for artists with more
laid-back sets and production elements. Reviews from
students are mixed. Some said they liked the smaller
size, calling it “nice and intimate,” while others
referred to it as “very cramped.” Concerns about sound
quality were also mentioned. However, the kind staff
give the venue a boost in terms of reputation. They’re
often seen offering free cups of ice water during and
after the show, which avid concert attendees know
to be a lifeline. One student said, “They were very
nice about accommodating someone in my group that
needed a seat during the show.”
The Beaches onstage at Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis on February
28, 2024. Photo by Sarah Horner (Above). The exterior of Varsity Theater
in Dinkytown on February 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Horner (Below).
VARSITY
THEATER
Stars outside of First Avenue in Minneapolis.
Photo by Sarah Horner
By Sarah Horner
Varsity Theater’s sparkling yellow sign lights a landmark
in Dinkytown. Students said they liked the convenient and
familiar location. Its quirky interior also fits the studentfriendly
vibe. “The ceiling lights and disco ball always make
the show so much more fun!” said University of Minnesota
student Sabrina Nelson. Another standout element is the grottolike
bathroom featuring ornate mirrors,
messily-laid brick and sprawling greenery,
which was named America’s Best
Restroom in 2013 by Cintas. Attendees
also note the comfortable size of the venue
and the attentive staff, recognizing it as a
unique place to see smaller artists.
46 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 47

George Faseemo and other Chop Shop attendees
gather near the venue stage, listening to local band
Goon Tribune in Minneapolis on March 23, 2024.
Photo by Kristina Minic
CHOP
SHOP
By Kristina Minic
Chop Shop is a popular
DIY venue in the
Como neighborhood
of Minneapolis. The
residents advertise shows via
their Instagram accounts, and
students from all over campus
flock to see their favorite local
artists perform.
The garage-basement hybrid
is set up with comfort, fun
and creativity in mind, and
includes both indoor and outdoor
components. The venue has cozy
seating and spaces for guests to
draw and write, with an endless
supply of water and earplugs
for all who pay the $5 entry fee
(and receive an iconic checkered
wristband).
The venue is rowdy, loud and
wild, but very safety-oriented.
Chop Shop is also notably a
safe space for BIPOC and queer
individuals; creatives and music
lovers from all backgrounds
gather at the Como house for a
fun time. Overall, Chop Shop
is an amazing house venue for
those looking for casual fun and
love local jams.
1. A rack overflows with coats
from Chop Shop attendees in
Minneapolis on March 23, 2024.
2. Sreeman Talatam drinks a
free cup of water.
3. Chop Shop attendees rest on
a couch in between performers.
4. Angela Garza and Mansee
Mane pose for a photo in front
of the performers.
Photos by Kristina Minic
48 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 49

GOING
AGAINST
THE GRAIN
By Gemma Gardner
Confession: A salad bar made me
cry on my first day of college.
With a backpack full of
textbooks, a U Card hanging
from the lanyard around my neck and
a newfound phobia of the Gopher Way
tunnels, I had proudly conquered day
one at the University of Minnesota. The
adrenaline increasingly gave way to fatigue
and hunger with each step I took toward
Superblock. Knowing that I had little time
before “hangry-ness” took over, it was
time to face the most nerve-wracking part
of my day:
The dining hall.
I have Celiac disease, which means that
my body hates gluten, and very, very bad
things happen if I eat even trace amounts
of it. So, when I found myself standing in
the eye of the hurricane that is the Pioneer
dining hall at 5:30 p.m., anxiety consumed
me. With each glance around the dining
hall, the anxiety grew.
Pastas, burgers, pizza — nope.
French fries — fried in the same fryer
as things with gluten — nope.
Breaded chicken tenders — nope.
Soup… with noodles. So close…
Again, nope.
Seeing that the options in the main areas
were slim, I headed to the “allergy” station,
which I had heard offered a gluten-free
option for each meal. However, the option
turned out to be a burger, and as I don’t eat
red meat, I felt panic begin to rise in my
chest. What was I going to eat?
