This school year was a roller coaster of emotions for the University of Minnesota, United States and students across the country. From Super Bowl activities on campus to April blizzards, the student body at the University had an eventful 2017-2018 school year. Through it all, we at the Minnesota Daily have enjoyed covering the action and delivering the news. We would like to take a moment to reflect on fall 2017 and spring 2018 and look ahead to future semesters.
We learned no matter what happens on campus, Monday morning classes are inevitable. Super Bowl week brought crowds and a bit of excitement. However, there was nothing more exciting than a standoff between police and a man inside the Graduate Hotel. Despite the situation continuing longer than expected (and a microwave launched out of an upper-story window), classes did not stop. We would like to thank the University of Minnesota Police Department and the Minneapolis Police Department for keeping us safe and the situation contained. We also faced inches upon inches of snow, yet the University only canceled one night of classes. In the end, braving unusual conditions and mother nature, we somehow made it to our early morning classes on time.
We saw local elections that were equally as exciting as presidential elections. In the fall, Minneapolis held municipal elections, the mayoral race heated up and Minnesotans voted people into office they hoped would solve community issues. Key election topics included affordable housing, police-community relations and a multitude of other problems Minneapolis faces. Lawmakers have started work that should continue, including the new 20-year plan titled Minneapolis 2040. Currently in its first draft, officials are seeking feedback on the plan. We look forward to seeing our newly elected officials solve longstanding problems the city faces, especially Ward 3 City Council member Steve Fletcher, Ward 2 City Council member Cam Gordon, Ward 6 Council member Abdi Warsame and Mayor Jacob Frey.
As municipal elections increased political energy on campus and in the city, we learned that statewide and national politics are still incredibly important. As Donald Trump’s first year as president concluded in January, we saw a number of students fight for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, the military transgender community and sexual assault survivors. Tragedy struck schools across the nation, prompting thousands of students who had not graduated high school to grab the nation’s attention on gun legislation by protesting en mass. The past year is an indication of how integral the people’s voice is to the political process and why everyone should fight for their beliefs. We look forward to seeing even more people become politically engaged, as well as seeing how the 2018 midterm elections shape the political landscape.
Most importantly, we look forward to covering all of this throughout the summer and heading into fall. Thank you to all our readers who have followed us, page by page. We are excited for good weather, a break from conventional classes and continuing coverage throughout June, July and August. To those leaving Minneapolis for the summer in exchange for exciting travels, internships, jobs or home, we will see you again in the fall.