I spotted the salad bar close by and
instinctively dashed its way. This was my
last hope.
However, that hope shattered — and
so did I — when I saw that there were
crouton crumbs all around the salad bar,
making it too risky. Panic and frustration
overwhelmed me as I crafted a game plan
for finding dinner elsewhere, eventually
deciding to pick up a frozen meal from
the Walgreens by my dorm. The reality of
my situation quickly sank: if I was already
struggling to find options on the first day,
what would the rest of the year be like?
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is far from the food
intolerance many assume it to be. Rather,
it’s an autoimmune condition that
causes the lining of the small intestine
to deteriorate after exposure to gluten,
which is found in wheat, rye, barley and
Celiac-safe
bread. Photo
by Rosalid Ding
oats. According to the Celiac Disease
Foundation, Celiac impacts about 1 in 100
people worldwide — but only 30% are
properly diagnosed.
For many individuals, exposure to
gluten leads to reactions that often last
for days at a time and can include severe
abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting,
migraines, cognitive impairment, anemia,
skin rashes and joint pain. Others with
Celiac disease may be asymptomatic.
Regardless of whether reactions are
experienced or not, though, gluten
exposure — especially if repeated and
prolonged — can lead to heart disease,
cancers, infertility, liver failure, seizures
and more. I fall into the symptomatic
category. If I eat gluten, I’m sick for days.
The kicker? All it takes is trace amounts
— known as cross-contamination — to
trigger an immune response. Here are a
few examples of scenarios that can make
someone with Celiac sick:
• Eating fruit that was cut on the
same cutting board that was used to
cut bread
• Eating a burrito bowl from
Chipotle that was prepared by a worker
whose gloves had previously touched
flour tortillas
• Eating peanut butter from a
jar that someone had previously dipped
pretzels into
Options are limited and expensive.
Many people don’t understand how easy
it is to cross-contaminate. Considering
how little it takes to become sick, entering
college as a student with Celiac and having
to trust others to prepare your meals is
terrifying.
Eating at the Dining Halls
Having had Celiac since I was 10 years
old, and thus being very well-acquainted
with the challenges of finding safe options
outside of my own home, I knew that
eating in a college dining hall would not be
a walk in the park. However, I also knew
that I wanted to have the experience of
living in a dorm, and to do that, a meal plan
was required. I decided to do everything I
could to ensure that I’d be able to access
gluten-free food while living in the dorms.
So, before I came to college, I
incessantly researched the dining system,
sent copious emails to dining hall staff
and read through all of the Reddit forums
that I could find about the dining halls.
I was reassured by the dining hall staff
that their allergen-free station could
guarantee gluten-free food without crosscontamination
and that there could also
be additional options without gluten in the
general area of the dining hall, such as the
Navigating life
at UMN with
Celiac Disease.
salad bar. I felt confident that I’d be just
fine — but I also brought a mini fridge and
a microwave so I’d be able to store some
emergency food, just in case.
Unfortunately, my experience on the
first day was not a fluke. In one instance,
I was given regular bread in my meal,
even though the station was supposed
to be entirely separate from all glutencontaining
ingredients. Another time, I was
told that the allergen station “ran out of
meals,” and I was handed a box of frozen
gluten-free waffles for dinner. Despite
my constant communication with the
staff and management about the issues I
was experiencing, I continued to be given
incorrect meals and often left without food
that I could eat.
Thankfully, the dining system has
changed management since my freshman
year, and the new system appears to be much
better at accommodating students’ allergies.
Amy Hommes, a registered dietician at the
University of Minnesota, explained that
all of the University of Minnesota’s dining
halls, with the exceptions of Comstock Hall
and Bailey Hall, now provide stations with
meals that are made to accommodate those
with allergies to gluten, dairy, eggs, soy,
peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and fish. In these
stations, “everything is prepared separately
with separate cutting boards, separate pans
and separate utensils… and [they] train all of
our staff on how to prevent cross-contact,”
Hommes detailed.
However, it’s important to note that,
while the dining halls do provide a safe
option for students with Celiac, there still
isn’t much flexibility. Lyla Prass, a student
with Celiac who had a meal plan in the
dining halls last year, said she often felt
frustrated by the lack of options offered.
She explained how she doesn’t eat pork,
so “when the meal was pork, [she] just
couldn’t eat.”
On-Campus Options
Despite their limits, the dining halls still
provide more options for us gluten-free
folk than any other space on campus. “If
there were any problems with the dining
hall, there was nowhere else to go,” Prass
said. While there are a few on-campus
restaurants such as SweetGreen, JJ’s Poke
and Nautical Bowls where Prass feels
comfortable, she rarely eats elsewhere,
given the risk of getting sick. On-campus
food courts, such as the one in Coffman
Memorial Union, also offer close to no safe
options. Having experienced several
Standard, wheat-grain bread. Photos by Rosalind Ding
50 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 51

instances of being served gluten within the
past year — and having to miss a significant
amount of class because of it — Prass
emphasized that she “has a lot of food
anxiety.” She explained that “putting [her]
health in the hands of someone else is so
scary… especially when it is consistently
violated.”
My experiences and anxieties have
mirrored Prass’. While I have my own
“safe” options — like JJ’s Poke, Qdoba
and Nautical Bowls — my requests for
gluten-free food elsewhere are often met
with dismissiveness and the occasional eye
roll, which I can only assume is rooted in
an assumption that I want gluten-free food
just because it’s “trendy.” I rarely have the
time or energy to try new places and risk
getting sick.
Grocery shopping is another tricky
endeavor for a college student with Celiac.
With the expensive nature of gluten-free
food products compared to their “regular”
counterparts, as well as the limited nature
of gluten-free products in general, finding
Celiac-friendly food can be challenging.
Let’s take a look at the prices and availability
of gluten-free products at some of
the most popular grocery stores.
Target does offer some gluten-free
options, but they are somewhat far and
few — and they aren’t entirely friendly
to college students’ budgets, either. While
the cheapest option for regular bread runs
$1.99, the cheapest available option for
gluten-free bread is $6.99. Similarly, while
the cheapest box of pasta is $0.99, the
cheapest box of gluten-free pasta is $2.99.
With an entire in-person section for
gluten-free products, Cub makes the hearts
of individuals with Celiac very, very
happy. However, the price dilemma still
remains. The lowest price of gluten-free
bread is $7.99, compared to $1.39 for
regular bread. The cheapest option for
gluten-free pasta is $4.59, while you can
get regular pasta for $1.69.
Trader Joe’s offers the best and cheapest
gluten-free options, by far. They provide
a massive variety of gluten-free products:
several types of bread, buns, muffins, pizza
crusts, pastries, pasta, frozen meals and
more. And, get this — they’re all reasonably
priced, too.
You can get gluten-free bread for just
$4.49. While that’s still more expensive
than its regular counterpart ($1.99), it’s
by far the cheapest option of all grocery
stores. Three cheers for Trader Joe’s!
What Can Be Done?
Although options for students with Celiac
are somewhat slim, they are nonetheless
improving.
It’s truly the little things that help: labels
and ingredient lists on menus and products,
food service workers’ willingness to
understand what we need and meal options
that we can trust. If you have friends
with Celiac, it’ll mean the world to them if
you take just five minutes to read an article
about what cross-contamination is — it
might bring them to tears!
“Putting [my] health in
the hands of someone else
is so scary… especially
when it is consistently
violated.” — LYLA PRASS
Photo courtesy of Lyla Prass
Prepared breads and pastries at Sift Gluten Free
located in Minneapolis, on March 29, 2024.
Photo by Maya Modelli
52 INFLUX MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 SPRING 2024 INFLUX MAGAZINE 53

By Gemma Gardner
iPhone Addiction:
Can You Beat It?
Here’s how to scroll
less and live more:
Start small - begin by reducing
your screentime by just 30 minutes
per week, and build from there.
Reporting on the street:
We asked people in the Twin
Cities about their last Google
search. Here’s what they said.
By Madisyn Brey
Set your phone’s settings
to grayscale.
Track your social media usage
to identify how apps are
consuming your time.
210
million people
world wide suffer
from social media
addiction.
Turn off social media notfications.
Create physical no-phone
zones in your home.
Take a leap and delete
a few apps!
41%
of young adults
report that their
sleep has been
negatively impacted
by social media
usage.
Source:
Understanding social media use
and balance, The Jed Foundation
Top: Artwork for SZA’S album, Saturn, by artist Sage Adams. All other images courtesy.
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“Why do you have your foot in the sink?”
Bismillah. I start the water on my hands. Three times.
“Did you spill something on your shoe?”
I flush my mouth with the water, spit it out and clean over my nose.
I begin to wash my face. Three times.
“Are you homeless and taking a bath or something?…”
I raise my sleeves and begin to take turns washing over my right and
left arm. Three times.
“Is this … allowed? I feel like I should call security or something?”
Search for
Prayer
Muslim students on the University of
Minnesota Twin Cities campus must
find private places to pray five times
each day to adhere to their religion
Samia Guled demonstrates making dua, at the Regis
Center for Art at the University of Minnesota on March
13th, 2024. Photo by Fartun Hassan
By Fartun Hassan
In this dimly lit bathroom located
in an unassuming corner of one of
the oldest buildings on campus, I’m
preparing for prayer. Nobody’s asking
me these questions. In fact, nobody’s
around at all. The questions are the result of
the anxious scenario that plays in my head
every time I begin the “wudu” process at
school. Usually, it plays out like this.
I’m at the very last step of the “wudu”,
the washing process Muslims engage in
before prayer. Suddenly, someone will
walk in. Their shocked face will meet
my reflection. I’ll watch their wide eyes
gloss over the scene before them. They’ll
see a fellow student: One sock in hand,
a foot in the sink, shoes off with tissues
spread out on the ground below them. I’ll
be there, frozen in flamingo position. This
will inspire nothing short of a thousand
questions in their mind but it’s only silence
that will fall between us.
“…”
“…”
I won’t know what to say or where to
begin an explanation. They’ll suddenly
look away, trying their best to pretend
they’re not seeing what they are.
Silently, I’ll finish my process and
they’ll hurriedly leave.
To them, this will be the weirdest part
of their day, something to mention to their
friends or think about on their walk home.
To me, they’ll be another face to avoid on
campus. Yet for Muslim students at the
University of Minnesota, this awkward
exchange could happen several times
throughout any given day. Like the other
students, I don’t have much time to worry
about such encounters. The bigger issue
is finding a location as the fleeting prayer
time approaches.
If at any point so far you’ve related with
the wide-eyed bathroom girl, I’ll fill you in
on some terms and religious information.
Muslims pray five times a day: “Fajir,”
right before dawn; “Dhuhur” around
noon; “Asr” sometime in the evening;
“Maghrib” at sunset; and lastly “Isha,”
the nighttime prayer. These prayer times
slightly vary throughout the calendar year.
Changes come alongside the seasons and
the sun. But regardless of time, unless
you’re ill, menstruating or unable in other
ways, you are obligated to pray when the
call to prayer, the “Athaan,” is called out.
Less commonly known is that we first
have to be in a state of “wudu” to pray. Its
purpose lies in cleansing oneself of any
impurities before prayer, similar to wearing
clean clothes to Mass or taking a shower
before the sabbath. Overall, the “wudu” is
a mandatory process one needs to complete
before prayer — a process not perfectly
catered to a public washroom.
Once I’ve completed “wudu,” I wander
the halls looking for a quiet corner to
pray. Muslims aren’t allowed to disturb or
obstruct others with their prayers. Keeping
this in mind, my eyes scour the scenery.
I imagine I’m some apex predator armed
with eagle-eye vision. Only instead of
unassuming prey, I meet the gaze of bored
college students looking up from their
laptops questioning why I’m inspecting the
corners of the study hall.
When I do find a spot to pray, I lay
out my prayer mat, which forms a barrier
between the floor and where my forehead
will rest; that is, if I remember to bring
one. Most days, my knee-length jacket
doubles as my prayer mat. This isn’t the
case for everyone, but when rushing out of
my house at 8 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. lecture,
a prayer mat is not the top priority. The
prayer process lasts less than five minutes.
Once that’s finished, I hurry off to my
next class. Depending on my class
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Samia Guled demonstrates the positions of prayer at the Regis Center for Art at the University of Minnesota
on March 13th, 2024. Photo by Fartun Hassan
schedule, I could repeat this cycle once or
twice more with “Asr” or “Maghrib.”
In my time at the U, I’ve seen Muslim
students praying in hallways, stairwells
and parking garages. While that’s my
daily experience, is it correct to place that
expectation on the thousands of Muslim
students who attend the U daily?
The university, aware of its religiously
diverse student body, has established
mediation rooms throughout the campus.
In doing so, the university collaborated
with various Muslim representations
on campus such as the Muslim Student
Association, the Al-Madinah Cultural
Center and the Undergraduate Student
Government. While these meditation
rooms are not in the majority of buildings,
they’re decently scattered throughout
the campus and open to all religious
backgrounds. If you visit Coffman
Memorial Union, you’ll also find a
spacious room occupied by the various
student unions set aside for prayer. These
wider spaces allow for the congregational
prayer you often see Muslims performing
together to happen.Samia Abdulle, a
member of the student government says
that over the past two years, the university
has been working with the students to add
more prayer spaces.
For the most part, the situation isn’t
bad. But I’d implore you to think again.
If there were zero issues in this matter,
would it be a common sight to see students
scattered into hallways and unassuming
corners? The real issue lies not in the
existence of the rooms but in the awareness
of their existence. Unless you’re writing
a story on the matter or making your way
to Coffman Hall to ask the MSA yourself,
there’s no widely accessible way to know
about these rooms. On the official school
webpage, besides a mention of the rooms,
there are no further details. The link to the
single “wudu” location leads back to the
same landing page where you began your
inquiry. When searching “UMN Prayer
Rooms” on Google, you’ll find a Reddit
subthread of university students asking
around for locations. While their Reddit list
is decently sized, it doesn’t cover all of the
rooms. Furthermore, even when students
are aware of the rooms, they may also find
some difficulty getting to the locations.
“I’d say there’s difficulty in my daily
life on campus when it comes to prayer.
There’s no prayer spaces on the St. Paul
campus where I sometimes have class.
Also, there’s no spaces in areas like Walter
Library where students like me spend
a lot of time studying or working. It’s
time-consuming having to find some place
to pray,” said Bedra Saleban, a Muslim
sophomore at the University of Minnesota.
Because Bedra is involved in Muslim
student organizations on campus, her goto
is the prayer room at the Al-Madinah
Cultural Center located in Coffman Hall. But
the university shouldn’t leave it to chance
for students to find the prayer rooms. They
should be easily accessible, convenient and
presented to all students via the official
webpage of student cultural affairs.
While I’d never expect protecting
students such as Bedra and myself from an
awkward bathroom exchange to be at the
top of any faculty to-do list, I would expect
prioritizing the safety of Muslim students
while engaged in the vulnerable prayer
process to be there. This is especially
important as religious hate crimes have
increased. It is the responsibility of the
university to ensure the safety of all
of its students. With these meditation
rooms open to all, it is not only Muslim
students who benefit. It is my opinion that
considering Muslim students only when
it’s time for a diversity brochure photo opp
isn’t a genuine consideration. While the
university has progressed further than
the majority of universities of its caliber
in this issue, a little push to provide more
information on the existing prayer rooms
will make a big difference in creating a
welcoming campus environment.
It is my hope you’ve learned something
while reading this article. A world
increasingly divided may only be brought
closer by mentally bridging the gaps
between us. If you’ve read this article as
someone who does not share this struggle,
you’ve already taken one step.
For a list of
places to pray on
campus, please
see the back
cover.
Samia Guled sitting in Tashahhud position.
Photo by Fartun Hassan
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